From his military service to putting coyotes in his crosshairs, James Runner from Coyote Reaper Outdoorz is finding purpose in the field. In this episode, James shares an amazing amount of knowledge and insight about coyotes and why they can be a more formidable threat to livestock, pets and even people, than many realize.
This episode is sponsored by TK’s Pizza of St. Robert, Nexthome Team Ellis, Security Bank of Pulaski County and Sugarcreek Farm. The Fort NOT Lost in the Woods Podcast is a production of O’Quinn Media. For information on guest or sponsorship opportunities, email tracy@oquinnmarketing.com
— Automated Transcript —
**Introduction**
Hey there! I see you have found the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast. We are so happy you are here. We, being me, well, and my sponsors, because we’re sort of all in this together, hoping that you’ll love this podcast and then you’ll come back week after week, and then you’ll fall in love with the sponsors, and then when you need their product and service, you’ll give them a shot. See, that’s kind of how that’s supposed to work out.
With all that said, thanks to my sponsors: Security Bank, Next Home Team Ellis, TK’s Pizza, and Sugar Creek Farm. Now, if you’re loving the podcast, please rate it on whatever app you listen to it on, and be sure to share it with friends and family on your social media. You really cannot imagine how much that helps. Okay, enough of all that, back with our guest next. Love you, bye.
**Next Home Team Ellis Ad**
Lisa Ellis: Around here, home means something different. It’s Friday night lights, early morning heading to post, neighbors who become family, and the comfort of knowing you belong. That’s why at Next Home Team Ellis, real estate has never been just about buying or selling houses. It’s about people. Hi, I’m Lisa Ellis, broker owner of Next Home Team Ellis, and I’ve spent nearly three decades helping families across Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, St. Robert, and surrounding communities move forward with confidence.
As a retired military spouse, I understand tight timelines, unexpected orders, and the importance of having someone in your corner when life changes fast. Whether you’re selling a lifetime of memories, or searching for a fresh start, you’ll have innovative marketing, expert negotiations, and honest guidance every step of the way. Because here, reputation travels faster than advertising. And trust is earned, one family at a time. Call Next Home Team Ellis at 573-774-4101 or visit us at buyfortwoodhomes.com. Next Home Team Ellis, moving forward with confidence.
**TK’s Pizza Ad**
Announcer: Remember when pizza night meant piling into the car and heading to your favorite local spot? Everyone enjoying great food and spending time together? Well, at TK’s Pizza, we’re happy to say that tradition is still alive and well. Family-owned and proudly serving the Pulaski County area for 47 years, TK’s still makes every pie the old-fashioned way. Fresh hand-tossed dough, hearty toppings, and plenty of love. Call 573-336-FAST, order online at 336fast.com, or just come on in to 743 Missouri Avenue in St. Robert. The same little spot we’ve been throwing dough for decades. TK’s Pizza, where neighbors become regulars, and every slice feels like home. Taste the TK’s tradition today.
**Guest Introduction**
Host: Thank you for joining me for another episode of the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast. So, today’s guest was recommended by several people actually. Um, I asked here a little while back on Facebook, “Hey, is there anybody you think would make a great guest?” And several people commented that you would, but I’d already been, uh, I’ll say pressured, but it was it was firmly suggested by someone, a friend of mine, that um, you would be a great guest. And so, I told you some of the things that this person said about you and I said, “I’m not going to tell you who said those,” and you just guessed it right off the bat. It was Tonya over at Bone & Barrel. She has said from the very beginning that you would make a great guest. So, James Runner from Coyote Reaper Outdoors, thank you so much for coming in and doing this. And I know it was kind of last minute. I actually asked you yesterday. I’m like, “Hey, do you want to come in and…” Here you are. So, thank you.
James Runner: Yep, no problem.
