Something killed and devoured a deer in my yard last night. Thought it was coyotes, but they don't decapitate... coywolves, actual wolves? What could have done this..... (Northern Vermont)probablybatshit t1_iuhlibs wrote
That's coyotes. They didn't necessarily kill the deer themselves. In fact, they probably didn't this time of year, when fawns have grown big and fast, and all the deer are fat and healthy.
It has been bow season for weeks now, and the past four days have been a special, antlerless muzzleloader season. Lots of people were out there trying to fill their doe tags. The coyotes just need to find dead and wounded deer before/instead of the hunters.
tauntauntom t1_iuhqp78 wrote
Even then it may be headless because the hunter just wanted a trophy head, and left the body for the scavengers.
mckeanna t1_iuhs3jn wrote
That was exactly my thought when I saw it. Hunter "field dressed" a deer and scavengers found it and ate it. I hate the practice of field dressing in general especially when they do it near a residence for this exact reason. At least the coyotes got a yummy meal but the hunter's negligence & laziness drew predators into your yard.
Moist-Adhesiveness78 t1_iuhzxhy wrote
Poachers do that. Not hunters. If a hunter fills their deer tag they are required to check the animal in at a weigh station. Poachers are the lazy jerks with zero respect to the law and to the animals.
likeahurricane t1_iuifmpu wrote
I think this is a disagreement on terms. I don't consider decapitating a deer for the mount to be field dressing. Field dressing is gutting the deer to prevent spoilage, reduce drag out weight, and help start cooling the body cavity.
12_Angry_Wombats t1_iuip8o1 wrote
I know this is the VT subreddit, but I've been hunting in Kansas (in-laws) for a decade plus, and out there is no requirement to weigh the deer after you've shot it. We typically field dress where the animal was killed, as long as it's not super close to a residence/farm.
I haven't hunted in VT yet since I moved here, but I just might have field dressed the animal like I always did it KS. Not because I'm a poacher, but because it's what I'm used to doing in another state.
Thank you for saying this though, I'll definitely make sure I read more into this!
tauntauntom t1_iui8lpi wrote
Thank you for the clarification. I never have hunted so i thought poachers just hunted animals that were protected.
Moist-Adhesiveness78 t1_iui9xyw wrote
It’s a very common misconception that hunters are only in it for the trophies or for the act of killing. I started hunting nearly 30 years ago and the taking of a life still nearly sickens me. Being connected to the wilderness on a primal level while in the field and that I can bring home humanely harvested meat to my family is what it’s all about for me. Teaching my children that meet doesn’t come packaged from a grocery store (there’s a few steps prior to that) and teaching them to respect the animal and the land is my main goal for the future.
Jerry_Williams69 t1_iuif1kd wrote
I think most people know that most hunters are good intentioned. EVERYONE hates poachers and trophy hunters. Good hunters sometime get caught in the cross fire.
disgustorabbit t1_iuim1fo wrote
I’ve always been anti-hunting (for sport, mostly) but this actually makes a lot of sense to do this for your family and for the animals. If we must eat meat, the more humanely it’s done the better. That’s what I think, anyway.
thisoneisnotasbad t1_iuj6f90 wrote
The one hunting rule in the house is “if you kill it, you eat it”. Mice are exempt. Ants are not.
That and having seen the commercial meat industry in action, I have trouble eating store bought meat.
V4refugee t1_iujhee4 wrote
You eat ants?
thisoneisnotasbad t1_iujzfap wrote
When I kill them. They taste like citric acid.
tauntauntom t1_iuibld1 wrote
I never meant to offend. I grew up with hunter friends, but never hunted and never asked about it. So I only knew what I learned by listening to them and from media.
Moist-Adhesiveness78 t1_iuibzqb wrote
I’m not offended at all. No worries. Thanks for having an open mind about it. If more non hunters had open minds like you we would be able to have more effective discussions about land and game management.
TheBugHouse t1_iuibwfl wrote
That's not entirely accurate, you can check in via phone except for youth and rifle seasons.
Moist-Adhesiveness78 t1_iuic4z1 wrote
That’s true. I forgot about that. I’ve never checked in via phone so I forgot about that.
irongrizzley t1_iujq1ap wrote
That’s not what “field dressing” is.
narwhalfinger t1_iujjzkp wrote
That is not a field dressed deer.
random_vermonter t1_iuhrvnf wrote
Damn that’s wasteful. I don’t get people who need the heads.
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