We've all heard, and have probably used that phrase, "Coyote Ugly", but how about "Coyote Smart" since these critters are far from being dumb.

Yesterday, I opened my rear French doors that lead from our living room to our back yard, and let out two of our dogs. One is a Catahoula and the other is a pedigreed County Road Dropoff someone dumped out here years ago when he was just a pup. Both of these dogs are fiercely protective of what they perceive to be "their kingdom", meaning to them, as far as their eye can see around here. I then commenced to getting me my first cup of morning coffee, without which I don't function very well.

100yds out from the very back of our back yard is our largest stock tank (farm pond to you Yankees), with open, clear pasture all the way from the back yard to that tank. Anyhow, I got that first cup of coffee made just right and had just sat down in my easy chair to enjoy it, when all of a sudden, the two dogs I had just let out started barking. I just figured that a flea had farted in their kingdom without their permission, so at first I just ignored it. The barking continued loudly, so I got up and went to see what they were barking at.

At first I saw our horses and mule, all standing together, with eyes fixed on the opposite side of the tank from our house. I looked closer at the opposite side of the tank and there was a medium sized coyote just standing there in the open pasture looking back at all of them.

My looking at him too didn't seem to phase him a bit either, but then when I went back into the house and got my binoculars to get a better look, and then came out the door again, raised those binoculars up to see him, he immediately got real serious about the situation. I raised those bnoculars to my eyes and at that exact moment, that coyote made a bee line for the nearest cover, about 50 yds away. He stayed in that cover, until he got to what he must have felt was a safe distance, some 600 yds away, and then emerged again into our clear pasture. He then walked slowly to the end of our property and crossed the county road and went onto my buddy's place across the county road.

I didn't spook him standing there by the door looking at him, the barking dogs in the yard didn't spook him, but the minute I went into the house, re-emerged with those binoculars and then put those binoculars up to my eyes, he definitely got spooked!! They are definitely some smart critters, those coyotes.

My dogs, well they are lovable and that's all that counts!!

Now, speaking of "Coyote Ugly", there was this blind date I had years ago, but that's a story for later, in another thread.

Oh yah... Out critter hunting with a buddy, they were everywhere. Easy to spot from the road but the second the wheels stop turning on that truck they would be doing a mile a minute. behind every hill they can find. Never have gotten me one of those mangy dogs yet.

I have always been under the belief that animals can't count and if your moving in a vehicle don't stop just let it slow down and keep rolling. Then have your buddy get out on tthe other side because animals keep an eye on the vehicle. LOL but it works.

I recall back in the 80's when fur prices were sky high.......my uncle use to get around 20 to 25 coyote pelts a year. Man were they smart.........

We would go out and call and you would spot them from a mile away, but then they would be gone. Next thing you know there were right on top of you. I've heard of stories of them jumping over guys as they looked over a blow out to see how close they were......lol

Amazingly tough, smart and a joy to learn more about.


Weasel

My buddy Shawn and I were out call hunting coyotes last year on around his parents property up north of Calgary just out of Pine lake. They have had trouble with coyotes during calving. We didn't bring one in that afternoon but Shawn brought one in within 20 yds the following day.
We were using a predator call. Apparently a wounded or distressed fawn and a wounded rabbit have distress bleat that's very similar.

Anyway Shawn said they do have trouble out running the bullet of a 30-06.

I don't know where you guys live but I live in Hershey PA and live with about 150 to 250 acres of land all around me. Some of it is wooded (100 acres) some is famed and others just sit and get overtaken by weeds. Well I have been out in the fields trying to ride the evasive weeds for the last year. Since that time I saw fox, deer, mink, raccoon, turkey, possum, vulture, red tailed hawk, and blue herons, stink pot snappers, peregrine falcon and other common birds but no coyote. In my travels I have seen dropping that to me are questionable fox droppings. I have questioned other people who know a thing or two about wild animals. He said they are out there but because they are so smart they see you but you don't see them unless they want you to. That being said the one guy I talked to told me that my dog is just big enough that a coyote would challenge taking him if necessary. You see I let my dog out often (mini Australian Sheppard that's deaf) and his other senses are keener because he is deaf. He knows when deer, possum, raccoon, fox, etc. are out there. When I'm out with him or if he's out by himself and barks I'll get my light and spot and almost always find something out there. But those few times I don't find anything I'll bet it's a coyote out there and it doesn't want me to see him or know he's there. Since this time I have been doing research on them and all I've read about them tells you how smart they are. I just hope he never goes after my do for a meal that would be devastating to me. Well I'm not sure if he's out there I'm just guessing and with the signs I think he may be but I don't have hard evidence he is. That's just my input into this post what it's worth.
Big Al

