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Author
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Topic: Farmland Coyotes
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 02, 2003 05:09 AM
Heres a little information that might help some of you in locating and "plotting" out coyote movements. As Wiley said, over the past 18 months I have been putting a few collars on coyotes in a offshoot study conducted by the dnr in realtion with their deer program.
My country consists of a pretty good northern barrier- the Mississippi. The country is valleys and coulees running down to the various river valleys. Bluffs are common- where the hills have been sheared off over time by erosion leaving the limestone and sandstone formations. Mot of the farms are mixed crop, dairy and beef. Smaller farmers- 2-300 acres are the rule and most crop farming is done via contour and rotational farming. We have way too many deer and turkeys, and excellent coon & coyote populations.
While I in no way speak for the offical results of the study- indeed, they are still be complied, I do have a working knowledge of what is happening. Several things are apparent. As Wiley has said previously, we are finding some roads, no matter what their size, to be definite boundary points- while the other 90% of the roads are crossed at will. The only clue is that the boundary roads SEEM to be the ones that divide "useless" land, ie flat, featureless pasture, fields, etc.
We are also seeing that our coyotes seem to be homebodies. Most of them stay fairly close to their point of capture, and could usually be located on that farm or close by. We also found that "drift" was apparent. By this I mean, 2-3 coyotes hanging around a certain area for a while would move to another area, and ththewn hang out there for a while. A kind of rotation of individual or small groups.
We did have one little female that stayed at the capture area from Oct until March- then in one night travelled 19 miles and got hit by a car.
We are seeing an interesting thing in that the coyotes either would stay in one small area during a night of tracking, or would often seem to have a "triangle" pattern to their actions. That is, over a night, a coyote would have 3 major points of interest- the average distance apart between points was a little under 2 miles. So imagine a triangle- points A,B, C. Over a nights tracking, the coyote might have a pattern of A,A,A,B,C,C,A,A,B,B,B,C,C,A,A,A ETC. Time at each point varied.
So far, in two mils winters, there have been no big territorial changes from summer to winter, except for shifting off the flats inot the ravines- a matter of yards.
We are also finding that the released coyotes, while staying in the area, are avoiding my set locations. In snow, we have seen collared coyote tracks walk toward the set where it got captured- and 75 yards away make a half circle detour aroud the set. Not in a hurry, but not lingering either. Only once have I caught a collared coyote twice. That was a female that I got at a flat set on top and 2 weeks to the day got her in a coon dirthole about 60 yards away in a ravine, with the trap wired to a tree.
Coyotes "R" Us
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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Steve Craig
Lacks Opposable Thumbs/what's up with that?
Member # 12
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posted April 02, 2003 05:43 AM
Steve,
I also noticed a similar thing in Indiana. Coyotes,family groups if you will, traveling in a semi oval area of up to maybe three miles. This was along a large river(Wabash) system located to the west of them, blocking any west or northwest movements. Here a "circut" if you will, would take 2 or 3 days to make. This also had a border on the north of an Interstate HWY. East side was a major 2 lane hwy. They just stayed in this little area untill I trapped or called the bulk of the litter out. What was interesting, was after season was over, there would be no coyotes for several weeks to a couple of months in that area, then a new pair would migrate in and raise another litter of pups and we would start all over next season. This is going on untill this day. Other areas away from any major river seemed to not have this happen on such a small scale, but I have always suspected it happens on a much larger oval,triangle,box etc. Very interesting study you have going on. Thanks for the info.
Steve
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Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 442 | From: Cottonwood,Az, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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pup
Knows what it's all about
Member # 90
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posted April 02, 2003 11:16 AM
Interesting stuff guys, thanks for sharing.
later pup
Posts: 213 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Feb 2003
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Lochi
Knows what it's all about
Member # 64
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posted April 02, 2003 12:04 PM
trappnman,
Very interesting posting indeed! Thanx!
We have (as far as I know) only 2 documented dissertation in South Africa on the behaviour of the Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas). These are by Prof. Bothma and Prof. Ferguson, dated by 15 years already.
In there I read a very interesting observation amongst other things: "activity" levels (relative to areas, time of day, month, year) are defined as movement. This could be social, feeding, defending, fleeing, anything. So, to correlate "activity" with probability of shooting one, is a big but common mistake.
Take care.
Lochi.
ps nice site Steve
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Without American hunters, South African wildlife will be endangered.
www.affordableafricanhunting.co.za
Posts: 12 | From: Johannesburg, South Africa | Registered: Jan 2003
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pup
Knows what it's all about
Member # 90
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posted April 02, 2003 03:14 PM
trappnman-
I had some time to reread your post, you stated that the coyotes had some drift.
