something to think about next time you are in the woods alone

[Wild Ed]

There is a book out if you can find it called "The New American Wolf"  about the hybridization of the Eastern Coyote with Red Wolf, Dog and Grey Wolf.  The result is a coyote that has different bloodlines, is a large canine and a more efficent hunter.  Most of the Eastern states will have some of these animals.  That is also why there are a bunch of black coyotes showing up around the country.  The prints are normally more enlongated than a dog print.  These animals were all trapped by members of the Trapperman forum.  I have only killed one of these and also dug out a den that had 6 hybrid pups of which we raised one.

[hank-aye]

That explains why the pair I saw in Merryland were black.
Thanks Ed.
hankaye

[chuck w.]

Time to put a new scope on my varmint rifle and shoot song dogs this winter.

[Red Badger]

Time to put a new scope on my varmint rifle and shoot song dogs this winter.

What!  sacrilege use your bp first then grab the new fangled thing

[Hanshi]

I, too, shot a black one-beautiful-years ago in Ga.  I'd think however that such crosses would be relatively rare.  Wolves will kill coyotes on sight and so will very large dogs.  Smaller dogs are supper for a coyote.  The reason coyotes didn't exist in the east was because wolves dominated the landscape and made establishment difficult to impossible.  With that being said, however, I did see two unusually large coyotes running across a field once while loading my flint pistol.  Georgia is saturated with them and I saw them often, creeping around the woods or hunting mice in fields.  I know they are demonized right and left but I'd hate to see them go.  You got to respect their intelligence, cunning, toughness and adaptability. 

[Watauga]

I am with you on that.
Most All the Predator animals are Beautiful creations.
As is most things in nature.
But when things get of of balance and they start attacking humans we need to protect our territory to.
And the smart ones will thrive and the ones causing trouble will be gone.
We used to see Red Foxes around now that coyotes are in Indiana no more Red Fox.
Not a good trade to me.

[Wild Ed]

Coydogs hybrids are occurring more and more around the country.  As more dog and wolf genes are introduced into the coyote population the more willing they are to cross with other hybrids or dogs instead of just pure coyotes.  Here are some more pictures for you to study. ET

[sluefox]

Wild Ed,
The last picture of this series reminds me of similar types of coydogs that are seen on our property in E.Texas!

[redhawk]

Got home in time to slip off to my favorite tree for deer.  Just about right at dark I could hear something walking but couldn't find it.  That is the second time that has happened at dark.  This time I just sat motionless thinking it was a deer coming up on me.  To my surprise it was an extremely big coyote or a wolf.  It was coming to my right in a thicket. I waited for it to get out in an old logging road  and I was going to make my move. I am right handed and can't shoot left handed.  Wrong thing to do, it got about 5 yards from the logging road that I had walked into my stand got sent of me and hauled buggy.  Man what an magnificent animal. It was huge.  My Lab weighs about 80 pounds and I know it was alot bigger at least 100 pounds.   I have to agree with Hanshi you have to admire their smarts.  He will definite be a formable foe.  I couldn't help but to think about this post as I walked out in the dark.  You can bet I did look over my shoulder a time or two.  You can bet where I'll watch the sun come up and go down tomorrow and I will have a flashlight.

[Wild Ed]

Time to set a trap on the road. 

[chuckwagonRN]

This is anecdotal no science behind it but the Yotes round here seem to be getting bigger and darker and smarter except when they take on the traffic :)
I have noticed that the road kill is not domestic dogs or normal Yotes. Yes I do stop for road kill to check for usable skins and yes I do have the license and the local law on speed dial just to be sure they don't mind some free clean up. Remember to use gloves some o da critters carry nasty things.
Just some observations
Chuckwagon.

[redhawk]

Thought the same thing Wild Ed when I was walking  out.  Going to hit up my brother in-law tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner for some traps.  Can you give me some pointers of what would be the best setup.  The trouble I have is it is not that far from my house.  I have to be careful and not catch my dogs. I am thinking about trying to call it in sight.  I might take a turkey call in the morning and give it a few squaws.  The worst I could come up with would be to have to watch a turkey on Thanksgiving.  You see NC doesn't have a fall season.  I have called up several turkey hunting and killed a one young one year before last.    I thought I might surprise it.  We'll see what goes.

[Wild Ed]

I would set a dirt hole set against a rock or log.  Put some coyote or even dog urine on the rock and stick some sort of bird or chicken meat in the hole and put some dry grass on it.  You might even spread a few feathers around it for attention.  If you have lure and coyote urine just make a standard dirt hole set and lure it. 

[redhawk]

How far would the trap go back  from the bait? A 1 1/2  coil spring trap be ok?  Would it be better to set a second trap.  He is big! Do you think I might need a No. 2?

[Wild Ed]

I put the trap about the spread of my fingers back from the hole and about three fingers wide off set to the right.  I would use 1.75 or bigger coil spring traps.  A 1 1/2 is really a fox and coon trap and coyotes can tear them up and get away.  If that is what you have use them but know that they are pretty light for a coyote. You may only have one chance at the dog and you are not running a trapline so I would have no problem setting two traps at a set and making several sets in the area.  When I am after a specific problem coyote I will make several sets in an area.  Stake and bed your traps solid and sift some peat moss over the trap.  Then sift a little of the dirt you dug out of the trap bed over the traps so it looks as if nothing is there but the hole with the bait.  ET