5 Things You Didn’t Know About Coyote Hunting

Stop the Spread:

Coyotes have a massive range across the continent that covers an area reaching into parts of southern Canada all the way down into northern Mexico, and therefore most of the United States. One of the best ways to control the population and stop them from becoming one of the most overpopulated species in North America is to thin out their numbers like we do with deer or elk. On top of this, their lack of natural predators makes them an ideal candidate for sportsmen looking to change things up a bit, and for this reason we’ve been hunting them for years.

Help Defend Cattle and Other Game:

While individual coyotes tend to not go after prey that is bigger than themselves, they like to hunt in packs and are able to take down cattle and other livestock in this way. Not only does hunting them help keep their number down, it also helps keep them away from the livestock of farmers and ranchers. Likewise, too many coyotes in an area can lead to sharp decreases in the number of deer and therefore prevents hunters from being able to bag that game themselves.

They Carry Diseases:

Even though coyotes may seem akin to domesticated dogs at first glance, they are in fact wild animals that carry a lot of diseases. They often kill and eat prairie dogs, especially when they’re on their own, and therefore pick up a lot of the nasty ailments carried by the rodents and their fleas. Prairie dogs are known to carry the bubonic plague, amongst other things, and carry ticks and other vectors of disease. It’s not too far of a jump for a flea carrying the plague to make it into your livestock or even your own body. Hunting these animals helps keep that possibility to a minimum.

Make Some Extra Money:

In many states there are programs where you can turn in the coyotes you’ve hunted and earn a little bit of extra money for it. State governments offer this as an incentive to keep the numbers of coyotes down in order to help keep the deer populations at an appropriate level. Some states even hold coyote hunting contests, which can be an absolute blast! While making money for hunting sounds too good to be true, we encourage you to explore what options your state offers.

Stay Active in the Off Season:

Finally, another great reason to hurt coyotes is that you can do it in any season! This means that you can hunt in the off season, helping you stay active and at the top of your game. Hunting coyotes isn’t easy because of their great sense of smell and eyesight, but it sure is rewarding when you finally bring one down. So, this year-round activity is the perfect tool to help you hone your hunting skills, which will in turn lead to better and more successful hunts in the future.