Poser
WKR
I would assume that outside of calving season, coyotes aren't much of a threat to healthy elk who are herded up. Around here, coyotes don't seem to exist in large packs in the mountains and I have seen and heard both animals occupying the same small basins at the same time in the Summer and Fall.
More than one occasion, I've ripped a bugle into elk country only to have coyotes respond in an extremely agitated and territorial manner. This morning, I let out a location bugle while it was dark and had a lone coyote immediately start barking and yipping back. This went on nonstop for 20+ minutes. A follow up bugle had the coyote moving closer to our location and continuing to bark, seemingly straight at us. This animal would not shut up and was just raising as much hell as a lone coyote can. Finally, my buddy ripped out the gnarliest, most aggressive bugle he could muster up pointed straight at the coyote and it shut up which was a bit hilarious. We didn't hear anything else out of it.
So, what's the deal with coyotes and elk? Do coyotes hate elk because they are generally too big to be prey and too loud?
Some of the coyote responses to elk calls I've experienced seem to suggest "Get the hell out of here!", though, I'm far from an expert in coyote sounds. As for elk, I take it they'll tolerate coyotes around up to a point, but will eventually get fed up and move out of an area if there are coyotes around.
What's the deal?
More than one occasion, I've ripped a bugle into elk country only to have coyotes respond in an extremely agitated and territorial manner. This morning, I let out a location bugle while it was dark and had a lone coyote immediately start barking and yipping back. This went on nonstop for 20+ minutes. A follow up bugle had the coyote moving closer to our location and continuing to bark, seemingly straight at us. This animal would not shut up and was just raising as much hell as a lone coyote can. Finally, my buddy ripped out the gnarliest, most aggressive bugle he could muster up pointed straight at the coyote and it shut up which was a bit hilarious. We didn't hear anything else out of it.
So, what's the deal with coyotes and elk? Do coyotes hate elk because they are generally too big to be prey and too loud?
Some of the coyote responses to elk calls I've experienced seem to suggest "Get the hell out of here!", though, I'm far from an expert in coyote sounds. As for elk, I take it they'll tolerate coyotes around up to a point, but will eventually get fed up and move out of an area if there are coyotes around.
What's the deal?
