Ramblings and Such From Hunting Coyote

[DSheetz]

Yes if I wrote about me it was what I have done . When you do it for over 36 years up to 16 hours a day you have time to have a lot of different experiences that the average coyote hunter , caller doesn't . I went for a lot of years that I only slept 2-4 hours a day and hunted coyote nearly every day except maybe 10 to 15 days out of the year . I worked two jobs control and as a welder mill wright at a power plant on night shift to support my family . For most of that time I had traps and snares out 7 days a week 365 days a year it wasn't a hobby it was a way of life and a never ending quest for knowledge of the coyote . I retired from it in 2018 but still have a very healthy interest in coyote control as coyote were my specialty , they were my main target but any animal that was killing livestock was taken also . There are people out there that have had more experiences then me and have learned far more then I have but don't talk about it . A lot of the people out there still doing coyote control are quiet professionals just going about their lives and doing their jobs well . I didn't start to share my experiences till after I retired from it . I did try to help some others get a good start in their careers but found that few of them were willing to spend the amount of time and effort at it that I did . It seemed that if they were to be asked to put in more then a 40 hour work week they didn't want any part of it . Breeding season , denning season then in the fall dispersal are very busy times of the year for control workers .

 

[DSheetz]

74honker , do you have chicken and turkey farms in your area ? If so are they being affected by the avian influenza at this time ?

 

[DSheetz]

A couple of months ago , one of the ranchers that I worked for , was telling one of his son-in-law's we found Dave by accident . We hadn't ever met anyone like him when we were told of him and decided to get him to come and locate for the helicopter . He got on the coyote tracked them and told us how to come in on them from this side to push them out into the open instead of into the rough draws like we were used to doing . then when we asked him to go to our other place and track them he took my brother with him and they got those coyote located and told us how to come in on them to keep them from escaping from us . We had been trying to get these two groups for a month and within the first week he had them pin pointed figured out what we needed to change to get the killing stopped . We asked him to do some more work just to make sure it wasn't a fluke of luck . We kept him busy for the next 36 years ran sheep where we never thought we could saw our lamb numbers increase from 72 percent to over 110 percent at shipping he paid his way or he would have been gone like the ones before him . When we sold the sheep we kept him on till he decided to retire so if you want to learn more about killing coyote ask Dave . What better compliment could you ever ask for a guy you respect and worked for , for so long telling his son-in-law about you in your presence and to ask you for help if he needs it .

 

[Bucklowery]

A couple of months ago , one of the ranchers that I worked for , was telling one of his son-in-law's we found Dave by accident . We hadn't ever met anyone like him when we were told of him and decided to get him to come and locate for the helicopter . He got on the coyote tracked them and told us how to come in on them from this side to push them out into the open instead of into the rough draws like we were used to doing . then when we asked him to go to our other place and track them he took my brother with him and they got those coyote located and told us how to come in on them to keep them from escaping from us . We had been trying to get these two groups for a month and within the first week he had them pin pointed figured out what we needed to change to get the killing stopped . We asked him to do some more work just to make sure it wasn't a fluke of luck . We kept him busy for the next 36 years ran sheep where we never thought we could saw our lamb numbers increase from 72 percent to over 110 percent at shipping he paid his way or he would have been gone like the ones before him . When we sold the sheep we kept him on till he decided to retire so if you want to learn more about killing coyote ask Dave . What better compliment could you ever ask for a guy you respect and worked for , for so long telling his son-in-law about you in your presence and to ask you for help if he needs it .

Proverbs 27:2- let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Mr. Dave that is a testimony to your dedication and determination. Something we don't see much of these days. I pray it doesn't die with your generation

Thanks

Buck

 

[74honker]

Dave, there's only one chicken farm in our area. To my knowledge they have not been affected yet. Bird flu is actually somewhat common, it goes around some every year, some worse than others. It just usually doesn't get much press. As I've told before, with my wife being a vet tech for last 17yrs, I get to here about alot of odd things lol. The USDA sends nationwide alerts/bulletins out anytime something out of the ordinary happens anywhere in the country. Most people would freak if they knew all that happened around them. Anthrax is a perfect example. It's a natural occurance, affecting cattle mainly, but can affect anything. Cases of this happen every year just no press and that's really for the better. Things can get blown WAY out of proportion when people are ignorant to facts and reality.

