Blog

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

June 9, 2024

164

Living with Coyotes in Colorado

Perhaps no other wild animal has endured the wrath of humans while evoking such genuine heartfelt admiration quite like the coyote. Some people curse their existence; Native Americans consider them to be the smartest animal on earth, calling them “God’s dog”, and many urbanites revel in opportunities to see and hear these vocal predators.

The coyote’s success is attributed to the coyote’s own ability to adapt. Coyotes have adjusted very well to human-disturbed environments, and now thrive in close proximity to people.

Coyotes are opportunistic hunters. They prey on small mammals, domestic pets, livestock, and domestic fowl but will also readily eat carrion and plants. A coyote will adjust its diet depending on the food that is available. In Colorado, coyotes are classified as a game species and may be taken year-round with either a small game or a furbearer license. Landowners may kill coyotes, without a license, on their land if the coyotes threaten their property or livestock.

Humans can coexist with coyotes. The following guidelines can help you and your family to be Coyote Wise whether you live or recreate in Coyote Country.

Coyotes are Active in this Area

All Front Range communities are home to coyotes!

Coyotes in populated areas are less fearful of people. They have been known to attack pets and approach people too closely.

Your Home & Coyotes:

Never Feed Coyotes!
Remove attractants from your yard, including pet food, water sources, bird feeders, and fallen fruit.
Secure trash in a container with a locking lid or put trash out on the morning of pick up.
Deter coyotes with a 6 foot privacy fence.
Never approach wildlife. If a coyote approaches, yell, throw rocks or sticks at it, spray with a hose, or bang pots and pans.

See also .243 Winchester for Elk Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Elk Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the .243 Winchester a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for elk hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .243 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the elk, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the elk in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop .243 Winchester Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a elk in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the .243 Winchester within the ideal range of suitable calibers for elk hunting?” our answer is: No, the .243 Winchester is UNDERKILL for elk hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber .243 Winchester Animal Species Elk Muzzle Energy 1950 foot-pounds Animal Weight 720 lbs Shot Distance 200 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a .243 Winchester? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .243 Winchester round is approximately 1950 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male elk? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male elk is approximately 720 lbs. [Click Here to Shop .243 Winchester Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in elk hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for elk to be approximately 200 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .243 Winchester. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the elk being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .243 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk - and to this question, the response again is no, the .243 Winchester is UNDERKILL for elk hunting. [Click Here to Shop .243 Winchester Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting elk to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

If a Coyote Approaches You:

Do not run or turn your back
Be as big and loud as possible
Wave your arms and throw objects
Face the coyote and back away slowly
If attacked, fight back

Protect Your Pets:

Keep pets on a short (6-foot) leash
Use extra caution dusk through dawn
Avoid known or potential den sites and thick vegetation
Do not allow dogs to play or interact with coyote
Pick up small pets if confronted by a coyote.
Always supervise your pet when outside, especially at dawn or dusk.
Never leave cats or dogs outside after dark.
Don’t leave pet food outside.
If you must leave your pet outside, secure it in a fully enclosed kennel.

Be Prepared!

If you have concerns about an encounter with a coyote:

Recreate during daylight hours.
Walk with a walking stick.
Keep a deterrent spray handy.
Carry noise makers or rocks to throw.

Additional Resources

Living With Coyotes brochure
Protect Your Pets Flyer

Questions or Concerns?

If you are experiencing problems with coyotes, or simply have questions, contact us either by phone or e-mail.

If you have an emergency situation involving coyotes, contact the nearest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office, Monday-Friday, during regular business hours. Outside normal business hours, contact the Colorado State Patrol or your county’s sheriff’s office.