Predators

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

With all the talk about turkey population decline got me to thinking about what Will Primos told me at the NWTF show.he said that if we all don't get involved in coyote and raccoon hunting or trapping they will not be many more deer or turkeys to hunt in 10 years from now.I see so many complaining and blaming the hunter that kills a Jake (not necessarily on here)or the bag limit.it seems to me the hunters is the least of the problems.what's you guys thoughts on the decline in numbers.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I kill every one I come across (within the law) and run a bunch of Dukes during trapping season.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . he said that if we all don't get involved in coyote and raccoon hunting or trapping they will not be many more deer or turkeys to hunt in 10 years from now.

The part about the 10-yr time horizon reminds me of AOC's dire global warming doomsday prediction within 10 years.

Yes, coyotes and raccoons are bad news for turkeys, but they will not be the main cause for a huge decline in the next decade.

IMO, raccoons are a bigger problem for turkey than coyotes.
And do agree it's a great idea for us to reduce the raccoon & coyote population as much as we can.

 

[Shanman]

If you have your own hunting land then you need to either trap it or allow a trapper on to trap it. Raccoons, possums, and skunks are hard on eggs. Cats and yotes keep the adults on edge with cats being the #1 predator of adult turkeys.... and there are way more cats than people think. Fox love the eggs and poults but their #'s aren't there to have a major effect on a population. Then there's everything else that has been discussed like habitat loss, fanning,etc...etc. Predator control is just another hole to plug in a leaky bucket, but it is a larger hole.

 

[TDW05]

I have noticed an increase of coons dead on side of the road. I would love to get into trapping and everything but would need hands on training lol I don't have the patience to try and learn myself.

 

[TheLBLman]

Predator control is just another hole to plug in a leaky bucket.

And nothing more.

IMO, coyotes are getting too much attention (regarding turkeys)
and are not a primary cause of turkey population declines.
Again, just my opinion, but statewide,
I believe our turkey hunting regs play a bigger role than our statewide coyote population.

And it's much easier to change our hunting regs than make a dent in the statewide coyote population.

Coyotes are but a single species of predators.
I suspect hawks do more to reduce turkey populations than coyotes, as do bobcats.
Eagles are also adapting to more frequently target turkeys.

There are many holes in that leaky bucky that we cannot so easily plug or even reduce.
Most of the year it's illegal to kill or trap bobcats, all the year illegal to touch a hawk, even one found dead roadside.
Hunting regs is the main leaky hole we can reduce.

 

[Gobbler88]

Predator control is just another hole to plug in a leaky bucket.

And nothing more.

IMO, coyotes are getting too much attention (regarding turkeys)
and are not a primary cause of turkey population declines.
Again, just my opinion, but statewide,
I believe our turkey hunting regs play a bigger role than our statewide coyote population.

And it's much easier to change our hunting regs than make a dent in the statewide coyote population.

Coyotes are but a single species of predators.
I suspect hawks do more to reduce turkey populations than coyotes, as do bobcats.
Eagles are also adapting to more frequently target turkeys.

There are many holes in that leaky bucky that we cannot so easily plug or even reduce.
Most of the year it's illegal to kill or trap bobcats, all the year illegal to touch a hawk, even one found dead roadside.
Hunting regs is the main leaky hole we can reduce.

I agree, there have always been predators around. Especially around the areas that I hunt that used to be covered in turkeys.

 

[Shanman]

LBL....completely agree with you about yotes and the game regs.

TDW05....Ton of info on the net to get you started into trapping and coons are easy to trap, start out with a dozen DPs (dog proof) and do your research. Thinning predators really helps the turkeys but you have to work at it and not get lazy. Animals disperse throughout the year and when you catch one, another will soon fill the void.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I would love to get into trapping and everything but would need hands on training lol I don't have the patience to try and learn myself.

1) Get you a few Duke 220s/330s, some marshmallows, and a long-handled set tool.
2) Locate areas coons, possums, skunks, armadillos frequent especially adjacent to your best nesting habitats.
3) Put the marshmallows directly on the trigger wires, set your traps, and walk away.

It really is that easy and you WILL catch furbearers. My only caution is don't use them where kids or may pets frequent and use extreme caution when setting. 330s are altogether unforgiving...they'll crush an armadillo shell like it was a potato chip.

 

[TDW05]

I would love to get into trapping and everything but would need hands on training lol I don't have the patience to try and learn myself.

1) Get you a few Duke 220s/330s, some marshmallows, and a long-handled set tool.
2) Locate areas coons, possums, skunks, armadillos frequent especially adjacent to your best nesting habitats.
3) Put the marshmallows directly on the trigger wires, set your traps, and walk away.

It really is that easy and you WILL catch furbearers. My only caution is don't use them where kids or may pets frequent and use extreme caution when setting. 330s are altogether unforgiving...they'll crush an armadillo shell like it was a potato chip.

Thanks for the info gentlemen!

 

[Shanman]

I would love to get into trapping and everything but would need hands on training lol I don't have the patience to try and learn myself.

1) Get you a few Duke 220s/330s, some marshmallows, and a long-handled set tool.
2) Locate areas coons, possums, skunks, armadillos frequent especially adjacent to your best nesting habitats.
3) Put the marshmallows directly on the trigger wires, set your traps, and walk away.

It really is that easy and you WILL catch furbearers. My only caution is don't use them where kids or may pets frequent and use extreme caution when setting. 330s are altogether unforgiving...they'll crush an armadillo shell like it was a potato chip.

Did TWRA change the regs to allow bodygrips on dry land? Last I saw they had to be used in water sets.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I believe that's still correct Shanman; kill traps can't be left in the open. If I recall correctly, you can however use a 110/6"x6" up to 50 ft away from water's edge, but all other's either must be water sets or at least 12" inside a log, den, etc.

 

[woodsman04]

Kill every predator and varmint I see, plus try to run over them on the road as safely as possible. Try running traps within the limits.

Coon, skunk, armadillo, and possum hurt turkey way more than any coyote ever thought of. Target the coons and possums and it will help.


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[woodsman04]

Sounds like also trapping and hunting regs of coons and possums need to be adjusted. As well as bobcats and foxes.


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[megalomaniac]

Sounds like also trapping and hunting regs of coons and possums need to be adjusted. As well as bobcats and foxes.


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Yes, since there is almost no fur market any longer, no need to restrict their take to certain times of the year. And it would be nice to be able to night hunt them when deer and turkey season is not in.

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[woodsman04]

Sounds like also trapping and hunting regs of coons and possums need to be adjusted. As well as bobcats and foxes.


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Yes, since there is almost no fur market any longer, no need to restrict their take to certain times of the year. And it would be nice to be able to night hunt them when deer and turkey season is not in.

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Yes. The most effective time to trap nest predators is March-June, when the turkeys and quail are actually nesting. When you trap in February, by the time mid April comes up and most nest are beginning to be made, some new coons from other areas will have moved in.


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