I can't apologize.
This is about protecting family and livestock.
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| Paddy, born March 2012 |
I just have to get this off my chest.
If any one of my readers had been there the day that Cindy Sue was attacked, they would have felt the fear of loosing a loved one to scavengers. I saw the look in those coyotes eyes as they attempted time after time to get underneath Cindy Sue's coat to kill her. Yes, it went through my mind that they could come after me just as easily...that was terrifying in itself, but I had to do what I could to save my girl. God was watching over us that morning.
If any one of my readers had experienced a calf being ripped out of its mother as she was giving birth, they might understand how devastating coyotes can be on the lively hood of a rancher. And it can happen so quickly, the rancher doesn't even have a chance to pull up his gun to shoot the coyote. This happens all the time.
Life at the Rough String is real...as it is at every ranch and farm in America or anywhere around the world. There is good and there is bad.
I don't like taking life, but I WILL protect my family and property.
I appreciate those who understand the difference between a TV drama and real life.
I don't care for random shooting of animals out here in the West, and I'd rather leave the hunting to others, but last year the coyotes were practically letting themselves in my front door. I saw 2 different horses chasing coyotes right out in the front paddocks a couple of times. 3 of our cats and a neighbor's dog disappeared. it was enough for me to think about getting the gun out. they have thousands, no millions of acres to roam, so go on already, roam them and dine there, not on our animals!
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond
The coyotes are coming in close here now too; not close enough to be a threat yet, but I'm seriously considering dusting a round or two close enough to them that they can feel the backdraft from the bullet.
ReplyDeleteSome people don't understand, and I guess that is there prerogative. Just as it is your prerogative to continue to protect your four legged family.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not advocate the big sporting hunts they have every year in some areas; but believe you me, I wouldn't hesitate even half a second to shoot one down that was threatening my animals.
AGREE! I love that yo keep it real!!! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteYou know I stand with you on this one. I hate to kill anything, but I absolutely will if it's threatening to me, and the way the coyotes are this year, I feel threatened. They hunt in broad daylight in the neighbor's yard. Come right up to the fence at all hours. That last pack of 6 the other day, I should have shot and now I wish I had.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbors dog was out of her sight for one minute and it was attacked. It's kind of scary how bold they are.
*you
ReplyDeleteWe dont have these issues here, except for the damn Fox. However, I agree with you. Reality is not on the Tv, as some would think!!
ReplyDeleteJust an aside, our sheep are being brought in again, for extra feed, having trouble with foxes, lambing shortly, and they are already hanging around the sheep. need to get the shotgun cleaned!
Cindy D said it best: some people just dont understand.
ReplyDeleteNeighbor and I dispatched of the coyotes around here because they kept making snacks of his chickens. Now the fox population is booming. And if they eat a chicken, they too will eat lead.
I wouldn't even presume to comment on a rancher doing what they have to do to survive! My hat is off to you for your persistence! Have a great day...and know that I will be here to read you whenever I can manage to get to the site!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to post a word of support. As someone who has fed the coyotes many chickens and stitched up a few dogs after being lured in by coyotes, I appreciate you "thinning the herd" a bit! City people just don't understand sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI am a transplant to the country and I learned to shoot a gun for the purpose of protecting not only myself but my animals. I have three medium to small dogs that would be a nice snack for a couple of coyotes. Last summer I heard the coyotes howling a few miles from our house and I am prepared if they ever come to visit. It's not something I want to do, but i will do whatever it takes to protect my "fur kids"
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem is that people are so far removed from agricuture. They go to the grocery store and buy food and that's the last they have to think about it. They don't realize that people are out there busting their asses (sorry for the language) to put that food in the grocery store for them to just run out and buy. What they don't see is the rancher doing whatever it takes to protect a newborn baby calf, they don't see a grain farmer exhausted from long hours of being in the field from sun up to sun down. Its easy for them to complain about "cruel" farm practices because they don't have a clue. It makes me absolutely crazy how people can be so preachy and judgemental when they have never experienced agriculture first hand. I work for a farm and my husband works with ranchers so I have been learning all sides of farming and ranching.
I was attacked on my blog one day by saying that I kill rattle snakes. I don't hunt them. But if I find one out my back door, under my kiddos play set, in the corrals, in the barn. You becha I'll kill it. I have animals and children to keep safe.
ReplyDeleteTruly some people just don't get it!!!
Being raised in the country and caring for our horses, angus. etc. taught me that THEY are my family!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteHere in Colorado the coyotes are everywhere. The city folk hear them singing when they snag another somebody's cat.
ReplyDeleteThey stalk dog walkers and their dogs in the parks.
Why?
Because we aren't allowed to fire a gun within city limits
The coyotes figured it out very quickly.
This is an extremely fast growing, adaptble population.
You are not hurting the environment in any way by eliminating those that threaten you or yours.
It doesn't seem like it's been two years.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what to say about some people...."they drive me nuts" I'm with you........ glad to see you back at Sunday Still, it was your blog, I firth found out about it.....
I agree with protecting your own. We have had to kill a rattlesnake that almost got one of my dogs. I wouldn't hesitate to take out a coyote that was after any of my animals. They come right up to our house some nights. Luckily my horses seem to be able to chase them off.
ReplyDeleteWell I've seen what the 'yotes have done to cattle during birth here, it is messy, ugly, and nasty.
ReplyDeleteCoyotes are not pretty nice creatures, although I understand the argument for them to live freely. But they scavenge on foals, calves, run down deer, call to house dogs and then lure then away...
and
then
kill them for pleasure.
Don't worry, you are good with me. Life is not TV. Not on a ranch or farm.
We stood out front of our garage last Summer, and listened to a pack of Coyotes kill a neighbors dog. We couldnt tell exactly where it came from, but the sound is unmistakable. Felt so sorry for that dog, that was probably on a chain, but nothing we could do. :O( We live in an area that is mostly five acre tracts, The Coyotes are way to bold. They also killed our cat a few years ago. They need weeding out once and awhile.
ReplyDeleteYou described this very well. I can't imagine who wouldn't understand after they read your post.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky out here that we have enough people who hunt coyotes around here that we never see them close. We have only had one calf that got its tail eaten by a coyote (we think) but if they became an issue I would have no problem hunting them down. You do what you have to do to survive and protect those you are responsible for.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Cindy Sue had all those other run ins with the wildlife...and unknowns...what a little toughie.I'm all for leaving the wildlife to their own devices but since they keep hanging around where they don't belong taking them out is the only solution.
ReplyDeleteIt's the real world out here.....you protect what's yours......I'd rather lose a reader than Cindy Sue or any other critter.
ReplyDeleteGit 'em, girl! You won't drop me as a reader - we fully support you from our little corner of the world!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that people would presume to judge others for protecting their pets and livestock. THIS is reality, not some nonsense on the TV. I lost a cat to the coyotes after we first moved here, he just would NOT stay in the house. I actually saw the coyote trotting down the middle of the road with my cat in his mouth...
ReplyDeletetheres a really crappy sappy movie out there called "did you hear about the Morgans?" that would repeatedly show up when we were staying at a hunters lodge while working...repeatedly. it was like the only movie for days on cable...
ReplyDeleteand one of my mr. forestermans favorite lines was from one of the lead characters, who admitted early on in the movie she was a peta member...
that line was
"dang! I ran out of bullets!"
Until those people walk in someone elses shoes under the same conditions, damn them to Hell if they judge you or me, or anyone else.
that is all.
(((hugs)))