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Another note.....one thing that always bothers deer in the fields is airplanes taking off from our airstrip. I would think that they would be used to the planes but they always run into the woods when someone is taking off. I have a favorite Timothy field that I hunt most evenings that is about 200 yards from the airstrip with a short secton of woods seperating them. When the deer leave, they generally don't come back out that evening.

I tell the guys to get their flying in before my evening hunting but it doesn't do any good. They like to mess with me and once they took a bunch of pumpkins up and dumped them out over my field. They sounded like small bombs when they hit. Other times they buzz my treestand. I no longer say anything. But I get even in other ways.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona (Post 323676)

Speaking of predation.... This just in from the SD game commission.

GFP Commission Amends Nest Predator Bounty Program Dates for 2021-2022

PIERRE, S.D. - At their January meeting, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission amended a resolution to the Nest Predator Bounty Program for this year and next. The resolution indicates that the 2021 program will include a payment of $10/predator and a cap of $500,000. The amendment specifically modifies the dates of when the program will start and end in which the GFP Commission unanimously agreed to run the program from March 15 through July 1.

“The primary goal of the program is to enhance nest success for pheasants and ducks at localized levels by removing primary nest predators, like raccoons, striped skunks, opossums, red fox and badgers from the landscape,” said interim department secretary Kevin Robling. “Furthermore, this program is designed to increase youth and family participation in understanding and experiencing the tradition of trapping while enhancing our strong outdoor heritage.”

Last year, 16 percent of participants were 17 years-old or younger. These families and youth participating in the program made lasting memories while making a difference for managing wildlife in South Dakota. To encourage even greater participation in 2021, GFP will provide a weekly giveaway for all youth (17 years-old and younger) that participate in the program. The giveaway will consist of a GFP-sponsored trapping package that includes three live traps, knife, and the National Trappers Association Trapping Handbook.

“Each year, approximately 75 percent of duck and pheasant nests have been lost to predation in South Dakota. Intensive and ongoing predator removal efforts on lands containing quality habitat are important for increasing nest success at a localized level and present an excellent opportunity for an outdoor experience the entire family can enjoy,” stated GFP Commissioner Bob Whitmyre.

GFP will also enhance the ETHICS SD program to reach new audiences across South Dakota. ETHICS SD is a partnership between trapping organizations, GFP and 4H where youth learn trapping skills, fur handling techniques, and elements of wildlife management. The program has doubled in size reaching 110 new students in 11 counties in 2020.

“The key to ensuring our outdoor trapping traditions remain strong for future generations is educating and encouraging youth to participate in wildlife management,” said Robling. “We are excited to hear about the lasting memories these families make as they take to the field.”

The GFP Commission is allowing public comment on the amended program changes for the next 30 days and will vote on it at their March 4-5, 2021, meeting. To hear the discussion on this proposal, audio is available through South Dakota Public Broadcasting and on the GFP website under the meeting archive. Individuals can comment on this proposal by visiting gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions. Comments can also be mailed to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501. To be included in the public record and to be considered by the Commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of 72 hours before the public hearing (not including the day of the public hearing).

Individuals are encouraged to share their trapping and outdoor memories by using #SDintheField on social media.

GFP has operated the Nest Predator Bounty Program for the past two years (2019 and 2020) with different program details/parameters (i.e. amount paid per predator, duration of program, license requirements, etc.) each year. For more details, visit https://gfp.sd.gov/bounty-program/.

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i

What Pheasants Forever thinks of this effort:
https://www.pheasantsforever.org/Hab...Predators.aspx

Deer can’t stop living just because there are predators around. They are blessed with being dumb animals and likely don’t react at all unless they see or smell one. Neither are deer afraid of gunshots. To them there is no immediate danger in a gunshot and they can’t associate it with the possibility that there might be a bullet around someplace. Deer and coyotes coexist because there is rarely an immediate danger just because there are coyotes around.

