Scared the bejezzers out of me

[johnnyb]

I don't hunt, but, I didn't reply. Nobody has commented on the article out of Edmonton about dog-packs killing people. It's wierd how this pops up the day after reading in the Sun how they have a major problem with this in Baghdad, and apparently the only thing Saddam did right was killing the wild dog packs once a year. Now people are afraid to go to work over there. but I digress..... I'd a been pretty nervous as well...and wouldn't hesitate to shoot if it looked like an attack was imminent.

Edited November 26, 2008 by johnnyb

[danc]

There was a pack of dogs running down Deer around here a few years ago. If I remember correctly, the MNR got involved and disposed of the dog pack.

[walleyejigger]

i understand how you felt Brian. i've been scarred chittless may times in the woods even if most of the time others might think it is unwarranted to be afraid, it's different when ur alone in the quietness of the wilderness and u hear some ruckess comin along, ur heart and adrenaline starts pumpin

 

if i'd a been in ur position i would without a doubt try and take some of them out if i had the opportunity, these animals have no good purpose, sure they MIGHT not harm u but they can wreak havoc on livestock and other animals,

 

just because there's no concrete evidence of animals attakcing humans doesn't mean it hasn't and never will happen, if something as "harmless" as a coyote or fox or even household pet can attack you (and these things have happened) i don't see why wolves, cougars or wild dogs wouldn't,

 

maybe it's because these animals are feared more, that there's no attacks, i find bigger animals smarter than small ones and the old addage goes "they fear you more than you fear them" but put em in a corner and see what happens, i've never seen anyone try to hand feed a wolf or cougar, but i have seen yotes, fox and household pets, and have also seen the consequences that can sometimes come from that,

 

a healthy fear of an animal is a good thing, puts you in check

[Jay T]

I don't, but spend a LOT of time backwoods camping (with wolves remarkably close by one time this fall) and wolves have never been a concern. And never will. There are lots at my parents place up north as well....coming out of algonquin park. Never ever a concern except for the nearby farmers who lose some livestock.

 

Dog packs - I have heard stories about them killing animals for fun (versus eating, which is what wolves do) but have never heard of htem hunting down a person. But, i don't know that it doesn't happen.

 

Killing coyotes because you're deer hunting sounds just dumb to me. Really dumb.

 

 

I do hunt and I do know how you felt Misfish, but I will not hesitate if I see a coyote within shooting distance. I had that happen to me 4 weeks ago but I was up 4 feet in a tree, and right after I finished rattling 3 coyotes came charging in, unfortunatly I could not get a shot with the bow they were running around me to quick and I was in a thick part of the bush.

 

You have you facts wrong with wolves, it is coyotes that kill for fun and there are a lot of them around were I hunt, 1 pack of 20 plus dogs and another of 12 or so and this isn't a huge chunk of land, the damage they do to the population of deer, rabbits, squirrels, cattle ect... Is huge. I have heard the coyotes take down 3 deer so far while I have been hunting, and yes I know because I can hear the deer bawling.

After my deer hunting is done, I will be out to thin out the population of coyotes on my hunting grounds.

[Jen]

In the early 90's I was camping with friends near Hanover and we had about 12 wild dogs show up at the camp, these animals are not afraid of people and if hungry enough they will attack. All it took to deter them was one shot from a 22, however in saying that everyone was nervous the rest of the weekend.

 

Once reported to the local authorities we were informed that this pack of animals had already been reported as they had been attacking and killing, not for food, the area farm animals, mostly sheep. It took local hunters a week to find and dispose of these animals. It was in all the local papers as a warning to farmers and residents to not let their dogs run lose or drop pups that are unwanted on the sides of the roads.

 

I can understand how you felt as you watched these animals... all regulations aside, being a dog owner and lover I still would have taken a shot if I felt that I had no other choice to protect myself.

 

I have no fear of wild animals, domestic animals that have gone wild are a totally different story... Keep in mind that when hunting your safety and the safety of others should always be your first priority...

 

Glad you managed to keep warm out there ...

 

Cheers,

 

Jen

[cram]

I do hunt and I do know how you felt Misfish, but I will not hesitate if I see a coyote within shooting distance. I had that happen to me 4 weeks ago but I was up 4 feet in a tree, and right after I finished rattling 3 coyotes came charging in, unfortunatly I could not get a shot with the bow they were running around me to quick and I was in a thick part of the bush.

 

You have you facts wrong with wolves, it is coyotes that kill for fun and there are a lot of them around were I hunt, 1 pack of 20 plus dogs and another of 12 or so and this isn't a huge chunk of land, the damage they do to the population of deer, rabbits, squirrels, cattle ect... Is huge. I have heard the coyotes take down 3 deer so far while I have been hunting, and yes I know because I can hear the deer bawling.

