Coydog %

That coydog? pic, I was talking about awhile back on the "Iowa Outdoors" web-site. That site was hacked last week. But is up & running again.

If you go to the "Predator Forums" page #4. Right near the top. Under the thread "Coydog or 1/2 wolf" You can see 3-pic's of that big varmint. He weighed 68lbs.
 
A great deal of research has been conducted on hybridazation, Kolenosky, Mengel, Gipson, the Silvers etc. Concensus is that the karotypes of the two species are identical(2n=78) and results in the F1 progeny being fertile, not sterile as many believe. There is a phase shift in breeding season in the hybrids resulting in the bitches whelping a couple of months earlier than coyotes subsequently litter survival rate is extremely low. Since the male coyote is only fertile about 4 months of the year, spermatogenisis begins sometime in Oct. and hormone levels, androgen and testosterone, are often not high enough until Feb. to interest the male in the ladies, most hybridization occurs between male dom dogs and female coyotes.
I call every weekend, I see probably around 300 coyotes a year, I've hunted so far in 20 states and have never seen an obvious hybrid in the wild.
 
Rich,

Thanks for the info. Did you happen to take a look @ that dog on "Iowa Outdoors"? The info that I've read for the most part on coyotes(as not all, "experts" agree). Talks of coyotes weighing in the 20-40lb range. I agree, but then again there are some weighing in the 40-50 & sometimes 60lbs or better range.

I question the pedigree of a coyote going over 50lbs. Especially if they exhibit unusual anatomy features. Not colors, but things like short pointed ears, short broad muzzle, different shaped head, ect.

Obviously...well to me anyway. These huge coyotes, intrigue me to say the least. I guess w/o a DNA sample. I'll never know what the heck they are. I'll get one eventually, because I put in the time. As well as just being to "pig-headed" to give up, LOL!.

Thanks again! for your reply.
 
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Kirby, I have seen several hybrids but all were "domestic". I've also seen photos of the big eastern "coyotes". I've seen Mexican grey wolves, timber wolves, timber wolf / domestic hybrids, and red wolves. I've seen enough coyotes that I can tell the difference between a mature male and a mature female from the facial features. Dog fanciers can tell the probable parentage of a mutt from it's facial features. I expect you can too. I see wolf features in the photos of those big New England phenotypes. DOD posted a photo of one of those big guys that he took with a 17HMR this past year in NH and that beauty looked more wolf to me than coyote. Results of DNA samplings anywhere in the east that suggested hybridization would not surprise me.
 
Rich,

I really can't say with 100% accuracy what these handfull of varmints were. I suspect, maybe 1 or 2 were probably mixed with dog?. The others I would guess mixed with grey wolf?...This "not knowing" is what has nagged on me all of these years.

The only one I ever shot & knocked down. I wish, I had it to do all over again, & finished him off proper, GRRRrrr. When he passed by my front bumper. I thought "WHAT THE HE** is THAT!" I intercepted him right at the road. He passed in front of my car by a foot or two. I hit him in the chest, quartering away with a .223 55gr SP. He rolled & flopped. I then jumped back into my car. To go up the road to pick up my Bro. I then backed down the hill a couple hundred yards. He was up & running hard, like nothing happened. The 55gr'er SP, took out a handfull (chunks) of lung exiting. I tracked him 3/4 mile to an old abandoned farm-sted out in the middle of a square mile section. He went in a den under an old building.

That evening, I called my Dad to tell him about it. He told me he had shot one, 5 miles East of where I hit mine. In the previous winter. He said it was paired with a little female yote. He shot his in the chest quartering away. With a 22-250. Rolled him. He got up, & kept running. Dad, couldn't reconnect.


The other big boys, I never got a crack at. If & when I do tag one. I'll sure post a pic.
 
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