Forest for the tree thought

[dah]

 Agree , Farmboy 27 , I have always respected all predators , Have also taken some and will take some more , the hunter hunting the hunter . I believe they are important and would never wish their demise ,

[Sir-diealot]

Try and add a coyote/fawn favorite picture.  If still having picture problems and I add it to my last post it will white out the thread for me.  Let's see.  Reduced the picture to 180kb.

But.....but..... they only eat berries and field mice. Morons.

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[zelmo1]

Egg stealers/ nest raiders do way more damage than coyotes. The coyote is an opportunistic hunter but their success rate on mature turkeys is low. I would rather take 1 egg stealer than 5 coyotes if you are protecting turkeys specifically. Z

[joey46]

Will try one more coyote picture that is the companion to the one posted a few post earlier.  Hope you will be able to see that this one coyote obviously called for the drumstick.  This property does have a steady deer population so they don't get them all.  I have plenty of coyote pictures so expect a few more at times.  Never see a mangy one.

[El Pavo Grande]

I agree we should not decimate these predator populations to the point of extinction, as they play a role.   But, consider the major loss of habitat, which equates to less available habitat for them to co-exist, and in the case of turkeys a lot of subpar habitat for brooding and nesting.  My eyes tell me we have more coyotes, coons, and possums than I can ever remember.  Bobcats and gray fox I can't say, but we are loaded with both right now.  Trapping was previously much more prevalent than it's been over the last couple of decades or so.  We need more removal than we have right now, in my opinion. 

In Arkansas baiting is legal for deer, the majority of the year in CWD zones.  Maybe it's year round in other counties, I'm not sure.  But, a ton of corn, etc. being fed.  I've seen pictures of 10-12 coons at one feeder, at the same time.  I think a balanced approach with removal is best and can see where an unbalanced approach could be counterproductive.  But, I think a continual and steady removal just keeps them in check, as they keep filling in, and at the rate of trapping/removal right now we won't decimate the populations.  Not enough people doing it. 

Last year was the first year I dedicated a full 60 consecutive days of trapping.  A friend and I had access to some timber company leases for January and February.  I was surprised at what we caught within basically two trap lines, in two generally small areas square mileage wise.  A good balanced mix.  We could have (and should have) removed more coons, so we will target those a little harder this winter.   

I think each area is unique, so it's difficult for a biologist or anyone to say it's a waste of time.  For turkeys some argue don't waste your time, focus on habitat.  I agree it's #1 priority, probably by a long shot, but think it's a mistake to completely discredit predator removal.   I've heard it said if it's less than perfect habitat you are wasting time, and if it's perfect habitat you don't need to remove predators.  With that I disagree.   In Arkansas, we have never had perfect habitat in a lot of places, but adequate enough to support thriving turkey populations in the past.

As far as coyotes, our populations have exploded over the last 20+ years.  You will never decimate them, but they need thinned out.  Coon hunting has made a little comeback, but not to the level it was in the 70s and 80s, and a lot of those now shoot a lower percentage of treed coons, just in talking to a few.   

[Meleagris gallopavo]

I used to kill every coyote I could shoot.  Now I'm not, as they are good at reducing ground hog populations.  I hate the groundhogs more than the coyotes from an agricultural perspective.  Since I rely on agriculture for my profession, groundhog control is more important.  I trap or shoot as many groundhogs as I can.


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[Farmboy27]

I used to kill every coyote I could shoot.  Now I'm not, as they are good at reducing ground hog populations.  I hate the groundhogs more than the coyotes from an agricultural perspective.  Since I rely on agriculture for my profession, groundhog control is more important.  I trap or shoot as many groundhogs as I can.


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Absolutely spot on!!  Coyotes and fox are excellent groundhog control!!  I actually know several farmers who allow deer and turkey hunting on their property but will not allow fox or coyotes to be killed.