"When deer hunting with 12 gage I usually carry 2-4 # 6's in case I ran into ducks or something else that seemed like a better opportunity than deer hunting." - posted by Scotjute
Scotjute - be careful doing that, I think that carrying your slugs while taking ducks would wind up putting you in the category of using lead for waterfowl. I may be wrong on this, but I think having the lead rounds in possession is illegal, someone please tell me if I'm wrong. That is the reason that I only carry steel shot when after pheasant if I think that there is a chance of taking a duck.
Why is everyone so against skunks and coyotes? OK, coyotes I can maybe see if you're in an area where they are doing damage to livestock, but here in Mass, I don't see too much of a problem with them. Sure, they come close to town, but so do deer and no one complains about them, and I'd rather watch a coyote than a deer any day. Most of the areas that are reporting coyote problems are areas where they have not allowed hunting for years, so I have no sympathy - keep your dogs, kids and cats in the house and live with the mess you made. For this reason, I try to avoid shooting coyotes.
As far as skunks, what is the problem? I've got a bunch in my neighborhood, that I enjoy watching. I find them pretty cool. Granted, I don't want to be sprayed, but usually they run away from me in the woods, so why shoot them?
No, I'm not against hunting at all, I just wonder why everyone hates coyotes and skunks. Is it because they aren't "cute"? I find deer to be pretty useless except as dinner, but I guess I'm in the minority.