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Deer are very in tune with what occurs in their habitat. They can pattern hunters and probably predators. Hunt from a particular stand too many times and they will avoid the area. I’ve experienced it many times years ago before I knew better. It’s why I never overhunt a stand and have multiple stands that I can use. When hunting the fields, I never leave if there are deer still feeding. My goal is not to spook them and make them aware I am in the area. Sometimes I have to sit till well after dark before I leave a field if the deer are still out. If you spook them a few times from a field they most likely will avoid it.

As far as gunshots, some run when they hear them, others don’t. A shot that is very close usually scares them. However, this year, while bow hunting, I was watching a three and a half year old buck with five does in the field with him. He had a wide nine point rack and was feeding his way toward me. I decided to take him if he came within thirty yards.

There is a horse farm on the southern side of the property about a quarter of a mile away. Someone decided to shoot a pistol. At the first shot, all heads went up. At the second shot, the buck bolted for the woods and the does followed him. Gunshots usually do scare deer, depending on the distance, although I was puzzled that they still bolted given the remoteness of the shots.

I think Steve’s post on what Pheasant’s Forever thinks of predator elimination is telling. It’s something I’ve always believed, if the birds have food and cover, baring regional and local diseases, they will do fine despite predators. It certainly holds true on the property I hunt.

Quotes from the Pheasants Forever article…

“Bottom line: Through the addition and management of habitat, we not only decrease the impact predators have on existing nests, but also increase the number of nests and population size in the area. This management comes at a fraction of the cost of other predator reduction methods.”

“Predators will continue to eat pheasants and their nests, but weather and habitat conditions will drive population fluctuations.”

Habitat and feed is key in addition to weather conditions. The main reason for the loss of ruffed grouse in parts of the Northeast is the decline of habitat. Grouse need young forests and brushy areas to survive. Making matters worse, the mosquito borne West Nile Disease has had an impact as a one two punch on the diminishing grouse populations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Romig (Post 323589)

Right Scott and I hardly ever see a red fox anymore... coyotes eat them too. The foxes that survive are the gray foxes that are able to climb trees.

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For me Dean, thats an absolutely horrible picture. It's hard to look at. I hate that coyotes take dogs.

Coyotes are hunter-scavengers and will eat anything and everything they can get ahold of.

I have shot over and bedide deer on SC ranges while they continued to eat unconcernedly. Sure, being a range where shooting is the norm they had to get used to it (to just live) because the shooting never presented a threat to them. They don’t have the power of thought or reason.

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The deer that hang around my back yard in a suburb of Detroit, where no hunting is allowed, tolerate people well. Not so in northern Mich where hunting is OK. The least lttle sound or movement gets them going

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hering (Post 323941)

My contribution to good coyote:

https://i.imgur.com/Y70gycn.jpg

This one was crossing the dam on our lake. Amazing what a .270 with the right bullet can do at 110 yards.

We have way too many here in Southernmost IL. Our fur never gets good so no one really wants to spend the time trapping. Its basically shoot on site and yea, we use electronic callers.

They destroy deer populations and yes, they will kill adult deer, eat your small dogs and cats and can be a bit aggressive to humans and will kill larger dogs if in a pack of three or more.

Blew one off one of my setters several years ago. Dog came running back to me whining but did not see me and past me. Yote was about 15 yards behind dog. Yote met with a load of 8's to the head at 5 yards.

Done deal.

When I shot them in Saskatchewan I used a .270 with 130 grain bullets, my moose load. It really chews them up similar to your coyote. I used the 130 grain bullet because it shot best from my pre-64 model 70. Moose die rather easily and that 130 grain bullet was all I needed. They don't go far after being hit.

News Flash: The state of Utah still has a bounty on coyotes of $50 a head, $50!

https://wildlife.utah.gov/predator-control-program.html

When I was in college in the late 70s in Idaho I made extra money shooting them at $35 each, just dead, sold to the skinners.

When people say coyotes will eat anything, I've seen them eating honey dew melons in fields in central California.

Great thread and interesting getting people's take on things.