Author Topic: Coyotes in My Yard (Read 1114 times)

Dee · « **on:** January 27, 2010, 03:34:03 PM »

At 5:00AM this morning my Jack Russel woke me and the wife up raising cane in the back yard. Huff is not much of a barker, but when he does, you need to go check, because he's pretty dependable. Before I could get up, the Rat Terrier in the house started raising hell. I got up faster. That hasn't happened since we got the little cuss.
When I stepped out the back door there was a big male wantin over the chain link, and a female watchin. Neither showed any real fear of me, and I think they were debatin on whether they could kill Huff, as he was waitin on'em to come over, and talkin trash in their face thru the fence.
I knew Huff would not run, but instead would fight, and so I hurried in and got the automatic shotgun, while my wife got the big light. The male lost his nerve, and the female trotted out in the field and hung around awhile.
I live on the edge of a small town, with 12 acres behind me plowed for farming. I have a half acre chain link fenced for Huff. This has come up several times, and I have about had enough. The police do nothing, so ever several years I walk out to the tree line and call 2 or 3 up and shoot them, (the coyotes, not the police

) and the problem subsides for a while. I guess it's time again before they get ole Huff.
Any of you guys have that problem?

mechanic · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2010, 03:56:46 PM »

I have that problem Dee, and I live in an area where the houses are 30' apart, and the average lot is 80'x150'. It makes it difficult to shoot safely. The animal control people tell me they only respond to domesticated animals, and I will have to call a pest control service. The police tell me that if they catch me shooting they will have to cite me or arrest me. My wife has a little dog that means the world to her. I have shot one with a 38 spec. in a Handi, and shot at another with a 22. It's hard to find a safe lane to fire. I've tried live trapping, but they won't take the bait. I'm thinking of trying to call them in at night and pop them with a 22.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2010, 04:00:01 PM »

Dee I live out in da woods, there is a big cattle ranch next door, and i hear em all the time at night! Never seen one here and we have some chickens but they are in a covered yard. I keep hoping the song dogs will come around so i dont have to go back there and shoot at em. Now those new lights that I told you about in that pm are working great. I can put one on a rifle scope or a tripod! they dont notice the light(red and green led's) but my scope notices them for sure, out to a hundred yards or a little more so far.

mechanic · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2010, 04:02:14 PM »

Tell me about those lights Oldshooter!

Oldshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2010, 04:08:30 PM »

Quote from: mechanic on January 27, 2010, 04:02:14 PM

Tell me about those lights Oldshooter!

Check em out here, I have two of the Sendero rpg 9 watts.

http://www.texasboars.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22_33

billy_56081 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2010, 04:21:45 PM »

My neighbor had his great pyranese tore to peices by coyotes in his yard. This was out in the country about 5 miles from town. The dog was not dead but in bad shape and had to be put down. We always worried about our rat terrier Buddy because he thinks he is 10 times bigger than he really is. His best action came one time when he cornered a mink. He learned just how quick and mean a cornered mink is.

myronman3 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2010, 04:44:28 PM »

i dont know how close them houses are dee, but if you can take a safe shot, there would have been dead coyotes laying if'n it were me. i would think the castle doctrine would cover your actions as long as you dont put anyone in danger. if joe horn can smoke two gang members, you sure as hell should be able to take care of coyotes trying to kill your dog.
everywhere i lived, my neighbors liked having a problem solver like me around. of course, i always made it a point to be a very good neighbor. i am betting your neighbors have pets as well and probably wouldnt mind the threat being removed.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2010, 04:57:11 PM »

I think a CB cap applied to the correct spot would quietly and safley do a job on them. Heck, do they stand for Cat Bullet or Coyote Bullet?

BoomLover · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2010, 05:05:22 PM »

Mechanic....ever try a .22 air rifle? Powerful enough, quiet, 1200 fps +/-...won't bother neighbors, won't cost much. If your property's are that small, should be easy pickin's

Dee · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2010, 05:23:14 PM »

It's not a matter of safety. I can hunt them legally, and with a varmint rifle. It's just aggravating, to know they'll kill and eat my dog if they get a chance. Huff wouldn't be hard to catch, he'd meet'em half way, or more if they were slow gettin there.
I will get up in the morning and walk about 100 yards east of my house, sit down in a tree line and see if they will come to a call. I suspect they will, and hopefully I'll get at least one of them. I'll then wait a couple of weeks and try to get the other one.
With the Bushmaster the follow up shot is quick and with any luck there won't be any wind in the morning. If not, they'll come straight in.
The last of February and the first part of March I'll really hunt them. They'll be ready to den and whelp pups, and will be extremely territorial. A howler will get them in then.

