Coyote Dogs

[Varmit]

I was looking around at different types of hunting that people do with dogs and found this.  People call in coyotes and then let a dog or pack of dogs loose to go kill the coyote(s).  I read that some people use a APBT or bulldog, or some use a pack of sighthounds, such as Greyhounds.  I was wondering if anyone else had ever heard of this or if anyone actually does hunt like this.  I never really heard of this before and was just curious to know how many people have heard of it and if anyone actually does this.

[freddogs]

I've heard of it but have never seen it or known anyone who did it. I saw a video where they used dogs to lure coyotes closer so they could shoot them. I think they had rotwheilers. In WI they chase coyotes with hounds and then shoot them. I know a few people who do this.

[clodbuster]

Varmit,  When grandad had his coyote hound pack they were "trail dogs" (scent dogs).  We went hunting with greyhound people.  We'd drive backroads until a track was found and the hounds would be released to coldtrack until they got a coyote up.  After the race had gone on a while and it was figured out where they were headed,  the greyhounds would get in front of them and when the coyote was spotted in a big field (160 acres or larger) they'd turn 'em loose and the real race began.  The greyhounds could overtake a coyote with a quarter mile headstart in a half mile.  When they caught him it was like a heat-seeking missle flying up the tailpipe of an enemy fighter.  It didn't take the greys long to dispatch the coyote.  I couldn't help thinking what must be going through the coyote's head when after running ahead of the scent dogs for several miles all of a sudden they turned into supercharged  like nothing he'd ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RB Rooson]

Well, this is something that I know about.....

APBT (or Pit Bulls of any type are not fast enough to catch a coyote); Greyhounds, while very fast (up to about 500 yards) do not have the endurance to stay with a coyote for too long and they simply do not have the mouth strength to engage at the end of the chase/course.

Borzoi (Russian Wolfhounds) are excellent and usually worked in pairs.  They can do the job for both the stamina required and strength needed to pull down a healthy coyote.  Very admirable......

A breed not used in this country, except by a few in the know, is the LURCHER.  This is a cross between a Border Collie and Greyhound or a Saluki (actually many sighthounds are used).  Great speed, endurance, and strength - the Border Collie adds turning ability that is necessary to pull down anything from a rabbit to a deer.  Good Lurchers are worth their weight in gold and many are 'pot dogs' - used both for betting and bringing food to the table.  

If I was on the prairie or frozen tundra; had only a single-shot .22 and little chance of surviving - the one dog that I would want would be a LURCHER.  You can kill alot of things with a .22 and there ain't nothing that a Lurcher can't catch........

Ask me more!  Comments?

[bgjohn]

I knew a guy who had lion hounds. The last thing in the world he wanted was a dog that would chase a coyote. The coyote would run your dogs into the ground. This isn't fox hunting (tallyho!) and there ain't NO fields out in the desert. A greyhound might catch one in a sprint but that coyote can run ALL, DAY, LONG.
JM :wink:

[Qaz]

Varmit, I have never heard of using bulldogs but some people use the name interchangably with pit bull. To use a pit, the coyote is called in, and I mean close. The pit is released and he engauges the coyote. If more than one coyote comes to call then you will have to shoot  the extra coyotes while they are attacking your dog. A good pit can easily handle one coyote, some times two. I will tell you this, the pit that is in your back yard or your neighbors is not the same dog that is used for this purpose. A PIT BULL is not a pitbull no matter what the media says. The dogs that are used are smaller than you would think, silent and make quick kills, the coyote hardly know what hit him.
 The greyhounds that are used are not the slightly built track dogs. They are usually about 28-32" at the shoulder and out weight a coyote by at least 20-30 pounds. They are a substantial dog and although their top speed only lasts for about 500 or so yards, their "cruising speed" can over take the coyote. They are generally released in twos or threes and every time the coyote changes directions he has a fresh dog on him. When he is caught he is more tired than the greyhounds. A coyote can put up a good fight but two greyhounds can kill a coyote. A good working greyhound is a sight to see. Several other breeds of sight hounds are also used, one of the more popular breeds is the american stag hound. If a small greyhound is used, it is to stop the coyote until the hounds arrive.
 Varmit, the dogs used for this, be it a pitbull or a sight hound are very specialized in the purpose that they serve and are bred for that specific task. Ain't dogs interesting!

[frank405]

I take my German Wirehair about everywhere I go, so he gets to go coyote calling a lot. He is learning the game fairly well, when I sit down to call he will sit next to me and look for the coyotes. When he sees one he will run to meet them and stand about 50 yards away from me. The coyotes can't take their eyes off of him so .....BANG. Junior does help when a coyote comes in from behind, itis hard to see all around. We were elk hunting Saturday morning and a coyote came towards us because the dog was running out to the coyote. The yote finally left after we got within a couple of hundred yards. Try that without a dog!!!!

[Qaz]

Frank405, sounds like junior is earning his keep. It is hard to beat a dog for knowing what is going on around him and what is coming to call. The germans have bred some of the finest all around gun dogs that we have.
 As a kid, one of my friends had a german short haired pointer that did it all. It was left by the previous owner because he would not hunt. I guess it just needed a owner that it liked.

Qaz

[Mikey]

Clodbuster:  I think what that yote must have been thinking was that it was time to kill or be killed.  And, that is life in the wild.  Mikey.