After my deer hunting is done, I will be out to thin out the population of coyotes on my hunting grounds.

 

Can you tell me how many people have been killed by coyotes in the last 10 yrs? 100? Or how many non-toddlers have been attacked. Look it up.

Edited November 26, 2008 by cram

[TennesseeGuy]

Can you tell me how many people have been killed by coyotes in the last 10 yrs? 100? Or how many non-toddlers have been attacked. Look it up.

 

In my neighborhood we recognize toddlers as people.

[cram]

In my neighborhood we recognize toddlers as people.

 

Fair enough, but you're not one....and i assume (hope) you don't have a toddler sitting beside you when hunting in a tree stand in the bush.

[cram]

that said -- just read about a pack of 200 dogs attacking a town in albania. Not kidding. Yikes.

[TennesseeGuy]

Hey Cram, here's my deal. My lot is inside the city, but step out of my yard and I'm in the county where it's grown up much like Ontario bush country. There's a large walnut tree on the line near my garden. I can hear coyotes every evening as they signal the start of their nightly hunt. Sometimes they are really close. Up until the past few years there were plenty of squirrels and they gathered all the walnuts as they fell from my tree. I had to share parts of my garden produce with rabbits. Since the coyotes appeared I hardly ever see a rabbit or squirrel. I had to put down my black lab in June of 2007, but I was careful not to leave her tied up unattended because coyotes may have attacked her. So far we've not had problems, but I don't want the pack to increase much more in numbers.

[cram]

Hey Cram, here's my deal. My lot is inside the city, but step out of my yard and I'm in the county where it's grown up much like Ontario bush country. There's a large walnut tree on the line near my garden. I can hear coyotes every evening as they signal the start of their nightly hunt. Sometimes they are really close. Up until the past few years there were plenty of squirrels and they gathered all the walnuts as they fell from my tree. I had to share parts of my garden produce with rabbits. Since the coyotes appeared I hardly ever see a rabbit or squirrel. I had to put down my black lab in June of 2007, but I was careful not to leave her tied up unattended because coyotes may have attacked her. So far we've not had problems, but I don't want the pack to increase much more in numbers.

 

That's totally understandable. I have even heard of coyotes attacking toddlers playing in their yards. It does happen, and when close to people's homes i say shoot them all.

 

Just that I just don't see coyotes attacking a hunter. Even if they wanted to, you're way too big for them. They much prefer squirrels and rabbits :-)

 

And wolves....never. Give me a break.

 

Dogs turned wild -- interesting. I don't know. They certainly wouldn't be scared the same way wolves are

[cityfisher]

Ive hunted for 12 years.... last 5 years with a camp in Haliburton... This year I picked up Bowhunting and guided my buddy to a nice buck on the weekend.....

[BITEME]

Rule of thumb for us and by permission of the farmers fields we hunt.

If it hasnt got a collar SHOOT IT!!!!!!

[Jen]

A friend of ours in Ridgeway had a pug for 9 years, he is an avid hunter and had no concerns about letting his dog out to go to the bathroom in the morning, however beginning of summer he let it out and watched as a coyote ran by scooped it up and took it away... When hungry an animal will eat what is available.

[lew]

I'm no wolf expert and I'm certainly not trying to stir the proverbial pot, but I must admit I find it hard to believe a wolf can stand 5 feet, let alone 4 feet tall at the shoulder when he's standing flat on all 4's.

 

A 5' tall wolf would be the size of a cow.

 

Sure would like to see a picture or some documentaion about that critter.

 

Any good photos Dan ??

[jwl]

I been reading this thread a bit and some great points from all.....living in the Niagara region all my life, spending tonnes of time outdoors, I also know some avid hunters.

 

The "wild dog" problem around this area is not unique but a wierd scenario all together, and some areas are "infested with them" it has been going on for decades and only getting worse.....forst cases where in about the early 80's when some wolves made thier way down the Bruce Trail from the Tobermory area into the Firemen's Park area of Niagara Falls...they have over years, interbred with the coyotes of the area and also ferril dogs as well, this creating a pretty mixed up breed of thier own...some call them coydogs, others coywolves...the problem with these ones is because of being interbred with wolves they tend to be large animals, they have the cunning nature of a coyote, but interbred with domestic dogs so they have a greatly reduced natural fear of man. They will even go so far as to basically try and "kidnap" other dogs and make them part of thier pack....there is actually quite the problem and high populations in the Welland,Thorold,Niagara area...these ones definately aren't your average coyote, I have seen plenty of those around here, and have seen a couple wolves before around the area where my trailer is....I am an animal lover and conservationist at heart, but if faced with a desision to make about my own saftey atthe time,I don't think I would have a problem popping one off

Edited November 26, 2008 by jwl

[misfish]

Rule of thumb for us and by permission of the farmers fields we hunt.

