The New Huntmastersbbs!: coyotes travel to water

This is topic coyotes travel to water in forum Predator forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on September 16, 2007, 06:57 PM:

Been considering how far coyotes may travel to the nearest available water source mainly in a desert environment and how those distances may be affected by seasons, temperature , nursing young etc. Have seen studies where 18 to 20 miles was recorded, that seems like a lot. Where I live water is readily available so don't really have an idea of how water source affects movements and territory. Any ideas????????

Posted by sporterweight (Member # 189) on September 16, 2007, 08:04 PM:

I'd say --no way -- on the 18-20 miles ,i hunt in the owyhee desert of sw idaho and rarely get any coyote business if i'm not within 2-ish miles of a waterhole.
I've been out there on foot and running short on water ,actually ran out and had to hoof it another couple of miles -NO FUN let me tell you.

I have did a lot of walking and driving in a large portion out there and water -especially this year- is in short supply.
Someone ? ranchers i guess or maybe the state comes out and digs out the watering holes.
The coyotes aren't very far away ,although wolves have moved into the area and there ain't a coyote track to be found..

The coyotes i killed near the waterholes back in the spring were some big dogs and had obviously been in some good scapes -over the waterhole maybe.

I think a coyote would live within a few 4-5 miles of water as a max ,just an opinion of coarse...

[ September 16, 2007, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: sporterweight ]

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on September 16, 2007, 08:21 PM:

It's just real hard to say? A coyote is capable of twenty miles, in my opinion.

But, I have seen places where there isn't any water, as in none, and there are coyotes, if there is prey. In some desert situations, they tell me that the animals don't need puddles of water to survive, an old tire with a little water, a rusted tin can, a little seep that humans don't know about. But, I do believe that when there is little water in the desert, the coyotes might live there, but chase rabbits on the golf courses, at night. I am sure they will travel ten miles to hunt rabbits and ten back to their bedrooms.

Good hunting. LB

Posted by furhvstr (Member # 1389) on September 17, 2007, 07:52 PM:

I have personally followed a coyote track down a dirt road for forteen miles before it left the two track. Never figured out why or where he was headed. No doubt coyotes out in this Mojave desert will travel dozens of miles at a wack for whatever reason strikes them. There are areas out here with 0000 above ground water. Areas many dozens even hundreds of square miles with zero water above ground. These areas all have coyotes and other varmint. Wildlife drinkers support the birds and the few inches of rain we get supports the rest.
Coyotes out here for the most part get their moisture from what they eat. I truly believe that they go many weeks and even months without taking a "drink" of water. I'm sure that if they live or pass close to a spring or cattle water they will drink. When it rains they drink from puddles and such but I think it is oportunistic and not necessity. I have called way to many coyotes in areas with no water to believe that they need it as part of their daily or even monthly routine.
When I find more coyotes close to water I believe it is because of the game associated with the water not because a coyote needs it.
So what about bobcats?
I realize some of you guys have never been to such an arrid place as the Mojave desert but I have killed bobcats 30, 40 maybe 50 miles from any known water source. Bobcats don't travel like a coyote so water can't be a necessity.
An old trapper here in town once told me that a bobcat will go it's entire life never drinking from more than a rain puddle and I've hunted and trapped long enough now to believe him.

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on September 17, 2007, 09:20 PM:

Yeah, I agree with you, Mercer. I can't prove it, just my opinion, but I have seen many places without water, and like you, have found that there are still coyotes. But, if there are range cattle, chances are, there might be water in some form or another, but I do not believe it is an absolute requirement, for a coyote. Now, a cat. That's interesting, because I know that some of them live within a very confined area, say a single "mountain" in the middle of a valley, and I could just about bet the rent that there is no water source. How do they do it, if they do it, I don't know? People talk, from time to time about condensation on metal stakes and rocks. Maybe that is feasible? But, a cat is not capable of the long distances that a coyote can easily handle. Sounds counterintuitive, but maybe they don't need liquid water?

Good hunting. LB

Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on September 18, 2007, 05:52 PM:

Hey Leonard could you move this topic to predator hunting where I originally intended it to be.May get some more exposure and interesting replies.
I think for the most part coyotes ,among other carnivores, can get water needs from their diet of animal flesh. I do have a hard time thinking a female nursing a litter does not need a good source of water just due to milk being about 80% water.May require temporary location close to a water source. I think the litter may be moved closer to water at those times.
Sat and ate lunch today with the famous Rich C. Wish I would have thought to pose him the water question.

Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on September 18, 2007, 06:06 PM:

You got to eat lunch with the one and only Richard Chamberlain?

