Boy Kills Giant Turtle

[sfaoldguy]

Has this thread broken any records for number of posts or something? lol

 

[kmurphy]

I don't think coyotes can bring down a deer. I am guessing that if a coyote had the opportunity they could possible snag a fawn.

Coyote and Lynx are the only natural predators of deer in Maine. Jim you'll love this one. They have a no closed season on coyote to increase the deer herd. You gotta love this system. LOL

 

[Griz]

Our deer in Illinois are big enough that no coyote, whether single or in a pack, can bring down a healthy deer. However, if the deer is injured then I have seen a single coyote take them down.

Obviously, as the population increases so does the number per square mile of deer etc. We have a very large over abundance of deer in Illinois hence the reason for 2 seasons here and a 2 week long season in Indiana. It is up to the hunter to ensure the population stays in check. We also have several very nice organizations that you can donate your deer to that will go to local soup kitchens etc. That is what a hunter is truly about!

Griz

 

[varnyard]

This is some info on the Red wolf, including range.

http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/red_wolf.html

The former range of the red wolf was from southern Florida to central Texas and possibly extending as far north as Kentucky and the Carolinas (Carbyn 1987) (see Map A in Appendix). Since 1961, they are thought to remain only in eastern and southern Louisiana (Mech 1970). As red wolves were pushed out due to predator control, loss of habitat, and loss of prey species, coyotes expanded into their former range. The extirpation of red wolves was also a result of the non-adaptability of red wolves to changing environmental conditions, increased competition with coyotes, and the hybridization between coyotes and red wolves causing a blend of characteristics into a species called Canis niger rufus (the red wolf was originally known as Canis niger ) (Mech 1970). At the beginning of this century, when the number of wild red wolves was so low, the probabilities of finding a mate were slim and interbreeding with coyotes occurred (Parker 1989). Hybridization has aroused a large taxonomic debate over the status of the red wolf. As a result of hybridization, the red wolf came very close to losing its genetic identity and few pure red wolves were left in order to research their genetic uniqueness (Parker 1989).

Here is more: http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Canis_rufus/more_info.html

The red wolf is generally a crepuscular species, most active at dawn and dusk (10). It lives in discrete packs, which have an exclusive territory within their home range (4). A pack typically contains a breeding pair (who mate for life) and their offspring, although larger packs have been recorded (4). The breeding season occurs between January and March, and dens are made in hollow tree trunks or stream banks for this purpose (4). Litters contain an average of 3 - 6 pups, but may range up to 8 pups. The breeding pair both rear the young with help from yearlings that are still members of the pack. Offspring typically disperse from their natal pack between 15 - 20 months old (10).

This wolf preys on mammals such as swamp rabbits, coypu, deer and racoons (3). It also occasionally takes carrion (4)

Black bears : http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/black_bear.html

FOOD:
Food habits of black bears are as varied as their habitats. Bears will consistently use hard and/or soft mast crops (nuts and/or berries) when seasonally available as an important food source. They also eat a variety of plants, insects, small mammals, and carrion when available. In northern regions, they will eat spawning salmon out of streams. They will also occasionally kill young deer or moose calves.

As for the panther, we know they prey on deer.

 

[kmurphy]

Our deer in Illinois are big enough that no coyote, whether single or in a pack, can bring down a healthy deer. However, if the deer is injured then I have seen a single coyote take them down.

I'll have to disagree with you on this one Bob. In Maine we have a coyote wolf mix not western coyote.

from Huntingmaine.com:

Since the late 1930's, people in Maine have noted that coyotes in this state were different from western coyotes. Maine coyotes are larger, averaging 30 lb. and 35 lb. (female and male, respectively) as compared to 21 lb. and 24 lb for western coyotes, and prey more on deer than coyotes out west.

Packs run them until they drop. And in the winter all they need to do is hit a deer yard and scare the deer into the deep snow. They can run down most deer in 4 ft of snow.

Our deer aren't too shabby either:

Maine is known for huge-bodied bucks; in fact, the state is credited with having produced bucks very near the world record in that regard, with some dressing over 300 pounds. Although Flora's trophy was impressive, at 197 pounds dressed he probably was just a bit below average for a mature buck in that area.

Kevin

 

[Griz]

I'll have to disagree with you on this one Bob. In Maine we have a coyote wolf mix not western coyote.

from Huntingmaine.com:



Packs run them until they drop. And in the winter all they need to do is hit a deer yard and scare the deer into the deep snow. They can run down most deer in 4 ft of snow.

