Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Hunting situation. Big Gobbler on the right of barrel, coyote on left of barrel. You can only shoot one. Which one do you choose and why? If it was a Gobbler you had been trying to call in for 2 years, would it change your vote?



I'd shoot the coyote, just as I've been managing our land and game for 28 plus years, and it just seems to be the right thing to do in my situation. Even if it was a bird I'd been messing with for 2 plus years. Seems to me if he was that close, one already won the game.

I'd shoot a coyote over a big buck as well. I understand I'm not going to eradicate the coyote, but I'd like to try to get them down to smaller numbers.


God Bless,
David B.

Good poll.  Gets ya thinking.  I voted coyote.  One reason is because its not everyday you call in a coyote.  2nd I think the turkey population would benefit more with one less coyote running around and there may be 2 toms next year.  In some states like NY coyote season isn't open during spring gobbler so i would shoot the big gobbler there.

I'm shooting the gobbler.  Our hunting seasons here in Iowa have a limited number of day to fill a tag so I'm filling my tag.  The yote I can shoot 365 days a year 24/7.  I'll get him another time with no tag required.  (http://www.texas4x4.org/images/smilies/new_snipersmilie.gif)

i would shoot the yote just because i've never killed one we have about 45 days to hunt birds and i feel it would be the right thing tro do

Big Gobbler,

I am limited to the amount of time I can spend in the woods and as Bird stated I cna shoot Yotes all year round on private land and even have a season where I can get them, Turkey hunting is short and once a year

 :fud:  I'm shooting the yote everytime I have the chance.  I've killed quite a few in the past few years and only 1 has been during turkey season.  I was using my wingbone and caught him slipping across a field coming strait to me.  When he got to 25 yds I let him have it.

Quote from: bird on February 07, 2011, 08:51:11 AM


I'm shooting the gobbler.  Our hunting seasons here in Iowa have a limited number of day to fill a tag so I'm filling my tag.  The yote I can shoot 365 days a year 24/7.  I'll get him another time with no tag required.  (http://www.texas4x4.org/images/smilies/new_snipersmilie.gif)

Thats how I feel, now Ive had coyotes come in to calls with no gobblers around and they got it every time

The coyote every time and twice on sunday.

Quote from: bird on February 07, 2011, 08:51:11 AM


I'm shooting the gobbler.  Our hunting seasons here in Iowa have a limited number of day to fill a tag so I'm filling my tag.  The yote I can shoot 365 days a year 24/7.  I'll get him another time with no tag required.  (http://www.texas4x4.org/images/smilies/new_snipersmilie.gif)

Im filling tags if I can.

I'd shoot the gobbler.  That is what I'm doing, turkey hunting.  I read online about coyotes and actually killing a coyote can bring in more as you have allowed others now to come into this one's range.  So, since I don't know much about the coyote population where I hunt, I sure don't want 2 moving in after I shoot 1.

I would whack the song dog ,cause I have never taken one. Plus I would also be helping out the flock.Chances are I can still get the Gobbler later on. I hope.

Quote from: redarrow on February 07, 2011, 09:50:41 AM
I would whack the song dog ,cause I have never taken one. Plus I would also be helping out the flock.Chances are I can still get the Gobbler later on. I hope.

x2

Shooting the gobbler, coyote season here in NY wouldn't be open.  Even if it were, I don't have any way to make use of a dead coyote in the spring, and I'm not going to shoot something just to let it rot.

Never seen a yote so I will kill him while I can

If I was out turkey hunting, I'd shoot the turkey.
If I as 'yote busting I'd shoot the yote.
I passed a yote a couple seasons back at 10 yards cause I didn't want to scare off a gobbler that wasn't even in sight yet.
Plus I didn't want to send a high $ Nitro round downrange without a turkey there! ;D

Old Tom for the smoker. Reason I have my dead coyote as my third shell and getting to it would cause both to run and I might as well have been napping. Also I only get to hunt 3 -4 days a season and I drive one way 6 hours but where I hunt yotes are hunted by the locals 365 days a year. To each his own.

Deff killing that gobbler!!  If possible pull off a running shot at the yote....make him think twice about coming round these parts again...

Like already stated...Iowa has limited days to kill a bird...once that tag is filled it's game on for the yote   :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

Quote from: ghillie on February 07, 2011, 11:27:09 AM
Deff killing that gobbler!!  If possible pull off a running shot at the yote....make him think twice about coming round these parts again...

