road hunting for coyotes on irrigation roads in eastern washington

[Jack Diamond]

OK, i"m new to this forum, but have seen a lot of hunters using the irrigation roads to hunt coyotes, and the standard thought is that these roads are public. They are not , they were built for operation and maintenance of the canal system, and the irrigation districts have easements ,conveyed to them buy the Bureau of Reclamation, however the underlying property owners own the property the roads are on, and with a recent outbreak of criminal activity, theft, and property damage, the farmers are watching these roads carefully. In fact there have been confrontations between hunters and landowners, and as always roadhunting is not the best way to make friends with landowners. If you want to call coyotes, talk with the landowner, and other than a few orchardist , who want the coyotes for mouse control, I have never in 20 years been turned down to call coyotes on private property. The landowners only want to know who is hunting on there property, and the vehicles driven. And more often now if they observe roadhunters and wild shots the sheriff"s office is called for a trespassing or firearms violations. We have a wonderfull and beneficial sport, it is a shame to have it messed up by people not yet grown up

[boneaddict]

Good heads up post.  I'd think they'd want the hunters there.  Less hoodlums when there are rednecks with guns hanging around

[Jack Diamond]

Actually its the rednecks with guns criminal element, not the rednecks with guns hunting element that is becoming more of the problem. however most of the irrigation canal roads will take you directly behind someones house and farmstead, and farm theft has become rampant at least in the Quincy ,Ephrata areas. And the farmers are reacting,as best they can. And the criminal element is born and raised here for the most part, in and out of jail while the arresting officer is still doing the report. Which does nothing more than causes the farmers to scrutinize everyone entering their property. To the point of blocking access to areas that have always been open, and you really can"t blame them. Tractors have been shot, combines and heavy equipment also , therefore roadhunters are being watched when possible.
The thefts have included farm equipment ,copper wire, radiators, virtually anything the dopers can turn to cash, and if the farmer can run them off , then things are vandalized, evidently in retaliation. It would appear that someone with that much energy would be better off to just get a job.

[Hayfmr]

Very well written.  You are absolutely right.  I personally lost several thousand dollars worth of copper wire last winter.  Plus the canal hunters drive right by my house.  Another problem I have is the trash dumpers.  Discovered today that I have had a bicycle donated to me.  So ask permission.  I have goose hunters calling me a lot.  I always give permission unless I know someone else is planning to hunt.  Here is a tip though.  Just because you have permission to hunt it does not mean you own the place.  Don't drive in the field unless you were specifically given permission.  Driving on some crops when they are frozen can kill them.  If you want to hunt coyotes I am tagging along:)

[demontang]

This is what I hate about how people are turning out. If I get on someone property you can bet Ill respect it, that is how I was raised and how Im raising my son. You can just go out and tear up things shot and not care whats there or just cause mayham. I have ran in to farmers/land owners that wont let me on just do to there past dealings with people. Ive been working a area on public land that is right next to a cattle farmers land that wont let people on. I have ran into the guy as I was driving the fence line in and talked to him and lets just say he was happy that Ive shot coyotes out of the area but didnt want me on his land just because he didnt want people just going out there if they saw me hunting.

[woodywsu]

The thefts have included farm equipment ,copper wire, radiators, virtually anything the dopers can turn to cash, and if the farmer can run them off , then things are vandalized, evidently in retaliation. It would appear that someone with that much energy would be better off to just get a job.

Copper wires are being stripped from circles everywhere in the columbia basin right now. I know of at least 6 circles that were hit over the weekend. To access the circles, the theifs have pulled down gates and columnar basalt. If you see something shady happening in a  field night or day, please look into it and report. Farmers are not blaming hunters, but hunters will take the fall by not being allowed to hunt these properties.

[VarmintVentilator]

Jack Diamond,  I myself am a land owner,  THANK YOU.   

[predatorpro]

so this is jack who from quincy? i grew up there my whole life and you are one of the very few peopl i know that dont drive canals i guess....and farmers do not own the canals just the fields around them the canals are owned by irrigation district, even tho farmers would like to think they own them they dont, farmers drive on canals as much as anyone else if not more and is still technically illegal and i could care less if they do its a canal!! i do agree with not shooting from trucks and what not but i dont think most the people out driving on canals are causing too many problems

[predatorpro]

i dont want to sound rude or start a argument cuz i probably know you if you are from quincy lol its a small town and yes i do normally ask for permission to hunt on anyones property luckily its a small town and already know who owns what so i dont really have to worry about it send me a pm if you want maybe we will have to go call some coyotes sometime i know some great spots on private property, just dont get mad if i have to drive on a canal to get there

[Jack Diamond]

Predatorpro-

i dont want to sound rude or start a argument cuz i probably know you if you are from quincy lol its a small town and yes i do normally ask for permission to hunt on anyones property luckily its a small town and already know who owns what so i dont really have to worry about it send me a pm if you want maybe we will have to go call some coyotes sometime i know some great spots on private property, just dont get mad if i have to drive on a canal to get there

You never know, might just meet you on the ditch roads ,while performing my duty.  

[trippledigitss]

P-pro, you told me they were all public roads!  Glad we didnt get a damn trespass ticket!  And Jack, dont bother, if you PM him he wont reply back to you anyway....  Dude, give me a call , I want to come check out your new place and get back out to shoot some stuff! I am a straight coyote killing grim reaper now doncha know? 

[predatorpro]

Predatorpro-

i dont want to sound rude or start a argument cuz i probably know you if you are from quincy lol its a small town and yes i do normally ask for permission to hunt on anyones property luckily its a small town and already know who owns what so i dont really have to worry about it send me a pm if you want maybe we will have to go call some coyotes sometime i know some great spots on private property, just dont get mad if i have to drive on a canal to get there

You never know, might just meet you on the ditch roads ,while performing my duty.  

are you a ditch rider or something? whats your duty?

[littletoes]

Predator Pro, your post came off as rude, regardless of what you meant.


Those roads, no matter who owns them are kept that way by the taxes those farmers pay, and Lordy do they pay taxes. Nuff said? Or do you in fact whant it to become a pissing match?

I've grown up in the country, and I know it ain't all city folks that are leaving cig butts in the roads, beer cans, trash. And I will GUARANTEE you ain't shooting all them 'yotes IN THE ROAD. They are out in the fields, ain't they???

GET PERMISSION OR STAY OUT.

[predatorpro]

Predator Pro, your post came off as rude, regardless of what you meant.


Those roads, no matter who owns them are kept that way by the taxes those farmers pay, and Lordy do they pay taxes. Nuff said? Or do you in fact whant it to become a pissing match?

I've grown up in the country, and I know it ain't all city folks that are leaving cig butts in the roads, beer cans, trash. And I will GUARANTEE you ain't shooting all them 'yotes IN THE ROAD. They are out in the fields, ain't they???

GET PERMISSION OR STAY OUT.

calm down i dont shoot coyotes or anything in fields that i dont have permission to shoot in, and if your assuming that i throw beer cans and cigarette butts everywhere your wrong, i have a deep appreciation for wildlife and dont go around throwing trash every where, dont sit on here and start making comment about me like that, and i dont really road hunt, 95 percent of the coyotes i kill are from calling on property i HAVE PERMISSION ON!!

[Bofire]

 :)I am absolutley amazed. Yep I am.
Carl