Coyote Hunting near Melrose Range Hunting Areas 31,32, and 40 - Tips Needed

[rruff]

Ha! I was just going to say that deer sometimes attack dogs and even people! These are deer that are in town and used to getting fed all the time.

[Cathy4017]

So they have lost their fear of people and pets. Too bad. I've never been around that sort of thing until I came to New Mexico!

I have never seen deer in town (rural) where I grew up nor where I later lived. Always out in the wild/pasture where they belong. We did have friends who raised orphaned fawns, though.

They are used to being fed up in Timberon, too. I was standing on Jane's deck--and they were out there wandering around, and fairly close. I thought they were pets, but they're just used to the handouts. I found the lack of wariness very strange. But places like Timberon are their natural habitat, and where they belong.

Dang, all that tasty meat on the hoof, just wandering around!!!

I was at Davis Mountains State Park at Indian Lodge in April.....I got up early, and was walking to the restaurant for breakfast...I turned the corner, and there was a fair-sized javelina coming up the paved road. It was only a few feet from me--thank God it decided to cross the road!

Not good, but inevitable, I guess. All of the trash containers have to be deer/bear/javelina/everything else-proof.

I'm not enamoured with the idea of looking out to my front or back yard and seeing coyote, deer or javelina there. It always gets me when looking at listings....and some include a picture of wildlife, usually deer....but sometimes bears. They come in especially for water and easy pickings in the yard.

[Patsy Grider]

We have been very successful trapping coyotes as part of predator control within the area you are talking about!

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by Patsy Grider

We have been very successful trapping coyotes as part of predator control within the area you are talking about!

Patsy. What sort of traps are you using? I've lost five dogs and numerous cats here on the Texas South Plains in the past six years and have thought maybe trapping may cull the few coyotes that persist in hanging around my farm. I have been able to call up and dispatch young pups with a FoxPro caller but that proved to be labor intensive. My farm is isolated in hundreds of acres of grassland and farmland so allowing hunters to come in may not be out of the question.

My understanding is that trapping coyotes requires some amount of experience and expertise. I have considered several Collarum snare traps but have never spoken to anyone who has used them.

[mtncat]

Coyotes can be pretty tricky.
Collarums are good as well as foot snares.
But from my experience, a good foot hold trap probably does a better job.

[MountainDweller]

Research suggests that when aggressively controlled, coyotes can increase their reproductive rate by breeding at an earlier age and having larger litters, with a higher survival rate among young. This allows coyote populations to quickly bounce back, even when as much as 70 percent of their numbers are removed.
It is nearly impossible to completely eradicate coyotes from an area. Despite bounties and large-scale efforts to kill coyotes over the last 100 years, coyotes have in fact expanded their range throughout the U.S. and Canada tremendously. One study even found that killing 75 percent of a coyote population every year for 50 years would still not exterminate the population.

That's what I've seen from scientific sources. Is it valid? I have no qualms with hunting coyote if they're invasive and can be removed, but if it does no good, what's the point? Also, I apply for hunting permits, and I'm socially liberal (attack, attack).

[Patsy Grider]

High Plains Retired, sorry so late of a reply! Was new to this forum and was not aware of your questions concerning what types of traps we use! We mainly use No. 3 Victor's, jaw m, spring traps! They have been the most successful catches thus far! And yes it does take years of experience trapping to become somewhat successful catches! However never rule out beginners luck! Learn as you go is about the only way to gain experience. Not only learning the coyotes habits, one must learn the environment as well! Our best furs have been coyotes trapped close to peanut crops in the past! However our main set is a trail set with 2 traps! Or what we prefer is what we call a baregrass (Yucca) set!
I never have yet to date tried a snare set. Unfortunately haven't done any type of research on snare trapping! My father only trapped with spring, jaw, pan traps and of course I,m following his foot steps and hope to carry on the tradition to my son!

Have also been some what successful with Bob cats as well! Did some research found what I believed to be a good spot for cats! Put out my set for bobcat in that area and by surprise, I caught 2 very nice Bobcats within a week at the end of trapping season for the year!