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Coyote problems - related to tractor

K

Ken Macfarlane

Well-known Member
We have eastern coyotes here, very big not like the little fox like coyotes in the west. One has been hanging around killing geese in the fields and looking under windrows of hay. During a power failure last week it got through the electric net and killed 3 sheep. Flock got moved to the barn for the next night but it went into the wagon next to the house, pulled off a tarp and drug the carcasses out again.

The thing is very brave when I am in the tractor in the summer but as soon as I open a door or show up in the truck its gone, can't get within 500 yards.

Farm is bounded by residential housing on 3 sides. We have wired the remains to a stake in the middle of the side with no housing hoping it will come back at a time suitable to shoot.

Thinking about parking the cabbed tractor there as a blind to desensitize it. Do you think it will be able to smell me in the tractor?
 

Have you considered a trap? The coyote already knows there are sheep under the wagon tarp...all you need is a trap of some type under the tarp.

The nice thing about a trap is it does not require a person to sit a wait for something to show up.
 
They're very elusive critters. Know they're around, hear them from time to time, rarely if ever see 'em. Around here, they hang out in a very loose group, and kind of move around from place to place over a week to two time frame. You may well be looking for more than one of them. Donno if you dare trying to poison them with the remains as bait.
 
I wish they'd kill geese here. Turkeys and sandhill cranes too. I've had one here who didn't seem to be afraid of me at all. I haven't seen her this year,kinda miss her,she was getting to be like a pet. When I'd cut hay she'd come out and get mice and what not. She got so she'd follow me from field to field when I moved baled off,waiting for me to scare something up for here. I'd be loading bales on one side of the trailer and she'd get within probably 150 feet of the other side.

Maybe the trick is to lull yours in to a false sense of security.
 
Just keep feeding him... Soon enough he'll get desensitised. Hopefully he'll bring some kin... then you can have an ambush...

Rod
 
Wild animals are, from my experience, very unfazed by moving or running tractors. That includes open station tractors. I've had to yell at some of them because they will get right under the tractor. But, as you say, once you move to get off the tractor they're gone. My choice would be an open station tractor and a small game rifle, scoped and zeroed for the range you might encounter. Open all the cab doors and windows before you go out if you only have a cab tractor available. Local regulations concerning discharge of firearms near residential areas?? People, especially people like our Madison/Moscow-vites, don't like firearms of anykind and won't hesitate to call the gendarmes. Anyway, I think the tractor offers the best solution as a blind. Personally, I get a kick out of the coyotes. They help keep the deere herds down a little. BUT, I don't keep animals anymore. If you, for some reason, can't shoot them, then I would recommend a pair of Irish Wolfhounds. Great big, wonderful dogs bred for what you're faced with. (;>))
 
We have most of the neighbours on board with making the coyote go away by any means by mentioning their little dogs or cats might be the next meal. One lady might be be a problem but she isn't there all the time. 3 of the neighbours have volunteered to keep watch with rifle at hand while we aren't there.

By law we can shoot a coyote (or anything) attacking livestock regardless of the usual residential setback distances for hunting with rifle or shotgun. Double checked with ranger multiple times.

Other neighbour has setup a live trap as their foal was stalked and injured once it got the herd of horses running. I doubt it will go inside.

Our other flock has a guard llama and it hasn't messed with that group. The big nasty old ram is getting turned out with the flock that had the losses. He wouldn't have a chance against a group of coyotes but he would keep one busy as he doesn't run when canines get in the field. Just makes it hard for us to handle the flock though.

The other group of animals on the farm are horses being boarded mix of workhorses and riding horses. I think they are pretty safe as is.
 
i'd try trapping. use a big leghold trap or a snare. grandad would set up a couple bales of straw and set the trap on top of the bales. he would boil the trap in walnut husks to get the human scent off it. cover the trap with some loose straw. coyotes will climb up on the straw for a better vantage. you can also try a remote predator call, it is a recording of rabbits ect in distress. orther option is a snare. it will hold the critter but not kill em. i get trapping supplies from murrays lures. here is a link.
poke here
 
How close are wanting to park the tractor?

I agree with the post below about using some #2 or #3 traps around the wagon that has the carcass of his previous kill. Don't be afraid to set several.
 
In that case, I'd try to use the tractor as a blind. I've had all kinds of game, including a fox, come right up to a moving tractor. They seem to think it's a big animal. Like an elephant, maybe? (;>)) With all those houses around, I don't think human scent will scare them away.
 
One thing that should be mentioned... these eastern coyotes are not really coyotes in the sense that most of you are familiar with. These things have more in common with a wolf.
They don't trap easily.
More have been taken down with a gut shot from a 12 or .243 around here... than were ever trapped.

Rod
 
There is one in the local nature center, it has been there 18 years. It was injured, that's why it is there.
 
