KILGORE'S CORNER
Jan. 13—The old adage if you don't like the weather in Oklahoma just wait a day certainly applies to the weekend and beyond.
With temperatures forecast to be in the negative digits, hungry coyotes will be on the move looking for a fresh kill and predator hunters will brave the elements to match wits with one of the craftiest critters in the woods, (Canis Latrans) better known as the coyote.
According to an article in AZ Animals written by Jennifer Gaeng, there are currently nineteen recognized subspecies of coyotes. Coyotes in the northeastern United States have mated with several wolf species in the past and continue to do so today. This continues to create the larger eastern coyote subspecies. "Coywolf hybrids consisting of coyotes and wolves of various species have been documented," said Gaeng.
Surprisingly, genetic analysis indicates that wolves in North America likely descended from coyotes which leads to another question---- just how many coyotes are left in the world?
With that being said, experts still have no idea the number of coyotes there are across the globe.
Estimates range from 1 million to 10 million while another source estimates 10 million world wide. What it really boils down to is that there are far too many to count.
Unofficially, the population in the U.S. is estimated to be close to 342,000. While no firm population estimates were given for the Sooner State, I think it's safe to say we have our fair share of the critters.
Coyotes live in a variety of social arrangements. Some prefer to live in packs, others in mated pairs, while others prefer to live alone.
One hot summer afternoon many years ago while on my way to a favorite fishing hole near the town of Perry, a coyote darted across the highway into a field dotted with cattle and what I witnessed still sticks with me like it was yesterday.
With no traffic to speak of, I pulled over to the shoulder to see what transpired between the coyote and the cattle. It turned out to be a show that would forever be etched in my memory.
The coyote, in full predatory mode, went after a single calf but momma cow, along with the rest of the herd, encircled the coyote pinning him in the middle. While it was difficult for me to see through the cloud of dust, the coyote emerged in a full sprint back across the highway headed for safer ground.
One bitterly cold winter morning just outside of the town of Braggs, I witnessed a pack of six or seven coyotes work in unison taking down a young whitetail doe.
Whether you're a novice or a seasoned hunter, predator hunting allows one to match wits with some of wariest critters in the woods but careful preparation will tip the scales in favor of the hunter.
Some say that the Sooner State offers some of the most liberal hunting seasons and bag limits in the nation when it comes to hunting coyotes. Many hunters consider Oklahoma as a coyote hunting parardise thanks to millions of public hunting land.
As always gun safety is priority one. It's up to the hunter to know and abide by the hunting regulations set forth by the ODWC.
In order to protect the family pets, you may need to thin out your coyote population.
Reach Kilgore at jkilgoreoutdoors@yahoo.com .
