Dead Coyote Fences

Larry Burns was headed to pump a well in Oklahoma when he saw a sight that he says he has seen every year for the past 10 years. Dead coyotes were hanging on fence posts for as far as the eye could see.

This practice of hanging dead coyotes on fence posts dates back to the mid-1900s, when hunters would do it as proof to the rancher who owned that property that coyotes were killed there so bounties could be paid. Some landowners also believe that hanging the coyotes on their fence will keep coyotes off of their property.

A Texas rancher replied to photo online and commented: “I don’t know about it keeping other ‘yotes away. The reason I do it and probably others do as well is so you know when the buzzards show up it’s because of the dead coyote… otherwise when I see buzzards I suspect I have a cow or calf down. Saves me having to go out in the pasture and find out which it is.”

To see a video shot by Larry of the coyotes hanging on the Oklahoma fence posts, click here.

GON has their own way of giving incentives for hunters in Georgia to kill coyotes by having the GON Coyote Cull. To enter in the Coyote Cull, the hunter takes a picture with the coyote along with the May or June GON issue, depending on which month the coyote was killed. GON started this incentive to combat the coyote problem in Georgia and to reward the participants with entering their name into a drawing for prizes.Take a look at this article  from last year’s coyote cull to get an idea of what the prizes could be this year, and for details on how to participate.

Georgia DNR also has created a coyote challenge to deal with Georgia’s coyote problem. You can click here to find out more about DNR program and how you can participate.