In all honesty............a coyote that is backed into a corner so to speak.......one of the most dangerous animals imo. I've seen dogs killed and ripped to pieces from them critters getting backed into a fighting situation.

Tough as nails.......the only thing I've personally seen get meaner, at least in Nebraska when I lived there were badgers...lol.


Weasel

Bigal73,

I agree with Weasel about a Coyote backed into a corner being a nasty animal. Why not leave your dog at home so as NOT to chance an encounter with a Coyote, especially since it's deaf? Coyotes will/can/do hunt in packs many times and when they hunt in packs, your dog wouldn't be any match for them..BELIEVE ME!!

Coyotes also hunt in singles and doubles too, but that "pack" situation could get real bad for your dog and it could all happen before you could ever get to where it was happening, to help your dog.

Our one son used to live on 27 acres next to our place. Mostly wide open pasture and our large tank directly between his place and ours. He had two male Catahoulas that were brothers, and they were big and fast too. I'm from PA, not far from you originally, so let me explain what a Catahoula is. I had never heard of one, before coming to Texas 35 years ago, so I assume you haven't either.

A Catahoula is a dog that is one of the best breeds for working cattle that you can find. It basically is the size of a black lab and looks a great deal like a black lab too. Anyhow, these two dogs were fearless and fast. They would sit up on the porch of the son's place and see Coyotes on our place, crossing it or whatever. They would both take off, at a full out run after those Coyotes and the Coyotes would take off running as these two Catahoulas got closer.

From past experiences and tangles with them, the Coyotes knew these two dogs would fight together as a team and WIN, so they didn't want to tangle with them. Funny thing was, Rex and Rusty just wanted them off the two places and didn't fight as their first option. They would run and catch up to and run along side a Coyote each for a short while, look over at them as they're running along side, as to say, "We told you to stay off and out of our territory and we mean it, so keep on going". They would then slow down and stop and let those Coyotes run off the property to somewhere else. They had made their point and they were happy at that point and then would walk back to our house. It was REALLY something to watch!!

That was the extreme exception though and I sure wouldn't want your pup to get hurt. I'm a "dog person" and that would be a horrible death for your pup. When challanged, most of the time, the pack will turn on the dog, certainly when they far out number the dog.

I've seen an alpha male Coyote challange my wife, as she tried to protect an newborn calf from him as he approached and she had run out from the house to that calf, UNARMED! I believe he'd have hurt her badly had I not seen what was going on and run out there with a rifle. As soon as he saw me with that rifle, he booked immediately, but had no fear of my unarmed wife. I swear he recognized a rifle as a rifle immediately!!

Buck do u think he ran away a laughing?

Ron,

My wife ran out there in her "footed flannel jammies" and they were pink and purple in color. I'd say there's a good chance that yote was laughing BEFORE he ran off, especially with her standing there by that new born calf hollaring "Shoo, Shoo" at him!! Come to think of it, when I ran out there with that rifle and he ran off, he was shaking his head back and forth!!

Bigal, if you hit a coyote with a spotlight, their eyes glow an eerie red. Only a wolf has eyes that do the same. I'm told a cougar's eyes glow red as well. but they aren't round, they have the vertical pupil like a big housecat. If you ever shined a flashlight & saw your dog's eyes they were likely white or somewhat yellow. A coyote's are the same size & shape, but an eerie red, like out of a horror movie. I once had a pig die & shot 3 coyotes with 4 shots in about 20 seconds using this technique. Used a Mini-14, with a flash hider, and a scope with a big lens. I mention this mainly for bragging rights, as I doubt it will ever happen again. It also ended the strange disappearance of the occasional calf. Not the newborn that has momma to protect it, but an older one the cow already left alone while grazing.