One Less

[Dean Romig]

I’ve read of coyotes taken in New England in the low 70’s in weight.





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[Harold Pickens]

Those big northern coyotes supposedly have wolf genes from cross breeding now.

[Dean Romig]

That has been scientifically proven true.





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[Tom Flanigan]

I don’t believe that coyotes or any other predator is much of a threat to WILD populations of birds that have feed and good cover. Food and cover is the key. Although predators can do damage to populations in areas with marginal or poor feed and cover.

We’ve learned a lot and have become more enlightened on the ways of nature, and the value of each species to ecosystems, since the days of old time plantation owners and managers. I have no doubt that modern plantation managers kill foxes and coyotes on sight to protect their revenue producing pen birds that aren’t attuned to living in the wild.

We all have to make our choices based on varying criteria and our own values, whatever they may be. I have made mine not to shoot predators or anything I won’t eat.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I don’t believe that coyotes or any other predator is much of a threat to WILD populations of birds that have feed and good cover. Food and cover is the key. Although predators can do damage to populations in areas with marginal or poor feed and cover.

Really?

How about wild populations of ruffed grouse in the Northeast like PA, NY and Northern New England who’s numbers are severely depleted in many localities by such factors as WNV? I think your arguement is misguided and doesn’t take into account localized problems.





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[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I don’t believe that coyotes or any other predator is much of a threat to WILD populations of birds that have feed and good cover. Food and cover is the key. Although predators can do damage to populations in areas with marginal or poor feed and cover.

We’ve learned a lot and have become more enlightened on the ways of nature, and the value of each species to ecosystems, since the days of old time plantation owners and managers. I have no doubt that modern plantation managers kill foxes and coyotes on sight to protect their revenue producing pen birds that aren’t attuned to living in the wild.

We all have to make our choices based on varying criteria and our own values, whatever they may be. I have made mine not to shoot predators or anything I won’t eat.

And I continue to make my choices in individual situations as they occur.





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[Tom Flanigan]

Dean, I think you misunderstand what I was trying to convey, to wit, all wildlife, predators included, have an important role to play in the ecosystem. Coyotes are no exception.

I did not criticize any legal hunting activity. Further, I would never say individuals should not shoot coyotes or other predators. I stated MY perspective which counts only for me regardless whether others agree or disagree. I don’t preach to anyone and would never have the gall and presumption to say what others should do. I stand by my statement, in an earlier post, “we all have to make our choices based on varying criteria and our own values, whatever they may be”.

Also, my comment on feed and cover is not “misguided” I was obviously speaking in general since no one can accurately speak to the myriad of other local and regional reasons game population diminish. This is outside the scope of my comment.

[Dean Romig]

I agree with you Tom, in that we all have to make our choices based on the information we have but we can’t limit that information to just “food and cover” and we need to take in as many variables as we can find and apply them to our model and see if they have an effect. In the case of disease, we simply ignore such an important influence. I guess what I’m saying is that if a species could use a little help from us I believe it is our duty to help while staying within the law.





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[Harold Pickens]

Living in the country, I fear coyote predation on my dogs--I saw them gang up on my best friends 100 lb Lab. Bob cats probably a bigger predator on grouse than coyote. Yeserday i took a 4 hour hike thru strip pit country--carried a 22mag, specifcally for coyote. This one with a 20 ga slug gun.

[10 bore]

Here in NH. back before the coyote started it's "come back" in the early 80's we had plenty of grouse, rabbits, and woodchucks and NO COYOTE. you could hunt grouse with out a dog just by walking and on deer drives you would carry bird shot to shoot the ones you ran into while walking. I haven't shot a grouse in over 25 years in the southern part of our state, the woodchucks I use to shoot with my bow around populated areas are all but gone. snow shoe rabbits the same and the coyote population is very high! . peoples dogs and cats are getting killed by the, There are people getting attacked by the sick ones too. I shoot all I can when I see them. I all so believe they have something to do with the ticks being spread. When I was a kid in the late 60's and early 70's we had little or no ticks. I do a lot of taxidermy work and when I skin one out ,they are full of ticks and they travel a lot to spread them around ??? (IMHO)
scott