For a short term solution I"d get a trapper in that does it for a living you usually only get one chance a these things and if they get nicked by a bullet or a trap you will never get them again.I"ve been dealing with them about 15 years and they are nothing like the runty western types,I"ve seen them scale 60+lbs.For a log term solution get a couple of purbred livestock guard dogs like Grt Pyrs,Anatolians or Marmaremas NOT
herding dogs they useless around coyotes and coyotes will eventually kill a herding dog.And they are like rats in there is usually 10 more around for every one you see.
 
When I was a kid, we had an old man in the neighborhood who was a fox trapper. There were no coyotes in this area at that time. He would set a wooden post circled with leg hold traps, and use a live chicken as bait, using fence staples to attach the chicken's feet to the top of the post. He was very successful. That tactic would probably get you thrown in jail today.
 
My neighbor was on disability and wanted to help me do stuff around the farm when I was away. I had been complaining abut woodchucks before I left.

When I came back, wife told me that he would cut the fields with a pistol and plug woodchucks while mowing (he was GOOD) and taught my six year old daughter how to shoot and respect firearms. Couldn't stop laughing trying to picture it. No nearby neighbors.

He moved to Florida. Sure miss him.
 
We have most of the neighbours on board with making the coyote go away by any means by mentioning their little dogs or cats might be the next meal. One lady might be be a problem but she isn't there all the time. 3 of the neighbours have volunteered to keep watch with rifle at hand while we aren't there.

By law we can shoot a coyote (or anything) attacking livestock regardless of the usual residential setback distances for hunting with rifle or shotgun. Double checked with ranger multiple times.

Other neighbour has setup a live trap as their foal was stalked and injured once it got the herd of horses running. I doubt it will go inside.

Our other flock has a guard llama and it hasn't messed with that group. The big nasty old ram is getting turned out with the flock that had the losses. He wouldn't have a chance against a group of coyotes but he would keep one busy as he doesn't run when canines get in the field. Just makes it hard for us to handle the flock though.

The other group of animals on the farm are horses being boarded mix of workhorses and riding horses. I think they are pretty safe as is.
 
Look up 'dirt hole set" on the internet. Sounds like a few guys are suggesting just randomly setting traps. The trap need to be bedded solid so it doesn't move if the critter steps on any part. Pan should be covered with a small square of wax paper to keep dirt from under pan. Make sure it is staked and allow a swivel both at the stake and in the chain. A shotgun and 00 buck might be a whole lot easier.

Larry
 
I would be very leery about shooting a high powered rifle anywhere where there are houses and people around--something that starts with an annoyance like a daring predator might end with a disaster that could literally cost you the farm! Rifle bullets can fly for miles.

If trapping is not banned where you are, I would sure try that. It may or may not work. Coyotes are very cunning and I would doubt you would get a second chance.

I like your idea of using a cab tractor as a blind. Might it be possible to use a shotgun with 00 buckshot? Or do you think you would never get close enough to the coyote for a shotgun to be effective?

We have coyotes around here in Eastern Washington. I often hear them at night, but very seldom see one. I used to shoot at them, but with the development in my area, I am too worried about hitting something I didn"t want to--there are just too many people and houses now for it to be safe to shoot rifles. Coyotes are hard to hit. I have killed a couple of them and knocked down several more, but was not sure I killed them because I could not find the carcasses. But these days, it is just too risky to shoot much of anything but a shotgun.

Good luck dealing with the problem, but don"t get yourself in LEGAL trouble!
 
Thanks for heads up. Well aware of the trajectory of rifle rounds, no inhabitants for about 15 miles to the rear of property. First 1/2 mile is our haying partner, next 5 miles is private woodlot not under harvest, next is cut over crown forest land. All that woods is where the coyotes come in from.

We can't use normal leg hold traps here I've been told. Snares and some other types seem to be allowed. Not sure you could snare a coyote.

Reading about sheep losses around here apparently electric fence is the most effective. Even moreso than guard animals. May have to get a UPS or battery powered fencer.
 
Ken, the snare is far easier to use than a foothold trap. You need to find the runs he's using and set it there if you want to use a snare. Footholds are far more difficult between bedding, placement, line of travel, staking, etc. It's nowhere near as simple as setting a trap on the ground and throwing some hay on it. And you'd need a real trap for an Eastern Coyote. The ones I use run about $25.00 each and they are nothing for an amateur to mess with.

As a sheepman with a heavy coyote population I can assure you that an electric fence is about as much a deterrent as a barb wire fence- not much. I lost approx. 50 lambs and ewes last year with electric fence and a guard llama. This year I have electro-netting and 2 Great Pyrenees. I've lost exactly 1 lamb to coyotes and that lamb was well outside the electronet. Nothing bothers my sheep now, but we we're incredibly lucky to get the 2 dogs we did. The electronet keeps the dogs in with the sheep and the dogs keep the coyotes out. I have a few lambs that sneak under gaps in the netting, like the dead one did, but otherwise all is well.
 
These sheep were in a small electronet fencing area inside a 2 acres
electric fenced paddock with 4 horses loose but the power went
out. They were confined to eat down some weeds there. We had
never lost a sheep in 10 years despite high coyote pressure on deer
in the area. I'm sure now that this was a mama teaching young
ones so I'm sure we will have trouble again now they have a taste
and know the fence can be off sometimes.

