KENTUCKY (1/19/12) - In the middle of coal field country, Muhlenberg County has been very rich in a minerals that several folks already know of, Black Diamond or coal! For several years past the neighboring counties of Muhlenberg, Hopkins, and Ohio have been a worldwide source for coal in this area.
As far back as I can remember, the coal mines have been stripping and digging coal here. Before the Kentucky Reclamation Act was bonded, most coal mining companies, after reaching a vein of coal, would roll back either rock, sandstone, or topsoil to the leftover stripped area. A lot of areas were formed of high rock walls or rocky terrain ridges after only a few years of no mining activity of coal shovels or equipment to keep vegetation and allow trees to grow back. It wasn't long that the un-reclaimed coal mining lands were full of trees and heavy cover of grasses, rocks, and streams.
This now has become one of the most ideal areas for critters such as Coyotes and Bobcats to take cover and call home!
This area is full of great cover for these carnivores! In the Last few years the Kentucky Bobcat numbers have exploded to very high harvest numbers and are increasing each year. With the location of Coyotes and Bobcats in our area, the average person may never eyewitness a live Bobcat or Coyote in their lifetime. This is due largely to the fact that these "Ultimate Predators" hunt and stalk at night time hours! These two critters do have the most hunt-able skills to take down any type of game easily! With superior eyesight, superior hearing and superior sense of smell, I would say they are the "Ultimate Predator" in the wild.
I've been in the hunting and fishing outdoors since I was about 7-years-old. I saw my first Bobcat in the Land between the Lakes area one morning. I was mostly raised up in Muhlenberg County and have spent probably more time in the woods than some people do spend at Kroger! I have seen a small number of Bobcats out in the wild and I can tell you the number stands at 14 Bobcats, which 1 of the 14 is mine at the Taxidermy as we speak!
On the other side of the two critters, the Wiley Coyote is the more of the two that’s less appreciated to all. The Coyote can, and will, eat and hunt anything possible out there! The Coyote is one of the most flexible critters in the wild due to the fact that they are a very stealthy and elite hunters and will be here forever unless the animal takes on a very strong disease that would take them out, but don't hold your breath folks! The Coyotes #1 food source is the field mouse, but he will hunt and eat birds, turkeys, deer, snakes, and have even been reported attacking farm animals such as chickens, ducks, cattle, and small household cats and dogs!
For the most Outdoorsmen that take to the wild to hunt turkey, deer, rabbit or Bobwhite Quail, they know and understand just how the cycle of life can revolve in the wild outdoors! The wild outdoors are not too kind to most animals that are edible. So far, for the community of citizens that only get to see a coyote or a glance of a Bobcat slashing across the roadway or across an open field, it may be a once in a lifetime ordeal to them to get this opportunity! On the other hand, for the experienced Outdoorsmen that live, hunt & breathe what we so much love to do, we usually get several opportunities to witness these sleek critters especially on these really cold winter days or late evenings when they come out of their den to stalk their food for a free meal!
If you have never had a chance to hunt one of these critters, I will tell you fast that you will have a lot more empty trips than you will make a kill or spot one! For the most part, they are nocturnal and hunt and run mainly at night! If you are interested in trying this sport, I recommend you take a huge crash course in your patience! It's not easy, as they demonstrate on some of the TV shows!
On your side to be able to hunt these stealthy critters, you do have to have a Ky. Hunting license and follow all Ky. state laws just as deer hunting or trapping in Kentucky. The only critter that has no season here that we mention is the Coyote! No season or daily or season Limit on coyotes! On the other side, the Kentucky Bobcat is another story. First of all the trapping season opens before the firearms season on the Bobcats and usually have a quota number allowed by the state of Ky. Once reached, their limit at statewide during the season will decrease on Bobcats!
I strongly recommend that you follow all hunting guide requirements and laws before venturing out! Also take extreme safety while out hunting this type of critter due to the all camouflage outer wear we do sport, and use caution while out due to the cold temperatures of the mid-Winter chill that can get a man in a terrible situation in a hurry, such as Hypothermia or wind chill frostbite!
For more info on Hunting Coyotes and Bobcats you can search on the Internet browser on Google. There are several hunting sites that will help you out such as Knight and Hale's Ultimate Hunting Coyotes, FoxPro Callers, and Predator Quest Calling. Other options are a brand new hunting TV show on The Sportsman Channel called "Dead Dog Walking", F & T's North American Trapper, and FoxPro's Furtakers TV hunting show on the Outdoor Channel that air's on Saturday at midnight
This TV show, among the others, will give you a quick course on calling techniques and set up and scent control. Predator Nation TV hunting show is excellent and this TV show airs at 7:00 pm CST on Sundays on the Sportsman Channel.
I hope this will and give you a better concept on the cycle of life of the critters that live in the wild of our woods! I wish and hope you the best of luck in the great outdoors with adventure that you wish to pursue upon! Till next time, God Bless! Hunt hard, hunt safe and hunt responsibly! Also, have fun while you're in God's Great Outdoors! Best of Hunting' and Fishing to everyone!
Outdoors with Big Country
Randy Adams
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