How large is the threat of Coyote on Turkey populations vs other Predator types? Seems like the Turkeys are either gone or hiding very well and Coyotes are everywhere. It didn't appear to be like this a few years ago.
Coyotes are low on the list. That being said they still get a their share and I kill everyone I get a chance too. There are just more efficient turkey decliners out there. Example a your may get ine in a hunt, a coon may take out a whole nest.
Coyotes are a big problem, I have done a lot of trapping. And when asked this same question on coyotes on the pheasent population my answer would be Yes they definitely are. A coyote is a large animal and when they are real hungry they will hunt Day and night. The more hours spent trying the chances of success is greater. But depending on the area you are in there are a lot of other critters that I feel are just as bad or worse. Crows, skunks, possums are just a few of the critters that can destroy a entire nest having a big impact.
Yes coyotes are a problem to our population but any predator out there is.I trap alot of them here and i think it helps with my population some but it is a constant battle.Bobcats is another one that is high on the list in my opinion along with the gray fox.
We have all of the critters mentioned by ddturkeyhunter. Our turkey "haydays" occurred back in the days when hides were worth hunting. Coon hunters kept the coons and possums to a low level and I suspect saved some turkeys and nests. I have only seen 3 coyotes and 2 bobcats during daylight hours. I have manged to call in a couple foxes and 1 bobcat with my turkey calling so I suspect that they must be problems at any hour of the day.
I'd bet crows do as much damage as coyotes. All the nest raiders are hell on turkeys, though. Then throw hawks and owls and bobcats on the poults and truth is it's just hard being a turkey.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Any of the furbearers pose a problem for turks. Hawks, owls and crows as well. I believe your nest predators cause the biggest threat though. However, coyotes are opportunistic hunters. If they can catch it they will eat it. We had one several years ago, spot our hen decoy and came on a dead run. He got a nice load of copper plated shot for his effort.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Once a group of coyotes LEARNS how to hunt turkey, the turkeys are in trouble. Also seems coyotes are more successful in more hilly country. The turkeys need more trappers.
1 day of trapping can save a substantial amount of wildlife. 49 traps 1st check
Well done! Tip of the hat to you :icon_thumright:
You have the trapping part nailed down - kudos!!!!!
Coyotes get thier share of them, but there are more efficient predators in the turkey world. Bobcats, owls, red tail hawks, and coons all rank higher on the list in my opinion.
Great job.
ATTA BOY, Kip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
There's a lot of saved turkeys laying on that floor, right there !!!! Yep.
How can we recruit more trappers to save more turkeys? Fur prices wax and wayne, but predator populations remain high. I will give the instruction free to anyone wanting to trap for the good of the birds and deer.
Are you willing to give the birds your money and time?
I haven't seen much evidence that coyotes are a major threat to turkey populations here where I live and hunt. There is no doubt that they are an opportunistic predator on turkeys, though. I believe the real significant culprits are the nest predators that take out entire clutches of eggs all at once. I haven't seen any documentation that coyotes do that. Still, they definitely need to be controlled, and that is probably needed in some places more than others.
Very Small vs. other predators.
Very Small compared to habitat loss (read timber harvest). Particularly in the Southeast.
Very Small compared to genetics (Never much diversity in the gene pool) Restoration efforts.
Quote from: ferocious calls on February 13, 2022, 10:49:09 AM
How can we recruit more trappers to save more turkeys? Fur prices wax and wayne, but predator populations remain high. I will give the instruction free to anyone wanting to trap for the good of the birds and deer.
Are you willing to give the birds your money and time?
Nice work ferocious!
I just started this year myself. Wish I would have started 30 years ago.
On a side note, Coyotes are very effective at killing nest raiders.
Not so much on killing wild turkeys.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on February 13, 2022, 01:31:02 PM
Very Small vs. other predators.
Very Small compared to habitat loss (read timber harvest). Particularly in the Southeast.
Very Small compared to genetics (Never much diversity in the gene pool) Restoration efforts.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on February 13, 2022, 01:47:41 PM
On a side note, Coyotes are very effective at killing nest raiders.
Not so much on killing wild turkeys.
From what I have seen, I would agree with these two quotes. The second one, in particular, probably has not been considered by a lot of folks, but is most likely very true. Good point... :icon_thumright:
I focus on coons / possums / etc .
But I still thump every bobcat and yote I get a chance at .
Yotes are tuff on rabbit populations and fawns .
A coyote is a nest predator night and day. So are fox.
There is no straight answer. It's highly variable.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I've listened to a couple podcasts with guest biologists who place more blame on nest raiders. I don't hesitate to take a coyote when possible though
I was talking to a biologist the other day doing some turkey research and he said bobcats and great horned owls were the two biggest threats to adult turkeys. He said coyotes try but are not very good turkey hunters. Of course all the nest predators from snakes, crows, coons, skunks, possums etc take a toll on them. I trap my hunting lease hard for bobcats every year. In doing so I do catch lots of coyotes, coons, skunks etc. My observations may be a little biased but I can see a noticeable increased number of turkeys on my lease compared to areas where there is little to no trapping done.