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Author
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Topic: Watching Coyote Pups
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Burger
PAKMAN
Member # 1486
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posted June 07, 2008 09:30 PM
The past two winters I haven't shot any coyotes within walking distance of my home, with the goal of having coyotes to study and learn from. In past years there were a couple of dozen yotes in the same general area.
Last winter the breeding pair had five pups and four are still with the alpha pair. This season the family of six was still intact and there were pups born.
My goal has been realized the last week or so. I've been able to watch the pups now that they are out of the dens. So far, the most I've seen at the same time is three.
This evening between sunset and dark I watched three "adults" return seperately to the daytime resting area with prey in their mouths for the young. The pups tails wagged side to side with excitement.
Yesterday morning I was busted on my approach and quickly sat down about 180 yards from the adults. They kept watch on me while I watched them and even allowed one pup to get within 30 yards of me before he realized I was there and scampered away. The pups don't have that mach one speed yet!
I live in high desert territory at 3800'. Lots of ridges, washes and open land. Easy to see plenty of distance with binocs.
Like I told my hunting buddy "Ya know, You sure can learn a lot about coyote behavior if you don't kill them as soon as you see them"
Anyway it's really a treat to have a study group within walking distance of home. Not sure how long I'll be able to hold out on calling and hunting them. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Burger
Posts: 9 | From: High Desert of California | Registered: Jul 2007
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Okanagan
Budding Spin Doctor
Member # 870
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posted June 08, 2008 03:18 AM
"Ya know, You sure can learn a lot about coyote behavior if you don't kill them as soon as you see them"
That is profound. True of any kind of animal we hunt.
Last Fall I watched some fascinating body language communication and a bit of vocals between two coyotes for nearly ten minutes. Only saw it because I didn't shoot the first one as soon as it showed up. One of them seemed really bossy and the other craven. They were across a wash from one another, one on each side of me, and the bossy one was giving orders on how the timid one should approach me and circle me.
Posts: 269 | From: 49th Parrallel | Registered: Jun 2006
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted June 08, 2008 03:21 AM
Too cool!!!!
Photos.........we want photos of the little guys.
Hell, you can hunt coyotes anywhere (sort of) but to have a group to watch close to the house is awesome. Nothing on tv anyway.
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8231 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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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 June 08, 2008 07:01 AM
"Ya know, You sure can learn a lot about coyote behavior if you don't kill them as soon as you see them"
I've said that for several years, and you'd be surprised at how many guys gimme the weirdest look for such "crazy talk". But, it can really be educational. Videotaping them for repeated review is even better. Every time you watch the video, you catch or see something different to learn from.
I haven't had the opportunity for several years to find an active den. But, right now, our cover is about five feet deep and all green, so seeing them can be something of a problem.
My partner Matt called me two weeks ago from the cab of a big John Deere. He was planting corn in a river bend we often hunt and where I'd found a freshly cleaned out den during turkey season. He was all excited because as he circled that field, he watched two adult coyotes make two trips back to the den I'd found then cross the river bend, each with a puppy in their mouth. Because he was on the tractor, they really paid him no mind and he talked like he was pretty close to them as they crossed at least once.
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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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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted June 08, 2008 08:47 AM
A point I have always pondered; which do you shoot first, the craven or the bossy?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Okanagan
Budding Spin Doctor
Member # 870
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posted June 08, 2008 10:36 AM
"A point I have always pondered; which do you shoot first, the craven or the bossy?
Good hunting. LB"
In all seriousness, Leonard, shoot the bossy one. When you do that, the craven one usually vacillates in confusion long enough to give you a shot at it also. It may expose itself more trying to see the fallen one.
I have seen the dominant one stand off a ways and direct the approach of a second coyote several times. In my limited experience as long as the one posted out there watching has its body facing you, the closer one will keep coming toward the call. The instant the watcher/director coyote changes its body position from facing you to sideways or any angle away, even if it does not move a step away, the closer one will bug out.
So when I have a pair doing this to me, I don't shoot as long as the watcher is facing me. Often the closer one is sneaking through cover and I can't see it though the watcher usually tips me off to where it is by looking at his partner.
