Since my property is heavy wooded; I see a coyote on occasion. Here's a photo of one I shot last December during a Squirrel hunt;

shoot them all!



The new IN predator....

Another threat to Fawns and other wildlife is free roaming Dogs & Cats. State laws should have stricter laws regarding free roaming Dogs & Cats.

I think a very underrated predator on fawn's is the black vultures we have been blessed with the last few years.I know they will kill newborn calves.

Dogs there is no matter where you live there is a leash law. Stray dogs and cats should all be shot

Good way to end up in jail and in a law suit!

Cast hunting dogs are not required to be leashed.My dogs do not run off game,and if they are ever shot the shooter better hope the law gets to them before I do.True wild or stray dogs chasing deer are a different story.

https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-dog-leash-laws

If you are having problems with low numbers of fawns, how about doing two things?

1. Shoot/trap coyotes.

2. Quit shooting fawns during the hunting season.

I would never shoot Fawns or yearlings, or as a matter of fact avoid harvesting button Bucks. I shoot Coyotes when I see them and when I have my rifle.

1. Even though number one is very important I am under the understanding from what I have read that Coyotes are not the biggest problem for fawn mortality even though I believe ALL Coyotes should be shot or trapped on sight...

2. This right here I believe is the number one problem with fawn mortality... I find it stupid when hunters say shoot fawns because "They taste better and they are so tender"... IMO shooting a fawn is not only a wasted deer, but wasted bullet and wasted tag... I would eat a tag before shooting a fawn...

Now would I begrudge anyone for taking a fawn during a Reduction or Youth hunt or if it was wounded, NOT AT ALL...

1. Reduction hunts are there for a reason and the reason is to shoot deer that is what the rules and the State wants so I would oblige and would encourage everyone else to do the same...

2. Youth hunts are important especially for first times because that is what gets their blood pumping and gets them energetic in the sport and I think that is very important for the future of our sport... If I had a child that I was taking out for the first time I would gladly let them take a fawn for their first deer but after that, I would encourage them to not take them...

3. I would never begrudge anyone for taking a wounded fawn be it by predator or some other type of injury cause as sportsman and and ambassadors of our sport, none of us wants to see an animal suffer needlessly...

I don't mean to offend anyone but jjas is right about that we need to stop shooting fawns...

Agree 100%!

Is shooting a fawn legal? Yep. Then shoot away if you so desire. I will worry about the way I hunt and others can do as they please as long as it's within the law.

Yes, it is legal to harvest a Fawn; however most Sportsmen would pass on shooting such.

I just thought it was an interesting article as i know the eastern coyote population is booming and they kill many fawns as well as turkeys. Now they have reintroduced the bobcat and their population is booming. I have trapped my land (only 33 acres) for the past 6 yrs and have caught 76 coyotes. This will be an ongoing effort until I cannot physically do it anymore. Can't wait until a bobcat season comes in as I have accidentally caught 4 of those too. I too will not shoot fawns

You know coyotes mate for life and are very territorial Every pair bused up your inviting the repopulating of your obviously good Habitate imo

Yes, I know it is a double edge sword. The more I catch the more will move into the area. They also have big litters. It is just piece of mind when i am able to take one out of the population. I feel like it has made a difference in the deer/turkey population in my little world.

I think you said it best it makes you feel good ! Another thing I found interesting was they have big liters to make up for the gap made by depopulating left alone they have small liters just to keep the species going Amazing that they can control liter size or even think about it !

Big litters just means more to trap that fall!!!! Bring 'em!!! I've got em under control. Now all the farmers around are griping to me about the sudden appearance of ground hogs…..they be gaining numbers the last three years. :rolleyes: ALSO……lot more red foxes around! Sure signs the coyotes are not near as numerous as they once were in my area!!!

^^^^now that is some good data ^^^^

Strays or feral is what I am talkin bout I would never think of shooting someone's huntin dogs that is a different story

I'm sure this was just a joke as obviously coyotes or any animal don't control the # of their offspring or think wow there aren't many of us let's have a big litter. LOL. I don't find much amazing about it. If there are large numbers then less food and poor health thus less #'s capable of being produced per litter. Flip it for large litters. The same as mother nature does for most species.