a coyote thought....

[trappnman]

Was coming up between some farm sheds on a good gravel hill road behind the farmyard, and spooked a coyote who ran right down the road and about 2 miles straight across hay and plowed fields before he was out of sight. A couple of brief slowdowns/look backs, but was moving right along.

which make me think- do coyotes that are used to lots of cover, work sets differently when that cover is changed or eliminated?

For example winter and early spring coyotes. Most agree that they work sets differently, with many reasons offered as to why.

Around here, and in many places, cover becomes very sparse in winter and early spring. So I was wondering- does the lack of over all, general cover (habitat like standing corn, weeds, grasses, leafy shrubs) mean that a coyotes behavior changes so the are quicker, flightier, more aware?

Comments?

[bobwendt]

no not at all. they may move differently, i.e. hunt different areas and travel different routes, but I`ve never noticed any difference in working sets from summer to winter, and the last 18 years my summer catches outnumber my winter catches 10 to 1. same lures baits sets etc. apparently I`m odd man out according to just about everyone else you talk to. but that said, I donb`t know anyone that hammers the canines like I do in the summer. no one else had the financial incentive of $100-$150 a head to do it. I`m no better than anyone, just got paid enough to fight the heat and bugs, so was able to really put some statiscally significant numbers up to form my conclusion they work sets the same .

[Bob Jameson]

I believe they put their pants on just about the same way every day in much if not the exact same way regardless of season. Variables naturally will influence them to some degree. But all in all I dont see any basic reasons why they would change their usualy pattern of work unless harassed alot in an area. I catch in spring, summer and winter with basically the same sets. I just set up closer to home in the spring and summer then I do in winter. I do vary presentations to a greater degree depending on responses working specific animals. But den hitting and setting up the return/approach routes is where I get most of them.

Understanding they are working most sets under the cloak of darkness they go about doing what they do using the wind as usual and looking for supporting evidence to confirm what they may smell.

[trappnman]

I agree with what you both are saying- but are you also both saying you don't notice any standbacks, etc in an unexploited population during winter?

You must see such in an exploited population?

[Bob Jameson]

NO I believe many see or have stand offs or walk byes in the late season due to pressure and an obvious learning curve that many develop. I believe we discussed some of this on an early topic to a degree. I believe much of this is due to presentation appearance and odor combos to a great extent.

[musher]

Steve: You can see for 2 miles?

[trappnman]

I can see for miles and miles....

depends- in the hills- no, in the flats- 2 miles and lots, lots further

[robertw]

As for working sets differently....No.

Are there times when coyotes are not as agressive about working sets...yes, but they still work them the same, just harder to generate a response.

"etc in an unexploited population during winter?"

Large parts of many western states (and midwestern) have "unexploited" populations. After you have worked in a few of these western areas and realise how easy western coyotes are to catch in numbers you really look at things differently.

[trappnman]

you hunt grouse in the far north- they hardly fly and many hunters use a .22 to plink them from trees. Same grouse that down here, fly if they even begin to hear you.

Western landscapes are pretty much unchanged from season to season.

You got greasewood/sage and sand i nsummer- same think with snow in winter.

Habititat for all purposes, is the saqme day i nand day out.

THe exactopposite is true. YOY are born to cover- and have cover all their lifes untilk harvest.

Now- when overnight 1000s of acres of "habitat" are disappearing- I'd think that it owuld have an affect on coyotes and other animals, at least in the short run.

you have "cover coyotes" that can blend into and disappear at will....turning into open range coyotes overnight.

Now, I think that has a profound effect on them.

and I think, IMHO, that one of these affects is caution.

Looking over your shoulder if you will......

[bobwendt]

when I first went to wyoming I thought i had died and gone to trappers heaven. never rains, (or same as) no human issues or dog issues or theft issue ,and unlimited access to populations like I had never seen in my life. all relative to what I was use to in the east. 700 or 1,000 or1,300 or whatever catch numbers no longer meant squat to me. and I did it all on 24`s while the locals seemed have this warped idea they couldn`t catch anything unless they were on a 72 to 1 month ck. time and using traps that would hold a bear. I`ve said it before and will repeat again, you don`t see any westerners coming east to trap do you? the reason is they would all fall flat on their faces with the new regs , peopole and pet troubles, no access ,and incessant rains they aren`t use to. I know some western trappers that catch in the hundreds of this or that and have never once had to "ask permission to trap". untill you`ve been there and seen the opportunity in the west, words can`t properly describe it.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I appreciate what you say Bob, if I had to deal with what you describe I'm not sure I would do much trapping. I hate trapping around town here on public lands.

As far as the original post I think coyotes work sets differently dpending on cover. I think they feel more secure in some places than others.

Out here the low brush where you can see a long ways doesn't hold as many coyotes as the higher stuff and I think a lot of them are transients.

I know that coyotes work a set better if they can see around a little ways. Doesn't have to be far, but they like to know something isn't gonna jump out of the bushes and get them especially when using something that they don't expect like some super duper lure made with exotic asian musks.

Joel

[trappnman]

good points Joel- coyotes used to low cover, most likely would be cautious in higher cover, or at least the edges of higher cover.

Whereas here, with the woods and with the corn, etc- coyotes are used to being in, hunting in and working in higher cover.

Which made me wonder about the original point, when that cover is suddenly gone- comparable in reverse to if the western country would overnight consist of 10 foot high corn fields and acres of woods- would (do) coyotes change how they hunt, work a set etc- at least short term?

[17HMR]

I for one, belive you are right on the short term, but it shouldnt last more than 5 to 10 days at the most in my opinion.

[Rally Hess]

Steve,
I believe short term is correct. I've often seen where fox and wolves would avoid fresh clear cuts, but eventually start to skirt then enter them in like a two week to one month time period. I believe it may also have to do with the fact that the deer tend to hang close to the clear cuts. Kinda like a beaver pond when the dam has been pulled out by a backhoe. They come out and often circle the pond and survey the dam, but eventually will just start making repairs and adapt.
Also have to believe the coyotes in corn country learn that the small game have been concentrated after harvest and learn they have better results hunting there.

[trappnman]

I will not have another thread deteriorate to the same old. thank you