I try to let the close one get really close and in view before shooting the farther coyote. Then I hope for a shot at the closer one as it hesitates, looking back and forth between its partner and me for several seconds.
This pair last Fall I called bossy and craven for the first time, because that's how they appeared with their body language. I think I've mentioned them before. The close, craven one had a front foot missing at its wrist and was limping painfully on a stub, though it appeared healed.
It came within 15 feet, stopped for several seconds and then limped slowly away, plus I looked at it quite a bit with binoculars for six or seven minutes inside of 50 yards. It came close, then retreated to the cut bank of the dry wash, lay down and watched me. Near the Yukon border and I'm sure they don't get called much.
I'd be curious to hear Rich Higgins weigh in on this. I may have interpreted what I've seen entirely wrong.
[ June 08, 2008, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]
Posts: 269 | From: 49th Parrallel | Registered: Jun 2006
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sparkyibewlocal440
Knows what it's all about
Member # 397
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posted June 08, 2008 03:06 PM
That's a touching story Dave.....I would'nt hold out to long,my season starts very soon.
Hopefully for you,I'm the only one on this site that knows where you live,otherwise,it may look like Marines landing on the beach around your house.
Here's something else you should study,Coyote hunters.Guys like me, always have their ear on the ground for any tid bits where to find Coyotes....Photo's?Ya sure,all that's needed is a familiar land mark captured in time and somebody will pick up on it.
And thanks for the tip.
Posts: 170 | From: So. Cal | Registered: Sep 2004
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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 June 08, 2008 03:39 PM
Ya know, the one thing I hate more than using the term "yote" is when someone uses the term "craven". Of course, the only thing that chaps my ass worse is when they then use a word like "vacillates". WTF? ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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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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Okanagan
Budding Spin Doctor
Member # 870
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posted June 08, 2008 06:12 PM
You need Coyote University to acquire the nomenclature.
[ June 08, 2008, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]
Posts: 269 | From: 49th Parrallel | Registered: Jun 2006
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Burger
PAKMAN
Member # 1486
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posted June 08, 2008 08:20 PM
No pictures of these coyotes, just trying to learn from them each day when I walk my dogs.
Gary, I don't think you need any tips. A dozen coyotes is about what you put on the ground before breakfast isn't it? ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) And I do study coyote hunters like you. I've watched you walk back to your truck after a hunt. From my house
Also the marines have found this beach, well Soreloser and his partner anyway. Heck, the Orange County Predator Hunting Club spends a lot of Friday and Saturday nights here. There's enough hunters up here on weekends to start a University. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Somehow this family slipped through the cracks. And I'm having fun watching them. They will be gone soon enough.
Burger
P.S. Sparky...I called in an unusually high number of bobcats last winter, how about you?
Posts: 9 | From: High Desert of California | Registered: Jul 2007
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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 June 08, 2008 08:21 PM
And that would come in the B.S. part?
Reminds me of a joke. Probably told it before, but I don't care. Here's how it goes...
This guy is telling his buddy how his son just got back from Coyote University where he got this certificate for getting his "B.S.".
"And we all know what that means," he chuckled.
"Then what did he do?" his buddy asked.
"Well," he said, "he signed up again and got his M.S.."
"What's that?" the other old guy asked.
"More o' the same", was his reply.
"Then what did he do?"
"Well", he said, "he signed up for a third go around and got another piece of paper for his Ph.D!"
"What's that", he asked one last time.
"Piled Higher and Deeper!!!" the proud father replied.
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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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sparkyibewlocal440
Knows what it's all about
Member # 397
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posted June 09, 2008 09:12 PM
Funny you mentioned night hunting.Happened to be talking to a State Park Ranger this last Sunday,about that very same topic.He Personally popped 3 separate rigs swinging a light last Winter.One arrest happened after if was awakened by gun shots near his home.Most of that area is shotgun only too.Might want to study the "regs" if you already haven't.
Posts: 170 | From: So. Cal | Registered: Sep 2004
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