Wow, that would be great!

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on September 18, 2007, 06:54 PM:

Dr Kildare is a coyote caller? Too cool.

Posted by KevinKKaller (Member # 559) on September 19, 2007, 08:11 PM:

Sporterweight The owyhee Is not a vary good comparisen to a desert! LOL I moved hear from AZ and have hunted down thear last winter and spring Nothing like the real desert of the south west.
I will probly hunt down thear in Oct during our munthly hunt bur I am realy liking the high country even the wolfs are interesting! Cant wait till we can by tags
Good Hunting Kevin

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on October 06, 2007, 02:16 PM:

I don't know about months without water? In this area we have drought but if they can find water they will use water, summer months are tough with little over head cover and 95-100 degrees and dryer than a popcorn fart.

I don't live in the desert but it sure feels that way at times.If a coyote has to travel a few miles for it they will with no problem and most denning locations in this part of the country has that water source. You can see by the tracks around it. Pup's and adults, and it doesn't have to be good water, I have seen tracks at the edge of some water that was pretty bad. I have also seen them drink from just puddles or seaps and work them as do the antelope. It doesn't have to be much and shade is very important durring the summer, if cover is limited the sage bottoms and tall grass around those water sources are great places to find family groups.

They adapt well, but I would say if they can get to a water source they sure do use them.

Posted by Okanagan (Member # 870) on October 17, 2007, 11:05 PM:

A comment on furharvstr's note that he followed a coyote 14 miles down a road. My somewhat comparable tracking experience has nothing to do with going to water but I followed a coyote almost ten miles on a logging road once, and I think I know why that one moved so far in one steady trip. At the elevation where deer winter, a mid-winter rain had formed a terrible crust on snow just over knee deep. That coyote, and others, left the mouse hunting in the valley fields and hustled to the deer area. Conditions had changed in favor of the coyotes. They could run on top of the crust while the deer broke through. Always oppportunists, the coyotes seemed to know.

[ October 17, 2007, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]

Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on October 18, 2007, 07:35 AM:

Az.G&F biologists have found tagged coyotes to travel as far as 75 miles to antelope fawning grounds on Anderson Mesa.
Dr. Jaeger's GPS animations show two mated coyotes traveling 20 miles to the same location on an irrigation ditch next to an alfalfa field, two hours apart and from different locations. ????

Posted by furhvstr (Member # 1389) on October 18, 2007, 09:03 AM:

I would like to be a coyote for a year and then I would come back and answer all our questions. I think that would be the only way that we will ever fully understand why and how they do the things that they do. I don't think I would like eating some of the stuff that they eat. I would definately miss my family.
I hope one of you guys don't shoot me.

Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on October 18, 2007, 10:49 AM:

quote:
I would like to be a coyote for a year and then I would come back and answer all our questions. I think that would be the only way that we will ever fully understand why and how they do the things that they do.

I dunno... I've been a human for a helluva lot longer than a year, and I'm nowhere even close to fully understanding why and how humans do the things they do.

- DAA

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on October 18, 2007, 12:57 PM:

DAA......LOL!!

Hell, I've been human most of my life & I don't even understand why I do the things that I do.

Posted by sparkyibewlocal440 (Member # 397) on October 19, 2007, 08:24 PM:

6mm284 makes a very good arguement for a nursing female to be near a water source.
Hmmmm....Maybe those litters being raised out in the most arid waterless deserts,are being fed powdered milk?

[ October 19, 2007, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: sparkyibewlocal440 ]

Posted by Rob (Member # 75) on October 20, 2007, 09:02 AM:

Dens and/or playgrounds usually are in a secluded area and of most importance during July and August, always near water. It could be a spring,a creek, a windmill, or a stocktank. Around the water, there will be plenty of sign. In May and June the old females milk will furnish all the moisture a puppy needs, but after they are out of the hole, they need free water and she will generally move them to one unless the original den was already close to one.

Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on October 23, 2007, 04:12 AM:

Man, are you guys dating yourselves, Dr Kildare and Richard Chamberlain. I was so small I hardly remember that show and I am sure many here were not even born.

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on October 23, 2007, 10:39 AM:

Wasn't he on Kukla, Fran and Ollie? Some of you old guys, help me out. LB

Rich?

[ October 23, 2007, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]

Posted by DanS (Member # 316) on October 23, 2007, 12:30 PM:

Kukla, Fran and Ollie, I remember her and those silly puppets. Didn't one have just one tooth? I was pretty little. [Smile]

OK here's a clip from 1967

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRJex83zIsY

[ October 23, 2007, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: DanS ]

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