Coyotes in DFW - Considering handgun protection

[txinvestigator]

If you want to shoot coyotes, just shoot coyotes.

As far as “protection” , they are not dangerous to people, and a pet on a leash should be safe as well. Any caliber you carry would be sufficient as the sound of the shot will most likely run them off.

When I have seen them in their environment just yelling “git!” Was enough to send them running.

as we encroach on their natural habitats they are becoming dangerous. Several people were bitten earlier this year in the DFW area. One stalked a jogger

 

[birddog]

I have seen and encountered bobcats and yoties so many times its rediculous. City, country, suburbia, you name it. And I have never seen a person attacked by either one except one time when I learned how to trap as a teenager and tan the pelts to sell. A bobcat in a leg hold trap was shot and revived as the man I was with was reaching over to open the trap to remove the cat, a huge male. That’s the one and only attack I’ve seen and that cat bit his forearm then hauled ass away from Mutt (the fellas name was Mutt French, seriously). And the pair of bobcats that show up regularly in my backyard to eat cat food haul ass too from humans which is the usual response. Same with yoties.

Moving into an area and being alarmed by the presence of wild animals seems somewhat extreme. You said you never hunted which explains your mindset. Folks that have never hunted, fished, creek walked, snake hunted, farmed, ranched or spent long summer days outdoors in the country are extraordinarily naieve about wildlife and firearms. If they had, they would have an entirely different perspective. I sat on the back porch at my folks place with my mom and dad a couple weeks ago and spent two hours watching more bluebirds than I’ve ever seen before flying around in the nearby trees in and out of a bird bath 10 feet away. Hardly a word was said. Didn’t need to.

I enjoy hearing song dogs singing so much, it reminds me of time spent in the country in my youth. Used to hear them sing at night here at the house regularly, yippin and howling. Damn shame it’s come to an end.

 

[candcallen]

Be careful shooting at an animal in a suburban environment. Small moving targets are hard to hit and your bullet can kill a person downrange. An Arlington police officer recently killed a woman when he fired at a dog.

Consider other options

Couldnt have said it better, and I did. Lol

 

[candcallen]

Predators at night are a completely different story than day time. Just be aware of that. They will be unpredictable and more dangerous as a switch clicks in their brain that its hunting time.

They have jumped into yards and grabbed pets, taken pets off a leash while walking and stalked kids. All at night.

Bottom line is you dont prepare for the predictable. You can avoid that trouble.

 

[45tex]

I too was going to suggest the Ruger 380. Its a Texas Thang.
In a neighborhood one must be so sure of the background before applying
deadly force. I lean towards a big stick, leave the gun holstered.

 

[satx78247]

All,

My name is Nick and I live in Lewisville TX, which is a suburb of Dallas. I am about 30 minutes North West of the city itself. While in the suburbs, I am still in a pretty rural area with lots of houses, stores and people. While walking the pooch however this summer, I have had a few encounters with Coyotes, and another creature that looked a lot like a bobcat. Many way to close for comfort. Many of the neighbors have spotted these creatures as well. I live near a golf course which seems like just enough space for these creatures to run around.

While I have a variety of pistols such as a few 9mm glocks, 1911s, single stack compact pistols such as a G43, nothing that I would consider appropriate for protecting myself and the pooch against this type of game.

I am not a hunter, so I don't know a ton about cartridges best suited for hunting or animal defense. But at the end of the day, I am looking for an accurate, light pistol (no revolvers) that is small and light enough to carry around in light running shorts, but still do the job.

Because of this, I am considering a 22 WMR cartridge. Additionally, I am also considering the Kel Tec PMR30. Am I on target here (no pun intended), or am I completely off base?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'd love to hear your thoughts. What do you think?

Nick,

You didn't ask for my opinion but I'll offer it for your consideration, anyway.

To me, as a retired LEO & Texas Master Naturalist I believe that between dawn & dusk that the most likely threat to you & your pooch is a 2-footed PREDATOR. - After dark, you may add in roaming groups of feral/stray/domestic dogs & (worse news) COY-DOGS, which ARE potentially dangerous, in addition to the 2-footed predators.
(IMO, healthy bobcats & coyotes are NOT generally a threat to adult persons at any hour. - All bets are off if either creature is diseased.)

IF I was going to routinely be "out & about" after dusk (or in a lot of neighborhoods, anytime), my choice would be a 9x19mm (or larger caliber) semi-auto pistol, loaded with JHP.
(Fyi, I carry EVERYWHERE that it is lawful to do so, here in The Alamo City, 24/7.)

just my OPINIONS, satx

 

[Mohawk600]

You're not going to put a PMR 30 in your shorts pocket.

This........you won't put a PMR in your jogging shorts

 

[Nick!]

Nick,

You didn't ask for my opinion but I'll offer it for your consideration, anyway.

To me, as a retired LEO & Texas Master Naturalist I believe that between dawn & dusk that the most likely threat to you & your pooch is a 2-footed PREDATOR. - After dark, you may add in roaming groups of feral/stray/domestic dogs & (worse news) COY-DOGS, which ARE potentially dangerous, in addition to the 2-footed predators.
(IMO, healthy bobcats & coyotes are NOT generally a threat to adult persons at any hour. - All bets are off if either creature is diseased.)

