ruffed grouse quail pheasant hungarian partridge better off with less predators

Coyotes and other animals including fox, raccoons, skunks and opossums cause a lot of damage to local wild bird populations, decimate liberated populations, and can pose health risks for the dogs. Therefore, we believe predator control is in our best interest and strive to do so effectively in a humane manner.

The picture below is an example of some of these risks as the young Vizsla stumbled across a raccoon that was eventually diagnosed with distemper; after it was dispatched and sent to the DNR for testing. Raccoons become much more susceptible to diseases such as distemper when their population densities are high. Luckily, this dog kept its distance and was up to date on its vaccinations.

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Coyotes

After taking a dozen years off from predator hunting, I have decided to start back up again. Here in Michigan, the coyote population appears to have exploded the past few years. It is not clear how often I will be able to go coyote hunting but the table below will show my progress. Every time out scouting new bird covers this year there has been an abundance of coyote sign and I have had the displeasure of coming across more than a few of these little hell-hounds while out in the woods with the new Vizsla puppy.

Over Labor Day Weekend 2006, my camp was surrounded by a pack of coyotes intent on running us off. They came withing 15 feet of the campfire where I sat along with two other people and four bird dogs. It took over an hour before the coyotes finally abandoned their cause and left us in peace. Upon returning Tuesday morning, I drove to the gun shop and picked up a Savage .22 wmr. The caliber is smaller then I prefer but Michigan state law requires that only rimfire rifles are to be used after dark and since I will be bird hunting every day I can ...

Predator Hunting  2006-07 season 

	Days Hunted	Responded	Called In	Killed
Coyotes	3	9	4	0
Fox [R] or [G] Bobcat	0  0	0 [R]  0 [G]  0	0 [R]  0 [G]  0	0 [R]  0 [G]  0

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Porcupines

To the upland enthusiast, porcupines qualify as an animal that should be controlled. Don't take porcupine control lightly, remember to:

1. Never shoot a porky in front of a dog. This may cause the dog to think it is alright to hunt them and could lead to unpleasant encounters later.

2. Porcupine quills can carry in the wind so don't shoot one in a tree if you are facing up-wind.

3. Bury every porcupine you shoot and every porcupine found dead in the open. In addition to protecting other hunting dogs, it is the right thing to do!

             Big porcupine                  Burying the porcupine          Keith covering the site

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Deer Management

I have permission to hunt a few properties where the landowners require that I help control their deer herd. They feel they are sustaining too much crop damage and since they allow me to bird hunt it is only right that I do my part help them out. Since I don't actively hunt deer that much I often ask friends to handle my deer hunting responsibilities. Below is a picture of my business partner and a young buck he took with his bow late October 2006.

Here is another buck taken off the same farm in early November, 2006. I was able to hunt pheasant off of that farm shortly after but we didn't have much success. Unfortunately, there were a bunch of trespassers riding their four wheelers and they scared a few pheasants onto a neighboring farm while we watched in disgust.