I’ve got the coyote-hunting bug again

I’ve got the coyote bug. I don’t know why, because I really have nothing against coyotes. And it’s not like I’m going to eat them. But I really want to go coyote hunting, and soon.

I haven’t done a whole lot of coyote hunting over the years. But the coyote populations have been up lately, at least around where I live, and the more of ‘em I see, the more I get the itch to go hunting.

It’s a strange feeling, because I actually kind of like coyotes. Normally, I’d rather hunt them with my camera than with my rifle. However, the population seems to be at its peak around my place, and we’ve had a few of our chickens disappear lately.

I really can’t blame the coyotes, if they’re the culprits in the chicken disappearances. They’re just doing what coyotes do, and I was kind enough to supply them with a bunch of easy prey.

Maybe my desire to go coyote hunting has more to do with protecting my property than with anything else. Sure, I wouldn’t mind selling a few pelts. I could use some extra lunch money, and selling furs is a fun way to get that cash. And it would be nice to put the coyote rifle I got a few years ago to use for something other than poking holes in paper and blowing up the occasional jar of Tannerite. Taking a few coyotes out of the population around here might put me back in good graces with the neighbors, too. Speaking of Tannerite, it seems the neighbors get a little fidgety when I have a little time on my hands and a few cases of expolosive targets. It might be good to help them out with their chicken-stealing predators.

At the very least, it’s a good chance to get out in the cold, clean air for a few hours, watching the hawks, geese, rabbits, and other wildlife, even if I don’t see any coyotes. And that’s all that really matters, right?