How far was that drift?
later pup
[ April 02, 2003, 03:16 PM: Message edited by: pup ]
Posts: 213 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Feb 2003
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 02, 2003 03:52 PM
A lot of the terms I use to describe coyote patterns are my "own" inventions so to speak, and I have to be careful in that what I say is what you hear LOL
This "drift" isn't a migration, by any means. The distances involved aren't large. Trying to guesstimate linear miles- say 5-10 miles or so. The areawhere most of the coyotes are located borders on that territorial county road. Coyotes aren't normally drifting across it. I personally can see no difference in the area vacated compared to the new area- activity, cover, food seems comparable. After a tinme period, they drift back. Like going on vacation.
SC- Interesting that your study had similar points when bordered by an uncrossable boundary.
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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sandhillbilly
PAKMAN
Member # 117
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posted April 02, 2003 04:48 PM
Is that study going to be published? Any way for folks to get a hold of it?
Posts: 3 | From: NE sandhills | Registered: Feb 2003
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 02, 2003 05:07 PM
It will be, but when I am not sure. Remember, I am just the trapper on the project- and am just reporting what as been informally being passed on to me. The first biologist spent a lot of time with me on the line and passed on lots of info. I'll be going out with the new biologist very soon to put on a few more collars, so wil lhave some fresh info.
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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Krustyklimber
prefers the bunny hugger pronunciation: ky o tee
Member # 72
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posted April 02, 2003 09:48 PM
I'm a dork...
I am not understanding the ABC thing (even the alphabet throws me for a loop).
Can anyone explain it in terms I can understand?
Jeff 
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Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are stupider than that!
Posts: 1912 | From: Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia | Registered: Jan 2003
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 03, 2003 04:19 AM
No problem. The way that the coyotes are "offcially" monitored is that a # is picked randomly. That coyote is then located. After location, it is then tracked for 8 hours.
Whereas sometimes coyotes would be fairly stationary for the entire tracking period, on many other occasions the triangle pattern was observed. Let say that on a given night the coyote was located by a farmers dump area (A). During that night, the coyote also visted a big ravine (B) and then a CRP area (C). The pattern wasn't that the coyote would go to one, then the other, then the other and move on (linerally), but that the coyote would go back and forth between all three over a tracking period- with no apparenrt reason- such as A,A,B,A,B,B,C,C,A,A,C,... rotating between the points.
Other studies have shown another interesting factor that seems to be happening here. These other studies showed that an average coyote on an average night traveled around 10 miles a night.
Now this can be linear, but more often isn't. In other words, that coyote could (and often does) travel that 10 miles over and over the same are- like a man pacing a floor could put on many miles, but never really go anywhere.
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted April 03, 2003 06:32 AM
T-man, I don't understand either. How does a coyote go from A to A, or B to B? From A to B, or C to D, is obvious. I don't get AA, BB, CC. This study reinforces others I have read. Coyote movements are more or less random and can't be patterned?
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Crow Woman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 157
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posted April 03, 2003 07:34 AM
ooohhh goody... a theory that I not only understand but I know of well just by my own observations of being out there countless nights just listening. I do not have radio collared coyotes here on the farm but I have been out there so much I have learned the differant tones of the differant coyotes. Let's take my big boy for instance. The one that no one will ever get until he says it's time.
Between 2-3pm he starts up(A) down over the hill to my right and heads west barking his way to point(Beginning of B). Between 4:30pm and 5pm he is barking his way back to where he started(A). Within minutes of where he started he heads west again to the end of the line(Beginning of B). Then he works his way South to what seems like another stopping point(Beginning of C). Then back to the beginning of (B).
Some nights (not very often)he will come all the way back around to point (A) before retracing the same pattern over again, but some nights he will contine in a box setting making a back and forth formation until all sides of the box have been completed.
But there is one thing certain, when he heads back to his stomping grounds in the morning he comes from the (B & C)corner and comes diagonally across through all the center fields at 4:30am sharp. Every morning. You can set your watch by him.
There is a pair of coyotes that hang together working a duo. They have their A,B,C theories also.
Is this what you are talking about Trappnman?
Crow Woman
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Sheri L Baity
Lord, Please give me peace, because if you give me strength, I might beat someone to death!
Posts: 720 | From: Covington | Registered: Mar 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted April 03, 2003 07:54 AM
Well, I just think, here....and it hurts a little.
Anyway, it seems to me that a coyote can be napping at A around six o'clock and again at 7:00, hence it would look like AA and then he goes down to get a drink, and when they burn him, he is now at B. He might stay there at B, or go right back to his bed at A for another hour, or for ten minutes, before going on to C.
That's the only way it makes sense to me; is if they were recording his location at specific times, and by chance, he was still at A, or had gone to C three times, that weren't tracked, and it looked like he had not moved during the hour.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32363 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 03, 2003 08:01 AM
Crow Women and Leonard- thats exactly what I was talking about.
Leonard brought up another point- that yes indeed, he could have been at A, then been to C, B,C and back to A before the next check- making it look like he never left A. Interesting.
More credance to the 10-12 miles travelled in a night evidence.
Crow Women- have you noticed any pattern as to the "why fores" of why they do this? Random?
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted April 03, 2003 09:43 AM
OK, if tracking is intermittent then it makes sense. trapperman said "After location, it is then tracked for eight hours." I assumed tracking was constant.
