Author Topic: Anyone still doing any varmit hunting???? (Read 1733 times)

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **on:** March 28, 2009, 09:31:11 AM »

;)Are you guys still varmit hunting, or have you hung it up for the spring?

Yesterday, I was out and saw 8 coyotes

All but one escaped. g\Got my only dog at noon as I was heading home. It was very cold with snow, and the dogs were moving

The one I got was about 250 yards, used my 300 target rifle. Also got a badger with the .223.

My buddy and I keep after the coyotes all spring as they really hound the antelope as they start to drop their fawns.

In away, I hate shooting them at that time, but they don't cut the antelope a break so I guess we don't cut them one. But I think the old coyote is one of our finest game animals. He provides more hunting than any other animal in the west

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:40:36 AM »

I called one in a few weeks ago, but I screwed up and it got away. The season (yes, New York actually has a season on them!) ends tomorrow. I have heard of several Conservation Officers that would not issue a ticket for hunting out of season unless there was another serious violation. As far as I am concerned, if I get a shot, I'm taking it.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2009, 09:41:18 AM »

Technically coyotes are predators rather than varmints but since there are few around where I live and I have no where to hunt them I don't hunt them at all but if I did I'd not stop in spring. They really don't need the break as the harder they are hunted the more they reproduce so no matter how hard you hunt them I don't think you'll damage the resource.

Around here varmint hunting consists more of shooting critters like cowbirds, grackles and starlings for me. I'll take an occasional possum or raccoon. Feral cats and dogs are plentiful but the state has now made it a felony to harm them and I have a neighbor that watches me like a hawk trying to find something she can report to the cops so I have to stay strictly within the letter of the law on what I can shoot.

Were my pond further from view of the highway and her so it was safe I'd be able to shoot turtles and muskrats daily but since it's right on the state highway it's really safe to shoot only air guns there.

I could shoot crows and used to hunt them heavily but around my house here I kinda like having them around to remind me of the days when I hunted them so I seldom will shoot one here on my property. Back when I was gardening more (which I hope to do again this year) I'd take out a few if they got into the garden too much. If I get to garden this year and the get into it I'll likely do it again.

trotterlg · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2009, 02:37:55 PM »

I shoot a Crow or two a year just to keep them out of the garden. Trick is to shoot a Crow when other crows can see it get shot. They make a lot of noise and fly around like crazy, but then they won't come near the place for a year or so. They are really smart birds. Larry

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2009, 05:45:41 PM »

Mud here, much mud in this agricultural region this time of year. It will dry up of course but the drainage grasses come up quickly and the corn crop really isn't too far behind. The Coyotes can pretty much go anywhere that they want when this happens. I will get out when the new soybeans are but a couple inches high and inspect vast areas for groundhog damage and that can be entertaining for a while.
Other diversions for myself are the ground squirrels in the large grassy areas of the barn yards & implement sheds. I use the WMR for this. I also try & work in shooting the S/A Revolvers a couple times a week and it makes for a fast spring\summer and then I am ready to get some venison for the freezer and then hunt the Coyotes again.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:56:57 AM »

i have been working and i been too tired to go hunting. I just got a new airgun and those starlings been calling my name so i going to get some soon. I have not killed a Coyote in so long i would not even know what one looks like

. there lots of pest coming out and i will kill a few soon.

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2009, 12:31:38 PM »

Easy answer. Here both predator and varmint hunting are year-round, day or night. Most species have no season, license requirements or daily bag-possession limits (other than 3-4 of the furbearers).

skb2706 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:59:54 AM »

Here in CO we can hunt them year round no bag limit but you should have a small game license for public land. We usually stop hunting about this time of year tho....We will still shoot them but its an opportunity thing from now til Nov. By now we start gearing up for several prairie dog shoots and occasionally see coyotes. The best calling for us goes from Nov to end of Feb.

Arier Blut · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2009, 08:47:12 PM »

I used to hunt predators year round to protect the livestock. I got some anatolian shephards out in the pastures and they do the predator killing now. I still have to shoot the coons, cats and possums that terrorize the poultry. If I see a predator I shoot, but don't call them up except cold weather due to the skeeters. I let the crows alone now'adays. They run the hawks and owls off for me. The trade off is they eat the duck eggs. But I get enough to hatch off so no problems.

These days it seems if they don't bother me, I don't bother them. So all the other varmints stay safe around here until they get out of line.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2009, 09:04:56 AM »

you shoot cats?? your the first person that says they shoot cats, i know others do but they will not say they do if you ask them.

Arier Blut · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2009, 08:12:58 PM »

Yes they are kitty cats not bobcats. I run cage traps year round. Those that are caught go to the dog pound. If they won't fall for the trap or I catch them stalking the fowl they are dispatched. If they get in the pastures they are greeted by 150 lb dogs that tolerate them less than I do. Cats do more damage annually to upland and small game populations than any natural predator. I don't know if they are dumped off or feral but they are not wanted here.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2009, 04:28:47 AM »

Quote

Cats do more damage annually to upland and small game populations than any natural predator

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2009, 09:37:31 AM »

Quote from: jamaldog87 on April 02, 2009, 09:04:56 AM

you shoot cats?? your the first person that says they shoot cats, i know others do but they will not say they do if you ask them.

