Yeah, I will go on believing something that has been researched thoroughly and disproven since the 1970s - well before Al Gore's internet. Across multiple states all over the country (TX very much included). 'Cause of feelz.

Gotcha.

Flat earth.

Would you two stop answering your own freaking questions?! Cheese and crackers, that’s annoying.

My apologies. I was mistaken. I thought you were saying that killing coyotes didn’t reduce coyote numbers. Now I understand that what you were saying is that killing coyotes reduces coyote numbers. Forgive me. Carry on.

The 4 thousand acres of un-hunted property reference did make me laugh though. Like that’s something special in Texas

In nature, apex predators often see lesser predators as competitors and take them out when those opportunities present themselves. If not effective, I wonder how these instincts were developed? Do apex predators do things for no reason which aren’t to their betterment? If not to their betterment, are they just wasting their time and energy?

Why should humans be different?

That is exactly the way I see it.

Coyotes are eating deer and cattle that we could be eating.

It's not special. Where did I say that? Where are you getting this?? Your reading comprehension is lacking.

Rather, it's unusual in the Hill Country. And comes with a burden from a neighboring landowner who wants to keep deer #s in check.

And, I didn't say unleased. Just unhunted... haha. Haven't heard a shot from the neighbor's direction in 4 years and I'm a permanent resident. Apparently it's more fun to drink and play dominoes than hunt in this area... for them.

" If not to their betterment, are they just wasting their time and energy?"

For humans and coyotes, 98% of the effort is wasted. And likely is in the opposite direction. The exceptions are VERY rare.

Yes, with gov't trappers, cyanide, snares, bounties, dogs, and EVERY dang goat/sheep/cattle rancher calling/shooting/killing every coyote they can... indefinitely... numbers can be reduced.

What percentage of TX acreage does that apply to in 2023? 2%? Maybe 5%. You tell me.

Again, the casual shooting of coyotes (as fun as it is), doesn't do jack SH&T to either deer numbers or coyote numbers. This applies for the large, large majority of private lands in TX.

Everyone, including myself (I have, btw), should re-read Double AC's post on page 2. I'll thrice read it.

We might as well reintroduce wolves.

I used to work out of the Falcon Dam Customs office in Starr County. I would take mouth calls with me when I went out to look for sign of smuggling across the lake. Probably around 90% of the times I called I'd have a coyote come in. Doesn't mean I got a shot, but they were there and thick. Now I live in Val Verde County on the west side out near Comstock. The ranchers all belong to the Sheep Ranchers Association or whatever it is. You can call until you are blue in the face and not get anything except a very rare bob cat to come in. So the above quote about Val Verde Co. is pretty much gospel.

I've worked for the NRCS in Starr County. You're likely spot on. Coyotes were/are thick down there.

As for the sheep ranchers/Valverde Co. and coyote #s issue. It's been addressed. They hit them with the fire of a million suns. Forever. With basically all landowner involvement. For most of the state, those days are done. Simply not feasible.

Alas.

My initial supposition was that NOT shooting coyotes on acreage heavily infested with WTs is not a bad idea (page 1). Especially with areas with no/low hunting pressure. It's never directly been spoken about.

** WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION NEVER ADDRESSED?** /allcapsapology

Another side of this issue, if you want to call it that, is the availability of jack rabbits. When you have a bumper crop of jack rabbits it won't be long until the coyote population rises to meet the demand. Thin out the jacks and it won't be long until your coyote population gets reduced. Not guaranteed, but usually a reality.

Looks as though this coyote has been eating well...

Yep, everything here predator wise revolves around the cottontail population.

And where would I find the name of the county trapper?

Probably start with your county, see if they have a Predator association or list the trapper on their county website like so:

https://www.co.liberty.tx.us/page/liberty.County.Trapper

My cat got killed by coyotes in August of '09 and I've never forgiven them for it. Prior to that I had never shot a single one. At the time I lived in the middle of Plano south of Spring Creek, north of Parker Rd and bracketed east and west by Independence and Custer. He was killed on a Friday and that weekend I bought an electric call and a bunch of game cameras and set them up in my neighborhood. Killed 7 in the first week. Killed almost 70 more in the following months. After about 3 months they stopped showing up on camera and I did not see a single one before moving a few years later. Don't try blowing smoke up my rear claiming that hunting has no effect on their population.

I'm considering doing the same thing where I live now but I don't think I can pull it off here. I woke up early one morning and went outside and found a coyote sitting in my driveway just staring at me like he thought I was going to bring him a dog bone. My male pit bull is a dumb [censored] and thought it was just another dog to play with and the only thing he'll do to a coyote is screw it which he already did once. My old dog would kill them on sight. I live across the street from SMU.

Contact your County extension agent.