The predator and the victim in Oregon and every other Western State!
Coyotes don’t always jump and mouse!
This post is going to be a two (2) information on the Coyote and the Pronghorn or better known to most as an Antelope!
Recently I got off with an old friend from the days of the Burns Bros. Sportsmen Center that was located on S.E. Union Ave in Portland. The big yellow building with lots of big painted logo’s on the building, it was a meeting place in the old days!
He is now one of the top Biologist in the State of Oregon. It has been great to rekindle the past on hunting and what he does for the ODFW.
Last year I talked with him a while about a few of the units that I had sent hunters into for Pronghorn and of course the Coyote came up in conversation. There areas that the Coyote has caused havic on the Pronghorn in Oregon was an issue!
Today while talking with him, I came up with the non science simple cause of areas that the Coyote is reducing the Antelope fawns. “So the Jackrabbits are down in population and the Coyote is going to take an Antelope fawn during the fawning season?” “Yep! That is the simple cause, but more complex than that Frank.”
There is one unit that comes into play a great deal with fewer fawns than any other unit and that is the Wagontire Unit, especially the South Wagontire unit south of Christmas Valley. Last year there was on a ratio of 11 fawns to 100 Does, whereas in a unit further south the ratio of 43 fawn to 100 Does.
There is a great deal of B.L.M. to hunt in all of the units and the Wagontire Unit has more than most. I would suggest getting your mapping and GPS, so you know where you are.
So anyone that is just wanting to get out and hunt for Coyotes, it is a place to travel to with a great deal of roads to work from in the unit. We can never stop the Coyote, as they are one of the most resourceful animals, that knows how to survive the elements and man. Just whittle down the numbers so we have more Antelope fawn survive the first part of their life, once up and going they seem to keep from the Coy Dog!
I am under the understanding that the desert rodent population is making a comeback in the Oregon desert!
Now lets talk a little about Antelope hunting for those that going to hunt Antelope – Pronghorn this year. I know many feel they are going to get drawn in 2012. For those that have not applied, you have to decide what you are really looking for a Boone & Crockett or a good Lope to put on the wall. There are Boone & Crockett Lopes in every hunt unit in Oregon, but some units fewer of course. Sometimes hunters are overwhelm, as in most cases you get to see a great deal of Antelope bucks while hunting. I have been told many times how a hunter shoots a good buck they feel and then be walking back to the truck and see the grand daddy. It is important to know what you are looking at and know how to do a visual measurement. Then you decide if that is one your going to pull the trigger or release an arrow on.
Oregon does have one hunt unit that the big boys die of old age. Limited amount of tags for the hunt unit and it takes from 18 to probably 25 points to get drawn. The problem with the unit is that there is a great deal of “Village Idiots” and they get harvested! “Village Idiots” is a new word to me representing the youth in the Pronghorn kingdom…
So all of the Coyote hunters & Pro-Staffers for RD Game Calls, get your fannies out there and help the future Pronghorn hunters by taking out some dogs.
Cobra