In Alabama these days doing harm to a dog or cat is a FELONY. Yeah it's hard for me to believe we've fallen that far also but it's fact. Talking about doing such harm is not a wise move. I have a neighbor that seems to live to keep an eye on me to report anything I might do that she doesn't like to the cops.

skb2706 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2009, 11:01:17 AM »

Doing harm to a cat in my neighborhood is against the law....I do know that occasionally one will end up dead at the bottom of the dumpster and nobody knows how it got there. Possible it died from being at the bottom of the dumpster.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2009, 11:38:23 AM »

to me that the owner problem for leaveing there cat outside, but still for me it hard to kill a cat and if i had to shoot one it would be if it was sick or if i could do nothing else(like if it attack one of my animal). it's people that are the probelm. also it make shooter,hunter, and all outdoor people look bad if they find you doing that(i can see it on the new now, "hunter are pet killers" more at 11pm).

helotaxi · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2009, 04:48:19 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on April 03, 2009, 09:37:31 AM

Quote from: jamaldog87 on April 02, 2009, 09:04:56 AM
you shoot cats?? your the first person that says they shoot cats, i know others do but they will not say they do if you ask them.

In Alabama these days doing harm to a dog or cat is a FELONY. Yeah it's hard for me to believe we've fallen that far also but it's fact.

Who let the liberal idiots loose in 'Bama? Grew up hunting LA and the standing rule was if you have both a feral dog and a trophy buck in range, the dog dies. The buck will have a better chance of coming back with the dog gone.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:56:07 AM »

oh, i have no probelm killing a dog, just other pets like cats or a cow. Me and feral dogs go back real far and i own them one bullet for one bite. Eye for a eye!!!

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2009, 01:14:12 PM »

Yupper I've dropped my share of them as well but now ya best not or at least best not get caught. Dunno how they got it passed here either but they did. It sure took me by surprise but luckily I heard about it before getting caught red handed.

Quote from: helotaxi on April 08, 2009, 04:48:19 PM

Quote from: Graybeard on April 03, 2009, 09:37:31 AM
Quote from: jamaldog87 on April 02, 2009, 09:04:56 AM
you shoot cats?? your the first person that says they shoot cats, i know others do but they will not say they do if you ask them.

In Alabama these days doing harm to a dog or cat is a FELONY. Yeah it's hard for me to believe we've fallen that far also but it's fact.
Who let the liberal idiots loose in 'Bama? Grew up hunting LA and the standing rule was if you have both a feral dog and a trophy buck in range, the dog dies. The buck will have a better chance of coming back with the dog gone.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2009, 01:34:35 PM »

In Texas you can defend your livestock against anything except nationally protected birds of prey! I wont even discuss that here!

Feral cats should be considered dangerous to anybodys livestock! They destroy game birds, and they will play with a nest of baby rabbits until they are dead then walk away.

I try to give dogs with collars a break but if they come inside the chicken fence they get their ticket cancelled!

GB will they come pick em up if you can't shoot em?

kansasj · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2009, 01:48:12 PM »

If house cats get past the mailbox you need to give them their parking ticket! They play and then kill with more small game and uplands than you can imagine. Every time I am hunting quail and see singles you can bet the dogs will have a cat treed in a few minutes.

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2009, 06:13:52 PM »

Quote

GB will they come pick em up if you can't shoot em?

Nope not unless inside city limits. No animal control officers other than in cities and not all cities have them. But let an owner or animal lover find out you hurt one and they'll darn sure come pick you up.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 14, 2009, 08:37:51 AM »

Well that is BS how in the haites are they ever gonna slow down the population if you can't thin em out! Heck even PETA gases the ones they cant give away!

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #22 on:** April 14, 2009, 11:19:21 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on April 13, 2009, 06:13:52 PM

Quote
GB will they come pick em up if you can't shoot em?

Nope not unless inside city limits. No animal control officers other than in cities and not all cities have them. But let an owner or animal lover find out you hurt one and they'll darn sure come pick you up.

That's why I would never, ever, ever try to harm a fluffy, worthless, pheasant killing kitty...

huntingohio · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2009, 02:33:29 AM »

i have a gropup of probly 20 STRAY cats that roam around my house and have been taking care of that problem. slingshots, air guns, a tomahawk, and whaterever else will do it. the bad thing is the lady a couple of houses down from me keeps feeding them so they keep coming back!! and now with spring here there gonna start mutiplying again ugh!!! people need to keep there pets inside!!!

Orddy · « **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2009, 07:25:24 AM »

The pasture poodles are out now by the thousands.........i had to come back home so i could reload more ammo. The new hatch isn't even out yet.......i'm thinking i'll need a new barrel after this year if what i've seen out is any indicator as to how many dogs are around this year. I wonder how those dudes who just poke holes in paper find any fun and satisfaction in that........hmmmmmm. I feel sorry for them actually.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 27, 2009, 09:49:40 AM »

sounds like you need a 100round drum

ratpatrol · « **Reply #26 on:** May 01, 2009, 05:22:59 AM »

Orddy-- Need any help with your PD problem,

You ought to set up a small shoot, I'm shure there would be alot of interest. Where are you located?

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #27 on:** May 02, 2009, 03:10:29 PM »

I finally had a chance to go out today. I got 9 woodchucks, 8 with the 17 HMR and 1 with my new Encore .243. No real long shots, the .243 shot was the longest at about 150 yd. This was one of my best days ever! The .243 does quite the job with the Hornady 58 gr. V-max., it just about decapitated him!

Swift One · « **Reply #28 on:** May 03, 2009, 07:00:26 AM »

Quote

Technically coyotes are predators rather than varmints.

Amen to that!!

I am shooting the Ground hogs as they show themselves. But as far as predators, I have hung that up till the fall.