**Coyote Reaper Outdoors Name Origin & James’s Background**
Host: So, I the name of your business, I heard it I don’t I don’t know how long ago it’s been but or saw it somewhere, and it kind of stuck with me and it’s very, um, it’s an interesting name, and I want to find out what it means and what you do and all of that stuff because I think it’s probably a pretty interesting job from what I have been able to gather. But before we get to all of that, um, I I I don’t know if I did I say the name of your business yet? I did. Okay. James Runner from Coyote Reaper Outdoors. So, tell me, James, how you ended up here in Pulaski County? And maybe you’re from here, most people are not that I talk to, it seems like. So, tell me all the things. Where are you from?
James Runner: Uh, so actually, originally from West Virginia, moved here, uh, military, and then retired back in 2000, uh, 24. Uh, and I fell in love with Missouri. Like everything about it. I’m a big outdoors person, hunting, fishing, et cetera. And once I was here, I knew I wanted to stay here. So,
Host: Oh, that’s awesome.
James Runner: after the retirement, there here I am and stayed here and that’s
Host: Was that the first time that you had ever been to Missouri?
James Runner: Uh, so, no, 2001, I did my basic training and stuff here.
Host: Okay, gotcha, gotcha.
James Runner: Uh, left, and then came here back in 2009, where I was stationed here, uh, did my drill sergeant duties and stuff here, left, came back and then finished my career here.
**West Virginia vs. Missouri Landscape & Family**
Host: I think, so I’ve only been through West Virginia, I think three times in my whole life. Every single time, I’m always, and I don’t know if anyone agrees with me on this, to me, West Virginia, that the landscape of West Virginia is very similar to Missouri. Like when I go through there, I always say, “Gosh, this looks like home. Gosh, this looks like home.” Every time that I’ve been through there, I’ve said it looks like home. It’s beautiful and it’s striking, but I feel that way about here too. You know, I can be driving down, um, you know, I-44 and just looking at at the the fog over the river and just all it’s just so beautiful and it’s sort of similar. Do you think so too?
James Runner: Absolutely. And I the funny thing is I tell people the same thing. Really? The only thing that’s different is a little bit more mountainous in West Virginia, but other than that, it exactly, this reminds me of home a lot. Yeah, so, it was easy for me to make Missouri my home.
Host: Oh, that’s awesome. So, you’re an outdoors guy.
James Runner: Absolutely.
Host: What kind of things do you like to do outdoors before we talk about what you actually do for a living?
James Runner: Um, everything. Hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, you you name it. I just absolutely love being outside and uh, enjoying Mother Nature.
Host: So, do you live in the country, or do you, I mean, do you live where you have your own land and you’re able to go do those things, or you’re just always on the go looking for those spaces?
James Runner: Uh, both. So, I do have I do own my own land and then, uh, I do a lease. I have a lease where I could, you know, uh, and then also I’m pretty much surrounded by the national forest at the same exact time. So, I can just walk out my front door and walk across the road and then I’m in the National Forest. So, it’s I made sure whenever me and my wife were picking a place that I said, “Hey, you know, I the one thing that I want is very, very close to the National Forest.” And we made it happen.
Host: Is she an outdoors person too?
James Runner: She is.
Host: That’s awesome. Is she also from West Virginia?
James Runner: No, she’s actually from here. She was actually born on Fort Leonard Wood.
Host: Oh, that’s awesome. Was she also military?
James Runner: Uh, no. She still works on Fort Leonard Wood, but she’s not military.
Host: Okay. Gotcha, gotcha.
**Grandchildren & Personal Life**
Host: Well, I know that you have, uh, some grandkids. You want to tell me about them? Tell me about your all your family actually.
James Runner: Oh, yeah. So, uh, yeah, so luckily, uh, I am very gifted with my grandkids. I have three baby girls and then, uh, and then we just recently two days ago, uh, had my first grandson. So, uh, very, very happy about that, excited about that. Um, they’re a blessing. Grandkids are an absolute blessing.
Host: Aren’t they?
James Runner: So, I mean, it’s awesome. You know, give them all the sugar they want and then send them home to mom and dad.
