Two Coyotes kill a Buck.
- Thread starter Huntsleepfish
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Cal Kellogg
New member
I don't think that buck was sick OR injured. I hunt one of the few areas left in Norcal that has a large deer population and I've come on coyote kill sites several times....I could tell from the torn up ground, ripped out hair and general gore what had happen and these incredible photos confirm my belief...It seemed to me looking at the sign that coyotes chase a deer until they can rip out a tendon or open the abdominal cavity and they it's just a matter of time (and extreme suffering for the deer)...
It is nature's way and I'm not one of those guys that says destroy all coyotes, but I won't feel bad dropping the hammer on them either. They know the score and they play for blood....
I've believed that coyotes are significant predators on deer for many years and what I see in those pics only confirms what I already thought to be the case....
Think about this kill from a statistics standpoint....A guy puts up a camera and it views a micro fraction of the habitat, yet it captures a coyote kill...For that to be the case how many deer got killed in other areas? 100's? 1,000's? This is yet more evidence that this sort of thing is probably pretty common...I would wager that we don't often find such kills because all evidence is gone within a few days...coyotes at night, buzzards during the day and before long not much is left save for the skull and some scattered bones that are soon covered in leaves and hidden from view....
The problem with a lot of game agencies these days in reference to biologists is that due to budget issues they don't get to spend ENOUGH time in the field. The field IS the lab, but our biologists are too often stuck behind a desk....Not their fault, just the reality of the system at this time...
It is nature's way and I'm not one of those guys that says destroy all coyotes, but I won't feel bad dropping the hammer on them either. They know the score and they play for blood....
I've believed that coyotes are significant predators on deer for many years and what I see in those pics only confirms what I already thought to be the case....
Think about this kill from a statistics standpoint....A guy puts up a camera and it views a micro fraction of the habitat, yet it captures a coyote kill...For that to be the case how many deer got killed in other areas? 100's? 1,000's? This is yet more evidence that this sort of thing is probably pretty common...I would wager that we don't often find such kills because all evidence is gone within a few days...coyotes at night, buzzards during the day and before long not much is left save for the skull and some scattered bones that are soon covered in leaves and hidden from view....
The problem with a lot of game agencies these days in reference to biologists is that due to budget issues they don't get to spend ENOUGH time in the field. The field IS the lab, but our biologists are too often stuck behind a desk....Not their fault, just the reality of the system at this time...
Looks like road rash on the deer's right side from shoulder to rump. Coyotes were doing what coyotes do. There were probably lots of does and yearlings around that would been easier targets than this buck IF he was healthy. Thats why we use animal distress sounds to call them. I just wonder what earlier pics would have shown, the deer could have been there for a long time before the dogs showed up.
UtahShooter
Active member
I am curious why it seems that some are upset by 2 coyotes taking out a deer. Perhaps not the way we would do it. We would just shoot the deer. If coyotes could shoot a gun I would imagine they would be a lot like other humans out there. Way easier than trying to run faster than a deer to get at its hind.
We kill EVERYTHING on the planet but seem to be pissed of when another animal does it in a way that is only fitting to the tools that they have to operate.
Graphic? Yes. The way they hunt? Yes. Others are upset by the way we hunt as well though.
Sorry deer hunters if it makes you upset. Called, "dog eat dog" or "dog (coyote) eat deer."
We kill EVERYTHING on the planet but seem to be pissed of when another animal does it in a way that is only fitting to the tools that they have to operate.
Graphic? Yes. The way they hunt? Yes. Others are upset by the way we hunt as well though.
Sorry deer hunters if it makes you upset. Called, "dog eat dog" or "dog (coyote) eat deer."
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USAArmorer
New member
The deer was sick or injured. It would definitly not stay in frame that long if healthy.
Crimson Raptor
New member
Originally Posted By: UtahShooterI am curious why it seems that some are upset by 2 coyotes taking out a deer. Perhaps not the way we would do it. We would just shoot the deer. If coyotes could shoot a gun I would imagine they would be a lot like other humans out there. Way easier than trying to run faster than a deer to get at its hind.
We kill EVERYTHING on the planet but seem to be pissed of when another animal does it in a way that is only fitting to the tools that they have to operate.
Graphic? Yes. The way they hunt? Yes. Others are upset by the way we hunt as well though.
Sorry deer hunters if it makes you upset. Called, "dog eat dog" or "dog (coyote) eat deer."
I don't believe the intent of the OP was to inflame deer hunters with nature doing nature's thing. The point was that coyotes are willing and capable of taking down a large whitetail buck. I was out on public land last fall chasing hogs and the nearby ranch was running deer with dogs and they came over onto the public land. The adult doe they were on came by me with her tongue hanging 6 inches out of her mouth and barely on her feet. The 3 hounds came by shortly thereafter nearly as exhausted and lost her trail. I ended up calling the houndsman to retrieve his dogs as they had run clear out of radio range.
