Deer Hunting is endangered by Coyotes

Coyotes will hurt our Deer Hunting

Realtree.com recently looked at the effects of coyote on deer population, and the effects is a huge problem. One of the problem is that the coyote population is growing at a rapid rate. Data from Quality Deer Managment Association (QDMA) shows that 75 percent of the coyote population needs to be removed annually to control their population.

But the reality is that hunting coyotes isn’t going to make a dent in decreasing their population due too many coyotes out there. Some hunters and land owners have talked of trapping, localized areas have had some successes. Trapping is still hard due to resource, man power and gasoline. Someone has to get out there and check the traps in the areas. Despite the efforts our deer and turkey population are still endangered.

A quote from Charles Ruth, a deer biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR):

“Coyotes are here to stay and will play a role in future deer management at some level… If property owners/hunters are concerned with their impacts, take every opportunity to shoot them, if you have the time and money, trap them. But more importantly, we need to look at the other side of the equation which is how we treat deer from a harvest management standpoint.”

“Making adjustment to harvest strategies, particularly on does, is more important now than prior to the colonization of the state by coyotes. Hunters remain the No. 1 source of mortality on deer in South Carolina and the only source of mortality that we have complete control over. Therefore, harvest management ultimately will dictate the trajectory of deer populations in the future.”

Don’t get caught up in thinking you will mess up a deer hunt by shooting a coyote; instead, you will be helping to ensure that there will actually be a deer to hunt!

Source: Realtree.com, Charles Ruth of South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Quality Deer Management Association