Host: It’s wonderful, isn’t it? And what I found too is like, you know, I think when I was younger, I thought to be called grandma or to have grandkids would make me feel old, but they make me feel younger because I find myself doing things that I don’t normally do. Playing in a sprinkler, or sitting on the floor and playing a game, or you know, just doing things that I don’t normally do when the grandkids aren’t there. So, it’s just a lot of fun.
James Runner: There’s things I have to because of them. I mean, realistically, I’ll be honest with you. I have a pool and I absolutely hate the thing. I hate dealing with it.
Host: Oh, you sound like my husband, he hates our pool too.
James Runner: But the grandkids, there’s no way to get rid of it because they absolutely love it so much. So, and they’ll make you get in it too. And it’s like, “Listen, I want to go swimming and you’re going to go swimming with me.” And and like you said, they they keep you feeling young because they keep moving and and making you go do things that you normally probably wouldn’t do.
Host: And I love to see the world through a kid’s eye. You know, it’s like they say things and you’re like, “Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen things that way or thought of things that way.” So, I love that too.
**Hunting Preferences & Deer Population**
Host: So, you said you love to fish and you love to hunt. What’s your favorite thing if you were going to go today to hunt for something, what would be your favorite thing to hunt for?
James Runner: Whitetail deer.
Host: Okay, you’re in the right spot then, huh?
James Runner: Absolutely. Again, there’s a reason why I stayed here and fell in love with this place.
Host: Are there a lot of deer in West Virginia?
James Runner: Oh, I mean it
Host: Like is it like here?
James Runner: I would say it’s probably more like a four to one ratio.
Host: Really? Oh my gosh, I can’t imagine.
James Runner: They are thick in West Virginia. Now, they had a real bad problem with um, what was it? Um, EHD last year, uh, where it wiped out a lot of the deer population where I specifically hunt in West Virginia and where I grew up. Um, I mean, when I say it wiped them out, like it wiped them out. Like it was hardcore. Uh, I got a really good buddy of mine, uh, my best friend from back home, Jerry, he uh, they live on this road, it’s called Tucker’s Creek for a reason, uh, and it’s because the creek literally follows kind of the road. And um, you know, when when this disease hits, they all go to water and drink water, then they feel like they have to drink because they’re extremely thirsty. Well, then they end up dying by water.
Host: What?
James Runner: And he said you couldn’t even roll down the windows because how bad it stunk rolling through the road because there were so many dead deer and stuff out there. So, it was it was pretty rough. Uh, last year, I went to go home. I that’s the thing I do with my dad every year, I go home and I hunt with him every year. That’s like my tradition with him.
Host: I love that.
James Runner: Um, so, I helped him fill the freezer every year. Uh, and last year we went there, it’s usually we’re done by, you know, the first day, we’re done within the first hour. I mean, like I said, there’s deer are thick. Um, it took us three days for we even seen one.
Host: Oh my gosh.
James Runner: So, it’s it was a a big change for sure.
**Predators & Bears**
Host: What predators do deer have out there besides humans?
James Runner: Predators do deer have?
Host: Yeah, like, like do you are there bear out there? Are there mountain lions? Cause I because I mean I know there are here, but not, I mean, you know, you don’t see them very often.
James Runner: Oh, predators. Yeah. It’s the same. Same thing. They have the same exact predators that we do here.
Host: That’s one of my um, I start to say one of my goals in life but that would be ridiculous. But it’s one of I really want to see a bear in the wild here. Because I know they’re around and I live in the country. I even live near Bear Creek and I’m like, “Why do I never see any bear?” But uh, supposedly we’re we have more and more and more of them, but I would love to see one.
James Runner: I well, my trail cams tell me that they we do.
Host: Really? You’ve seen them on your trail cameras?
James Runner: Oh, yeah, all the time.
Host: What?
James Runner: Yeah. I and I’ll tell you right now, it’s crazy because, um, it they are very curious animals and if they can get to your camera, they’ll jack it up.