My point is, if those kenneled deer hounds can run a deer nearly to death, I'm quite comfortable thinking that 2-3 healthy coyotes have the endurance, stamina, and energy to run a deer to a standstill and then bite chunks out of it until it dies from shock and exhaustion.
Biologists are finding that coyote depredation on deer in other parts of the country is a larger percentage of their kills then originally believed.
Those who are skeptical of coyotes taking down healthy deer need only look to the Australian dingo and African hunting dog to see what a small to medium canine predator is capable of in numbers.
We kill EVERYTHING on the planet but seem to be pissed of when another animal does it in a way that is only fitting to the tools that they have to operate.
Graphic? Yes. The way they hunt? Yes. Others are upset by the way we hunt as well though.
Sorry deer hunters if it makes you upset. Called, "dog eat dog" or "dog (coyote) eat deer."
I don't believe the intent of the OP was to inflame deer hunters with nature doing nature's thing. The point was that coyotes are willing and capable of taking down a large whitetail buck. I was out on public land last fall chasing hogs and the nearby ranch was running deer with dogs and they came over onto the public land. The adult doe they were on came by me with her tongue hanging 6 inches out of her mouth and barely on her feet. The 3 hounds came by shortly thereafter nearly as exhausted and lost her trail. I ended up calling the houndsman to retrieve his dogs as they had run clear out of radio range.
My point is, if those kenneled deer hounds can run a deer nearly to death, I'm quite comfortable thinking that 2-3 healthy coyotes have the endurance, stamina, and energy to run a deer to a standstill and then bite chunks out of it until it dies from shock and exhaustion.
Biologists are finding that coyote depredation on deer in other parts of the country is a larger percentage of their kills then originally believed.
Those who are skeptical of coyotes taking down healthy deer need only look to the Australian dingo and African hunting dog to see what a small to medium canine predator is capable of in numbers.
Cal Kellogg
New member
Yeah, I don't think it's a stretch at all that coyotes can run a deer to a stop...Like I said I've found the scene of such killings from time to time and it looks pretty violent and isolated...I've long believed that coyotes run down deer and kill them...I mean look at a coyote for what it is...They are built like a small wolf, but not that small. What's your average wolf weigh? 75 to 100 lbs? Coyotes average maybe 20 to 35 lbs depending on where you are....Once they cut a tendon or open the stomach the fight is over...Coyotes are fast and cunning....
In this case I think it was just chance or luck or whatever that the buck came to a stop in front of the camera...It has soft antlers too and that might have played a factor in the buck not being willing to hole up in thick brush....
In this case I think it was just chance or luck or whatever that the buck came to a stop in front of the camera...It has soft antlers too and that might have played a factor in the buck not being willing to hole up in thick brush....
jasonprox700
Member
To those who feel that a deer must be sick or injured to take down a deer, you are wrong. About 10 years while out shining after work, I watch a pack (about 4 or 5) take down what appeared to be a healthy doe with absolutely no problems. Yes, there were more coyotes than with the buck, but coyotes do take deer. They also take a lot of fawns. This is a proven fact that keeps getting backed up by more and more studies.
doggin coyotes
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: jasonprox700To those who feel that a deer must be sick or injured to take down a deer, you are wrong.
I didn't read where anybody (in this thread) said a deer MUST be sick or injured for coyotes to kill it. Some, including me, thought the deer in this series of pics, this buck, MIGHT have shown signs of prior injury.
I've personally never witnessed coyotes kill a deer and I suspect very few have. I know it damm well happens and I've seen coyotes chasing deer numerous times.
On numerous occasions on snow covered ground I've come across a deer killed by coyotes. In one case there was no doubt the deer had got it's back leg hung up in the fence and coyotes had their way with it.
Were all the others healthy, injured or sick? Heck if I know.
I didn't read where anybody (in this thread) said a deer MUST be sick or injured for coyotes to kill it. Some, including me, thought the deer in this series of pics, this buck, MIGHT have shown signs of prior injury.
I've personally never witnessed coyotes kill a deer and I suspect very few have. I know it damm well happens and I've seen coyotes chasing deer numerous times.
On numerous occasions on snow covered ground I've come across a deer killed by coyotes. In one case there was no doubt the deer had got it's back leg hung up in the fence and coyotes had their way with it.
Were all the others healthy, injured or sick? Heck if I know.
emeraldterriers1
New member
coyotes will take the weak,old,young,injured,ect... as all predators will.coyotes are opportunistic, i would bet a paycheck something was wrong with the buck. was the buck gutshot by a arrow? hit by a vehicle? split open by barbwire? who knows.i agree they take there share of deer but thats there job they are part of natures sanitation dept.
emeraldterriers1
New member
scratch the gutshot by a arrow it was in august...