coyote visit

NoTrespassing · Apr 3, 2004

Several days ago our dog Luna was lounging around in the yard all day, she got up and went for a walk somewhere and came back about 10 mins. later with a faily large gash on her face. Luckily she had just gotten her distemper shot the day before and the wound wasn't bad enough to need stitches. It was long but not that deep. We figured it was either another dog or coyote that did it. I was kind of leaning toward dog since it happened during the day.

A couple of nights ago she (Luna) started barking at about 10pm. It was obviously her "hey get the H*LL outa here" bark. My wife got up and looked out the window and says, "oh, I see why she's barking". "There's something out there teasing her". This has happened once before and it was a coyote. We have 2 spotlights and a maglight and all 3 were almost dead. When my wife shined the coyote with the dim light, Luna got brave and went after the coyote for a few seconds until my wife yelled. Luna came back to the house and by the time I got outside with the 12 ga. the coyote had retreated back into the woods. I popped one off in the air for good measure and didn't hear from the coyote again that night.
We raise a few rabbits for our own consumption and I'm sure thats what the coyote was interested in. My main concern is that our dog will get torn up or worse. I'd really like to get a light source for our 12 ga. so I have the upper hand at night. I don't want to break the bank though. Any suggestions?

Here's a pic of luna.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/395030-luna2.jpg

Hakim · Apr 3, 2004

Probably the best forend shotgun light is made by Surefire. It IS expensive at around $325.00.
SureFire Foreend Shotgun WeaponLight

Here is a variant, at only $125.00.
TACM III Light

You can probably find others.

JimR · Apr 3, 2004

Buy some new batteries and use a good flashlight. Cut two pieces of wood about 5"Lx3"Wx2" thick. Measure the diameter of your flashlight. Using a holesaw, cut a hole in the middle of the piece of wood on the 5" side. Cut the piece of wood in half at the hole. Clamp the other ends together and drill another hole in it the diameter of your shotgun barrel. Now you can clamp your flashlight to your gun with either hose clamps or duck tape. Or you can go out and buy an adapter to mount your light to the gun. My way is cost free if you own a few holesaws.

Here is what I would do if I were you. Coyotes around me are out during the day also. Bait the little _astard and shoot him dead. I have popped a few with my AR-15 .223 in the fields around me. They haunt my chickens during the day and howl all night long. Should your dog get in a pissing match with 2-3 coyotes. You will have nothing left for a pet. Coyote's run in packs. I think if you looked hard enough you will find there are many more than the one you saw the other night. We have had many dog,cat and children attacks by coyotes here in Ma. over the last few years.

bebster · Apr 3, 2004

Beautiful dog! My neighbor put up an inexpensive infrared detector that is designed to ring a bell in the house when a car pulls in the driveway. You could do the same to detect when the coyote comes around. Then you've got some advanced warning.

RanchMan · Apr 3, 2004

Here's some cheap solutions....

Flashlight clamp

ctd

Same mount

pistol grip mount

BillyP · Apr 3, 2004

Some company used to make an inexpensive aluminum flashlight holder. It clamped to the barrel and you used a Maglight for the light source. Wish I could remember who made it cause I'd like to have one too.

Egon · Apr 3, 2004

Duct tape.

Egon

BillyP · Apr 3, 2004

LOL... that would work Egon

Egon · Apr 3, 2004

One could also get a head lamp[ like a Petzl ] that fits on your head. Some have tremendous range.

I have one that has been modified to run of off a recharable 6 volt sealed lead acid battery that is also used for my bicycle dual headights. I've got 10 amp halogen bulbs in all of them.

The headlamps come in handy for working in tight dark corners where you need both hands free.

Egon

EastTexFrank · Apr 3, 2004

That's a pretty dog and I sympathise with you about your her injury but she was lucky. I have many horror stories about coyotes and domestic dogs, even big ones such as Dobermans are no match for them. It's strange that when I usually see them around the house and the farm I have nothing in my hand more deadly than a garden hoe. I know they have their place in the larger scheme of things but after you lose on beloved pet you'll know why I agree with JimR, "bait them in and pop them". Check out Cabella's for barrel mounted lights.

TresCrows · Apr 3, 2004

I doubt you get close enough that a small light on a shotgun would be much help. There are quite a few of these rechargeable 1 mil plus candlepower lights availabe cheap. I have one that is 10 mil candlepower and weighs 14 lbs---70 bucks /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
The coyote may have heard or smelled the rabbits, on the other hand it may have been after the dog. Small dogs don't fare well against coyotes. I would take precautions to keep your dog away from the coyote since it seems to have an interest in your dog, I don't think it is freindship it seeks. It could be attempting to bate your dog into a chase where it would quickly be surrounded by the rest of the pack
Still, I have several living back behind me and they have shown no interest in my collie dogs or neighbors wolfhound but still I keep a wary eye on them. Live and let live as long as they stay in the woods behind me, thus far they have been good neighbors.

Von · Apr 3, 2004

Here is a photo of the light I use on my 223 for fox and coyote hunting at night. It was a hand held one that cost about $10.00. I cut off the handle and took out the battery. Made a mount from a bike reflector. Just use red cellophane for a lens, as they can't see the color red. They come right in to the call when they are lit up. If you have any questions just ask.

centex · Apr 4, 2004

What's a good bait for them? I saw a young one the other day. At first I thought it was a fox but it had a black tip on it's tail instead of white. I guess that means there are more around. The neighbors told me they are not in the area but things can change quickly. I will have some calves due this winter and I want to be rid of the cyotes before then. We had a cougar in the area but it seems to have moved on. No one was able to shot it in the 6 months that it hung around.

JimR · Apr 4, 2004

Any kind of spoiled meat will bring them in quickly. That is if they can smell it. I've used cooked hot dog to bring them in. They smell great cooked on the grill.

GaryM · Apr 4, 2004

( Any kind of spoiled meat will bring them in quickly. That is if they can smell it. I've used cooked hot dog to bring them in. They smell great cooked on the grill. )

The hotdogs..or the coyote?

YanmarFever · Apr 4, 2004

A dead skunk works best,I used one a couple weeks ago.
they seem to like rotten meat more than fresh (i dont know why)
You can also try calling them in with a squealing rabbit tape.
The young ones fall for that real easy.
Good luck
Ernie

JimR · Apr 4, 2004

( ( Any kind of spoiled meat will bring them in quickly. That is if they can smell it. I've used cooked hot dog to bring them in. They smell great cooked on the grill. )

The hotdogs..or the coyote? )

I never had coyote on the grill yet. Squirrel taste pretty good though.

5030 · Apr 4, 2004

Von:

My Weatherby 270 with the Leupold reaches out and touches them at a mile. They don't have to get close.

I posted on another thread that last year while cutting hay on one of our remote fields, I had a male and female come right up to the tractor with their teeth bared. I dropped them both with a Ruger .22 target pistol I carry in the back tool box in the cab. Nice thing about an automatic, they don't get a chance to run before their gone. Nine in the clip and one in the chamber.

If the .22 works at Camp Perry, it works on them!!