First off I'd like to wish everyone a merry Christmas...what a rogues gallery we have in here!!

I was talking to a feller at the Archery center last night who runs cat hounds. He was saying that he often shoots wolves after tying his dogs to a tree-the wolves come in to the sound of the yapping dogs. Has anyone else heard of this idea used to lure wolves? If it works I'm going to the spca right after Christmas and getting a yappy 'lil orphan dog to go hunting with!!!!

the chef

I think there are a lot of coyote hunters who use a combination of calling and dogs to lure the coyotes into range.....these are dogs they've trained to run toward the coyote and then away to bring them to the gun.....at least that's how I understand it works.

I know a couple cat hunters that have had their dogs ravaged by wolves while out on a cat track. I am sure it would work!

DB Bill is right too. There are a couple videos available that demonstrate how to hunt 'yotes with "bait dogs".

Cheers,
Canuck

ps: Merry Christmas to you too!

I hunted cougar in 03 in The foothills of AB and the guides were using dogs. They told me they had lost 7 dogs the previous year to wolves. In some cases all they had found were the tracking collars from the dogs. One of their better dogs they had caught up to just as some wolves were attacking it and managed to kill 2 of the wolves. They had to put the dog down due to the injuries that the wolves had already caused. Needless to say they had a very low opinion of wolves and were shooting wolves on sight when possible.

I have also seen in eastern AB (around Hanna) where people are using Greyhounds to kill coyotes. They usually have 1-2 fast dogs that are trained to catch up to the coyote and slow it down, by making it run in circles. They then have a "power" dog or 2 who catches up and kills the coyote by breaking its neck with a well placed bite and shake.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck32:


I have also seen in eastern AB (around Hanna) where people are using Greyhounds to kill coyotes. They usually have 1-2 fast dogs that are trained to catch up to the coyote and slow it down, by making it run in circles. They then have a "power" dog or 2 who catches up and kills the coyote by breaking its neck with a well placed bite and shake.

This, by the way is illegal

I am not sure of current Sask law but until recently there were a few hound hunters. Often the "killer" was an Irish wolf hound. A good killer never gets in a fight with a coyote but asmentioned above finishes the job with one practised move. Poor killers waste too much fur with slashing and tearing.

Many farmers complained about the hound hunters as they were accused of cutting fences in order to keep up with the chaes.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking the dog up the gravel road past the retrear when I noticed that Aika (that's the dog) was just a bit more keen than usual to get ahead. This usually means that she has smelled something, so I call her in and put the leash on. As we continue I hear something, a high-pitched yelp, like when you step on a dogs toe. Aika by now was pulling on the leash something serious, and started barking her "hot on the trail" bark. This breed (German hunting terrier) is bred to be loud on the trail, but instead of the deep barkof a hound they have a very high pitched, almost wailing sound, especially when first hitting the scent (on the trail it turns into shorter barks). A few seconds after she started barking, the bushes down below us (this is on a hill) start rustling, and moving, and I see a flash of a huge coyote coming straight for the dog! At about 12 feet or so the coyote sees me, realizes his mistake and doubles back. By now of course Aika is howling mad. I keep a tight grip; Aika has once before battled it out with a coyote. I didn't see the coyote, but Aika had some holes around her neck, so she got off lucky. We're talking about a 25 lb dog here, with the attitude of a dog 4x that size.

I do think you can lure in wild canines with dog sounds.

Frans

Grizz,
Could you point me to where this is illegal in the regs. I know it is illegal to hunt big game animals with dogs, except cougar, but coyotes are not considered a big game species in AB.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck32:
Grizz,
Could you point me to where this is illegal in the regs. I know it is illegal to hunt big game animals with dogs, except cougar, but coyotes are not considered a big game species in AB.

One of those things you're sure of, but not quite where. I remember the hullabaloo when a couple of tree huggers happened to come on the scene and the publicity that came with it.
Dug out my copy of the wildlife act and did a little research. to paraphrase:
Sec.80 Harassment by dogs and cats.
If a wildlife officer or wildlife guardian believes that a dog or cat is harassing wildlife, he may order the owner or person in charge of the dog or cat to confine it in the manner directed. etc.
In the matter of Big Game, he may kill or attempt to kill the dog.

