COYOTES AND DEER

[hoppe56307]

There was a report of a farmer south of Sauk Centre who dug up a coyote den and found 74 fawn heads(I think this had somthing to do with me not seeing any deer this year)!!!! So who whats to go shoot some, i know i will be out in the next couple of weeks taking care of my fair share.

[Steve Foss]

There's no doubt coyotes kill fawns, and sometimes adult deer as well. Preying on fawns definitely can knock down deer numbers in an area.

Coyotes also are great scavengers. Likely they killed some of those fawns and found some others already dead and the 74 fawn heads (if that number is accurate) make up a combination of the two. Likely also those heads represent more than one season, since the den may have been used for several years.

I used to hunt coyotes, and have taken a continued interest in them now that I'm hunting them with a camera instead of a rifle. Studies by biologists that I've seen over the years indicate that trying to reduce populations rarely works for long, because when there are fewer coyotes (through hunting, trapping, poison or whatever control is used) coyotes produce more pups per litter to compensate. In order to actually keep the populations knocked down, control efforts have to be very thorough and very long lasting, and as soon as they're discontinued the population will rebound.

That being said, they are a lot of fun to hunt, and it's a heck of a charge when you call and get one or two of them coming straight at you.

[deerhuntr8]

Didn't that story circle around here last year, too?

[JDM]

I saw a lot of coyote scat with deer hair in it during deer season (near Annandale). I also see it behind my home in the north metro, where the coyotes wake us up at least three times per week. The deer herd behind my home is much smaller since the coyotes came around.

[Tippman]

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Didn't that story circle around here last year, too?

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I thought that it created quite the debate last year also with the same story.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

didnt even see any coyote tracks, non the less an actual coyote while deer hunting these past few days. west central minnesota; we did see a few very healthy looking fox however; nice to see the mange might be on the downturn; might actually get some money for pelts this winter. im headed out tonight to sit over the deer carcass pile to see if anything gets hungry; maybe get to ruin their meal with some hevi shot!

[lcornice]

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Didn't that story circle around here last year, too?

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Yes, but I thought the number of fawn heads was 'only' in the 40's!

[Tippman]

They must have gotten 30 more in the last year.

[BLACKJACK]

That 'dug up a coyote den and found xxx fawn skulls' is getting to be one of those internet myths. Until I see some pictures I'm not buying.

[Hammer Handle]

Coyotes have a right to be around too. Yes, I hunt and trap them...but I still like to see some around.

[MOBY RICHARD*]

Do Coyotes even keep deer skulls around for Souvenirs?? There would'nt be much room in the Ol' Den with 74 Skulls in there...

[Dave S]

It's that time of year when all of the seasonal urban legends come out.

I was always under the belief that it's illegal to dig up a coyote den.