Coyotes effect on deer and turkey population?
- Thread starter Scamp
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masshunter
Active member
They have to have an impact, mostly fawns. In the northern states with snow they take a bigger toll, and the coyotes are also bigger. Northern Vermont, N.H. and Maine have a very high kill in the deer yards. Droppings full of deer hair will tell you a lot. They will hammer your small game, especially rabbits and pheasants and the farm pond mallards. You will start to see fewer fox also, and they will be in your yard. They were a rumor here in the 60's and 70's and were protected, but by the 80's we had a population and by the 90's had the state covered. They are fun to hunt, but I miss rabbit and grouse hunting we used to have. They can be a hazard to Beagles, and I have even heard of coonhounds being ganged up on. My advice would be kill everyone you can anytime anyway. I look at them as an invasive species
Scamp
New member
Originally Posted By: 1trkyhntrYes, and the turkeys will not be nearly as vocal in the spring, especially after they fly down off the roost. I don't hear even half the gobbling that I used to and we call in at least a coyote or 2 every spring while turkey calling.
I have absolutely noticed that the birds are not gobbling as much the last couple years.
I have absolutely noticed that the birds are not gobbling as much the last couple years.
Scamp
New member
Originally Posted By: masshunterThey have to have an impact, mostly fawns. In the northern states with snow they take a bigger toll, and the coyotes are also bigger. Northern Vermont, N.H. and Maine have a very high kill in the deer yards. Droppings full of deer hair will tell you a lot. They will hammer your small game, especially rabbits and pheasants and the farm pond mallards. You will start to see fewer fox also, and they will be in your yard. They were a rumor here in the 60's and 70's and were protected, but by the 80's we had a population and by the 90's had the state covered. They are fun to hunt, but I miss rabbit and grouse hunting we used to have. They can be a hazard to Beagles, and I have even heard of coonhounds being ganged up on. My advice would be kill everyone you can anytime anyway. I look at them as an invasive species
This area is full of turkeys, ducks, geese. And rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, coons and possums. We do have lots of fox both reds and greys.
And we have deer all over the place. I have noticed glassing the soybean fields in late summer the last couple years, sometimes 15 or 20 does with no fawns. What happened to the fawns?
This area is full of turkeys, ducks, geese. And rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, coons and possums. We do have lots of fox both reds and greys.
And we have deer all over the place. I have noticed glassing the soybean fields in late summer the last couple years, sometimes 15 or 20 does with no fawns. What happened to the fawns?
Pa. Mick
Well-known member
About 20 years ago my turkey population got wiped out around the house only to be replaced by howls outside my bedroom window ! Game on !!! Been chasing them ever since, lol ! Agree with the other guys on other wildlife being affected also.
Don’t wait for the shot, take the shot ! Welcome to Predator Masters !
Don’t wait for the shot, take the shot ! Welcome to Predator Masters !
Last edited:
erict
Member
Coyotes are blamed for lot of things and while I think they contribute, they are not singly to blame. Habitat loss did in our pheasants in NY. Fur prices and the number of trappers pursuing racoons way down, so racoon populations way up - they do considerable damage to turkey populations, especially nests. Significant protections for raptors/birds of prey (which were at one point unprotected or even had a bounty on them as late as the 1960s) have certainly contributed to pressure on turkey, grouse, pheasants. Droppings full of deer hair only tell me that something ate a deer, not whether it was already dead or alive. Muskrat populations have declined significantly (from other than coyotes) but that means the dogs need to find other food sources.
I can remember hunting woodchucks in PA and shooting 10 in a day was not unheard of. I also remember seeing more fox than I do now. I have not seen any impact on our deer populations.
No doubt they have an impact - I just wish they tasted better!
I can remember hunting woodchucks in PA and shooting 10 in a day was not unheard of. I also remember seeing more fox than I do now. I have not seen any impact on our deer populations.
No doubt they have an impact - I just wish they tasted better!
JoeyJ
New member
The young wildlife will always take a beating. Bear, wolf, coyote will take down fawns whenever encountered. They will also take down adult deer/elk in the winter months. Upland game nests are fair game to the coyote, fox, racoon and the house/farm cat.
If you have a large population of coyote/wolf in your area - all that means is there's plenty of food available and the female will produce more pups - when the food is scarce, one pup is common.
What that boils down to is if you have an increase in the coyote litter/pack then the local deer and small game in the area are being somewhat depleted. Add the human hunter and there's going to be some complaining going on.
If you have a large population of coyote/wolf in your area - all that means is there's plenty of food available and the female will produce more pups - when the food is scarce, one pup is common.
What that boils down to is if you have an increase in the coyote litter/pack then the local deer and small game in the area are being somewhat depleted. Add the human hunter and there's going to be some complaining going on.
GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: Pa. MickAbout 20 years ago my turkey population got wiped out around the house only to be replaced by howls outside my bedroom window ! Game on !!! Been chasing them ever since, lol ! Agree with the other guys on other wildlife being affected also.
Don’t wait for the shot, take the shot ! Welcome to Predator Masters !
Nest predation from coons, skunks, possums, crows, snakes, ect. are affecting your turkey population far more than coyotes. Coyote will eat turkey eggs and poults, but they aren't big players on either nest or actual birds. Bobcat and great horned owls are much better turkey hunters. Raccoons on the other hand devastate ground nest. When a coon finds a nest they'll eat and destroy all the eggs and all the potential from that nesting cycle from that hen unless she is able to renest successfully. Coons will also eat the little poults. If raccoons were people they would all be in jail. When a coon encounters something they look for three things, 1) can I eat it? 2) can I screw it? 3) can I chit on it? Raccoons are aholes, start trapping and hunting coons and watch your turkey population improve.
Don’t wait for the shot, take the shot ! Welcome to Predator Masters !
Nest predation from coons, skunks, possums, crows, snakes, ect. are affecting your turkey population far more than coyotes. Coyote will eat turkey eggs and poults, but they aren't big players on either nest or actual birds. Bobcat and great horned owls are much better turkey hunters. Raccoons on the other hand devastate ground nest. When a coon finds a nest they'll eat and destroy all the eggs and all the potential from that nesting cycle from that hen unless she is able to renest successfully. Coons will also eat the little poults. If raccoons were people they would all be in jail. When a coon encounters something they look for three things, 1) can I eat it? 2) can I screw it? 3) can I chit on it? Raccoons are aholes, start trapping and hunting coons and watch your turkey population improve.