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2010, 05:24:04 PM »

Oh! that kind of coyote. I thought this was about Obama.

alsaqr · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2010, 01:22:17 AM »

Quote

The last of February and the first part of March I'll really hunt them. They'll be ready to den and whelp pups, and will be extremely territorial. A howler will get them in then.

I call in and shoot a lot of coyotes then. A friend has two Heinz 57 dogs that are trained to go out into the field, play around, bark and and attract coyotes. When the yote chases the dogs they run for the shooter and bring them right in to you.

myronman3 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2010, 02:17:59 AM »

i saw a video on that once, it was pretty cool. i wonder how the hell you train a dog to do that though. or is it more a thing of going to the pound, get a dog, take it out and try it until you find one that is smart enough to haul @$$ back when being chased? lol. and if it aint smart enough, the pound always has more. lol.

gypsyman · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2010, 02:55:17 AM »

Never actually hunted 'yotes. Could you try fox tactics. Kill a rabbit/squirrel/cat, drag it around thru some fields and lead it past a spot where you can ambush him? gypsyman

nomosendero · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2010, 02:59:07 AM »

My AR is ready if they are.

kansasj · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2010, 03:27:25 AM »

I think I would run down to Ganders and buy a couple of double spring traps and bait them with a few chopped up pieces of a rabbit or squirrel road kill!
Then be patient and be certain to not turn out "Huff". I have a really soft spot for Jack Russel Terriers. They rule!!

Dee · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:16:12 AM »

kansasj, the first time I caught a neighbor's cat, or house dog, in a steel trap, none of which should be roaming, the CNN camera crew would be in my yard.
I am a very dedicated SSS practitioner around the house grounds.
It's raining today, but I'll get the two coyotes eventually. They have my attention.

Sourdough · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:28:15 AM »

DEE: No doubt you will do what needs to be done. I understand it's just the pain of having to go out and do it.

Dee · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:37:16 AM »

The bones get creaky don't they Sourdough?

rockbilly · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:06:46 AM »

We live on the edge of town near two lakes, one a small private lake on a gated community and a large city lake across the road. It is almost like living in the country, we see all kinds of wildlife, it’s not uncommon to see an animal driving home late at night. Several years ago my neighbor started putting cat food out at night for strays, I wasn’t pleased becaause it also attracted skunks but it was on his property so I couldn’t do anything about it. After a while we started finding dead cats that had been partially eaten, and then we begin to find garbage cans turned over. My old German Shepard would raise hell on occasion but I never seen anything. Then one morning I awoke to a fight in the back yard, I grabbed my model 60 and a flash light and went out to investigate, Sam and the yote were tied up, I tried to call him off but they continued to fight. Finally they broke for a split second and I fired, the .357 bullet caught the yote just about mid-section, a gut shot. The yote still managed to jump the fence and run off towards a wooded area around the private lake. The next morning I walked around the lake and found the yote dead in the back yard of a house by the lake. I still hear them on a regular basis, but haven’t seen one for years.

Dee · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:26:08 AM »

Similar situation here rockbilly. The neighbors put their trash out the night before pickup, and guess what happens. A dog or cat will open the bag right there, and the trash owner has to clean up the mess. A coyote will grab the bag and leave with it. They usually take it behind my place and open it in the field which is south of me. The wind blows the trash onto my place, and I have to pick it up.
For a while one of my Arizona transplant very liberal neighbors, decided the stray cats in the neighborhood needed feeding and would set entire bags of cat food out in the field along with a bucket of water. That got expensive and he quit as the bags and buckets, started disappearing. I also feed these cats sorta, but I limit them to one meal each.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:32:04 AM »

Dee, your lib neighbor must just love you!

