Chicken Killer

A friend of mine has a neighbor who has 10 chickens. Or should I say had 10 chickens - now there are only 2 left. This is pretty common around here since a lot of people have small pets or small livestock and don't always get them properly secured. The neighbor believes it was from coyotes, but I have other theories. It is true that there are coyotes in the area, but they travel through that area more than live there and while I have seen and killed coyotes in the vicinity of said neighbor's house, I knew that the coyote always gets the bad rap when it can be something else to blame.

Often it's raccoons or bobcats when people think it's coyotes, and even though it had been a couple of weeks since the 'attack' I drove out there to take a look. Since some of the chickens were not carried off, my mind went back to a few other times I have solved predator problems for people. This seemed like the work of a cat.

So off I went into the nearby brush, checking in washes and along the narrow dirt trails. Not a single coyote track in the recent mud, but there they were - a little faint, but they were bobcat tracks. After walking around for about 30 minutes I was now about 1/4 mile from the house, and on a patch of dirt road I found a nice pile of bobcat scat.



What makes this pile so nice, you ask? Check the upper right corner. That's right - part of a chicken foot. Now you don't have to be on CSI to figure this one out, and picking through the scat a little more I found feather fragments and more parts of chicken feet. The point of all this is to say that a little scouting can go a long way, and that coyotes, while devious and crafty, are not always the culprits of missing pets or dead livestock. I'm pretty tempted to put a game camera up near the chickens and in the wash nearby and I'd wager that I'd catch a picture of a bobcat on it.

Bobcat season opens exactly 1 week from now, and you can bet your camouflage that I'll be out there, trying to trick ol' bob into coming a little closer.

Urban Predators: more than just "cute and fuzzy"

"The bobcats are so beautiful", "coyotes are native to this area and should be left alone", and "live and let live, that's what I say." I've heard it all when it comes to hunting predators in urban and even rural areas. Many people enjoy the native wildlife in their backyard - I know I really love to see animals any chance I get. It's why I hike, camp, hunt, and spend all the time I can in the outdoors.

But then Fluffy disappears. Fido goes missing. The call goes out "My pet is lost! Someone help!" No my friend, your pet is not lost. It's lunch. And then the fury comes from Bowser's owner: "Why hasn't someone done something about these darn coyotes?!" It always turns out the same way - some pet (or some person) gets hurt or worse, and then suddenly the animals are the bad guys. Here in Arizona I saw the following news stories all happen in just one week. It starts like this . . . .

Hot Weather Brings Coyotes to Central Phoenix

Couple Catches Baby Bobcats on Home Video

Bobcat Perches Atop Saguaro

And ends like this . . . .

Dumpster-Scavenging Bear Attacks Woman

Whether displaced from fires, weather, suburban development, or any other outside force, predators in your neighborhood are not something to be taken lightly. Though they are fun to see and beautiful animals to watch, they deserve respect and should be given a wide berth. They do not care how much you love your Fluffy or your Fido or your son or daughter - they think only of their next meal and their survival. Respect them, or pay the price.

Arizona To Allow Hunting in City Limits

Thanks to SB 1334 and the hardwork of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, hunting will now be legal inside of Arizona city limits starting on July 20th. This is big news for predator hunters and small game hunters, who often seek to pursue their game near city limits or desire to do so within city limits. There are some special things to consider with this law, however:

- AZGFD commission rules can apply or limit the location, time, and manner of take.

- Certain state, county, and municipal parks may still be closed to hunting as defined by AZGFD commission rules.

- This will only apply to the use of shotgun, rimfire rifle, and archery tackle.

- This law will have a short life if it is abused by hunters.


This new law is yet another great gift from the state of Arizona in regards to firearm ownership, possession, and use. But like all gifts, it can be taken away if used improperly. The part I mentioned above about the law having a short life if abused is a quote taken directly from a law-enforcement official at AZGFD, whom I spoke with at length today.

Read the full law here: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/sb1334p.pdf

Remember AZ hunters: this is a great opportunity for us to expand our hunting grounds, but it still doesn't give us the right to trespass on private property, be irresponsible with our shooting lanes, or to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. Be smart, be responsible, and we'll keep this privilege.

And as always, Happy Hunting!