Originally Posted By: G AndersonOriginally Posted By: SnowmanMoOriginally Posted By: G AndersonWith the increased number of "contests" every weekend, it is of little wonder why a lot are seeing less coyotes. When you have say 50 teams of 2 people running all over creation for an entire weekend, shooting out of vehicles, calling everywhere, shooting at and educating coyotes...they get vehicle shy, call shy and gun shy for sure. If the average harvest numbers are 25-50(often more) coyotes per contest, it won't take long before the numbers go way down in a given area. A lot of these "contests" are in the name of Quail Unlimited or Pheasants Forever...ya right! Foxes, cats(domestic as well as wild), coons, and loss of habitat do more to these birds than any coyotes. Once you make it a "contest", the sport of it goes out the window...take the money out of the "contest" and see what happens then.
I'm going to start a "Coyotes Forever" chapter and we are going to go shoot all the pheasants and quail we can(legally) and leave them lay so the coyotes don't have to work so hard to eat...bet the "bird chapters" wouldn't like that too much. I guess by now you know how I feel about "contests".
I would NOT agree with your idea of shooting and leaving pheasants and quail just because you don't like coyote contests. That is wanton waste and in some states may be illegal. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I can understand you not liking and agreeing with hunt contests. There are many different forms and techniques of hunting that I do not agree with or participate in.
But contests are NOT necessarily the reason you are not seeing coyotes. Sure, it would seem "logical" that contests would be the cause. But I have called plenty of coyotes in areas where contests have occurred and were actively occurring.
One year, at the PM Convention, I was out with my partner and we were trying to help Jeff, FW707, in calling in some coyotes. We called in one and Jeff shot it right near a water hole. We got our photos and were getting ready to roll out when two guys rolled in on us. They were participating in a hunting contest and said that they had just called that water hole an hour before. An hour can be a long time in coyote time. It gives them plenty of time to wander and roam. Chances were that this coyote wasn't close enough to hear them or they weren't calling with the right sounds or set up. I have called coyotes in within earshot of other callers, I could hear their calls.
There are so many variables and possible explanations as to why you are/are not seeing or calling coyotes. On years where we saw a lot of rabbits, we didn't see as many coyotes. This year, we are not seeing as many rabbits but the coyotes are all over. Last month we were calling them in about every other stand or so. This month, things have slowed down a bit. IS that a reason to hang up my caller? Nope. I just have to change up my tactics and try to spot the new pattern that will get me back into them.
I am sure there are MORE coyotes now than ever. Are they smarter? Probably not, since they still fall for the calls. But if they can find food that is easier to get, such as pets, fields, cattle, etc, then I am sure they are going to be a bit harder to call. But that is part of what makes this such a rewarding sport. Frustrating but rewarding.
My "Coyotes Forever" analogy was more of a tongue in cheek remark at why certain "chapters" were promoting these contests. I used to be involved in the various Bird Chapters and we had dinners and fundraisers...we didn't promote killing of one species to save "ours". I guess that is what chaps my a*%$ more than anything nowadays. Along with contests come the cheaters when money is involved and no matter what the rules are, some will bend/break them at all cost just to be the winner.
This can/does have an impact on the average Joe who just wants to go out and enjoy a weekend of coyote hunting.
I was simply responding to this post in regards to several people running into decreased numbers and very call shy animals. It is my take on just one possible reason why they may be experiencing difficulties in particular areas. Repeated "pounding" of the species every other weekend is definitely going to change things.
Yes, coyotes will still be harvested by the sportsman even with these "events" going on and a lot does depend on being in the right place at the right time.
Oh, I can understand the frustration, and I figured you were just poking at the hunting contests. We have a good community of ethical hunters here. But I can understand, your out, trying to enjoy the outdoors when truck after truck of hunter comes bombing through. I feel the same frustration when side by sides come bombing through. This weekend we seemed to be pursued by them. On Saturday we ran into a group of 15 of them getting ready for an "outing." We left, but a few stands later here they come, right up and through one of our stands.
There are more people and more people are going to use more of the outdoors. I don't see it getting any better anytime soon.