If you were hunting big game & came across a coyote..

[wankerjake]

I used to let them walk during a big game hunt. My current policy is that unless I'm actively stalking the targeted big game, I'm shooting coyotes on sight. I've watched deer and elk too many times when a shot rings out nearby and they don't even look up. Unless I know there are animals in the area, the coyote is getting smoked.

 

[PowerG]

I generally shoot them, but I'm not convinced doing so actually affects the population much. I know since they moved in around 10 years ago the turkey population is not nearly what it used to be.

 

[wildchild2010]

Some states have close season on yotes during big game hunting so people don't kill wolves by accident.

 

[kyle1974]

I rarely shoot coyotes. Mainly because the Ranch workers kill several hundred a year with traps and snares, and whatever other means they can come up with. it's all out war against coyotes where I'm at.

 

[303tom]

I would let it walk..............

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I'd let him walk.

I don't kill animals just to be doing it.

 

[jmr40]

I'd let him walk.

I don't kill animals just to be doing it.

I suppose you have the same approach when roaches and mice find their way into your home. Coyotes are in the same category.

 

[Novisvierling]

I have shot many in my years of hunting. I shot two in the same day from a tree stand in early fall while archery hunting deer one came in just after two turkey's passed by there he was rite under my stand I said "really?" I could not resist then two small doe walked buy nervously and looking back in the direction they came from I thought it was bowinkle coming but low and behold coyote number two I just couldn't resist..... Never saw any big deer that year at all maybe the coyote population changed there habits ?

 

[Fall Guy]

I spooked a very nice mulie from the next coulee I was headed to by trying to shoot a coyote. I swore them off while big game hunting after that. It might not have been so bad if I had actually hit the darn thing.

 

[MCgunner]

As I've done it before, I voted to shoot it. I'm ambivalent, though, but some of the leases I have been on, the land owner strongly requested to shoot all coyotes on sight, so I did.

Coyote invasion is why there are no more red wolves on the Texas coast. They were bred out of existence by cross breeding from coyotes. There is no lack of coyote numbers. Killing them is a good thing as I see it.

 

[TNboy]

I'm a meat hunter, I really don't care much about a trophy buck, nothing wrong with trophy hunting, it's just not my cup of tea, for now anyway. I've shot many a deer and had more deer continue to come in. If I see a yote I'm shooting. As for the leaving it for the buzzards and other tree hugging hippy BS remarks. Yes I will. I'm sure when you catch a mouse in a mouse trap you pelt it out and butcher it. Same difference.

 

[sugarmaker]

There will be a loud kaboom. I may or may not take the pelt depending on how far into the woods I am, how big the dog is, and what the price is. One less coyote is always a good thing, I will send lead without question with 100% certainty if it's a positive ID Coyote. Where I come from they are vermin and nothing else.

 

[Skyshot]

I shoot em if I can, Two years ago I shot 3 on opening morning of deer season just after daylight and at 8:10 had a huge racked 9 pointer on the ground.

 

[25cschaefer]

Coyotes are pretty spooky, I shoot them when I see them, there will be more chances on big game.

 

[sixgunner455]

I declined a number of shots on coyotes, and one fox, this past deer season. I only get to hunt deer for a week, and I wasn't going to ruin any small chance I had of finding a deer over a coyote.

Plenty of time to shoot coyotes the other 51 weeks of the year. But on the other hand, if I'd shot a coyote or three, maybe there'd be more deer to find next year.

kind of a conundrum.

 

[Craigman]

I have let them go in the past, but when one was on the scent trail of a downed doe I had just shot, when I was waiting for her to properly expire.....I HAD to take him out. He was headed right towards my kill and only had about 30yards to go.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I would only shoot it if shooting hours for game animals had passed, or if it was getting too late in the day if I was hunting in the morning (coyotes are not a game animal here). Other than that, I let them pass unless they are causing a problem.

 

[7.62 Nato]

Unfortunately, it would depend too much on what the federal, and local "law enforcement" would deem "legal" instead of what's right, or logical. don't wanna screw up your life doing what's right.

 

[janobles14]

here they beg hunters to shoot them. and i oblige! during deer season i drop them like its my job. during turkey season...not so much. although i want to try carrying my .45 with its can to see what might happen!

 

[wombat13]

Plenty of time to shoot coyotes the other 51 weeks of the year. But on the other hand, if I'd shot a coyote or three, maybe there'd be more deer to find next year.

kind of a conundrum.

I wish. The season in NY runs 10/1 to 3/25. Deer season runs from October until a couple days before Christmas. If you wait until deer season is over you are left with January, February, and March. Jan - Feb is the coldest time of year here so you have to be very motivated to get out after yotes.

The deer herd in southern NY is well below target and it near impossible to get a doe tag. A hard winter in 2003-2004, coyotes and bears taking a lot of fawns, and likely an increase in poaching during the recession have prevented the herd from growing. Despite this, the NY DEC maintains this closed season. It should be shoot on site any time year round for these vermin.

 

[sixgunner455]

Well, like I said, in AZ, coyotes are in season year-round. Just have to have a hunting license.

Wish our deer season lasted that long!

 

[bison]

I'd shoot. Deer don't seem to spook that easily and my ranch has enough hills that the sound won't travel far anyway.

Last year my son and I shot some Tannerite off for fun on the ranch, then immediately got in the truck to drive home. 200 yards away was a doe and buck grazing like nothing had happened.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

We don't get the coyotes too often, but we do get them, in this urban setting. Several years ago we had several in Rockville, Maryland, and called the DNR about them. They told us we were mistaken, so a friend sent them an email and asked them to ID the critter, which they promptly said was a Coyote. Then we informed them it was photographed to the rear of County Police Headquarters.

Our problem is that they prey on small dogs when people are walking them in the county parks, when they can't get other food. We had a report of a dog attack on some lady's pet..., it was coyote came out and took her Bichon or some other breed of fur ball.

So they got hunted and put down. But they can show up again at any time. We have the C&O canal and High Power Transmission Line right-of-ways that make natural highways for them and bears too.

LD

 

[MtnSpur]

I've had to retire from big game (deer, elk, etc) hunting so I won't vote to skew this poll. That said we have a plethora of coyote in Texas that aren't looked upon kindly by most ranchers. I take every one I can. The horses, dogs and cats look kindly upon me for doing my due diligence.

 

[wombat13]

Well, like I said, in AZ, coyotes are in season year-round. Just have to have a hunting license.

Wish our deer season lasted that long!

Yes, the NY deer season runs from October through a couple days before Christmas, but that includes bow, gun, and muzzleloader seasons. You have to buy a license for all three seasons if you want to hunt that long. You only get 23 days if you are a gun hunter.