We have some bait staked out and are trying to get the coyotes
route altered to include where the bait is.
 
I think I saw one in Bartley today. Big dog and was told he's not a year old yet. I'd like to get a couple but not sure how they would handle the heat. I've been told they can chase down a jackrabbit and when they catch it just rip it right in half. Supposed to be the world's largest dog.
 
Most country people have sense enough to shoot a rifle Good Grief,deer hunters and coyote shooters use high powered rifles here all the time without shooting other people.
 
(quoted from post at 18:17:08 09/16/13) These sheep were in a small electronet fencing area inside a 2 acres
electric fenced paddock with 4 horses loose but the power went
out. They were confined to eat down some weeds there. We had
never lost a sheep in 10 years despite high coyote pressure on deer
in the area. I'm sure now that this was a mama teaching young
ones so I'm sure we will have trouble again now they have a taste
and know the fence can be off sometimes.

We have some bait staked out and are trying to get the coyotes
route altered to include where the bait is.
Click to expand...

I move my flock every other or every 3rd day when on pasture and use a deep cycle trolling battery for power. Truth be told, I taught the coyotes to eat sheep by not doing a better job as far as containing them went. They used to have the run of about 25 acres and sere "contained" by a barb wire fence. At the time they were wool sheep, not the hair breed I have now and barb wire is just a back scratcher for the wool breeds! So the coyotes didn't have any problem keeping fat. The draft and riding horses out with the sheep couldn't have cared less if the coyotes ate all the sheep and the llama was a miserable failure. The dogs have been a Godsend. But they do bark- a lot-at night. I went to my neighbors and explained about losing all the sheep the year before and in both cases I got their support for the dogs in spite of the barking. It's not really bad except on clear night in summer when they have the windows open. The flock is a good 1/4-3/8 mile or more from the houses most of the time so that helps too. In winter they're in the barn and they don't bark much.

Trapping season is around the corner. I hope to do some damage to the canine population around me!
 
Ken wrote the "farm is bounded by residential housing on 3 sides". Which could mean a couple of acres or many sections. My concern is that with people LIVING on 3 sides of the farm, they might very well not be exactly where they are supposed to be and might be in danger. If you shoot someone, even by accident, it is going to cost you a bunch of money.

I live on property that I grew up on. When I was a kid 50 years ago, I used to open my bedroom window and shoot at magpies from inside the house with my .22. But then there was one family on our quarter section. Now there are 10 families living on the same ground. I have 20 acres, one of the larger parcels. Since the land got so populated, I have quit shooting high powered rifles on the property at all--I think it would be really imprudent to shoot one and maybe have troubles with a neighbor. I only shoot my pistols in a shooting range I built with an absolute backstop. Occasionally I will shoot a .22 rifle, but only when I am shooting downward into unrocky soil. So if I am going to shoot at a varmint, that pretty much only leaves me the shotguns. I KNOW that the pellets will not carry far enough to be a threat to anything on someone else"s land.

I wish everyone DID have sense enough to shoot a rifle safely. But they don"t...and that is why my ground is posted NO TRESPASSING. I have allowed a few archery hunters on my property, since I would like to lower the deer (almost all does) population. I think they have got 4 or 5 over the last few years on my 20 acres.

Everybody"s situation is different. I hope Ken can figure out a way to deal with the coyote problems, but I also hope he will be able to do it in a way that doesn"t cause him a lot of OTHER PROBLEMS that are much more costly.
 
One way to mitigate problems in Kens case is to use a properly designed varmint bullet used at proper speed. Very lightly jacketed bullets at high speed, say from 3K-3800 fps break up when striking the varmint or any other object with significant mass- like brush, rock, dirt, a fence post, wire, round bale, etc. Of course choosing the angle and direction you fire helps a lot too. Bait in front of a large round bale for instance would serve to mitigate risks very well. Blasting away with a 308 using military surplus ammo OTOH would be increasing the risk.

Just got to use the right tool for the job.
 
20717.jpg


I'm sure you're gonna want to watch you don't do in somebodys pet dog or cat with all these options by maybe giving the neighbors a heads up etc...

Another way to trap coyotes that I've heard about isn't pretty, but I've heard it works. You get some big turtle hooks and thin cable and bait the hooks and hang them from a tree limb lowered to about 5 feet off the ground. They jump up for the chicken or whatever's on the menu that night and... well you can imagine the rest of the story.

It'd be kind of a person to check often and put 'em out of their misery.

Myself... I'm a fan of the rifle. Stops 'em every time. :)
 
(quoted from post at 08:08:05 09/18/13)
I'm sure you're gonna want to watch you don't do in somebodys pet dog or cat with all these options by maybe giving the neighbors a heads up etc...
Click to expand...

I agree to a point, but people should be keeping their dogs and cats on their own land, not on mine.
 
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