Any coyote hunters

[RedNeckGeek]

That is a good note to point out. Here we have leash laws in allot of counties, so the dogs owner carries the responsibility for allowing them to run unsupervised.

We do as well, but shooting dogs isn't permitted unless the animal is attacking either people or livestock.

I almost dumped a load of BB shot into somebody's springer spaniel while calling coyotes at night, and it was only because I took the time to make sure of my target that the animal went home to its master. The dog's owner would have been partly to blame for letting it run loose, but ultimately the responsibility was mine when it came time to press the trigger. Too bad not all shooters feel the same, and it gives the rest of us a bad name when some slob screws up.

 

[wmonroe]

The dog's owner would have been partly to blame for letting it run loose, but ultimately the responsibility was mine when it came time to press the trigger. Too bad not all shooters feel the same, and it gives the rest of us a bad name when some slob screws up.

This is exactly what I was about to post. It is the responsibility of the person behind the trigger to know what they are shooting....unfortunately responsibility isn't something the majority have anymore.

 

[Ed of all trades]

That is a good note to point out. Here we have leash laws in allot of counties, so the dogs owner carries the responsibility for allowing them to run unsupervised.

A lot of counties do and a lot don't. I have hunted from the time I carried a plastic gun wait pink bullets and I have a gray beard now and I never shot anything I did not know what it was. If you do shame on you.

 

[s219]

Here's an example why you need to know exactly what you're shooting at:

Victim in York County Shooting Death Was Hunting a Fox, Authorities Say | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

A lot of wrong things happened there.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Sorry for the hijack, let's get back to the subject at hand. I have heard of a company that sells a bullet called a varmint grenade. They frag into dust when they hit even a grape so it can't ricochet. Might be just the thing in most areas in the east.

 

[Western]

A lot of counties do and a lot don't. I have hunted from the time I carried a plastic gun wait pink bullets and I have a gray beard now and I never shot anything I did not know what it was. If you do shame on you.

Never have shot what I didn't intend to either, it is usually easy to tell the gait of a wild animal firm that of a domestic dog, mannerisms are different. We also have the same laws here pertaining to destroying domestic dogs, If it is causing harm to livestock or property.

I lost a great horse to morons that let there dogs run loose, 4 pit bulls. I have no sympathy for folks that go on the internet and cry because there dog was allowed to wonder, got in trouble and was destroyed. BTW, Since you have been hunting so long, you certainly know that domestic dogs will kill for the fun of it more often than not, not considering they like to chase livestock for the fun of it. But I do agree with you on one fact, know your target, there is no reason to shot a dog, just because it is there. The dog is just doing what they do, it's the owner that allows them to roam.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Never have shot what I didn't intend to either, it is usually easy to tell the gait of a wild animal firm that of a domestic dog, mannerisms are different. We also have the same laws here pertaining to destroying domestic dogs, If it is causing harm to livestock or property.

I lost a great horse to morons that let there dogs run loose, 4 pit bulls. I have no sympathy for folks that go on the internet and cry because there dog was allowed to wonder, got in trouble and was destroyed. BTW, Since you have been hunting so long, you certainly know that domestic dogs will kill for the fun of it more often than not, not considering they like to chase livestock for the fun of it. But I do agree with you on one fact, know your target, there is no reason to shot a dog, just because it is there. The dog is just doing what they do, it's the owner that allows them to roam.

I did not say I never shot a dog, I have shot a few but they were all destroying livestock or trying to. Just that a man can't say it was an accident when he points a gun at something and pulls the trigger.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Never have shot what I didn't intend to either, it is usually easy to tell the gait of a wild animal firm that of a domestic dog, mannerisms are different. We also have the same laws here pertaining to destroying domestic dogs, If it is causing harm to livestock or property.

I lost a great horse to morons that let there dogs run loose, 4 pit bulls. I have no sympathy for folks that go on the internet and cry because there dog was allowed to wonder, got in trouble and was destroyed. BTW, Since you have been hunting so long, you certainly know that domestic dogs will kill for the fun of it more often than not, not considering they like to chase livestock for the fun of it. But I do agree with you on one fact, know your target, there is no reason to shot a dog, just because it is there. The dog is just doing what they do, it's the owner that allows them to roam.

I did not say I never shot a dog, I have shot a few but they were all destroying livestock or trying to. Just that a man can't say it was an accident when he points a gun at something and pulls the trigger.

 

[westcliffe01]

For night hunting, I can only repeat that shooting at eye reflections is a risky business. It is expensive to move up to night vision or thermal, but one will be a lot more secure regarding what one is shooting at and what may be lurking behind the potential target. The price of thermal keeps coming down, and thermal defeats most forms of camouflage, whereas camouflage can make it impossible to spot something with night vision.

To the poster whos dog was shot, if you allow your dog access to the property of people who have livestock that are vulnerable to predation, you are simply part of the problem. You didn't state what the land use is of the property on which the dog was shot. A dog can run sheep to death, without even touching them. The sheep are highly unlikely to be able to tell the difference between your dog and a coyote. I handle predator control on a sheep farm and would not hesitate to shoot any dog which approaches the sheep since it is guaranteed to create a panic.

During the day, there is a great pyrenees which would keep dogs away from the herd, but at night the pyrenees only has a circle of control of about 200 yards from the barn. The pyrenees knows full well that it is completely outnumbered on the more remote parts of the farm. A second pyrenees would probably help but add to operating cost. Even the pyrenees has to sleep sometime, which is usually from mid morning to some point in the afternoon, that is another vulnerable time during the summer that the coyotes exploit.

 

[texasjohn]

. Interesting info re limitations and capabilities of guard dogs, thanks. Agree regarding dogs/coyotes damage to sheep. Most of my coyote kills and sightings have been before 10Am.
I have done a lot of night hunting...agreed, eye shine only is not an identifier...I need to observe animal behaviour and movement and greatly prefer to see body mass. Terrain differences can confuse at night, distance above apparent ground level is not a a certain identifier.