Tag: coyotes

Cam Cook’s Coyote Adventures

By Glen Wunderlich

Cam Cook is a sportsman. He lives in southern Alberta, Canada, some 20 miles north of the Montana border and got his first trapper’s license over 40 years ago. Cam credits his father for nurturing his love of the outdoors and for having taken him hunting at a young age. Cam, with four grown children is married to a most understanding and supportive lady, who’s not afraid of pitching in on the trap line when necessary and stands watch for grizzly bears and cougars, while Cam heads in for a check.

Cam estimates he’s taken over 1500 coyotes during his lifetime and that figure includes a fair amount shot with his Tikka rifle in .22-250 caliber.

Cam Cook’s pelts ready for market

Interestingly, he got serious about snaring only four years ago, and in the process has sent 225 coyotes to the fur market since. These are not the scrawny type of coyotes we have here in Michigan, but by all accounts are graded the best in the world by fur buyers. Last year alone Cam sold 98 coyotes for an average of $149 (Canadian) each and he earned every penny!

One day’s catch of prime fur

His method of snaring involves bait piles of road-killed deer obtained from the Department of Highways and game wardens. Up to 40 homemade snares are placed strategically along nearby trails but never within 50 feet of bait for fear of catching his most destructive competitors: golden eagles. Although Cam diligently checks his sites every other day, sometimes it’s not soon enough. He states that eagles prefer fresh, warm coyotes more than cold, frozen roadkill and will render his catches worthless in short order.

While Cam’s catch numbers may seem staggering, this season’s take has been only about one third of last year’s. The primary reason for the reduced catch rate has been warm weather. He states, “During warm weather, coyotes don’t need my bait sites; they have lots of mice to catch, as well as jack rabbits.” Other hunters and trappers have gotten into the action and are most certainly part of the equation, as well.

“I believe coyotes need managing when population densities get too high”, says Cam.   “Disease does this naturally and a valuable and beautiful resource is lost. Few sights in nature are as disgusting and revolting as a coyote in full onset of mange. I don’t know how the poor creatures survive when the temperature gets below zero and they virtually have to keep moving just to stay alive. Last year I harvested 10 of them in various stages of mange and the hide is of no commercial value at all; I am only relieving these animals of suffering and a painful end.”

He also mentions that coyotes are major contributors to fawn mortality – particularly antelope. “It is very rare now to see a pair of twins with a doe anymore. The antelope had moved in close to dwellings and farmsteads in hopes of staying away from the coyotes – especially at lambing time. With the control that we’ve been trying on the coyotes, we are seeing a few more antelope now.”

He advises any up-and-coming young trapper to take a trapping course and to join their local trappers association.   It is wise to contact known trappers and snare men and pick their brains for any tips and knowledge that they are willing to share; plus, the internet and YouTube are your friends.

Michigan has its own trapping and snaring rules and they may be quite different than those elsewhere, so brush up on them before assuming anything. You’ll need a small game license that comes with the requisite base license plus a fur takers license. For Michigan-specific supplies and help, F&T Fur Harvester’s Trading Post in Alpena is a good resource at 989-727-8727 or www.fntpost.com.

Now is the best time for either hunting or trapping coyotes, because they are extremely active during the mating season and will roam many miles in one day. I know one thing: My pal, Joe and I will be targeting a certain song dog that haunted me during deer season – pelt or no pelt.

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Coyotes over Baitcicles

By Glen Wunderlich

While there is no way to estimate the number of coyotes that inhabit given areas of Michigan one thing is certain: They’re everywhere. Although our neighbors in the Upper Peninsula can point to wolves as their number one apex predator, coyotes, through sheer numbers, have become an omnipresent danger to game animals, livestock and family pets throughout the state. If ever hunters should be inclined to take matters into their own hands, it is now.

From late January through mid-March is coyote mating season and with it comes a bevy of adventurous males and certain vulnerability for them. Their drive to mate will have them traveling for miles on end in search for satisfaction and wise hunters can use this knowledge to their advantage. Although control strategies include trapping and myriad hunting techniques, one particular method of baiting is worth sharing: baitcicles.

The term “baitcicles” is a coined word used to describe a frozen concoction of table scraps and meat juices within a 5-gallon bucket. It is then released from the container and placed strategically as bait for a varmint hunter. Unlike typical bait, the frozen formula can withstand coyotes’ attempts to carry off or otherwise quickly devour the bait.

Here’s how it works. With temperatures below freezing, a bucket is placed outdoors and filled with aromatic meat products. As the bucket is filled, adding hot water to the mix will create juice that will solidify the contents into a block of delectable ice. When full, the bucket is placed at the site and the contents released by heating the exterior of the bucket. (I like to use a soil torch for this purpose.)

Once in place, it’s basically a hide-and-watch proposition best done from a comfortable hunting blind some 100 yards or so downwind of prevailing breezes. Once located by the targeted predators, they’ll return time after time – and, even after the last morsel is gobbled up.