What he said

gobbler, if i have worked him in to gun range im taking him home, i dont eat yotes and besides i can kill 365 days a year :fud: :newmascot:

Like Tail Feathers, I had that decision to make a few years ago.  Let the yote pass and a short while later son and I doubled on gobs.  Maybe in different circumstances I would have popped the yote, but not on that day.

Smoked a yote last year....stopped him 10 yards from the decoy.  DIRT NAP  :you_rock:

That said I would still have smoked the gobbler first if he had been there.

I voted Gobbler but it really depends on the situation. I'm hunting out-of-state public land most of the time so there no question which one I'm shooting. Now if it's my own land or land that I'm managing, then I may consider shooting the coyote. Since I don't hunt with a single shot and I'm quick with my pump, in a real world situation, I'm shooting the gobbler then the coyote!

I would  shoot the gobbler,  then  test the  premise of your poll by swinging on the yote.

I would shoot the Yote, unless the gobbler happened to be the biggest I've ever seen/called to the gun.  Especially if it was on my own land.

I would definately put the gobbler down first, but if I am on private ground and carrying my "just in case I see a good eatin' hog" buckshot and I have the timeand ability to slip one of them into the number two spot I would drop the bird and definately let some lead fly at the dog.

I am not shooting the yote.  I don't think you can control them by gun.  They have been shooting and trapping and poisoning them out west with little success for many decades.  I read somewhere that taking members out of the pack only causes them to increase their production of pups.  So you may be doing more harm than good shooting them.  Article said that the only thing that controlled their population long term is the available food supply.

Quote from: bird on February 07, 2011, 08:51:11 AM


I'm shooting the gobbler.  Our hunting seasons here in Iowa have a limited number of day to fill a tag so I'm filling my tag.  The yote I can shoot 365 days a year 24/7.  I'll get him another time with no tag required.  (http://www.texas4x4.org/images/smilies/new_snipersmilie.gif)

I agree season is too short around here to let the gobbler go!

I would shoot the gobbler because I can come back and shoot the coyote when turkey season is over...........or before it starts

If it was a good tom he is dying. Then I would make the yote find a taller gear.

the gobbler.

if the coyote happened to ruin the hunt and the gobbler was spooked, which is probably what the next sequence of events would be, id light up that coyote.

I have had this exact same thing happen. The coyote caught the NTRO. If a coyote comes in to a turkey call he is dying, cause he had one thing on his mind and that was eating a turkey, and for that he has to pay the price.

I shoot the yote.  I figure I can shoot the gobbler tomorrow.

(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo325/gastech14/4-11-10gobblerncoyote013.jpg)     Both

Gobbler, they mean more to me than a dirty ol dog.   :cowboy:

Quote from: 1esso on February 07, 2011, 06:20:15 PM
(http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo325/gastech14/4-11-10gobblerncoyote013.jpg)     Both

This is what I would do  ;D

I would shoot the gobbler first cuz thats what im there for and i have killed several yotes. I can also hunt yotes year round.Then i would take the turkey carcass after i got what i wanted to eat and bait the yote with it.Then shoot the yote when he comes in to the dead carcass.

When I first saw the poll I was thinking I would shot the turkey 1st and then try to get the yote.  If I couldn't I would hope the flopping or more calling would coax him to come back for another look.

Here in WV we can shoot the Coyotes any time.
Coyote (Hunting - day)*** Continuous Open Season
Coyote (Hunting - night)*** January 1 July 31

so I'd take the turkey.

Yote season is closed in missouri during turkey season......to protect turkeys,not yotes.we have to quit at 1:00 and in years past it was a real problem of guys with shotguns,camo,and turkey calls "hunting" yotes til dark.MDC solved that problem pretty quick.Not sayin it dont still happen,just happens before 1:00 :z-guntootsmiley: :z-guntootsmiley:

This poll actually brought a few things to my attention. In Alabama, there is no closed season on the coyote.  Duh!!!   Never thought about there being a closed season in other states.

Also, I'm blessed to have some family property to mainly hunt on. In the past, when hunting management areas only, my vote might of changed.


God Bless,
David B.

Like I said missouri closes coyote season for turkey reasons only.Im not saying one should break the law,but I dont imagine one would be in a whole lot of trouble if a coyote was blasted during legal turkey hours.Once again,not recommending,just saying................

Would have to take the Gobbler....I would fill my tag.... With limited number of days
in the field due to family,kids and work  THE GOBBLER
NOW turn back the time 15yrs when i took off 3 weeks to hunt in the spring it would be the Coyote 

Gobbler first and then the coyote right up the tail pipe.

Coyote for sure, we have way to many where i hunt.