I would suggest, hunting coyotes with dogs would apply here.
Grizz

More specifically, under the wildlife Regulations:
Sec.115 A person shall not hunt coyotes with dogs.
Only qualifier is if it is specifically authorized under the Agricultural Pest Act.
How can you tell it's a slow christmas here?

Grizz I'm sure you're right, you couldn't "run the hounds" to catch either a wolf or a coyote. But If the hound or any other dog for that matter was tied to a tree and howling his head off, and a wolf came into view.....and you popped him and.....and etc. Would that be illegal???????

the chef

Thanks for the clarifiaction Grizz.

Sounds like 2 different regs,( Wildlife vs Agriculture) competing against each other. What I saw I believe applies to the Agriculture regs as they were only doing this on land where farmers wintered cattle and after they had permission of rancher to do so.

Ah Chef, I can see the television images now. The screaming, placard carrying mob, descends on the van as it pulls up in front of the courthouse, pounding and kicking the vehicle. Only its you, me, and Frans getting out to face the ire of the masses.
Unfortuneately, somewhere else, along recorded game calls, etc., it says you can't use live animals for bait. Sheep, we might be able to get away with, but you know how the folks feel about their mutts. Fact is, that litle pamphlet they give you with your license, doesn't cover nearly all the pitfalls.
Grizz

Dang!!!!!! I thought I was onto something. It sounded like a sure fire way to get "wolfs"

My grandpa always had at least 2 greyhounds for chasing and a killer dog for gittin' er done. When I was a kid (60's) the killer was a collie/shepherd cross bitch. The dogs were in the back of the old chev. car. When a 'yote was seen all three dogs were turned loose,the hounds would run the 'yote in a circle, when the time was right the collie would angle in on the yote and it was over. The last time we did this was about 1980 but I think it may still be legal here in some RM's. Mark

There are several coyote video's (Dogging Coyote's) regarding using dogs (Mountain cur's) for coyote hunting. The dogs are trained to chase the coyote for a short distance, then return to the shooter and stand behind while the shot is taken. The coyote will get bold when the dog turns and runs back to the owner with the coyote now chasing the dog getting very close for an easy shot. Very exciting video.

Watch the demo video here:

http://www.elkinc.com/VIDEOS_vdc2.aspx

If you look in the Alberta Hunting Regulations is specifically states you can not be accompanied by a dog while hunting big game and this includes coyotes and wolves. Therefore no chase and no decoy dogs.

Here it is directly from the reg's. It is unlawful to:
"be accompanied by a dog while hunting big game or allow a dog to pursue big game except when hunting cougar under the authority of a Cougar Licence."

Aha!! which brings me back to the origional post. So a feller is out with his dogs and with a cougar tag in his pocket.....I know it's splitting hairs. now I'm stirring the pot.

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
First off I'd like to wish everyone a merry Christmas...what a rogues gallery we have in here!!

I was talking to a feller at the Archery center last night who runs cat hounds. He was saying that he often shoots wolves after tying his dogs to a tree-the wolves come in to the sound of the yapping dogs. Has anyone else heard of this idea used to lure wolves? If it works I'm going to the spca right after Christmas and getting a yappy 'lil orphan dog to go hunting with!!!!

the chef

We have a bunch of wolves "down here" that have developed a taste for bear dogs. There are quite of few who have lost dogs to wolves in the past two years. Especially this past season.

It seems as soon as the bear dogs start howling on the trail the wolves take after them and kill them. The bear dogs are invading the wolves territory and the wolves will not permit it.

I wouldn't think it was foolish to try a dog like call to try and lure them in. I certainly would try it.

Jim

Howling is the most effective way of bring in coyotes and wolves. A co-worker of mine has killed 9 wolves so far (he has tagged out at his limit of 2 the last 4 years and has 1 this year already), and all he does is howl them in.

In BC, you can't hunt wolves or any big game with dogs, unless they are kept on a leash.

I don't think leashing a dog to a tree and howling in 'yotes or wolves, using the dog essentially as a decoy, would be stretching the rules too far.

Cheers,
Canuck