rganized hunts for "wolves" (what we now call
coyotes) were a frequent part of the winter sporting
scene in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. Hundreds
of hunters frequently joined in, but despite all
the manpower, the wiley coyote was not always bagged.
Sometimes he seems to have been amply revenged on his
hunters.
In a hunt covering 117 square miles held in March 1900
in Rock and Brown counties, a ring of hunters on foot,
horseback, and in vehicles was formed to trap their prey
within an ever-tightening circle. However, the hunters were
foiled and many coyotes escaped due to a prairie fire. The
Omaha Bee reported on March 22: "A lighted match dropped
accidentally by one of the riders ignited the grass and in a
moment the prairie was in flames. The lines being broken to
fight the fire, at least twenty-five wolves escaped, but after
all five were killed within the ring."
More than 500 men participated in a hunt in Jan. 1913
near Elmwood, with 11 coyotes killed. The editor of the
Elmwood Leader-Echo, who took part, noted on Jan. 31 the
shooting mishaps that occurred: "During the hunt two or
three men were shot as a result of carelessness,
but no one was hurt seriously. A shot from a heavily loaded
shot gun entered the mouth of one of the hunters through
the cheek, and it is said the fellow spat it out, seemingly
unconcerned over the incident."
A large hunt in Franklin County in Jan. 1914 by
200-300 men and boys resulted in the shooting of
six coyotes and a wild dog. No mishaps with fire or
firearms were reported, but the Franklin County News
said on Jan. 17 that "some of the boys who were not
used to trudging from eight to twelve miles, were about
all in the next day." ■
Visit the Nebraska State Historical Society's website at
Nebraskahistory.org.
A Brief History
Fire and Accident a
Friend to Coyotes
By Patricia C. Gaster,
Nebraska State Historical Society
O
Hunters exhibit their trophies following a hunt in Franklin County in Jan. 1914.
10 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016
NSHS,
RG3367-3-23
NSHS,
RG3384-3-5
After a hunt south of Elmwood in 1913.
