Any tips on how to kill a coyote in a residential neighborhood?

[desertdarlene]

I was wondering if you got him, but you just answered my question in your last post. We have coyotes galore where I live and it is illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits (except self-defense or immediate defense of your pets, of course).

 

[april29]

I can relate to your frustration. We have a pack of coyotes living in the woods behind our backyard and we hear them howling at night. They have been coming into our fenced in yard eating my chickens as early as 5pm in the evening when its still light out. Very bold. They dug under fence in a couple places we found. I am unnerved that they are in my back yard . I called animal control as they deal with wildlife in our town so waiting for a return call from them. Its only been a day ago so will see what they have to say.

 

[shmccarthy]

I ha a problem with coyotes, my good friends dad has been hunting them his whole life. He told me the best way to get them is to trap them. They are a lot smarter than what most people think.
Now this is just an option if you do decide to trap it.
He told me the best way to trap them is a leg hold trap. You'll have to check if they are allowed in your area.
Making sure they can't smell you is probably the most important part. You'll have to wash your clothes with scent less detergent and put them in a bag and leave them outside over night. I'd also spray the clothes with a scent mask, used for hunting. You need rubber gloves and tall boots and make sure both of those have been washed and sprayed. Spray the trap and leave it outside for a few days to get any other smells off.
He digs a hole about 8-10" deep at a 45 degree angle. He usually uses chicken or beef or any other kind of meat in his freezer. He puts the meat at the bottom of the hole and sets the leg trap in front of it, and puts dirt and leaves over it so its hidden. The coyote steps in the trap, trying to get the meat and the trap holds its leg.
My friends dad shoots them then, but with neighbors close by that doesn't sound like an option for you. I'd just call animal control or the police and they'll take care of the animal.
It's up to you really and the regulations of where you live.
But regardless, if you want to catch it yourself, your best bet is to trap it.

 

[shmccarthy]

Well good ole Karma got to the coyote before I did. He was found splattered all over the road on saturday. Big boy, reddish fur with a dark stripe down his back. The scene was pretty gruesome so I refrained from taking pics of what was left of him. I am sure the crows cleaned it up by now. TY Karma~!  My cat sam is still gonna be on a permanent grounding tho, never to see the outside again is killing him. I have never seen a cat soooo depressed in my life /img/smilies/sad.png However I just can't be sure there isn't more harm in those woods just waiting to get to him therefor he is now being reformed into an indoor kitty whom desperately needs a friend.

Good to see he's gone! I've always been told that if a pack sees a member dead, they stay away from that area. So hopefully you guys won't have any more trouble from the others.

 

[aprophet]

I can relate to your frustration. We have a pack of coyotes living in the woods behind our backyard and we hear them howling at night. They have been coming into our fenced in yard eating my chickens as early as 5pm in the evening when its still light out. Very bold. They dug under fence in a couple places we found. I am unnerved that they are in my back yard . I called animal control as they deal with wildlife in our town so waiting for a return call from them. Its only been a day ago so will see what they have to say.

a cable restraint under the fence where they are crawling under is the easy way to do this ya might check your wildlife destroying stock laws before using this

 

[Crystaldj]

I hate coyotes with a passion I can't explain. They are always around, causing problems! We do have our chickens penned in really well, but you can see where they dig, trying to go underneath to get inside. We have taken to locking our chickens up in the henhouse at night to keep them safe. The only problem there is that the coyotes hang out here in the daytime too. All day today they have been eying the chicken pen. My husband shot one this morning and left it there for the others to see (there are 3 in this group), but it hasn't bothered the other 2 of this group at all. They keep coming back. Grrrr! We do have raccoon and fox around here too, but you see them at night, if at all. I have cats so a leg trap wouldn't work. The game dept. doesn't want anything to do with the situation and don't loan traps and do not relocate. And the humane society is no help at all. More than anything I would love to let my birds free range, but as sure as I do there will be problems. It looks like, for now, our only recourse is to shoot them. Hate that but they can not have my chickens either.

I hope everyone can find ways to keep their chickens safe. It's really sad to see a flock you have raised and cared for be taken and killed.

I have found this thread to be very helpful! Thanks for all the information!

 

[chickortreat]

Compound bow or crossbow are both deadly AND quiet.

 

[shmccarthy]

I vote crossbow just my personal preference

 

[Crystaldj]

Thanks chickortreat & shmccarthy! We did get another one of this group this afternoon. I thought there were only 3 to this group but there are 4. There WERE 4, only 2 now. One by one, I am going to protect my chickies.
We bought a pen this morning that is used for young pups to use for the 10 new babies. Even with the coyotes, as long as we watch them close, everything hopefully Will be ok.

 

[jc17]

leg traps would be ideal. but being that you are in a residential area they are a very bad idea. you will get neighbors cats in them and other thing you dont want to hurt. my suggestion is to either use a very large live trap. another way is to talk to the sherrif about shooting him in town and let him know what your up to. i would use animal guts for bait. i always use em for trappin and it works great. leave fish guts rabbit guts anything out and wait and shoot him on sight. but coyotes are known for being in groups.i would also reccomend using somthing bigger than a 22. i use a 223 witch is the same size bullet only larger charge so a well placed shot should do the job! good luck!