No deer lately...here's why!

[Bonebuster]

Coyotes are a new predator in many areas of the country. By "new" I mean just the past few decades. Very few coyotes caught in traps in my area until the mid-eighties. Red and Grey fox were common. Now coyotes rule, and fox are few.

Suburban Detroit has coyotes. Sightings are now very common...BIG ones too. I know of several that were caught in snares within a few miles of my house that topped fifty pounds.(I live in the N.E. lower) I have killed three, approaching fifty pounds myself, over the span of ten years.

Anywhere I hunt, and or scout, at ALL times of the year, coyote scat contains deer hair ALL of the time. In SOME areas the coyote may not be a major predator of deer...but in SOME areas a hunter is kidding himself if he thinks they are not. In all areas, I think it is safe to say, fawns are a major food source in spring.

I have seen coyotes interact with deer, and the deer are ALWAYS on alert. The deer ALWAYS leave the immediate area. I have seen with my own eyes a coyote chasing a full grown, healthy deer...twice.  I have had state biologists tell me coyotes DO NOT chase healthy deer.

[meathead]

I think Dons on to something.  I have a stand that I have sat twice in the last week.  I have seen two different coyotes and 9 different deer.

[Don Stokes]

Coyotes eat road kill. Plenty of venison available that they don't have to risk their lives to kill.

[Bill Carlsen]

What I would really like to see is the yotes take out a large bunch of raccoons. We have way too many of them in my area and rabies are a local problem.

[Rutland]

I Love coyote's, they taste just like chicken!!  Just kiddin'.  Down here in Bama we have about as many coyotes as deer.  They hunt fawns mainly and are DEATH on turkeys.  I don't believe you can ever kill too many.  Nice Pic'.  I'd move my setup.

[bofish-IL]

All the areas that I hunt have coyotes. I have even killed 5 over the years but it never seem to effect the deer sightings.

I saw a strange thing in Missouri late bow season in Jan. As I was still hunting back to the vehicle late morning I spotted 4 bucks together and within 15 yds to the side was 2 coyotes walking with them. Once in a while one of the bucks would walk over toward the coyotes and stare at them. Then they would all start walking again. I watched this for a good 10 minutes before they moved out of sight. Never did figure that one out.

[jhg]

We eventually had coyotes in Maine where I had hunted for years and there was no impact on the number or the quality of the deer that we could ever see.
I saw a coyote when elk hunting this fall. Thats why I didn't get one! ;0)


Joshua