Dee · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:47:52 AM »

Actually he sold the house about a month ago, and some city folks from Dallas bought it. He came over to the yard two or three times a few years ago, but I didn't show any interest in getting to know him, and he gave up. For the first couple of years I has avoided him by going inside or around back when he was out, and it evolved into very little contact, which is what I wanted.
I have no neighbors on my side of the street. I own most of that side, are they are all across the street, with a farm field behind me. I have good neighbors for the most part, but animals from other neighborhoods, and from down the only street in my end of town come to visit occasionally. I've only had actual problems with a couple of neighbors and it was them letting their biting dogs roam. I notified the police, and the neighbor in each case, that I would defend my family and property with great vigor, and if they loved their mean dog they would keep it home. The Castle Doctrine is a wonderful piece of legislation here in Texas. I grew up in the house across the street, but have actually only been back for about 16 years, having left in 1975.
The best method most of the time, is to NEVER say anything. Just quietly take care of the problem, and call it a day. If it's a little house dog roaming, I usually follow it home and explain to them about my Jack Russel's territorial attitude. This usually solves the problem, but on a couple of occasions Huff has dealt with the problem very effectively.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2010, 06:53:58 AM »

I had that problem in one of the places I lived. I bought a single shot 22 mag and stuck a cheap red dot on it and kept it by the door.
Since then I moved and no longer have Coyote problems at night.
If you want the Red Dot sight for a 22 you are more than welcome to it. Just mount a 1913 rail on the gun and off you go.
If you have a Browning Buck mark I have the rail for it you can use till tree rats come in next year.
Found the red dot works well at night. One eye with the dot the other to see the target.
Zap me a message if you want me to send it and I can get it out to you sat or monday.

boondocker · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2010, 01:09:25 PM »

This is our little girl Ruby, she runs the place no question. I have some yotes to dispatch as they sometimes taunt her even in the house.
Jack Russels are the coolest and bravest little folks. Boon

Foxxtrot · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2010, 01:12:39 PM »

YHM silencer and $200 tax stamp/paperwork.

Dee · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2010, 01:20:30 PM »

Good lookin little dog boondocker. We love our little Jack, but due to his attitude he comes with baggage. He does not play well with others. In fact my wife, myself, and my mother are the only two people on the planet he will tolerate. That has caused minor problems in the past.
Don't need a silencer for the coyotes. No one here wants them around.

nw_hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** January 28, 2010, 02:20:12 PM »

Quote from: Dee on January 28, 2010, 01:20:30 PM

Good lookin little dog boondocker. We love our little Jack, but due to his attitude he comes with baggage. He does not play well with others. In fact my wife, myself, and my mother are the only two people on the planet he will tolerate. That has caused minor problems in the past.
Don't need a silencer for the coyotes. No one here wants them around.

I don't know what it is about terriers we all love......Could be because the lil honery rascals are so independent. They do have the baggage , like you say.They have a tendency to tackle dogs they should leave alone.lol!

A friend of mine had a Jack, that wanted to whip the neighbors big German Shepard. He tried it twice, and the last time dang near killed him.

We have an overweight Stafford shire female, that loves all animals until they bite her out of anger, and then she remembers what she is.

Dee · « **Reply #28 on:** January 28, 2010, 03:51:20 PM »

We've only had this Rat Terrier for about a month. He's our first Rat, and is possibly the smartest dog we've ever had, including my patrol dogs. He is already showing some grit, and tried to get some company that showed up unexpectedly the other night. We had to put him in his crate. He a lot bigger now, but this is a first photo.
The only problem we're having is his shedding. If we can't get it under control we're going to have to get rid of him. He won't fit in the back yard, Huff won't allow it. Any inside info on stopping or slowing down the shedding?

nw_hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** January 28, 2010, 07:06:44 PM »

Quote from: Dee on January 28, 2010, 03:51:20 PM

We've only had this Rat Terrier for about a month. He's our first Rat, and is possibly the smartest dog we've ever had, including my patrol dogs. He is already showing some grit, and tried to get some company that showed up unexpectedly the other night. We had to put him in his crate. He a lot bigger now, but this is a first photo.
The only problem we're having is his shedding. If we can't get it under control we're going to have to get rid of him. He won't fit in the back yard, Huff won't allow it. Any inside info on stopping or slowing down the shedding?

Short haired dogs do shed.
Our Stafford Shire sheds a lot.
It's worse in the winter months. I think because of the dry heat indoors.
About all you can do is brush them often with a soft brush or a rubber mitt to remove the dead hair.