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Post by trappnman on Jul 13, 2007 10:38:13 GMT -6
You are right J- it for sure depends on the location. Here, pups aren't whelped until very late April, early May.. with the norm being more to the middle May.
Yet interesting- your early whelping coyotes and my later ones- both have the same "blah" period.
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pure speculation.... and it would be nice to hear from those that have bred coyotes... but.
Animals like dogs are attracted to females about a week 10 days before she starts puffing and/or spotting. But dogs don't pair bond.
So I could at least think that coyotes that are pair bonded, would have that relationship all year. That coyotes really aren't running after females in season, but breeding their wifes if you will. But for sure, the breeding instincts would strengthen that bond.
We did have one colored female that had her mate killed in early summer, and within a short time, she had hooked up with and was running with a collared male. So the pairing at least in this case was far before the breeding.
Hows this for a scenario? The main reason that coyotes are funky during Dec/early Jan- is that the easy ones are trapped out, the cautious and spooked ones are left- survivors for whatever reason (completely unexploited populations are very rare in my guess). They were hard to trap in Oct and are why they are still left.
Now- after this period, the mating urges/ denning instincts/plus never forget less food- and the cautious become bold?
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Post by jsevering on Jul 13, 2007 12:38:26 GMT -6
i have no disagreement with the blahs being a possibility of a multiple of elements...
i just dont understand to the full extent the actual breeding age (maturity) of the female combined with the males not being sterile all year long... say like a male domestic dog......
was wondering... (theorizing)... not having a back ground in biology.... when the hormone process actually starts working for them..... figured it might be initially starting sometime in the middle december for select ability and development purposes..... in bringing the males along in the pairing and final breeding process.....
figured it might have a more important aspect on finding a mature mate for the males and a more dominate male for the newly sexually matured females.... also figured it might be important especially for shuffle or displaced animals.....
like i said only theory on my part, would like to know the real deal...
if its only a ten day or so true hormonal attraction or period of change.... before spotting... it wouldn't weigh in as much as i possibly figured.... if thats truly the case there is something else i also have to re think as it dosent make sense to me in the same way.....i was looking at it before....jim
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Post by 3n on Jul 13, 2007 13:13:18 GMT -6
Here's O'Gorman's take on December Blahs Coyotes movement, habits,moods and weather all make December, in Montana ,a usually inferior month. As George Good says,"It encompasses all age and classes of coyotes, all devices and even fox. It is not human odor, blended patterns or any other trapper preceived situation, it has nothing to do with anything. It is time of year and coyotes behavior".
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 13, 2007 13:39:01 GMT -6
3n, 100% correct, plus one more major major thing totally unmentioned. I see it 90% 2 things only, 10% misc, and none of it set or lure related
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Post by 3n on Jul 13, 2007 14:08:42 GMT -6
Well hurry up and spill the beans Bob ;D
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 13, 2007 14:41:53 GMT -6
no ,I`m going slow. I like to hear everyne else thoughts. but when I do everyone wills mack themselves. kind of elementary to me. but it`s like milking a cow, if you just yank instead of squeeze, nothing happens actually I`m sure most everyone sees the obvious, just for some reason we are on different wave lengths here, when really we aren`t..
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Post by rk660 on Jul 13, 2007 14:45:50 GMT -6
i dont have the answear, or know the cause, but I do know one cure-snares-snare like hell in cover in december.
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Post by Wright Brothers on Jul 13, 2007 14:57:47 GMT -6
I've always blamed the Dec change on loss of foilage and deer hunters. With 700k to a million "hunters" in the Pa. outdoors all at once, you'd change your pattern too.
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 13, 2007 16:12:56 GMT -6
c`mon guys.
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Post by trapperbill on Jul 13, 2007 16:23:36 GMT -6
The Alpha male won't go or do anything without the Alpha female along. ;D
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 13, 2007 16:45:22 GMT -6
I`m pulling my hair out.
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Post by 17HMR on Jul 13, 2007 17:14:29 GMT -6
Quit pulling or you will start to look like Edge. LOL
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Post by marbleyez2001 on Jul 13, 2007 17:22:46 GMT -6
The coyotes prey has moved. Where there were grass is now bare ground.
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 13, 2007 17:32:17 GMT -6
I don`t know if I can take it much longer. think, think. this is so easy you guys must just not be seeing the forest for the trees.
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Post by coydog on Jul 13, 2007 18:14:34 GMT -6
My hand is in position ready to slap myself good here Bob.
Ready when you are.
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Post by SteveCraig on Jul 13, 2007 19:24:09 GMT -6
I aint telling! hehehe
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Post by robertw on Jul 13, 2007 19:28:16 GMT -6
I think everyone on here has mentioned a few good reasons but, here is one not mentioned.
In December coyotes are either wearing heavy fur or still priming up, December weather is very unpredictable and temperature does greatly affect coyote movement. Most of the time coyotes are well fed and fat in December, they also are wearing their winter clothes even though the weather is often quite moderate (to warm) and not good traveling weather.
The other thing is that you are 90 days into the fall dispersal (in most areas) and most coyotes are at least pairing up. December is the month of rest before the next big push.
Dember has always been known as the WORST month to have to bait a coyote but IMHO it is from several factors all occurring at the same time.
Just my .02 worth.
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Post by bill1306 (Phil) on Jul 13, 2007 19:39:31 GMT -6
OK one quick stab, Bob can't afford to loose anymore hair. In Dec the female coyotes still have some of their pups with her. Toward the end of Dec. she is thinking about breeding and she will run the pups off from her, making them a little easier to catch. While they are with her, she keeps them from doing too much dumb stuff. Once they are on their own they will have to put up with us, pinching their toes. Then when the heing and sheing starts they move more and our catches go up?
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 13, 2007 19:48:07 GMT -6
heing and sheing, that`s good. I`m too tired, going to bed now. I`ll get to it tomorrow. `night.
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Post by coonhangman1 on Jul 13, 2007 20:40:02 GMT -6
Fantastic post! I'm at the edge of my seat Bob!
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