CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



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recently and uoue of them were over ten days. In many other sheltered phices I 

 found remains. In one instance about Feb. 1, T. H. Campbell and I were riding 

 along the road near Philip Habor's place and saw where coyotes had just killed a 

 spike buck and were enjoying a feast when we frightened them away. I also have 

 a large pair of antlers I brought home from one of their victims. It is not only 

 when the snow is on, but in the spring when the jJeer are weak, and poor, that they 

 destroy a great many. I was coming home from my traps after the snow had gone 

 and not half a mile from the Van Matre place I saw two coyotes that had a large 

 buck run down and would have killed him if I had not happened along at that time. 

 The deer was not able to get up the bank then." 



Ranger Gray's report on the coyote is given in full: 

 "I would like to emphasize the necessity for a state-wide campaigu against the 

 coyote and other predatory animals, in which all the people of the state are to a 

 certain extent interested and would help to bear the expenses of such work. It goes 

 without question that a great public benefit would be derived in riddmg the country 

 of coyotes, either by increased bounties or by other means that would encourage more 

 trapping It seems that an increased bounty would be the most effective means of 

 encouraging trapping, and in obtaining the desired result. I have conversed with 

 a great many stockmen and local people during the season with a view to getting 

 actual cases where the coyote has been observed killing game or stock. The result 

 is few people have been found that have actually seen the coyote killing either wild 

 game or domestic stock ; however, they know beyond any question of a doubt that he 

 is responsible for certain largo losses in both cases. There is one good reason among 

 others why he is not more often detected in the actual work of killing, for his wan- 

 dering and search for food is generally done in the hours of the night. In his wild 

 nature he vcrv carcfullv shuns man, usually selecting the most secluded places in 

 which to carrv out his destructive work. Earl Moore, T. Flournoy and other men 

 who have been handling sheep for many years in these mountains advise me that 

 Ihcy never saw a coyote actually kill a sheep. However, they state that Iho.y have 

 seen them driving and worrying the sheep and upon following the trail they invari- 

 ably found dead sheep scattered along the route. The greatest losses among this 

 class of stock from the source mentioned is to small bunches separated on the range 

 from the main bands, and left on the range during the night unprotected. W. H. 

 Atkeson of Hoaglin advises me that he saw a coyote kill two small pigs near his 

 ranch house. Many others disappeared in only a few days in the same locality. 



Fred Becker, who resides on Pilot Creek, states that he saw four or five coyotes 

 chasing a small deer. He did not know whether the deer was killed. Ben. B. Iliff 

 of this place tells me that during the P'ast winter a blood trail was noted crossing 

 the road near his ranch house. The tracks of a deer were impressed in the snow 

 together with small tracks that resembled those of small dogs. The trail was 

 foHowed and Mr. Iliff asserts that in a short distance he found the carcass of a large 

 deer and upon his approach two coyotes scampered away. C. W. Vanu of this place 

 tites an instance where he saw a coyote catch and kill a quail. Mr. Vann states 

 Ihat while hunting he approached a clump of low brush (poison oak) and flushed a 

 bunch of quail. The quail in leaving the brush were quite close to the ground and 

 he very clearly saw a coyote jump and take one of the birds as it^iassed very near 

 him. "l have "found only a few other cases similar to these already mentioned." 



Mr. W. T. Shock of Hayfork Avrites this letter : 



"In reading over the weekly Trinity Journal I noticed the letter from W._ O. 

 Friend in regard to coyotes and as the Forest requests any good evidence against 

 covotes I submit the following: As I have trap-ped and huuted the coyote all my 

 life I will write a little of mv experience. I find that the coyote is very destructive 

 to many kinds of game of this county, not only deer, but all kinds of birds such 

 as grouse and quail, the nests of which it robs. A coyote can catch plenty of deer 

 when there is no snow, but it destroys more when the snow is deep. JNIany deer that 

 arc found along the rivers are killed in this way. When the heavy snow comes, the 

 deer gather along the rivers and low ground, as the snow is less there. When 

 coyotes get hungrv they take after a deer, and if they catch it before it gets to the 

 river they kill it, but if the deer makes into the water, the coyote goes after another 

 one. The coyote will not go into the water, but the deer that run into the water are 