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 03, 2003 10:21 AM
Sorry- it is at fixed intervels.
[ April 03, 2003, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: trappnman ]
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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20t-n-t
Knows what it's all about
Member # 46
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posted April 03, 2003 11:03 AM
Ladies & Gentelmen,
This type of information and discussion is the very reason that I got involved with these boards, it is the think stuff that keeps me here and makes me look forward to logging on.
Thank you all for your input ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Smote the Yote
Slydog
[ April 03, 2003, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: 20t-n-t ]
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Teach a kid to hunt and fish and feed them for a lifetime......
Posts: 245 | From: Boise Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Crow Woman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 157
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posted April 03, 2003 12:14 PM
Trappnman asked:
Crow Women- have you noticed any pattern as to the "why fores" of why they do this? Random?
My thoughts and my thoughts only: When I started trying to understand and learn about these coyotes on my farm, I had a field located in the central area, they would cross it all the time and of course, I would pick them off there everytime. I would say that 8 times out of every 10 there was another coyote just waiting to come out on the field. Because I would ALWAYS hear a warning bark afterwards from the one that didn't cross over the stone wall. That only lasted for about 2 years. Then it seemed like they had marked that central area as a no access thing during daylight time and started going around my property. That idea alone knowing the numbers that dropped there also possibly adding to the fact that by going around, they have cover, scrubs, swamp and loads of game. So what I'm trying to say is: Maybe the fact that the food source is mainly around my property more than on that central field. Therefore, #1 They know that field is the killing field. #2 They know where to go to keep in the food source and out of the open.
As I said, they are my possible thoughts. What do you think?
Crow Woman
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Sheri L Baity
Lord, Please give me peace, because if you give me strength, I might beat someone to death!
Posts: 720 | From: Covington | Registered: Mar 2003
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trappnman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 168
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posted April 03, 2003 03:15 PM
So Crow Women- are you harvesting a lot of yotes?
At at least 2 locations around me, hunters have erected large towers- windmill height- as gunning towers for coyotes. I personally think these would be very limited in usefullness- ie that after a fairly short period, coyotes would avoid the area where they saw others shot. Do any of you have expereince in permanent hunting towers?.
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Your American Heritage- Fur Trapping, Hunting and Fishing
Posts: 40 | From: Mn | Registered: Mar 2003
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Crow Woman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 157
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posted April 03, 2003 03:42 PM
I have two permanent hunting shacks which are also big enough for roll away beds and equipped with kerosene heaters for those below 0 temp nights. The two shacks look at each other with a valley down over the hills that leads into the swamp. My numbers are no where near western coyote hunting. We have 270 acres. So I have hunted that same area for... if I can count that high... 11 years now minus two year break. I have gotten 50 plus coyotes just out of my shack alone. I just recently started hunting out of the other shack which was my Dad's. I've gotten one so far and a hand full of hair another time. I find that the more I get comfortable with calling and using the combo tones, the more the coyotes will come into the fields. I was never one for calling when I just started out. It was just a set and wait, but now, it is more researched, set and listen some nights just to hear their pattern and a combo distress calling. So I can say that for 9 years those stands were the way to go. But now, it will require getting more technical and moving around to differant borders of my property.
So ya see guys, when people try and talk me up, my numbers are no where even close to the greats in the sport on this list. I have hunted the same pack for many years and tried to keep them somewhat in control. Taking the last two years off of hunting has really increased the pack. It's been tough lately just trying to listen to see how many are around now. They have certainly increased! What a mess it's going to be come spring time when the cows go out to pasture if I don't get busy and serious.
Crow Woman
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Sheri L Baity
Lord, Please give me peace, because if you give me strength, I might beat someone to death!
Posts: 720 | From: Covington | Registered: Mar 2003
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted April 03, 2003 03:47 PM
Trappnman,
Very interesting stuff. In line with what Rich said, as far as randomness, it would appear that, to some extent, their movements are random. Then again, what Crow Woman says about her coyotes moving in a nightly fixed travel pattern is just as interesting, if not moreso. But, what both scenarios reveal is that coyotes may (or may not)move randomly around their homerange (if I understand what you're saying), but that within that homerange, the coyotes have preferred loci that they frequent on regular intervals in their movements. In other words, the homerange does not have homogeneity as far as every spot being liked or disliked equally by the coyote, and that one location is preferred over any other for reasons we, as yet, do not understand. If, through your work, we could discern (to the best of our ability) why the coyotes likes points A,B,and C, while seeming to avoid the real estate between and around the three, just think what we could do with that information. To take things one short step further, have you gotten enough time around the clock and calendar on this research to discern the correlation between their daily (nightly) movements as it relates to homerange, territory and territorial core? One would hypothesize that their movements would be over greater areas during the post-dispersal period and before breeding, whereas those patterns would tighten considerably after they've redefined their territorial bounds through the breeding, denning, and pup-rearing phases.
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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