Actionshooter,
You might be amazed by the numbers it takes to put an actual dent in well established coyote populations.
Government studies have shown it takes around a 75% reduction in numbers, over a three to five year period, to significantly lower overall population numbers.
And then it requires maintainence to keep the population from rebounding (often driven by an influx of coyotes from neighboring properties/areas), in just a year or two.
In places like Wyoming, The Dakotas, Montana, Nevada, and other states, where Wool Growers, and Cattlemens Assoc. (and the like) empower "scorched Earth" policies and huge ADC programs, this is only accomplished through a multi-pronged approach.
Hunting (both, from the ground, and more importantly from the air), trapping, denning (removal of parents and pups, by tolling dogs, traps, poisoning/gassing and/or digging up, etc.), and other methods, are all employed.
And this is done by County and Statewide programs, on a full time basis.
The best I can hope to do (right now) is approach it from a single front, ground hunting, and work from there (and as a licensed trapper and Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator, I might be able to provide additional assistance down the road).
We do have the advantage of hunting ahead of pup rearing, but I doubt we beat it by much (and that will remain to be seen).
Jackalope,
I'm a half hour or more west of you.
I'm willing to put in the drive time, for a few reasons...
One, like you say, it's gonna be fun!
Two, it's a huge opportunity, I try to never ever turn down a chance to get on some private land, and try to call predators were nobody else has lately.
Three, and most important of all to me, Joe asked.
As a hunter and a trapper I feel it's my responsibility to help (a landowner or property manager, with a wildlife problem), when and if I can.
Turns out I had the time set aside to do this very thing, and the trip was postponed (because of the flu, at our planned destination), Joe saved our trip, and a couple hours of driving.
Permission to pick up a shed or two, that's the "cherry on top".
Wastickslinger,
If you mean Kansas City, that indeed is way, way, too bad. (*I spent some time there, and didn't much like the place)
Guys,
This is a perfect example of why we need a Washington State Predator Callers Assoc.
To have a network of hunters, available to assist landowners and land/game managers, would be an asset to all concerned.
To go a step further and have that organization work hand in hand with the hound hunting, and trapping communities/associations would only further strengthen all of our steadily more tenuous positions.
Krusty
