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Jerry Borger of Christiansburg had quite a hunt on the morning of Oct. 9. In less than two hours he had opportunities for a coyote and a bobcat, and he capitalized on both.
"The squirrels on the Borger property are rejoicing," reported Borger. "As is the local taxidermist."
What a couple of awesome animals.
While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures.
Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism.
After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters.
Congratulations Jerry !
Those are two beautiful animals!
Comment by Ralph Barton — October 28, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
WOW Jerry! Very Impressive hunt, congrats! What was the story behind the two?
Comment by Jason — October 28, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
Nice going Jerry. You are certainly an accomplished shot to arrow two animals that are much smaller than an average deer. I'm glad to see folks capitalizing on opportunities to harvest coyotes. I recently heard about a study that the QDMA did on fawn mortality rates and their study in South Carolina found that 75% of the fawns surveyed died within the first 6 weeks. Of that 75%, something like 80% of those were confirmed to be killed by coyotes. I know predators have their place in the food chain and are a necessary contributor to the ecosystem, but in areas where deer numbers may be down turning up the heat on predators may be the answer to restoring the herd. Good luck to everyone and great shooting so far. I'm impressed!
Comment by bird_dog07 — October 28, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
I haven't seen a coyote yet in Franklin Co, but when I do....it's a wrap! I shouldn't do the squirrels a favor because they sure do screw it up for me sometimes when deer are around. But I'm a nice guy so what the heck!
Very impressive kill on both animals Jerry and good luck in the upcoming months.
Comment by J.R. — October 28, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
What a morning! AWESOME!
Comment by j — October 29, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Canadian folk singer killed by coyotes, park official says
A rising Canadian folk singer was killed by coyotes this week in a national park in Nova Scotia, a park spokesman said Thursday.
Taylor Mitchell, 19, was at the beginning of the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on Tuesday afternoon when she was attacked, according to Chip Bird, the Parks Canada field unit superintendent for Cape Breton.
Bird said hikers saw the coyotes attacking Mitchell and called 911. She was airlifted to a hospital in Halifax, where she died about 12 hours later, he said.
Mitchell was recently nominated for Young Performer of the Year honors by Canadian Folk Music Awards. She was touring the Maritime provinces and had a break between gigs to go hiking Tuesday, her manager, Lisa Weitz, said in an e-mail.
"She loved the woods and had a deep affinity for their beauty and serenity," she wrote.
"Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant, and phenomenally talented young woman," Weitz said.
"Her warmth, loving nature, astounding artistry, and infectious enthusiasm will be so missed and forever remembered."
Mitchell, who was originally from the Georgian Bay area in Ontario, lived in Toronto, Weitz said.
Bird said the area where the attack occurred is popular and well traveled. It remained closed, and park authorities had shot one coyote believed to be involved. A pathologist will test the animal's body for diseases that might have triggered the attack, he said.
Searches for other aggressive animals in the park continue, he said.
"Public safety is our primary concern," he said.
He said no other coyote attacks had ever occurred in the park. "We've had coyotes approach people too closely," he said, and about six years ago one nipped a person.
That animal was killed because of "lack of fear," he said.
But Tuesday's attack is "unprecedented and a totally isolated incident," he said.
Michael Johnston, Mitchell's producer for her debut album, "For Your Consideration," said the singer was a "brilliant and beautiful light that people were naturally drawn to."
"She was so young and talented. Her big dreams were a perfect match with her big, kind heart."
He said he and his family would soon be organizing a celebration of her life.
A cruel reminder for those that don't understand why we must have predator control.
Bravo Zulu Jerry!
Comment by Static Lines — October 30, 2009 @ 1:49 am
Static - that is surely a tragedy and very sad story; my prayers go out to her family.
Comment by Jason — November 1, 2009 @ 5:40 pm