I have read studies against USDA Wildlife services, the use of aerial gunning and M-44. saying that it is a dated policy to control predator for a select few Ranchers. Animal rights think it is un-ethical and some sportsman think it un-ethical. When a Rancher or farmer depends on a sale of watermelons or sheep to pay his bills, the coyote is just another pest that needs to be controled.
I myself don't agree with chasing coyotes with vehicles if you are sport hunting, I do not like calling in an area where hunters are running dogs after coyotes, but I have no problem with decoy dogs. It is a complicated discussion trying to tell someone why you personally don't agree with how some one else was raised to hunt. I grew up running Racoon with dogs but I can not stomach running coyotes with dogs.
I think everyone has a level of comfort in the things that they do but maybe not so comfortable with how someone else is doing it. This seems very natural to me because it depends on where you come from, how you where taught, and your personal level of dedication to the sport. How much effort do you want to put into it.
Everyone has an opinion of what an ethical hunter is but there is know one who will live up to everyones expectation of an ethical hunter. A better term maybe "Fair chase".
We have a Game and Fish department that is in place among many other things to help establish what "Fair Chase" is for each given species. That may mean Day or Night hunting, type of weapon, use of dogs, min./max. caliber that can be used, with a list of other considerations a mile long. They do this with hunter input. That is where the Legislative branch comes into play. Some of the existing laws on the books concerning coyotes and coyote hunting is antiquated and needs to be updated to reflect the hunting pressure and needs of the livestock and crop producers of 2007.
I think that everyones opinion is needed in order to produce rules that effect everyone and allow the majority of the participants to have the type of experience they are looking for when they go out in to the field.
This site will encourage everyones opinion but will not tolerate open bashing of an individual or group. (ok I may take exception to some animal rights groups) If you have a point to make that is great but if it is not educational or entertaining...well please consider what you are writeing prior to submission. You may have trouble convincing us that it is relevant to the discussion of coyotes if all you are doing is telling some one off. Even if it is in a creative way.
You pick fights in bars, not chat forums on the internet.
We all want to hear about current events and get everyones opinion of the subjects that interest you but lets try to keep things relevant to predator hunting. If you want to discuss politics for instance lets try to direct the conversation to how it effects us as hunters, trappers, and snaremen.
Jamie