If it hasnt got a collar SHOOT IT!!!!!!

 

I talked to the owner today at work. He said to get rid of them. He has two cows on the mend right now from thier attacks. I will be contacting the MNR and see what my right is and options.

 

One thing has got me confussed. With the amount of deer tracks I seen yesturday,these dogs must not be getting them,but I have noticed this year the lack of red squires and turkeys this fall.

 

A while back I also mentioned I seen a fisher. Maybe one of them will take out the other.?????????

 

Lew no worries about stirring,we know you better then that.

 

 

Hey Dan,as for STATS,I dont want to be a statistic,so if they come close,they get it.

Edited November 26, 2008 by misfish

[Nemo]

Physical characteristics

Gray wolf weight and size can vary greatly worldwide, tending to increase proportionally with latitude as predicted by Bergmann's Rule. In general, height varies from 0.6 to .95 meters (26–38 inches) at the shoulder and weight typically ranges from 20 (44 lb.) up to 68 (150 lb.) kilograms, which together make the gray wolf the largest of all wild canids.[5] Although rarely encountered, extreme specimens of more than 77 kg (170 lb.) have been recorded in Alaska, Canada,[6] and the former Soviet Union.[7] The heaviest gray wolf recorded in the New World was killed on 70 Mile River in east central Alaska on July 12, 1939 and weighed 79 kg (175 lb.),[8] while the heaviest wolf recorded in the Old World was killed after World War II in the kobelyakski Area of the Poltavskij Region in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and weighed 86 kg (189 lb.).[7]

 

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf

[TennesseeGuy]

A little off topic, but I have a customer who has a 75% wolf and at my request he brought her into my office a couple of times. She is a really nice pet.

 

Another guy has two wolves of about the same mixture that are kept caged and they are pretty wild. I wouldn't try touching or feeding them.

[cram]

A little off topic, but I have a customer who has a 75% wolf and at my request he brought her into my office a couple of times. She is a really nice pet.

 

Another guy has two wolves of about the same mixture that are kept caged and they are pretty wild. I wouldn't try touching or feeding them.

 

Interesting stuff. I remember seeing one that someone had and it was very nice but very very skittish. Not sure if it was because of its DNA or just how it was raised.

[lew]

Not to take this excellent thread too far off topic, but I've had a house trailer up near Peterboro for the last 34 years and we always heard coyotes in the fields behind us, usually very early in the morning before sunrise.

 

About 10 years ago they suddenly disappeared and we never heard them again until this past summer when they returned full strength and we now often hear them howling again.

 

Were over run with deer up there now and I'm thinking perhaps that's what's drawing them back again.......bring your gun up Brian, you could have a deer field day

 

I hafta admit though, it's kinda nice to be sitting on the deck at 3:00 AM, sipping on the mornings 1st coffee, and listening to mother nature in all her wonderful glory !!!!

[cram]

Not to take this excellent thread too far off topic, but I've had a house trailer up near Peterboro for the last 34 years and we always heard coyotes in the fields behind us, usually very early in the morning before sunrise.

 

About 10 years ago they suddenly disappeared and we never heard them again until this past summer when they returned full strength and we now often hear them howling again.

 

Were over run with deer up there now and I'm thinking perhaps that's what's drawing them back again.......bring your gun up Brian, you could have a deer field day

 

I hafta admit though, it's kinda nice to be sitting on the deck at 3:00 AM, sipping on the mornings 1st coffee, and listening to mother nature in all her wonderful glory !!!!

 

 

I agree -- love hearing them at night. Though i think the ones i hear are wolves (near algonquin). Did walk between what i assume was 2 packs of coyotes yipping to each other earlier this fall. Weird, but neat.

[misfish]

I hafta admit though, it's kinda nice to be sitting on the deck at 3:00 AM, sipping on the mornings 1st coffee, and listening to mother nature in all her wonderful glory !!!!

 

Very cool indeed Lew. You did mean at 6 am though didnt you? LOL

[lew]

You did mean at 6 am though didnt you? LOL

 

Sheesh Brian, by 6 am I'm already back from fish'n and ready for lunch

[misfish]

Sheesh Brian, by 6 am I'm already back from fish'n and ready for lunch

 

Yeah I know Lew. LOL