When my daughter told me about the coyotes around here I thought she was exaggerating; then I came here and heard them for myself. The sound of them howling in the night is enough to send chills down my spine.
Apparently coyotes have been a big problem in this area for many years.
In the late 40’s and early 50’s they tried to get rid of them with organized coyote hunts. These could turn out to be more dangerous to the hunter than the hunted.

November 13, 1952
“Two Men Are Victims Coyote Hunters’ Guns
“John Campbell, Bill Bullick Receive Wounds On Body And Hands
“The weekend provided an ideal day and exciting coyote hunt in which 80 men and boys took part resulting in the dispatch of at least three of the pesky animals and the wounding of two men.
“The area covered was a township, six miles south and six miles west from town. A large number of coyotes were encircled but most slipped through the thinly scattered lines and escaped.
“Close to meeting point (1 1/2 miles southwest of Hillcrest Ranch) a coyote took refuge in a clump of brush which was quickly surrounded and several men went in to get the quarry.
However the guns kept blazing away and two men, John Campbell and Bill Bullick received charges of shot in the hands and body.
Both were taken to the hospital where Mr. Campbell was released the following day and Mr. Bullick is still receiving medical attention.”

I thought these hunts were a lot of trouble to go through, especially since they never seemed to get very many coyotes for their efforts, and wondered why they bothered.
Then I saw this little item:

December 4, 1952
Nose Hill Hi-Lites
“The coyotes have been taking quite a toll of poultry in this district. It is estimated that they have taken approximately 100 turkeys and 200 chickens.”

That’s a lot of drumsticks. I guess I would have tried anything to get rid of the critters.

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