IF I was going to routinely be "out & about" after dusk (or in a lot of neighborhoods, anytime), my choice would be a 9x19mm (or larger caliber) semi-auto pistol, loaded with JHP.
(Fyi, I carry EVERYWHERE that it is lawful to do so, here in The Alamo City, 24/7.)

just my OPINIONS, satx

Predators at night are a completely different story than day time. Just be aware of that. They will be unpredictable and more dangerous as a switch clicks in their brain that its hunting time.

They have jumped into yards and grabbed pets, taken pets off a leash while walking and stalked kids. All at night.

Bottom line is you dont prepare for the predictable. You can avoid that trouble.

Thanks both for your input. With it being so GD hot out during the day, the temperature only allows for dog walks in the early morning, dusk or even after dusk when the sun is down. 9 times out of 10, we are out early morning 6:00 or 6:30 time frame. The pooch is just too sensitive to the summer daytime heat.

candcallen - You're up in Little Elm I see. I know there has been some instances up your way within the last few years.

 

[Sublime]

Coyotes are most vulnerable when moving their group from one stash house to another. 9mm should work fine.

 

[Nick!]

I too was going to suggest the Ruger 380. Its a Texas Thang.
In a neighborhood one must be so sure of the background before applying
deadly force. I lean towards a big stick, leave the gun holstered.

Of course, a great point about discharging a firearm out in public. My thought process around a small cartridge (or at least the smallest possible to be effective) is to mitigate somewhat against this concern. But of course, any round can be deadly.

 

[birddog]

Predators at night are a completely different story than day time. Just be aware of that. They will be unpredictable and more dangerous as a switch clicks in their brain that its hunting time.

They have jumped into yards and grabbed pets, taken pets off a leash while walking and stalked kids. All at night.

Bottom line is you dont prepare for the predictable. You can avoid that trouble.

I hunt at night all the time. Walk dogs late night, and I live in a rural area. Every encounter I’ve had with a wild animal they have ran off. Aside from yoties, you could be 10 away from a bobcat and never know it. It will run off too.

Hunting waterfowl, I’ve been at darn every public lake in North and East Texas late at night many, many times. Never had a prob exceed with an occasional poisonous snake.

Regarding pets, a new neighbor moved in in 98 and had dogs, one, a mini Dachshund. I noticed they would let their dogs out at night and one weekend they invited my wife and I over for a bbq. While we were there I mentioned that they should be careful letting their small dog out at night because of the bobcats which can get in and out of confined and secure areas in ways a yoties can’t. Sure enough, a few months later the dachshund came up missing. They later found the dogs remains in the far back corner of their big fended in back yard. Head with spine attached. Everything else eaten. Bobcat.

Dogs and cats are a fine meal to wildlife. Some folks have to learn that the hard way. We all gotta eat.

 

[Pops1955]

In the spirit of Rick Perry, I carry an LCP 2 when running early AM. Has laser. Never needed yet but my worry is mostly dogs out. It fits in the pocket of running shorts just fine. Also carry a flashlight with a zapper on it. That noise alone usually works just fine. The one time noise did not it sure work when I hit the dog in his side with the zapper. Drug him off the road and continued on my way. He never so much as barked at me again.

 

[avvidclif]

All of those who say they know coyotes and a yell will run them off have not been following the news about the one(s) in Lewisville. They(it) are actually attacking people, their fear of humans has been lost. For lack of a better word they have become suburbanized. This is not your normal coyote.

 

[txinvestigator]

I keep seeing the anecdotal stories that "I've never had problems with a coyote" as if that is evidence that it cannot happen. The fact is people are attacked by them. Just google Frisco coyote attacks.

Good lord people, just because something hasn't happened to you does not mean the something does not or cannot happen.

 

[seeker_two]

If you want a lightweight jogging gun and already own 9mm and .22WMR, get a Ruger LCR or LCRx. It'll do what you need.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[Kar98]

Fine, load your G43 up with shot shells then. It's not like the yotes changed but if you build your cracker box McMansion right next to their den you're bound to create conflict.

 

[Mikewood]

You got a 43. That’s plenty. If you shoot past the point you can make a clean kill you Likely do not have a justifiable shooting anyway.

 

[FireInTheWire]

No offense… but are you a good shot? Sounds like potential for your back stop not being ideal. Maybe small pistol with this loaded. It'll definitely denture any creature. Without worrying about missing target and killing someone in the background. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1000879516

 

[satx78247]

I keep seeing the anecdotal stories that "I've never had problems with a coyote" as if that is evidence that it cannot happen. The fact is people are attacked by them. Just google Frisco coyote attacks.

Good lord people, just because something hasn't happened to you does not mean the something does not or cannot happen.

txinvestigator,

One wonder what percentage of "coyotes attacks" are actually attacks by coy-dogs.
(We TPWD folks are finding a considerable number of coyote-feral dog hybrids in South TX & some of them are downright aggressive/DANGEROUS.)

yours, satx

 

[avvidclif]

Does it matter if it's a crossbreed, a full blood coyote, or a registered German Shepard attacking a hiker? I don't plan on being a snack.