coyotes

[Buckwheat]

Trapping_john
2G has the highest coyote population in the state.  They also have the highest gray fox kill population in the state going by the kill record's. The gray fox population in a lot of places started to decrease before coyote numbers were even in some places.
As far as Fisher, we have no better killer in the state of pa  on medium size game. On medium size animal's they are the best killers, even better then coyotes in my opion.

The reason I think the fisher is because of the Fisher number grow and gray fox start to disappear were I hunt.
I also have over 50 years of hunting and trapping experience and lived in the country all my life.

[TrappinJohn]

Trapping_john
2G has the highest coyote population in the state.  They also have the highest gray fox kill population in the state going by the kill record's.

So were you hunting 2G pre-coyote?
does today's population compare to years ago?  When was the decline?  What else changed at the same time?

Sounds like you are saying coyote populations don't influence grey fox population, only red fox.  I say they have a direct effect on both

[Buckwheat]

I have hunted 2G before there were any coyotes killed there that I would have known of. I am sure there had to be at least a few killed but know way I would have known. We did not have the Internet back then.
I think the biggest thing is habitat change on gray fox numbers in most areas.
But I have hunted areas that only had gray fox and now there is fishers tracks there and gray fox are hard to find in those areas. Remember as a hunter I can only use what I see in my small areas I hunt. But this is just my opion. Just like yours is a opion. Like I said earlier the pgc needs to to a real study.
But I am not sure that is possible any more with the way things are run in the state.

[TrappinJohn]

Agreed, we only know what we have experienced. 

Too many times guys assume why things have changed.  Had lots of greys, now lots of fisher.
This doesn't mean they were linked at all.  I saw the changes gradually year to year. 

In my area the coyotes increased and the fox decreased steadily over several years. Both red and grey

I'm not arguing the capability of the fishers, but I haven't seen an effect on my K9s because of them.  If it is effecting them, it's at a much smaller scale

Now the turkey population, that's a different story

[Buckwheat]

Trapping_john
Look up fur harvest report pa
There some interesting numbers there that show coyote numbers and gray fox numbers.

[Bees OBrien]

buckwheat........you're correct no better killer equipped with the tools to do so than a fisher.....

[Huntin 4 yotes]

Buckwheat and bees, I agree with u on the fisher.  I have a pair of them on the property I hunt and can only imagine what damage there doing. 

[TrappinJohn]

Buck_Wheat

I have read the fur harvest report before.
I did look at the latest one again.  Proves what I'm talking about.  Go back and read my post.
Pretty sure that's exactly what I said

1997 thru 2000 was the biggest increase in coyote harvest
2000 thru 2003 was the biggest drop in grey fox harvest.

To answer your original question, according to the last survey, the following areas hold the most coyotes
2A, 3B, 2C, 1A then 2G

Couple more things I noticed about this survey

2000 vs 2012
License sold   17,414 to 36,192   +108%
Surveys sent in   1,557 to 4,080   +162%
Coyote kills   9,508  to  15,924   +67%
Greys killed   26,764  to  19,380   -28%


I know what happened in my area.  The area I have always lived, not travel to to hunt or trap.

One thing we can agree on, the fisher, we don't need

[Buckwheat]

Trapping_john
LOL I do not have to reread you post.
Thanks for breaking that information down.
All good stuff.  I was looking for information on coyote numbers across the state. But I also was looking for hunter input. Me and you got off track on the gray fox and coyote compatibility of them living together.  PPHA is the best place becaused we can have seasoned predator hunters speak there opions and actually learn real stuff.
I looked at were you live in the state and you are in a very good spot in the state to definitely see the change in gray fox numbers.
Thanks for hanging in there with the facts. I can be hard to convince.

[Hern]

Distemper killed off the Greys and Coon a few years ago in my area.
Coon have rebounded. Greys have slightly rebounded and are building up their numbers.
Mange hit hard on Reds and Coyote several years ago in my area.
Snow cover and bitter cold for most of last winter shorten many fur harvesters seasons.
Fur prices were down a few years ago.

What we can't read in the surveys and harvest reports are Weather Conditions, Fur Prices and Disease that affect the numbers.
Are more folks hunting and trapping Coyote in 2G to give that WMU top spot?
It's good to have those numbers to follow, but surveys don't state 'other factors'.

A Fisher is a dark Possum. Or I should state, Fisher are as easy to trap as a Possum.

Buckwheat, I don't know the best county for Coyote. But some areas will outshine even 2G. By that, where Coyotes have gain a foothold in traditional Fox territory and have a booming population right now until Coyote population levels to holding capacity.
I don't know these areas either. But local Fox guys will see as it happens.

[Buckwheat]

Hern
Good I asked is were coyotes population are the highest. Each person has there own idea of what is going on in there county.
But asking this question it also raised some questions on other critters. If we could get or own input on critter from members across the state we could end up with a little knolage.
This is a good challenge for its members. But only about a half dozen members talk on the board.
This could help us all kill more and meet members. Heck a few invitations from each other on hunts might help the club grow a little. We tried this before and only had I not a small turn out. Anyhow were are all the coyotes? :-)

[Leglifter]

I think you'd be further ahead to concentrate on the closest local pocket of coyotes than to
travel to areas far away that you're not familiar with.
This would save on scouting time. IMO the more you know the land, the better off you are.
 

[Buckwheat]

Leglitter
I now that  would be the best way. But we're is the adventure in that. LOL
I would like to hunt a place we're I can target more then one group. My place there is only one group close that I know of and they get pressure from others. If I want numbers of coyotes it is a drive for me. I really am not that interest in coyotes.  But it would be nice if I ever decide to hunt coyotes   a good population would make it better.

[QUATTRO]

I think you'd be further ahead to concentrate on the closest local pocket of coyotes than to
travel to areas far away that you're not familiar with.
This would save on scouting time. IMO the more you know the land, the better off you are.
 

I agree 100%.

[Buckwheat]

I think you'd be further ahead to concentrate on the closest local pocket of coyotes than to
travel to areas far away that you're not familiar with.
This would save on scouting time. IMO the more you know the land, the better off you are.
 

I agree 100%.

I agree 100% but not going to happen around here!