Warden coyote derby, it takes all kinds

[Jerry malbeck]

I have to vent , I live in the country somewhat close to Warden where this coyote derby is taking place this weekend , some people are just morons ,  Last night my wife was letting one of our registered German Shepard dogs out to do its business , a vehicle came down the road spotlighting both sides of the road right next to and including my yard . I know it was one of the derby hunters as one of my neighbors( hired man) comfirmed this guy was on some of his ground last night ( not that he was happy about it , but the owner of the ground told this derby hunter it was alright) . This idiot continued spotlighting the road right up the hill and down the road .   the area i live in is not highly populated but there are houses out here and familys in those houses . I just can believe some moron is spotlighting any where near a house much less out on the road way . I believe if this guy would have seen one of my shepards he probably would have mistaken it for a coyote and shot at it . If i could have dressed fast enough this guy would have been talking to a sheriff and may have gotten a good old fashined ass whoopin  for sure , if your going to hunt with a spotlight know the ground you are calling at least as well as the back of your own hand , and never get near a house or do it in an area you dont know really well  much less from a public road   What a flippin IDIOT .  

[shoot-em-dead]

That is exactly why I have never gone out at night. You can never take a bullet back and I just don't need the temptation of a bad shot.

[rainshadow1]

Jerry,

I participated in the Warden derby a couple years ago. While I'm not one to say anything to anyone's face at the service club, living over here on the wet side, I felt a little bit of the same way.

I snuck out to spots I knew, with my portable gear, called to the light, standing with my gun on a monopod... None of those boys from over there laughed out loud at me, but I'm sure they wanted to! I missed a shot at about 100 yards, and I passed a 50 yd shotgun Coyote because there was a road 200 yards behind it that I couldn't see. I was out the next day, walking in the desert, doing calling stands. I missed a long shot then too, on the south end of the Desert area... My partner and I didn't turn in any dogs.

Meanwhile 4x4s bounced and roared all over the countryside bristling with rifle barrels and beaming with spotlights. The next day they still roared all over, rifle barrels hanging out the windows...

The small print on the brochure said that all Washington State laws were to be obeyed, but don't ask don't tell seemed to be the order of the day. I'll wager there was loaded weapons in 98% of the vehicles, and the lights were connected to all the vehicles except mine and maybe 2 others. There was very little calling going on.

I'm not going to go the the Moses Lake paper and make a stink or anything, but I won't be signing up again. It's definately not a calling contest... It's a little generous to even call it a "hunt."

[Gringo31]

Like SWAG has said, the coyote contest on this forum is the best he has been in because there isn't all that crap to deal with.  Sorry to hear that Jerry.  I have never been in a derby but have been temped to enter one a time or two.  Stories like that keep me out.  I think the only way to save tradition (if you want to call it that) is to make it a gentlemans bet or just to get together and have some decent fellowship with some decent guys.  Keep the big prizes out of it.

Just my .02

[ribka]

Jerry M
I live in a rural area and Experience the same with idiots spot lighting off county road where I live. All private land along this road. At least one a week woken up at night by some drunk pos shining a spot light at my house from his pick up. Have driven down a few times and confronted them. Everyone I encountered smelled of alcohol and had a loaded rifle in the front seat of their trucks. Have a german shepard too and am always telling the wife to be careful when she takes her out for walks. Most of these white trash *censored*bags coudn't tell the difference between a shepard and a coyote. 

[Big10gauge]

We were in part of the area today and since they couldn't run their sleds cause of no snow they were out in force on their 4 wheelers driving dirt roads etc. Not the type of hunting I care for,but each to their own I guess. I imagine that since you have to haul your coyotes back to Warden it's mostly road hunting shooting. I wouldn't pack a whole coyote out for miles that's for sure.

[Jerry malbeck]

I guess one of the sign up rules should be that you posses some ration of common sense?
I'm just glad its over, didn't sleep well last night knowing these types were out and about . a few weeks ago a neighbor had a horse shot thru both lungs right off the road in broad daylight . the worst part was it was a really well trained reining cutting horse and he was to be picked up by the new owner the next day, gotta love a situation like that now don't you .
 

[Rudy]

I guess one of the sign up rules should be that you posses some ration of common sense?
I'm just glad its over, didn't sleep well last night knowing these types were out and about . a few weeks ago a neighbor had a horse shot thru both lungs right off the road in broad daylight . the worst part was it was a really well trained reining cutting horse and he was to be picked up by the new owner the next day, gotta love a situation like that now don't you .
 

wow....people these days.  I would say i can't believe this crap.....but with all the messed up, lazy, unethical idiots out there, i hate to say that actions like this no longer suprise me.

[Bofire]

 :)You see those guys and then you hear people ask why more and more land is locked up.

I want you to know it took a lot of restraint to not address Jerry talking about me having to "ration my common scents"
I am offensived! I  think he is talking about my not bathing habits.
fine
Carl

[Mudeater]

Ive never cared for the idea of turning hunting anything, it to a contest between large groups of people. I think its a breeding ground for stupidity. IMO.

[Swag]

It is unfortunate that these situations have accrued, It is so often perceived that spotlighting is an easier means of harvesting Yote's.  The Truth be told, spotlighting is one of the hardest, & most exhilarating means of harvesting predator's.   Shoot-em-dead is Right You can never take a bullet back... But that is ware ethics comes in to play..  I take it very personal when these Idiots go out because they think that is the way to spotlight with a half rack of beer & a tank of gas.. I have refined the art of spotlighting over the last 15years and I can tell u that I have spent 5x times as much time scouting an area in the daylighting then I have actually spotlighting.  
   Sometimes there is a need to use spotlighting for control work, for a rancher who wants the threat gone quick, and doesn't want people hunting while he has working hands on the ranch.  This is a situation that I was face with years ago His concern for his workers was only trumped by his concern for the potential risk of spotlighting, after carfully laying out a very accurate plan of attack & going over it with the rancher, he was a little more comfortable with spotlighting.  It took only one night & he was convinced, we left the dogs lay so he would see ware they were shot, from the stand that he had already confirmed was ok.
  I guess what I am saying so often spotlighting is frowned on & deemed un ethical....  When done safe & ethical it is the one of the biggest rushes that you will ever have, better than when u called in a yote close for the first time.  It comes down to participating in a sport or hobby, and taking the time to do it right & not half-assing it.   I am in No Way condoning the actions of these individuals but I would hate to see anyone who in joys this sport as much as I do, not try it at least once....

 But I am warning you, it is like a drug once you try it, it becomes very hard to stop.