Coyote numbers

double gun · #1 10-18-2016, 04:07 PM

I am not a trapper, but mentioned last year that there seemed to be a bunch around and this year is worse yet. I have seen groups upto about 4-5 but this September I was out bowhunting and had a string of 9 cross the field.

So my question is how big is the average litter of pups?

I shoot the ones I can, but it seems like a uphill battle. If a guy does manage to thin some out, how long until more move in to take their place?

Should a guy just give up and let them be or can they be thinned out?

58thecat · #2 10-18-2016, 04:52 PM

Thin em out. Sell em whole if your not into skinning em.

HunterDave · #3 10-18-2016, 06:35 PM

The average litter size is 5 or 6 but they can have litters as high as 10 to 12.

Last year there was a shortage of pups in many areas but this year there seems to be more than ever. I think that there will be lots of "transient" coyotes roaming around looking for their own territory this year so you might be in for a bit of shooting. You'll never wipe them out but thinning them out will take the pressure off of the deer, grouse, etc. Go for it.

SDKiller · #4 10-20-2016, 01:22 PM

Just wondering what would one get selling a whole dog?

6mm rem · #5 10-20-2016, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDKiller

Just wondering what would one get selling a whole dog?

It really depends on quality of the fur and the current market. When I sold them on the cob (whole) I would get $20.

Scott h · #6 10-20-2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterDave

The average litter size is 5 or 6 but they can have litters as high as 10 to 12.

Last year there was a shortage of pups in many areas but this year there seems to be more than ever. I think that there will be lots of "transient" coyotes roaming around looking for their own territory this year so you might be in for a bit of shooting. You'll never wipe them out but thinning them out will take the pressure off of the deer, grouse, etc. Go for it.

Do you think the increased numbers are related to the lower pelt prices???
Less people targeting them??

tikka250 · #7 10-20-2016, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott h

Do you think the increased numbers are related to the lower pelt prices???
Less people targeting them??

Not sure about lower pelt prices. The folks that i talked to average $80-90 last year so i would hardly call that a "low" price. I would guess it has to do with a fairly mild year weather wise leading to a higher success rate for litters of pups.

HunterDave · #8 10-20-2016, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott h

Do you think the increased numbers are related to the lower pelt prices???
Less people targeting them??

No, I doubt that the price of their pelts has anything to do with it. I'm no expert but I did do a little research into this last season when there were so few pups around. Less than 10% of my catch were pups and most of those were sick/mange. What I found out was that when the habitat supports a higher population of coyotes they can have higher litter sizes to accommodate for that. With there being so few pups last season I'm wondering if the coyotes wouldn't have had larger litters this year. In theory, I think that's what could happen. We'll see I guess.

HunterDave · #9 10-20-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by double gun

I am not a trapper, but mentioned last year that there seemed to be a bunch around and this year is worse yet. I have seen groups upto about 4-5 but this September I was out bowhunting and had a string of 9 cross the field.

Mom, Dad and seven of this years pups maybe?

aardvaark · #10 10-24-2016, 02:53 PM

There was a lot of parvo virus out there last year the vets said. If it gets in to the den it'll kill all the pups. All of the dog sub-species. Doesn't bother them after about 1 year old.

Yaha Tinda · #11 10-24-2016, 10:06 PM

Seeing (game cam) and hearing a lot of coyotes.