Well folks, for those that may be interested in Coyote, Fox and possibly other fur for tying I may be able to supply some.
I had a long talk with one of the DNR Biologist this afternoon. I know they had been flying the F&W Super Cub up and down the valley a lot last month, as well as in Feb. and March. I found out why. February they were doing deer surveys, and found the count down almost 40% from over the last 5 years. At first they thought it may have had something to do with the drought. They made a ground survey the end of Feb. and found "Many" dead dear, ( I think he said about 65). They made another aerial survey in March and again the end of May into June. The results even surprised me, the cause of the deer, ( and rabbit) depredation is Coyotes. The average estimate for the valley, ( About 35 miles north to south and 15 miles wide), for every 500 acres there is .6 coyote, down here around the lake, and south to the Avalon irrigation holding tank, the average estimate runs from 1 coyote to every 100 acres to 1 for every 500. Needless to say we have a an "Over Abundance" for the echo system here. There are other considerations as well to take into account, non of them very good, and it could make some serious long term affects on the area. They have applied for funding to reduce the #'s but it has been turned down. The reason is we are a "Rural" area and the human population, ranches and farms are not a high enough priority. He stressed the fact that it was going to be up to "US" to do something about it, however he would help in any way he could with information. So, for those interested, I will start taking "Orders for Pelts"...Streamer, Muddler and closer material !! Coyote swap this winter ??? Jimi