Our deer aren't too shabby either:



Kevin

Kevin, I was referring to coyotes in Illinois specifically. However, we do have coy dogs which are ferals that are down right nasty. I have put more than a few slugs in those over the years.

Griz

 

[cowboyman13]

I said it once before, but I will mention it again ...this is just MY opinion.
If you feel like you cant use the banner because I created it ...so be it.
you can handle killing animals but cant handle my opinion.

Ok, I was following this pretty well until here. What’s that all about?

I created banners some time ago for people who wanted to use them on their sites to help bring traffic to Fauna. cowboy13 had used one on his site.
After I posted my opinion on this thread about the hunting issue he sent me a private message telling me he removed the banner from his site because I made it, and that he didint want to be associated me in any way because of my views on hunting.

Jim i gave you my reasons for pulling that banner down in the private messages we exchanged. You and I obviously have little to nothing in common between the two of us. This isn't the first time we have had different views on a subject. We would in real life seeing how we are both so different from each other never have any type of association with one another. I see a public forum being no different than real life. I told you i felt it was unethical of me to continue using a banner that you made for those reasons. I wouldn't take something from someone for free that they put their time, and creativity in to making when i had no reason to associate myself with that person. I don't agree with your views on hunting, and you don't agree with mine. I am ok with that to each is own. But you are not the type of person i choose to associate myself with. There for i tried to end any association privately not on a public forum as you choose to do.

From that point on it would have been just a matter of coexisting. Which is what i hope can happen. So since you are looking for it to be publicly known.

Yall i don't like Jim, i don't agree with his views, I choose to avoid debate and conflict by trying to coexist on Fauna by doing my best to just plain ignore him. I took his banner down because thats the way i feel about him personally and felt it unethical of myself to continue to use it knowing that. That being said Jim i hope we can leave it at that.

 

[cowboyman13]

I forgot to add i realize this post is late in coming, but I am working allot of hours and this is the first time i have visited fauna since our original private conversation.

 

[Griz]

I forgot to add i realize this post is late in coming, but I am working allot of hours and this is the first time i have visited fauna since our original private conversation.

Cowboyman, don't expect Jim to follow your logical rationale behind your decision. Logic seems to escape him so I for one, completely understand why you would not want to associate with him. Needless to say, he is on my list of do not buy from. I would not want my money going to support such illogical and anti-human beliefs!

Griz

 

[Rattlesnake]

The thing that I was most bothered by was the age, size and weight of the animal in question.
I was under the assumption that they are becoing an endangered species, if they are not already.
Does anyone have any up to date information on theis subject?

 

[kmurphy]

The thing that I was most bothered by was the age, size and weight of the animal in question.
I was under the assumption that they are becoing an endangered species, if they are not already.
Does anyone have any up to date information on theis subject?

I believe you're thinking of the alligator snapping turtle. I don't believe they're found in NC. The article doesn't say but this probably is the common snapper and certainly not endangered. For that matter neither is the alligator snapper but I think they are looking into some kind of protection for it.
Clay can probably verify if the Alligator Snappers are found near him.

 

[Clay Davenport]

Alligator snappers are rarely encountered in western NC in general, and to my knowledge they do not range into my area at all. Due to our elevation, several species of herps that are common even 40 miles away are not found here at all.
The turtle killed was a common snapper and there is an abundance of them here in both the rivers and any pond with other life in it.

 

[varnyard]

I did not know it, but they can reach 85lbs. I have seen many common snappers before, but not that large. After doing the research, it says they can obtain sizes up to 85lbs. I would have never thought that in a million years.

I knew the Alligator snappers grew very large, but did not know the common did as well. I figured a large one would be 40lbs max.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

I fee bad for the turtle yes, but im not angry, the way everything was explained it makes sense. I have a close relative ( of a sort its my boyfriends sister) who live in Louisiana and trust me when i say that, there just somtimes isnt enough money to go around down there. i saw a few threads on this saying how "oh the grocery store is here for a reason" ( in general terms) but you cant look at it like that. if theres an animal i(n this case the turtle), theyre not going to go out and buy food when its sitting right there! this animals like i read a littler earlier as well, was cleaned and used. it wasnt wasted.
Not everywhere in america is doing as well as we'd like to think they are, and money can be a real issue to where things like this happen regularly because people need to live and if you can get a meal for free why not?!
Im not saying its right, and im not saying its wrong. its just a fact that life isnt as easy as people may think. and desperate times call for desperate measures.

and then of course theres the point that they might have enough money, would you be pissed that they kept and ate the turtle, or just disposed of it and let it rot? ^_^ somtimes its best not to question the actions of others.