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February 29, 2004
475 coyotes killed by bounty hunters
Associated Press
CODY, Wyo. - After a group offered to pay $20 for every dead coyote brought in, 475 animals were killed by county residents.
"Our goal was reached," said Lou Cicco of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, of the program which ended up with a payout of $9,500 over two months, starting in January.
A Powell-area sheep rancher praised the effort, while a Wyoming Game and Fish biologist offered a mixed review.
Cicco said 210 hunters and trappers participated.
The takers and coyotes were supposed to all be from Park County.
"It really got the kids involved, women too," he told the Cody Enterprise. "It gave them something to do and got back the old pioneer spirit of hunting."
He said the reduction in coyotes will save thousands of game birds and domestic fowl along with deer and antelope fawns.
"Four hundred and seventy-five coyotes during a year have a big appetite," Cicco said.
Regarding criticism from biologists that the program would have little effect, Cicco said, "I don't believe a word they said. This did a lot of good."
Initially some thought the tally might be as low as 50, so the total amazed many observers.
"This surprised everyone," Cicco said.
The group hopes to repeat and possibly enlarge the program next year, he said.
That would please Shane Smith of Smith Farms, who has been running sheep for 40 years.
Coyotes killed more of his sheep this winter than any of the last 15 years, he said. He lost 30-35 lambs worth $105 each out of about 4,800 head brought in to fatten.
"I lost one last night," he said Monday, estimating its weight at 100 pounds. "The coyote problem is out of control."
But a Game and Fish official said the program would have been more effective if it had targeted a specific area and was part of an integrated pest management plan.
To make a dent in coyote numbers, a program needs to take 50 percent of the population for three consecutive years, said Kevin Hurley, Game and Fish wildlife coordinator.
He said no one knows what percentage 475 represents, but the number does suggest a large population.
"That tells me there's a ton of coyotes out there," Hurley said.
He also said fox kill more game birds than coyotes.
The bounty program "did no harm except to 475 coyotes," and it did get the group's members out of the house, Hurley said.
475 coyotes killed by bounty hunters
Associated Press
CODY, Wyo. - After a group offered to pay $20 for every dead coyote brought in, 475 animals were killed by county residents.
"Our goal was reached," said Lou Cicco of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, of the program which ended up with a payout of $9,500 over two months, starting in January.
A Powell-area sheep rancher praised the effort, while a Wyoming Game and Fish biologist offered a mixed review.
Cicco said 210 hunters and trappers participated.
The takers and coyotes were supposed to all be from Park County.
"It really got the kids involved, women too," he told the Cody Enterprise. "It gave them something to do and got back the old pioneer spirit of hunting."
He said the reduction in coyotes will save thousands of game birds and domestic fowl along with deer and antelope fawns.
"Four hundred and seventy-five coyotes during a year have a big appetite," Cicco said.
Regarding criticism from biologists that the program would have little effect, Cicco said, "I don't believe a word they said. This did a lot of good."
Initially some thought the tally might be as low as 50, so the total amazed many observers.
"This surprised everyone," Cicco said.
The group hopes to repeat and possibly enlarge the program next year, he said.
That would please Shane Smith of Smith Farms, who has been running sheep for 40 years.
Coyotes killed more of his sheep this winter than any of the last 15 years, he said. He lost 30-35 lambs worth $105 each out of about 4,800 head brought in to fatten.
"I lost one last night," he said Monday, estimating its weight at 100 pounds. "The coyote problem is out of control."
But a Game and Fish official said the program would have been more effective if it had targeted a specific area and was part of an integrated pest management plan.
To make a dent in coyote numbers, a program needs to take 50 percent of the population for three consecutive years, said Kevin Hurley, Game and Fish wildlife coordinator.
He said no one knows what percentage 475 represents, but the number does suggest a large population.
"That tells me there's a ton of coyotes out there," Hurley said.
He also said fox kill more game birds than coyotes.
The bounty program "did no harm except to 475 coyotes," and it did get the group's members out of the house, Hurley said.
