...my question was in those particular areas should there be a change in how we harvest fox..and by"how we harvest" I mean as hunters ourselves...If you're a furtaker that is having your fox numbers plummet but there is a rise in coyote numbers, would the prudent thing be to target the coyotes and try to alleviate the predation on the fox??
Confusing situation when Coyotes move into your area.
First off, Fox & Coyote are two different animals to trap and hunt. Fox takers are still trying to kill Coyote using Fox methods. So there is a learning curve on how to work Coyote.
QUATTRO you are talking managing Coyote to co-exist with Red Fox by asking 'if it's prudent to target Coyote to save Fox.'
From my experiences, I would say No. No person in Pennsylvania.
As Coyotes creep into a void area (or your area), you would need an experienced Coyote man working on Coyotes throughout the year. By that, not just fur season, but denning season and late summer early fall. It would be continual work to keep their numbers down. If Coyotes are not in a persons area and they move in, it will take that person time to gain experience to kill Coyotes on a consistent basis. For the most part, time is on the Coyote's side before folks in that area gain knowledge to control Coyote population.
If you are good at trapping and calling Red Fox but Coyotes are moving in...Start learning about Coyote and how to kill them. Coyote population will level off at some point. Reds can be found in high traffic areas, tight to towns, industrial parks or malls as Coyote move in.
Thishere fur harvesting is ongoing learning for we Pennsylvanians.
I never had Beaver, in my area, to trap as a boy. They expanded their territory to my area and I had to learn to trap 'em.
We now have a Cable Restraint season, we learn. PGC now has a season on Bobcat and Fisher plus an upcoming Otter season. We learn.
I don't think you can alter your hunting practice to impact Coyote population. Learn to trap and call Coyote. It's what we have.
