The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-22
KILLING COLORADO COYOTES
The Roundup Resorted TO as ito
Best Means of Externinat-
ing the Pests.

coyote roundup recently held
near Denver in which 500 horsemen
participated, resulting in the slaugh-
tel OF about 20 coyotes, shows how
earnestly the ranchmen and cattlemen
CT the west are striving to rid them
serves OF this old-time pest of the
pralrles, says the New York Tribune
these round-ups are held regularly II,
colorado and other western states, but
IN spite of the slaughter of coyotes
/tne ANIMALS continue to increase, kill
ing calves, rObbing hen roosts an;.7
committing other depredations. Wy
omlng spends $4,000 a year in wo:s
and coyote bounties, and vet it has
just peen announced that despite the
tremendous slaughter of the animals
III mat state both wolves and coyotes
are actually on the increase.
Inc roundup is probably the most
effective means of killing the coyotes.
The animal is so wary that it can
rarely be brought within rifle shot by
the individual hunter, and it will sell
oom touch meat that has been poi
scned, because it's remarkable sense Of
smell betrays the presence of man.
and consequently the only effective
way OF killing it is to form a huge
Circle many miles in circumference
and gradually close in. penning tn,
animals in the center, and killing
them with clubs.
Inc annual coyote roundup near
denver this year was probably tha
most spectacular affair of it's kind ever
held. Besides the 500 horsemen who
TOOK active part in it there were 20
women riders. A small army of sight
seers in carriages and farm wagons OF
every description was on hand, ranch
ers for miles around having made this
occasion a holiday, and special trains
oelng run from Denver and other
points to carry the crowds. Huge
chuck wagons" borrowed from the
cattle outfits. were taken along, load
ed with coffee and sandwiches AMI
other eatables. After the chase was
over 5onfires were lighted on the
plains and around these the hunters
and spectators gathered and recounted
the events of the day.
The preparations for the roundup
began the night before. The captain
or the hunt directed the crews to
ranchhouses forming an immense cir
Gle 80 miles in diameter. By SIX
o'clock in the morning those crews
had left their respective ranchhouses
and had arranged themselves in a
circle. More than two hours was spent
IN looking after horses and strength
ening weak places in the long line.
The order to advance was given and
the circle quickly began 10 contract.
The riders, as they advanced, would
beat the sagebrush and now and then
coyote would be startled out of his
hiding place and would he driven by
horsemen and dogs toward the center.
Owing to the fleetness and adroitness
OF the coyotes many of them managed
to get through the line but at noon,
when the big circle had drawn within
mile OF the ravine where a white
flag on tall pole indicated the CEN
ter OF the grounds. it was estimated
that fifty coyotes had been rounded
up. These coyotes were all fresh and
full of fight. Now and then one would
make break through the lines. with
dogs in hot pursuit, and a race would
result. testing the running and staying
qualities of the hounds After several
coyotes had been run down in this
manner the captain waved a white
flag and the lines closed in for the
final struggle.
Owing to the danger of using fire.
arms at such close quarters, no rifles,
revolvers or shotguns were carried by
the hunters. Stout clubs were WELD
ed. and as the hunters advanced on
foot the snarling coyotes in the GEN.
ter OF the circle were to be dubbed to
death. The death struggle was sharp
and decisive. The clubs in the hands
OF the husky ranchers wrought speedy
execution, and about half of the coy
otes fell victims either TO the bludg-
cons OF the hunters or the teeth of the
dogs. This is large percentage Of
killed, as generally not more than one
quarter of the coyotes in the final
circle lose their scalps.
Several accidents took place in the
course of the hunt One hunters
horse fell with him, the rider sustain
ing a broken shoulder blade and tina
horses leg being broken That horse
was shot, as were two others that
were injured by stepping in badger
holes while their riders were urging
them after fleeing coyotes. Another
horse broke his neck in a bad fall and
the rider was thrown into barb-wire
fence. luckily escaping with nothing
but few scratches. At two o'clock,
after the roundup was ended and the
scalps were counted, the hunters gath
cred about the fires and partook of the
dinner. Prizes were awarded to the
finest horsewoman in the chase and
oil N IS