Obviously, game cameras can provide valuable information as to visiting times, but typically most action will occur near dusk or dawn or at night. However, unlike using vocalizations to attract the demons and trying to scan surrounding areas for motion, the focal point will be wherever you want it to be. And, this is especially helpful when hunting in darkness.

While having a partner to operate a red or green light is helpful, it is not altogether necessary with the proper setup. Gun-mounted lights can be used, but I much prefer not waving a firearm all over creation to spot potential game. Without a partner, a light can be placed on a rest aimed directly at the baitcicle and turned on from time to time as a check.

Remember to check the game laws for allowable firearms, because the laws have changed recently for night hunting. Specifically, .269 or smaller diameter cartridges must be used below the shotgun line (Zone III) on private land only.
Above the shotgun line (Zones II and III) centerfires on state parks or recreational areas are not legal, but they are elsewhere in northern Michigan. It is also important to note that rifles are prohibited from elevated platforms after dark anywhere.

Nothing is easy about hunting coyotes, but adding baitcicles to your bag of tricks may be just the ticket to prey on predators.

Hunting

Deer Survival in Michigan Broken Down

To better understand predator-prey relationships, SCI Foundation helped fund studies on  Whitetail deer in Michigan.   In Michigan, Deer survival is influenced by many factors including disease, predation, weather, and hunter harvest. In the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan, deer survival is especially influenced by winter food supply and cover.  Predators also play a role in the survival of deer, particularly fawn survival during the spring and summer. Understanding deer survival and the factors that influence survival throughout the year is vitally important for proper management of the deer herd.

The Safari Club International Foundation has partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Mississippi State University, and the Michigan Involvement Committee of Safari Club International to better understand the impact of predation on deer, while also determining how predation is influenced by winter weather and deer habitat conditions. Learn more right here.

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The Varmint X™ Factor: Winchester Gives Hunters New Ammunition for Coyotes and Varmints

EAST ALTON, Ill. (Nov. 27, 2012) – Coyote and varmint hunters all over North America are howling in approval of Varmint X™, the new line of predator and varmint ammunition from Winchester®. The super accurate Varmint X lineup will initially feature offerings in four of the most popular centerfire rifle calibers for predator hunting: .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem and .243 Win. The charcoal-colored, polymer-tipped bullets in each caliber are optimized for long-distance accuracy and explosive impact on coyotes, prairie dogs and other varmints. “Predator hunting is on the rise and

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A New Experience and Unique Combo

By Glen Wunderlich

The crisp, clear morning of opening day of firearms deer season in Shiawassee County was made to order.  It was somewhat noisy with the crunchy ground afoot but an early start would mean plenty of time to settle in, well before dawn.  The trick would be to remain comfortable amid temperatures in the mid-twenties – the coldest morning this fall.

At 7:45 as Ken Wallace was busy taking his 15-point buck across the road, movement caught my eye.  My Leupold binoculars helped to identify the bushy, horizontal tail of a coyote, as it vanished in the brush heading away.  But, moments later Read more

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Making the Varmint Rifle Sing

By Glen Wunderlich

April 15th – that mournful day when we must reckon our financial gains in the form of “contributions” to the government so that it can” invest” in the future for us.  The date is also well known in Michigan predator hunting circles as the last day to save a turkey poult or new-born fawn from the mouths of coyotes.  After that, coyotes are free to raise another crop of killers for three months.  And, effective killing machines they are!

In the third year of an ongoing study in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by folks at Mississippi State University, coyotes topped the charts above wolves and bobcats as the number one predator of fawns.  The study found that predators killed 73 percent of 80 radio-collared fawns that died of the total of 142 being tracked.  Rabbits and hares have vanished, as well.

So, when I spotted a coyote den in an area where I hunt deer, I knew it was time to get a varmint rifle dialed in.  This particular site was in a wide-open alfalfa field, with the best possible ambush site exactly 220 yards away.

I grabbed a true varmint rifle – a Remington 700 in .22-250 caliber – and headed to the sight-in bench.  Because of a concern for wind drift, I selected the heaviest bullet – a 55-grain missile traveling at 3610 feet-per-second.  The computer had me sighting in .22 inches high at 50 yards so that the tiny projectile would be perfectly elevated, zeroed if you will, at exactly 200 yards.  After that, the long-range proposition would be up to faith in a computer-generated ballistic report. Read more

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Whackos Hate Coyote Bounty

“We think it’s ridiculous to send the public out there to [kill coyotes],” the whacko said. “For example, if someone is living in St. George and they go and they bring back a bunch of ears of coyotes, there might not even be a problem in that area.”  However, if there is a problem, I’m wondering why the activists don’t live trap the coyotes and move them to their neighborhood.

In any case, Utah has now imposed an additional fee of $5 on big-game licenses to pay for the higher bounty being offered.  More here…

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