Host: Really?
James Runner: They’ve jacked a few of my cameras up.
Host: You really? So, you you have footage of like looking into the camera and then it’s gone?
James Runner: Yep. Oh my gosh. Yep. Next thing you know, I’m getting pictures of leaves and stuff because it’s pointed down or it’s knocked off the tree or whatever. They don’t like really destroy it, it’s just enough to they kind of just knock it down or move it around just to because they’re curious and then they move on.
Host: Kind of like a cat, an overgrown cat. Speaking of cats, have you ever seen any mountain lions on your trail cams?
James Runner: I have not. Nope.
Host: Yeah, I think that would be cool too, but I would I don’t know, something about bear I really like them and I really want to see one. Not too close.
James Runner: Oh.
Host: Not too close up, but
James Runner: I tell you if you and I tell people this all the time, if you’re more observant and you start looking into the woods when you’re driving around, you’re probably going to start seeing more and more then and people will realize first one I ever seen was on, uh, on South 17 heading home and uh, it was literally just standing right in the middle of the road off a side road. And uh, yeah. I mean, they’re they’re around.
Host: Wow.
James Runner: For sure.
Host: Well, that’s that’s super cool.
**Coyote Reaper Outdoors Services**
Host: So, all right, let’s talk about Coyote Reaper Outdoors. Very cool name, like I said before. Tell me what you do.
James Runner: So, um, I enjoy any kind of hunting, right? Um, but I told you from the get-go like my favorite hunting would have to be whitetail. Well, there’s one things is really, really hard on those whitetail and that’s coyotes. Uh, so, to
Host: As well as livestock and small animals.
James Runner: Oh, you name it. You you talk about that too. And we’ll get a little bit more of that too, but um, so I I got into coyote hunting, and I don’t know, probably 12, 15 years ago. And I got into it a little bit here and there. Um, it was more of a day thing, you know, getting into it and I took a lot of learning. Uh, and I realized that coyotes were extremely smart. I didn’t really, you know, really realize how smart they were. Uh, until I really started hunting them. Um, it was actually they were after a buddy of mine’s chickens, and that’s what got got kind of got me started on it. I was like, “Well, hey, I’ll learn and go out there and do it and I’ll just it sounds easy, right?” Well, come to realize real quick that it wasn’t that easy. Um, but yeah, that’s what got me into it, you know, a long time ago and then it’s just something I I became more and more interested in, started doing more and more of to where I started really enjoying it.
**Coyote Hunting Motivation & Season Changes**
James Runner: And then, I don’t know, was it four or five years ago, Missouri opened up a thermal season where you could start hunting two months out of the year. Uh, with night vision devices, thermal, et cetera.
Host: Oh, okay.
James Runner: Um, so then I, you know, I I I got me a thermal, started getting into night hunting, realizing, okay, it’s a it’s a little bit easier to do it at night and you’re going to see a lot more of them. You’re going to see a lot more of them at night.
Host: Are they nocturnal?
James Runner: They are.
Host: Okay.
James Runner: But they’ll you’ll see them during the day.
Host: Yeah, I’ve seen some during the day, but I I hear them a lot at night. Sound like a bunch of creepy little kids.
James Runner: Exactly. About an hour before daylight you’ll start hearing them. Yeah, absolutely.
Host: Oh, that’s so creepy sounding.
James Runner: Um, and your dog’s barking at night, you don’t know what they’re barking at. Well, it’s probably because they’re hearing them or you can’t hear them.
Host: I’ve had that happen a lot where my dogs are going crazy and I go outside and I can just hear them just all around. Yeah.
