Predator

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Doggin' Coyotes . . . it's an addiction

Published: 17.02.2010 by: Tom Morrison

It's no secret, at least to the hunting community, that the coyote population is fudging toward out of control in many areas of the province. At least in one county in southern Ontario, a bounty has been placed upon these dogs of the bush at $100.00 per coyote. I'd say that's a big indicator that we have a problem. Yet in other regions of the province like southwestern Ontario, namely Essex County, we have groups of hunters that take the chase very seriously and yearly, remove large numbers of 'yotes from farmer bush lots, fields and yes, at the very edge of town and I mean that literally.

Locally, a group of about 6 devotees and very experienced hunters of all game find that there's 'work to do' after waterfowl season and before turkey season - that entails reducing the coyote population. With two-way radio headsets, hand-helds and .223 caliber semi's they hit the roads and fields in search of 'Wiley' and his pals.

I recently had the good fortune to join this group of Predator Control Specialists' to see just what drives these guys to do this every weekend and holiday opportunity. Certainly I can understand the waterfowl, turkey and whitetail thing and have hunted coyotes before using the sit and call method as well as drives across miles of fields but never have I used two-way radios and been a part of a well orchestrated game of 'yote chess in the county. So with a Midland hand-held two-way radio and head set and my .17 I took up the chase with Tom Lewis, Don Boose and Steve Branch for a morning that has got me hooked in this type of hunting.

The day starts with the meticulous combing of concession roads looking for recent signs of coyotes in the fresh snow. Did they cross this road? Which direction are they headed? Are they on the run or just out for a jog? Once a track is found to be promising, a game plan is put into place to flush this dog from either hedge row or bush lot. Being veterans of this pursuit for years, it's uncanny how quickly the plan comes together, blockers/drivers put in place and scouts takes position on the roads. This day, I was placed as a scout on one concession road while Steve Branch took his place on road parallel to mine and Tom Lewis with Donny Boose worked from opposite ends of a center line between the roads then started to slowly enter the bush lots and rows presumed to hold the coyot(s).

The Midland suddenly announces the sighting of 'yote in a bush on the centerline. "I've got him running east through the bush headed for the hedge row" Tom says. "We see him" answers Steve, "Tom Morrison, head east and try to turn him back towards the bush lots," orders Steve. I head up the road with coyote in sight and give reports back to the group of the dog's location and was finally able to report "he's headed back your way Tom." From that moment, I was hooked and the game was on. Watching the coyote stop two hundred yards away in the field to watch what I'm doing and play the game with me was amazing - it gave me a new respect of the intelligence of this animal.

The dog, with a great deal of stealth, worked his way past Tom Lewis and headed for another bush lot on the centerline towards Donny. We kept in contact from the vehicles and alerted the blocker and driver as to the dog's location. The 'yote then sat in the bush lot to think about escape routes as the boys headed in his direction in an attempt to drive him out. He hunkered down for what seemed like an eternity while Tom and Don put a couple of shots into the air and made as much noise as possible in an effort to force the 'yote out. A passer by known to us joined in the efforts by offering to watch behind me on the other end of the bush and gave me a signal shortly after that meaning he has sighted the coyote and it's on the run.

I quickly alerted the other members in the group that the coyote has skirted Donny and is headed west toward another concession and that I was in pursuit to cut him off. The dog is now in open fields and just flying across the snow making for a bush at the end of the centerline. Steve and I quickly join forces at the bush the dog is headed to and with .17 in hand I was able to take a couple of quick shots as the dog cornered the bush in our direction. I just meant to turn him but instead it seemed to inspire the 'yote to new heights in speed as he headed to the road that Steve had just left. Punching it to the destination of this 'yote, Steve had just enough time to get out of the truck, load up and make it to the field as the coyote crossed the road and got about 20 yards in the next field before he took a .223 behind the shoulder and dropped instantly. How cool is that I thought. This has to be the best experience in quite a while for me when it comes to coyote hunting. After hand slaps and hyperventilating I was able to calm down enough to take a good look at this young dog and just marveled at his intelligence and ingenuity. Unfortunately for him, the old dogs that were chasing him had more years of experience and playing the game than the dog could have imagined.

Hyperventilate? You bet ya. When I get to the point that I don't get excited about this stuff anymore, I'll sell the guns gear and take up knitting. You have to try this to get the feeling and now I know why these guys are addicted. They're not just having fun but they're also making it safe for our kids and pets in the area - it's a service and the best 'job' in the world. I'm looking forward to the next time I get to play this game.

So many . . . So little time

Published: 04.01.2009 by: Tom Morrison

By all accounts, this region of Ontario has to hold one of the largest coyote populations in all of Ontario. In fact, in a telephone conversation I had with the OFAH last year, it was said to me that southwestern Ontario and in particular, the Essex/Chatham-Kent counties, is the last true stronghold of the original coyote strain. That means, true coyotes.

Elsehwere in the province the coyote blood has been watered down and mixed with domestic dog and other canine breeds. I have to say that through experience, our coyotes are every bit as shy, elusive and cunning as their western counterparts. They're reluctant to come to a call, not impossible mind you, just reluctant and they give you fleeting glimpses at best most times while driving them.

There are those hunters out there, pretty much a breed unto themselves, that live this predator hunting 24/7 and are very successful at it. You're looking at 3 of them in the intro pic above. It would seem that every waking hour at this time of year is either spent scouting or pursuing coyotes in the field. This is probably why they are so good. An intimate knowledge of habitat, location and pattern makes for a successful hunt no matter what animal you're after.

Pictured above and below from left to right: Steve Branch, Dennis Bailey, Donald Boose. The firearms of choice in this hunt are: Ruger Mini 14 in .223; Remington in .17 centerfire; Armalite 180 in .223. In this region, given the rural development we have, the .17 centerfire to .223 are the most popular calibers used to hunt coyotes.

On this day, the boys ran the coyotes through 4 blocks of property over 4 hours time taking them over 2 concessions. An excellent shot by Donald Boose with his .223 Armalite dropped one coyote in it's tracks. Steve and Donald ganged up on the remaining 'yote' to take him over a 400 yard stretch of propety including ditch and bushlot with Donald taking him out. The 'yotes' ran an average of 35 lbs.