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Joined: Feb 2009
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OP
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Climbing down from my deerstand this weekend at dark, I heard a pack of coyotes light up maybe a 150 yards away. As I was walking back to the truck with my bow in the near-darkness, I could hear them running behind me in the brush. I shined my light where I heard them, and could see their eyes about 70 yards away. They followed me through the woods until I got to the edge of the field. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least. Question: would a pack of coyotes attack a hunter walking alone at dark? If so, I'll pack something besides my bow next time.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,191
Campfire Tracker
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Pack something and do everyone a favor and cap as many of the nuisance vermin as you can! As for attacking...I cannot speak to that. I guess anything is possible!
Kindness invites abuse
du ma nhieu
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I cant say for sure but i did have a very similiar expereince.
I was stuck in the mud during a very hard rare South Texas rain coming into the ranch at about midnight.
I had to get out of the truck and start walking about a mile to the ranch camp house.
While walking with my feeble mini mag light i could hear them in the not so far distance.
Finally they were on both sides of the muddy ranch road out of sight but close enough that i could hear them and at one point actually smell them.
How many i am not sure but i would say close to a dozen.
Very spooky for sure.
But other than that they got no closer.
I honestly think they were more curious and were being devilishly trying of my patience.
Last edited by Texas Hunter; 10/19/09.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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i've had a pack of them come right up to me to nip at my dogs, but not when i had a gun of coarse. we had a litte scuffle for a minute or two. i think they were so focused on the dogs that they diddn't notice me.
Guns don't kill people, drivers with cell phones kill people.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,164
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
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Well, before the wolf was reintroduced to Yellowstone they were packing up and bringing down elk. We've had a pack around here lately. The dogs usually keep them at bay, but a few weeks ago they came in close and we haven't seen our good mouser since and the deer have pretty much disappeared.
Can they? Yes. Will they? Doubtful, but you never know.
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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
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They will follow you. I've had that happen. Will they attack? I don't know, as I killed 2 of them for following me without permission.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Regular
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I guess in parts of the country that sees truely bitter winters it's a real possibility.
You know pack behaviour and all that.
Hunger can have major effects to man and beast alike.
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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
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Your right.
My wife didn't fix me any supper last night and I saw the neighbors baby playing in the yard next door....
Tasty little Tike. Don't tell anybody.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
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I have never heard of an attack on a human by a coyote that was not rabid. They are extremely curious after dark and will approach even a campfire very closely if you don't discourage them. We have had them all around our deer camps in the Chiricahuas at night. However, they never bothered any of the carcasses that were hanging, even when the little kit foxes were climbing the trees to jump on the carcasses to try to grab a quick bite.
When I lived in Texas, Nebraska and Kansas, they were hunted so hard that you rarely saw one that was not running. There are quite a few on the ranch in Colorado where I hunt elk, and the owner discourages people from shooting them. Even there, they will not come in very close while you are dressing an elk or deer. But if you go back to the gut pile the next morning, it is almost always completely cleaned up.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2004
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You ate a baby? Do you use any special sauce or spices. Sorry, I'm sick.  
Camp is where you make it.
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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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A little Tony's and Lea & Perrin. Delicious! I may start cruising Day Cares....  I'm joking of course. With my luck, some neighbors kid will come up missing and I'll be accused of eating it.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,321
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I've been shadowed a bunch of times, deer hunting, turkey hunting, and just out walking. I don't know of anyone whose actually been attacked. I'm sure a pack of them, if they cared to, could kill a human. My guess is that they over-estimate us.
I always warn guys who get to talking about carrying concealed in the field for this reason:
1) You aren't really gonna get et. It's scary, but bluffing will do a better job than a handgun.
2) Most coyote encounters are in bad light and dense cover. You don't want to go firing off into the dark and into the bushes at things unseen.
Me? When I meet up with yotes in the dark, I shine my light in their direction, puff up as big as I can, and tell them that they're hunting without written permission and I'm going to call the warden. That usually does it. I have a collection of tails from the ones that didn't heed my warning and try to come in later while I'm turkey hunting.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,794
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 2,794 |
Coyotes I've trapped east of the big river (TN & WV)would lunge at me and try to bite when I walked up on them. Coyotes I've trapped west of the river(OK & WY)wouldn't. There is a distint difference in the aggression of a eastern coyote and a western coyote but, to be honest, I don't think you had anything to worry about.
Feral dogs are another thing entirely.
Aim for the exit hole.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,474
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,474 |
I've been shadowed a bunch of times, deer hunting, turkey hunting, and just out walking. I don't know of anyone whose actually been attacked. I'm sure a pack of them, if they cared to, could kill a human. My guess is that they over-estimate us.
I always warn guys who get to talking about carrying concealed in the field for this reason:
1) You aren't really gonna get et. It's scary, but bluffing will do a better job than a handgun.
2) Most coyote encounters are in bad light and dense cover. You don't want to go firing off into the dark and into the bushes at things unseen.
Me? When I meet up with yotes in the dark, I shine my light in their direction, puff up as big as I can, and tell them that they're hunting without written permission and I'm going to call the warden. That usually does it. I have a collection of tails from the ones that didn't heed my warning and try to come in later while I'm turkey hunting.
I dunno on bluffing, it can get you out of a situation, while a handgun can kill the problem. At least pretty easy out to 50 yards or so, and if not kill em at 100, will come dang close enough to scare em. Now blasting away at sounds in the bush isn't good with anything, bow, firearm etc...
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Dosent seem like there are a large number of reported coyote attacks but there are some and at least 1 death that I can find. This link has some info http://www.varmintal.com/attac.htmI dont think I would take any unnecessary risks around them.
A lap dance is sooooo much better when the stripper is crying
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Joined: Jul 2008
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+1-- shoot em, shoot em all
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,489
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Never worried about it, but having one or more follow me would cause me to try and get a shot at it.
TX coyotes are always quick to run when you do see them.
stumpy
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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as I killed 2 of them for following me without permission. Way to go, good training for them.
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Joined: May 2007
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Campfire Regular
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I have never heard of an attack on a human by a coyote that was not rabid. Mackenzie, BC.... Last summer, 12 yr old girl knocked down off her bike and bitten while she was between the Gantahaz subdivision and town by a lone coyote, until a car happened by and ran him off. Winter before that at around noon TWO men bitten outside of the 7/11 by a coyote who threatened them. No idea why this stuff doesn't make national news, but it has happened enough to be a regular occurence...Enough so that a call to the local CO has him in your yard prowling around with a twelve guage.... Come winter, you certainly see them a lot more. Doesn't even make people bat an eye if you are sitting in Subway and a coyote walks past the door with a housecat or small dog in its mouth.
Why pack all that messy meat out of the bush when we can just go to the grocery store where meat is made? Hell,if they sold antlers I would save so much money I could afford to go Dolphin fishing. Maybe even a baby seal safari.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,693
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,693 |
Last Spring, I was camping in the Ocala National Forest. I woke up early, to find a pack of coy dogs right at the front of my bivy tent. I shined the light on them, and they took off.
Several years back, hunting hogs up in Georgia, I was walking back to the truck in the dark. I was followed by several coyotes. I shined my Mag-Lite on them, and managed to shoot one with the SOCOM 16. The rest went somewhere safer.
Would they attack? Doubt it, but then you just never know.
Sam......
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