 

[74honker]

Proverbs 27:2- let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Mr. Dave that is a testimony to your dedication and determination. Something we don't see much of these days. I pray it doesn't die with your generation

Thanks

Buck

AMEN TO THIS!!!

 

[DSheetz]

Thank you gentlemen . Yes I still receive notifications from APHES when there are unusual things happening . There are so many zoonotic diseases out there and it is quite possible that people can panic when they are brought to the attention of the general populace

 

[APDDSN0864]

Thank you gentlemen . Yes I still receive notifications from APHES when there are unusual things happening . There are so many zoonotic diseases out there and it is quite possible that people can panic when they are brought to the attention of the general populace

Anyone can log into the USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services web pages and get notices of all kinds of news about our agricultural system including zoonotic diseases.
The scariest part of the genie that's been let out of the bottle with Covid-19 is that it has easily jumped the species boundaries, showing us that there are still major epidemics to come.
That said, any reasonable precautions taken while handling wild animal carcasses will negate the threats.
Life is filled with risks. That shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying our world to the fullest.

Ed

 

[BigDon]

Yes if I wrote about me it was what I have done . When you do it for over 36 years up to 16 hours a day you have time to have a lot of different experiences that the average coyote hunter , caller doesn't . I went for a lot of years that I only slept 2-4 hours a day and hunted coyote nearly every day except maybe 10 to 15 days out of the year . I worked two jobs control and as a welder mill wright at a power plant on night shift to support my family . For most of that time I had traps and snares out 7 days a week 365 days a year it wasn't a hobby it was a way of life and a never ending quest for knowledge of the coyote . I retired from it in 2018 but still have a very healthy interest in coyote control as coyote were my specialty , they were my main target but any animal that was killing livestock was taken also . There are people out there that have had more experiences then me and have learned far more then I have but don't talk about it . A lot of the people out there still doing coyote control are quiet professionals just going about their lives and doing their jobs well . I didn't start to share my experiences till after I retired from it . I did try to help some others get a good start in their careers but found that few of them were willing to spend the amount of time and effort at it that I did . It seemed that if they were to be asked to put in more then a 40 hour work week they didn't want any part of it . Breeding season , denning season then in the fall dispersal are very busy times of the year for control workers .

I hate to sound like a 'suck up' but I have totally enjoyed reading you posts. You should be proud of your accomplishments, and I thank you - and the rest of the contributors - for sharing your experience and wisdom. Thank You!

 

[DSheetz]

I started the ramblings so that we all could share and enjoy each others experiences . With the goal of us passing on to others some of the things that we have learned and experienced . I think it is doing that and hope it continues to teach and entertain fellow hunters not only about coyote hunting and such but our experiences in general . Thank You Dave

 

[APDDSN0864]

I started the ramblings so that we all could share and enjoy each others experiences . With the goal of us passing on to others some of the things that we have learned and experienced . I think it is doing that and hope it continues to teach and entertain fellow hunters not only about coyote hunting and such but our experiences in general . Thank You Dave

Dave,
I'll echo the thanks for your posts here.
You have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experiences throughout your life that reveal your love for nature.
They also reveal your heart.
You obviously love this creation that we live in, but also your fellow man for you freely share your knowledge and experiences.
Thank you.

