Weekend Outdoorsman Friday Tip

Predators, they seem to be everywhere these days. Just the other night my wife and I were woke up by a howling coyote, they like to howl and yap at the whistles of passing trains. It also seems that land managers and hunters are waking up to the dangers and competition that predators pose to the game animals that they work so hard to cultivate.

In the area we hunt there is a pattern.  If you hear the coyotes and they are near the house choose a stand farther away, say on the other side of the 900 acres of so of state ground that fronts our place.  If you hear the coyotes and they are on the other side of the state ground then stick close to the house for your next hunt.  It's as easy as that because when the coyotes are around the deer never seem to be.

The enemy of baby deer and turkey everywhere.  Photo by Josh Felise

If you work hard all year to grow your deer and the herd why should you let coyotes feast on the fawns.  Do some research on the predator hunting laws in your area and get out there and knock down some coyotes, fox, and bobcat.  Maybe plug a few raccoons or skunks that like to eat the turkey eggs.  Spring is coming and soon the woods will be a smorgasbord of whitetail fawns and baby birds of all types.  You can help give them even more of a chance at survival.