Run For Your Life
January 12, 2010 
Coyote hunting season in Minnesota... I just don't have the guts for it.
Or the ba**s.
Or whatever body part it is that you're supposed to have when you hunt something. My anatomy is simply lacking it.
On the way to our family Christmas party the other day, this coyote burst out onto the road in front of us. It was one of those moments that Mr. Blue Eyes aptly pointed out that I would have said, "I wish I had my camera!" except for once I actually did have my camera.
The ironic thing is, I kind of wish I hadn't. I get a pit in my stomach every time I look at these photos.
Why?
Because he was literally running for his life.
And he knew it.
There were three pick-up trucks circling around, obviously waiting to get a shot at him.
This is the moment where just about every man in my life (except for Mr. Blue Eyes... I love that man...) would scoff at me for being so emotional, for having compassion for the plight of this particular coyote. So let me just say this: I am not against hunting. (Insert ~ can of worms ~ here.) Actually, I am FOR hunting when it's carried out responsibly. I don't love coyotes. Coyotes make me nervous. I fear that someday one of our dogs or cats will succumb to a pack of them, and I support controlling the population.
(By the way, this is something that is done in Minnesota, and I'm not sure if there's an actual 'season' for it or if it's a year-round type of deal.)
Even though that is my stance on the subject, in the moment I felt the fear, the desperation, the adrenaline that I knew must be coursing through his veins. For a short time after I actually felt physically ill.
We didn't stick around long enough to see what might have happened to him, but I didn't hear any gun shots as we continued down the road so I'm guessing he might have gotten away.
What can I say? I just wasn't born with the 'hunting' gene. I'm more of a 'gatherer', I guess. My brothers and nephews and even a few of the women in my family love to hunt and I know that they get sort of a rush from it, in a good way. I don't think it's because they wish the animal any pain or suffering. I think it's because they're passionate about the sport of it and the idea of putting food on their tables. And I even think -- dare I say it -- that hunting is a pretty humane act for the most part.
There you go... Can of worms: open.
We do live in Podunk, MN, but even around here I'm pretty sure that no one is hunting these coyotes to eat them. It's more about population control, and I'm guessing that they can sell the hides or something else that I really don't want to think about too much.
And there you go: Your coyote hunting lesson for the day, brought to you by the Lovely Farmer Gal. I'm sure you feel much more uninformed now than when you first began reading.
Your welcome. Anytime. That's what I'm here for.
Reader Comments (3)
Yeah, it's sad but 'round these parts we have to keep them thinned out 'cause a pack of them will take down a calf in no time. Last spring my cat Maximilien of many years was devoured by a coyote...{SIGH}. I just wanted to thank you for poppin' over with your sweet comment. Please feel free to visit often.
Ya'll have a wonderfully blessed day coming to you from the hills and hollers of the Missouri Ponderosa!
I came by way of Pioneer Woman. I understand your feelings on this one. My inlaws deal with coyotes on their property in Michigan.
We have coyotes in So Cal too...in fact, when I showed my hubby your pics, he said, whats a coyote doing in MN? We think of them as more desert kind of animals. Our coyotes roam neighborhoods on our sidewalks. You can see them just about everywhere. San Diego communities are built around a series of linked canyons rimmed with homes, so the coyotes head up into our hoods to prey on our pets (small dogs and cats) and that is why OUR cats are strictly indoors and we have a VERY BIG dog.(well one of the reasons, at least).