How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
10-07-2005, 10:02 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 280
How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
If you were heading out to a stand and spotted a coyote, would you switch plans? Maybe hunt anoter stand? Here's what happened to me...
There has been a rain and wind storm in our area the last two days, our rain gage says we got 4” of rain. The wind has been howling. The temperatures have dropped. Snow is predicted. Its downright cold and miserable. I had brought my hunting gear to work with me contemplating the possibility of a break in the weather and the associated increase in deer movement. It was raining at 3:30 pm, but by 4:00 pm it was slowing. On my way home I showered at the local pool, making the move to hunt the magic corner. This was the spot were I killed two deer last year (one with my bow and a small buck on the last day/last minute of the gun season). The bow killed doe was half eaten by coyotes when I recovered it less three hours after I hit it.
After I parked, I stepped out of the car and there to my amazement is a coyote working the tree line, toting along weaving back and forth, occasionally stopping to smell the air blowing out of the woods. It was trotting right toward me I leaned up against the car and watched. about 100 yards it looked up at me, didn’t startle - mainly continued its prowl but this time away and across the field. Now what, should I hunt this spot or not? I made the decision to go in and check out the place for activity, one that I would surly regret. On my hike in as I passed an orchard in middle of two fields, I notice the apples that had fallen from the tree we still lying in the grass. Also, A bare ground area which usually has tracks was trackless. Was this due to the storm keeping the deer down, which case they should be moving to this area soon, or was it the coyote? I made it to my stand and set up- disappointed with my clumsiness in the process. I sat until 6:45 no sign, no movement. Tried some doe calls and a fawn bleat, but though that probably is just bring in the “yotes”
On my hike out I approached the field edge cautiously, quietly and with slow movements. I stood near the edge when, in the dim light I noticed movement - Deer? The animal started moving toward me, back and forth, I froze. That movement was familiar, Damn it a coyote. It continued its hunt of the grass (for mice?) as it came with in 20 yards with out noticing me (the wind was in my face). I wondered if I can shoot a coyote with my bow license? And what I’d do with the carcass of I did” How do coyotes taste? It headed into the woods were I had walked out, probably smelled my trail, or me and lunged deeper into the woods at a running pace. I wondered how much that single “yote” would keep the deer away? Next time I see one on my stand trail I might just pick another stand.
There has been a rain and wind storm in our area the last two days, our rain gage says we got 4” of rain. The wind has been howling. The temperatures have dropped. Snow is predicted. Its downright cold and miserable. I had brought my hunting gear to work with me contemplating the possibility of a break in the weather and the associated increase in deer movement. It was raining at 3:30 pm, but by 4:00 pm it was slowing. On my way home I showered at the local pool, making the move to hunt the magic corner. This was the spot were I killed two deer last year (one with my bow and a small buck on the last day/last minute of the gun season). The bow killed doe was half eaten by coyotes when I recovered it less three hours after I hit it.
After I parked, I stepped out of the car and there to my amazement is a coyote working the tree line, toting along weaving back and forth, occasionally stopping to smell the air blowing out of the woods. It was trotting right toward me I leaned up against the car and watched. about 100 yards it looked up at me, didn’t startle - mainly continued its prowl but this time away and across the field. Now what, should I hunt this spot or not? I made the decision to go in and check out the place for activity, one that I would surly regret. On my hike in as I passed an orchard in middle of two fields, I notice the apples that had fallen from the tree we still lying in the grass. Also, A bare ground area which usually has tracks was trackless. Was this due to the storm keeping the deer down, which case they should be moving to this area soon, or was it the coyote? I made it to my stand and set up- disappointed with my clumsiness in the process. I sat until 6:45 no sign, no movement. Tried some doe calls and a fawn bleat, but though that probably is just bring in the “yotes”
On my hike out I approached the field edge cautiously, quietly and with slow movements. I stood near the edge when, in the dim light I noticed movement - Deer? The animal started moving toward me, back and forth, I froze. That movement was familiar, Damn it a coyote. It continued its hunt of the grass (for mice?) as it came with in 20 yards with out noticing me (the wind was in my face). I wondered if I can shoot a coyote with my bow license? And what I’d do with the carcass of I did” How do coyotes taste? It headed into the woods were I had walked out, probably smelled my trail, or me and lunged deeper into the woods at a running pace. I wondered how much that single “yote” would keep the deer away? Next time I see one on my stand trail I might just pick another stand.