Ed

 

[DSheetz]

As do you Ed . you all are welcome and thank you

 

[DSheetz]

I took the wood out of the stabilizer last week and set it aside to cure . Yesterday evening I got it selected and turned the parts from the pieces that I liked the looks of , then just to make sure that it was stabilized completely through I put it back in the stabilizer . In a couple of days I will set it aside to cure again and finish the howler and tune it . I take my time building them as I think they will last longer that way . I don't rush building things the same as I don't rush into hunting , or calling coyote if I feel that I have to rush today I'm better off staying home . Yes if you have killing going on you need to get it stopped as soon as you can but that isn't the same as rushing into things is it ? That's where having experience makes it into the picture . You have learned where you can save time by doing what is needed and not doing what isn't needed . You take what you need to get the job done and leave the stuff you don't need at home or you just have culled it from all of the other things , and given it to some one that can use it . What I take with me isn't the same things that you will , we all have our own needs and ideas as to what it takes to get the job done with efficiently . Efficiency is the key to getting the job completed fast not rushing . When most of us rush we tend to miss out on what we need to be efficient thus we miss out on saving time and being the most effective . Just some more of my ramblings and random thoughts . When you are miles from home it takes time to get there and if you didn't bring every thing you needed for the job and can't do the work without going back to get the things you forgot efficiency just flew out the window . When I'm going to need to walk miles tracking I don't need to carry extra things but I do need some things . So when I'm tracking , my rifle is with me , my hand calls will be there water and binoculars , knife , pistol belt with pliers not much else . When you have tracked enough you get a feel for when you are getting close to where they live , by the amount of tracks coming and going . If you are denning the tracks will be going both ways both male and female often two females tracks and they will come together in one or two trails concentrated not nearly as random . They will do the same in an area where they are laying up often even when they aren't with pups . I was taught how to use what was on hand to stabilize my shots , my body set up to be stable , my knees set up to stabilize with , my back rested and stable , rocks , trees , cut bank ect. , are my friends backing and stabilizers , they keep me from being sky lined but high enough to see the surrounding areas and make it so that I have things in my advantage and yes I like the sun to my sides or back in their eyes not mine . I love to be in the shade of something as much as I possibly can . Time doing it will be your friend as well .

 

[APDDSN0864]

I took the wood out of the stabilizer last week and set it aside to cure . Yesterday evening I got it selected and turned the parts from the pieces that I liked the looks of , then just to make sure that it was stabilized completely through I put it back in the stabilizer . In a couple of days I will set it aside to cure again and finish the howler and tune it . I take my time building them as I think they will last longer that way . I don't rush building things the same as I don't rush into hunting , or calling coyote if I feel that I have to rush today I'm better off staying home . Yes if you have killing going on you need to get it stopped as soon as you can but that isn't the same as rushing into things is it ? That's where having experience makes it into the picture . You have learned where you can save time by doing what is needed and not doing what isn't needed . You take what you need to get the job done and leave the stuff you don't need at home or you just have culled it from all of the other things , and given it to some one that can use it . What I take with me isn't the same things that you will , we all have our own needs and ideas as to what it takes to get the job done with efficiently . Efficiency is the key to getting the job completed fast not rushing . When most of us rush we tend to miss out on what we need to be efficient thus we miss out on saving time and being the most effective . Just some more of my ramblings and random thoughts . When you are miles from home it takes time to get there and if you didn't bring every thing you needed for the job and can't do the work without going back to get the things you forgot efficiency just flew out the window . When I'm going to need to walk miles tracking I don't need to carry extra things but I do need some things . So when I'm tracking , my rifle is with me , my hand calls will be there water and binoculars , knife , pistol belt with pliers not much else . When you have tracked enough you get a feel for when you are getting close to where they live , by the amount of tracks coming and going . If you are denning the tracks will be going both ways both male and female often two females tracks and they will come together in one or two trails concentrated not nearly as random . They will do the same in an area where they are laying up often even when they aren't with pups . I was taught how to use what was on hand to stabilize my shots , my body set up to be stable , my knees set up to stabilize with , my back rested and stable , rocks , trees , cut bank ect. , are my friends backing and stabilizers , they keep me from being sky lined but high enough to see the surrounding areas and make it so that I have things in my advantage and yes I like the sun to my sides or back in their eyes not mine . Time doing it will be your friend as well .

As a wise man once said;
"If you take the time it takes, it takes less time".

Ed