Hunting Predators

[azhunter23]

This is my first year for predator hunting. (and I'm hooked now) but I have a question for all of you seasoned predator hunters. Here goes I have heard friends say that hunt coyotes. That they don't hunt them through the summer because the hide is not as nice. Is this true? How many of you hunt year round for them? If you don't hunt year round what are the months that you skip? Is this just a stupid question?

 

Thanks

[galiuro mountain man]

As far as fur hunting is concerned, they are correct. When I was fur hunting and trapping before it was banned I usually quit around this time of year and start back up in October. Now I do it as more of a control for population and will continue through the year. Coyotes kill quite a few fawns around here in late summer so I try to knock their numbers down some. So far this year I did pretty good and was able to kill 63 of them around my deer hunting areas. It will probably take a couple more years like this to really make an impact though. There are more coyotes than I can ever remember, but without trapping there is not any "real" way to control the population.

[firstcoueswas80]

No, good question. I dont usually hunt them because it is so dang hot! Not to mention they are raising their pups. the younger pups hear the call, the less of a chance that they will ever come into it! I also think they are harder to call in the summer, all though I have called a coyote or two while out scouting.

 

Let em raise their pups, and fur up in october-february then knock the crap out of em!

[COOSEFAN]

Hunt em' year round....it'll never even make a dent in the population! I've never sold a hide off any predator I've killed and I used to kill a bunch of em, so I never cared when I shot coyotes. The summer time can be the best time.......'cause there's nothing else to throw lead at and just head north where it's cooler! And as far as the pups go......that's what makes calling in the early Fall so fun......anyone can call in pups and usually on a dead run! Pile em' up any chance you get and best of luck. JIM>

[azhunter23]

Thank you for the useful info

[firstcoueswas80]

There still responding to calls.. I called one in today with Ihunt2live... he came really slow ( like the 20 minute mark)

[TLH]

Jim has it dead nuts on! There are way too many of them out there not to shoot them year round and i can't think of a better way to improve your shooting skills than hunting predators.

[IHunt2live]

There still responding to calls.. I called one in today with Ihunt2live... he came really slow ( like the 20 minute mark)

 

Couldn't stress that enough. It sure will improve your shooting skills after you are humiliated a time or two. Those yotes aren't the easiest thing to hit but great practice.

[azhunter23]

Thanks again guys.

[catfish]

i have been told that if your a fur seller to hunt in winter when the coat is more thick

[Rembrant]

Good fur = Dec/Jan. They start rubbing (breeding) in Feb. and the females coats are marred.

Shoot 'em any time you like. Heck, the oldtimers could'nt even poison 'em out.

Mike

[AzTrapper]

i have been told that if your a fur seller to hunt in winter when the coat is more thick

 

 

The fur on coyotes in most areas are saleable as early as late Oct. I start hunting fur to sell about then, I look at them and if they are reddish in color or have bare spots or bare bellies I leave them lay and do not skin them. I do shoot the reddish colors and some dark ones year round and pass on some others. I start shipping fur to sell Dec. because i have found if you ship any earlier your price is rock bottom and it doesn't matter if they are hold overs from the year before or not. I do support the ATA's fur auctions but pretty much only send Grey Fox or a few cats. As the buyers who come here have always lowballed our coyotes the same coyote at our state auction that will bring $12.00 will most of the time average $20 or so if you ship. The ATA who puts on the auction has no control over prices and I know in years past tried and worked hard to get more buyers who wanted coyotes. As far as when the coyotes fur is unsaleable that is the million dollar question. I have seen areas that the fur was rubbed and singed as early as Jan 15th. but also have shot coyotes in March that were as good as any Dec. dog.

I like many others due miss trapping on public lands as that was outlawed, but you can still trap private property with foot hold traps. You can use live traps on public lands and I know a few you do use a few for fox and cats but do not know anyone using live traps or box traps for coyotes. Does anyone on here do any trapping with live traps?

[standman]

AzTrapper,

 

I have a good friend that used to trap with my dad back in the good ole days, that traps with live traps. He caught 13 cats this past year with them. He only uses them for cats. I have been going to try some of them but the good ones are so darn expensive.

 

 

[AzTrapper]

AzTrapper,

 

I have a good friend that used to trap with my dad back in the good ole days, that traps with live traps. He caught 13 cats this past year with them. He only uses them for cats. I have been going to try some of them but the good ones are so darn expensive.

[/quote

 

 

Did he catch any coyotes? With animsl like cats, fox and such they do work and not all that bad, Like you say the cost is high unless you build your own and trying to hide them is also a pain and you know people will steal them every chance they get. I have thought about doing the same and building some some for cats and fox only but I keep thinking how much people like to steal things and that stops me,

[standman]

No coyotes, he said that coyotes have been by them but have not attempted to go in. No foxes either but he isn't setting his traps in fox country. High country only. He believes his traps are not quite big enough for coyotes which may be the reason for not catching any. My brother owns a metal fabrication company and we have been tinkering with the idea of building some but like you said people stealing them is a worry.