10-07-2005, 10:07 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
I've seen deer walk right in behind a coyote - I don't think a healthy deer - is too worried about a coyote generally.
I've also seen where coyotes have packed up and killed a deer -(sign left in the snow) - and the deer have moved off.
So I guess my answer would be yes & no. - My gut tells me the one coyote doesn't mean much - but a loud, stalking pack is another story as far as the local herd goes.
FH
I've also seen where coyotes have packed up and killed a deer -(sign left in the snow) - and the deer have moved off.
So I guess my answer would be yes & no. - My gut tells me the one coyote doesn't mean much - but a loud, stalking pack is another story as far as the local herd goes.
FH
10-07-2005, 10:08 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,840
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
You should have shotthe coyoteif possible. You don't eat yote you just skin him if you want, depending on the fur quality. Either way get rid of some of them.
10-07-2005, 10:13 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Roanoke, Va
Posts: 3,562
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
I wouldnt eat those scavengers and would stick an arrow in everyone I had the chance to. Although the yote population in Virginia is rising, Ive yet to see one while I hunt. ONly along the interstate.
10-07-2005, 10:15 PM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Tampico, Tamps, MX , Love hunting Texas
Posts: 894
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
YEP YOU SHOULD SHOT THE DAM YOTE
ORIGINAL: Tribal
You should have shotthe coyoteif possible. You don't eat yote you just skin him if you want, depending on the fur quality. Either way get rid of some of them.
You should have shotthe coyoteif possible. You don't eat yote you just skin him if you want, depending on the fur quality. Either way get rid of some of them.
10-07-2005, 10:40 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Notheast IL
Posts: 1,016
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
I was driving home from work one night and saw some deer in a open field. I stopped to take a look and noticed a couple of yotes in the same field, ever time one of those yotes got to close one or more of the deer would charge toward them. The deer where very protective of the younger ones in the group. This went on for about 15 minutes until the yotes finally gave up and went on thier way.The deer stood thier ground, now if it was a pack of yotes it mighthave been a different story...
10-07-2005, 11:14 PM
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Va
Posts: 21
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
ORIGINAL: ducsauce
I wouldnt eat those scavengers and would stick an arrow in everyone I had the chance to. Although the yote population in Virginia is rising, Ive yet to see one while I hunt. ONly along the interstate.
I wouldnt eat those scavengers and would stick an arrow in everyone I had the chance to. Although the yote population in Virginia is rising, Ive yet to see one while I hunt. ONly along the interstate.
Had a pack "assemble" on a ridge one night while I was headed out...they were yapping and howling following me step for step on the ridge top. So they are everywhere on the other side of the mtn. from you.
I don't think healthy deer are worried too much about ind. yotes....packs of them may have the deer change routes till the coyotes move on.
B.
10-08-2005, 08:39 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: West Winfield New York USA
Posts: 545
RE: How much do coyotes affect deer movement?
I wouldn't change my stand because of coyotes. I have seen deer go by and coyotes go by in the same hour. Once, whilelooking for a place to photograph deer, I saw a coyote lay down in a field and 3 deer came, they had their necks stretched out, sniffing the air,walking towards the coyote. They got within 5 feet of the coyote so he took off and laid in a different spot. The curious deer walked over and got within 5 feet of him in his new spot and he took off again and decided to leave the field. Probably the reason you didn't see any deer tracks is because the rain washed all of the tracks away. Maybe some of you have seen this picture but, I have seen coyotes pass by turkeys and ignore them, the turkeys just stand in an alert position and don't fly away.
WWW.PBASE.COM/MLO3135127
WWW.PBASE.COM/MLO3135127
10-08-2005, 08:45 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: West Winfield New York USA
Posts: 545