The gobbler first, save the coyote for later on after turkey season closes. :z-guntootsmiley:

Dat Gobbler is toast. :fud: :gobble:

R yall crazy??  Shoot them yotes all yr round  A gobbler in range he bout to die!

I'd shoot the bird, shuck a shell, and swing on the coyote and see what happens. 

I would shoot the gobbler.

When I go turkey hunting, I hunt turkeys.  I have target species in mind when I go hunting. I am not much interested in shooting anything else. I don't kill just to kill, this includes snakes, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons or feral dogs.

I do make a provision for a pig though.

FullChoke

I'm shoot'n the gobbler then we will see what happens to Wiley if he sticks around long enough.

I have had coyotes come in several times, but never close enough for a shot. I would shoot the Gobbler thought and she if I could get the yote with a follow up. On 2 occasions I have watched bob cats stalk turkeys. One time in particular I was deer hunting way back in the holler. 2 long beards came through feeding their way to the roost and a bobcat was about 20 yrds behind them. The woods were dry and it amazed me how silently that cat moved. Gobblers had no clue he was there. Neither was in season, I waved my arms and the turkeys took off and the bobcat seemed ticked as he trotted down the hill.

Both.  The turkey would be first.

I voted that I would shoot the gobbler. I have called in a few coyotes while turkey hunting and they have all came in loping with their head held high. I don't see how they ever catch a turkey if that is the usual tactic. It seems that the turkey would see or hear them coming. I know I sure did. By the way, two of those coyotes didn't make it out...

Coyote would be in trouble,i've done this several times in different states and i always shoot the coyote first.I guess its the fact that they are a bit harder to kill so i'll take one any time i get the chance. :z-guntootsmiley:

How many adult toms do your really think a coyote is successful in killing?  I doubt he has much impact in the overall health of the turkey population.   I'd say killing skunks, opossums and racoons would do more good than that one coyote.

My brother did kill a rough looking female yote that ran in a second time while we were working a group of toms.  I was back behind him a ways, so I couldn't see it.  The toms had already made it pretty clear they weren't coming in or he probably wouldn't have shot her.  He bumped the yote the first time, but she must not have got a good enough look to convince her that the decoy he had out wasn't real.  She had to come in for a second look and that was more than he could take.  I thought he had shot one of the toms until he came walking back to me.  

Gobbler fo sho........curious for the people that havent seen a coyote yet...are they just not in your area? I see them all the time but spend some serious time in the woods.

I'd "TRY" to shoot them both - the double 12ga muzzleloader would be blazin'.  Gobbler first, then the yote.   You never know.

Here is the last one I shot during turkey not long ago, came sneaking in and I let him get to 10 yards.

:z-guntootsmiley:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flintlock/wess2008-1.jpg)

Quote from: flintlock on February 08, 2011, 06:37:39 PM
I'd "TRY" to shoot them both - the double 12ga muzzleloader would be blazin'.  Gobbler first, then the yote.   You never know.

Here is the last one I shot during turkey not long ago, came sneaking in and I let him get to 10 yards.

:z-guntootsmiley:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flintlock/wess2008-1.jpg)

Great pic flintlock!! Your smile says it all!!

I guess since I started the tread I can highjack it .

*highjack on*

Please tell me about the gun in your picture.

God Bless,
David B.

Quote from: bird on February 07, 2011, 08:51:11 AM


I'm shooting the gobbler.  Our hunting seasons here in Iowa have a limited number of day to fill a tag so I'm filling my tag.  The yote I can shoot 365 days a year 24/7.  I'll get him another time with no tag required.  (http://www.texas4x4.org/images/smilies/new_snipersmilie.gif)

X2

BOFF,

Since you asked:  She is a double 12ga caplock (browned barrels) that a bud gave me some 4-5 years ago (wow, does time fly).  She shoots pretty good to 30yards, but kicks like a MULE!!!   

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flintlock/wessKy01.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flintlock/wessKy02b.jpg)

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wess

Thanks flintlock!!

Great looking gun and bird!!

*highjack off*

Carry on with the poll.



God Bless,
David B.

coyote always,everytime
got to help the flock out

Gobbler every day. They eat much better then coyotes.

Dead dog.

Gobbler I'll get the yote trapping or calling :fud:

Man, I would have to shoot the coyote and save who knows how many polts in the natural life of the dog .

Quote from: neal on February 09, 2011, 12:44:46 PM
Gobbler I'll get the yote trapping or calling :fud:

:agreed:

If i got a shot at the longbeard he dies.  If not the yote dies.  Happy with either outcome

gobbler !!!

I would shoot the coyote wait a hour and then the gobbler :z-winnersmiley: