coyoteman

Doc, good link to the Coyote study in the small game section. The way I read it is that 7 collared dogs killed 21 fawns. I am a firm believer that they have a large impact on the deer herd. If you multiply the assumed number of yotes x 3 that would be a huge impact. I don't believe the DEC figures those kills into the DMP allocations.

NYANTLER, I understand what your saying about killing the Alpha female. It will open up the breeding for the other females in the pack. I remember when we hunted by Bath the farmers that we hunted with shot every deer they saw. We did it right along with them. We did this for about 3 years and after that time deer were hard to find. We then got together and stopped doing it and the deer came back after a few years. I believe with the farmland around here the land will support alot more deer than there is right now. In the last 10 years we stopped shooting the small bucks as well. The neighboring farmers shot 7 doe on one drive last year. This year during bow and gun season so far I have seen 6 doe. This is not like it was before they issued Doe tags. Before Doe tags were here you would see deer nearly everytime you went out. The winters are getting milder so I believe the herd will survive with a higher population. The Doe tags and Coyotes are the only thing that have changed in the last twenty years. There is actually less hunters but they shoot more Does.

I say have a two week season hunt them with bow, rifle, crossbow or shotgun. Do not issue any DMP tags for two years. I have a feeling between the coyotes and the doe getting shot there is a real impact on the herd right now. Just because the State DEC says they are there and gives tags doesn't mean we have to use them.

A couple of years ago they slashed tires by Clay Marsh. My buddies came out from the marsh to four flat tires.