left field

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/nyregion/deer-hunting.html

Are you just randomly making stuff up now?

I wasn't sure as I see coyotes so infrequently.

Actually that's an argument for killing coyotes. Contests -- which may have been the original point of this thread but it's been so long ago who can remember -- are a different matter. No one has said that you can't legally, ethically or sustainably kill coyotes. Have at it. I have said that contests present bad optics.in 2020. Some agree, others disagree on whether it puts hunting in a positive or negative light. The science seems to be saying that while you think you're doing God's work and protecting deer, you're not.

The internet is tricky business. White and gold or blue and black? Tom Hanks or Bill Murray? Demon or saint?

Couple of things. "Peer reviewed" means that a scientific paper was reviewed by a panel of experts prior to publication, not after. Not sure if that happened here. "Theory" as it relates to a science does not mean what it means to a layman. But that aside, did you pay the $10 and read the paper or are you just going off the article and the abstract?

Did you read the study itself? The study from this private organization? So now, not only are you able to determine that the researchers are wrong based on your experience in your tiny corner of the country, you have, in fact, cleverly discerned their real intent by reading between the lines of their official pro-hunting position. You do know that the key word in healthy skepticism is healthy.

Damn. You argued that all the studies were for western coyotes and not applicable here so I provided one that only dealt with eastern coyotes in relation to deer populations that showed no decrease in overall deer population, but that's not good enough because ... reasons. Or at least because that's not how you see things in your tiny little corner of Delaware County. So then you go on to question the researchers and the funding org as their name is highly suspect. Let's see what these ponytailed, lefty, anti, liberal, quiche-eating radical hippies have to say on hunting. Seriously, dude.

Not trying to belabour the point but this write up on a study of eastern coyotes effect on deer just popped into my inbox. https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/wildlife-management/study-eastern-whitetails-thrive-despite-coyote-invasion?utm_source=MeatEater Subscribers&utm_campaign=9cd22215a2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_05_08_29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e4b2ec63b4-9cd22215a2-67598257&mc_cid=9cd22215a2&mc_eid=42a95e6647 The pull quote: Thanks for making me look closer at an issue I knew little about.

Won't end well.

Perfect camo for a Memphis-designed house.

PA has done a number of studies on the coyotes effect on deer populations. Looks like there's room for hunters and predators.

They couldn't afford the Hamptons so had to go to Montauk.

Does that suggest that there's a need for an apex predator? Eradicate one and "the force of nature" will act in such a way as to put another in its place. I've just started the podcast and found it interesting that the hosts bring up all the same issues that have been discussed here for the past few days.

This is the interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hunting-collective/id1346262634?i=1000455972048

That's a little silly. It's more like 25% deer and 25% human while the remaining 50% of their diet is made up of unicorns, angel wings, rainbows, a baby's smile, the Mona Lisa, finding $20 in the pocket of an old coat, and the occasional bit of rational thought.

Squirrels chew lines? What are they after?

There was a young boy killed in CA in the '80s. Past that, not sure.

No, only one death. And not in the US. A young woman in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia was mauled by two coyotes on a hiking trail and later died in the hospital. I happen to know this trail as I hiked it in 1990. If human life was your driving concern, you should start to whack deer as they contribute to approx 200 deaths in the US due to collisions as well as just over a billion in insurance claims.

So you're saving coyotes from the pain of these horrible affictions?

Rattler, you're not the only one in Delaware County. While I'm not there full time I spend a hell of a lot of time in the woods and on the rivers and I just don't see hordes of coyotes. I do see lot's of deer and turkey. Whether those numbers are historically up or down I couldn't say. Looking at a study this morning it seems that Belo's contention that trapping is the only effective means of number control is correct. Shooting only serves to open up territory and opportunity for the beta males and females to breed thereby increasing overall numbers. You may conceivably be making the problem worse. Why do you hate deer?

I have to admit I'm with Chris on this one. I really couldn't care less if coyotes kill a few deer across my or the neighbouring property. I never see them though do find their tracks in the snow around my cabin. I do hear them occasionally, especially when they make a large kill. It's kind of a cool sound.

Curious, is there anyone here who advocates for the eradication of coyotes in NY?

Dinosaurs.