James Runner: Absolutely. And you’re here and there’s a lot more of them. Yeah. Um, but anyway, so that’s kind of what got me started into it and then I I’ve really just started like enjoying it and and realizing that, um, it helps out so much with the deer being able to grow. Uh, you know, they say that every one, every year that a coyote kills up to 19 fawns. Well, then, uh, if you do some research and studies and stuff, they’ll tell you that about every 30 about 33% of every uh, fawn that is born, 33% of them, um, die predation. So, you know, coyotes, et cetera, that kills them, which is mostly coyotes. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are other bobcats that’ll take down deer. Um, there are foxes that’ll take down deer when they’re babies and stuff like that too. But for the mostly it’s coyotes that are after them because during the same exact time that those fawns are being born, and this is kind of like a life cycle thing that to help to keep it all in check, right? Is that, uh, at the same exact time that those fawns are being born, same time it is that the coyotes are dropping their babies. Well, what do they have to do?
Host: Feed those babies. Yeah.
James Runner: They got to feed those babies. So, what happens is after about four weeks, then they transition to four to six weeks, they start transitioning them off the milk, off to food. So, mom and dad then starts out in hunting. Well, that’s an easy meal.
Host: Wow, that’s fast, huh? Four to six weeks. Wow.
James Runner: So, then they move into meat. Well, what’s an easy meat for them at that time? And this is right now, you’re going to see a lot of people complaining about their chickens being ate or whatever it might be right now specifically, because right now they’re out having to get food to take back to the pups. Not only are they having to feed themselves, but they also have to feed them babies at the same exact time.
Host: Interesting.
James Runner: So, right now is a really, really rough one any kind of livestock animals you got or or deer, anything. Anything that’s easy.
**Coyote Litters & Skin Disposal**
Host: How many babies do, uh, coyotes have on average? I mean, do they do they usually have just one litter per year or how does that work?
James Runner: Yes, it’s one litter per year that they have. A lot of people, you know, that think that there’s more. There’s literally one time that they have them a year, and they’re just kind of in and around, they’re just they have, you know, they usually get pregnant around mid-February, um, is when they usually, uh, mate, and then they start being then they start being born about, what is it? Mid-April, about two months later.
Host: So, like a dog. Mhm.
James Runner: Exactly. Yeah. And then, uh, goes into it. And then they have about anywhere from four to six weeks, they start bringing them out of the den more and more and more. They start trying to wean them off the milk and then obviously, once they’re done with the milk, mom cuts them off and they make them start eating the meat. They’ll start bringing them out of the den a little bit more and more and more. And then the next thing you know, they’re they’re out of the den all the time and then they’re not allowed back in the den.
Host: This is kind of for people that aren’t country people. This is fast forward. This is probably a gruesome question, but I’m curious. What do you do with the the skins or the hides or whatever you call them?
James Runner: So, it really depends. It used to be they used to be worth a lot of money. Um, but not anymore. They’re not worth anything anymore. So, I have a lot of people contact me all the time asking for them, saying, “Hey, can I have the because they want to, you know, maybe just want to skin them and hang them up on their wall or stuff like that.” Um, but I’ve noticed and and maybe it’s just me, but they’re starting to get more and more mangy. And I don’t know if it’s because there’s just so many of them that they’re harping what’s going on with them or what kind of disease it might be, but I’ve noticed they’re not big and fluffy and beautiful anymore.
Host: Wow.
James Runner: I I’ve noticed that they’re getting more and more mangy, and obviously, you can’t really do anything with them when they’re like that. You don’t want to do anything with them when they’re like that. But usually it’s, you know, usually you’ll I I’ve given them to buddies or whatever to make pelts out of. Yeah. I mean, if it’s big and beautiful and it’s it is what it is and I’ll keep the pelts, skin them out and hang them up and stuff like that. But for the most part that’s really it. I mean, they’re not worth anything anymore. Like some states they actually have you like because it’s so bad that um, you just take them into the DNR and they’ll give you like $25 a tail for them.
Host: Really? So, how many So, there’s a season or no?
**Hunting Seasons & Deer Population Decline**
James Runner: Uh, so you can technically kill them all year as long as it’s not in during turkey season. You can’t specifically hunt during that time because they don’t want you to have an E-call in the woods when you’re trying to turkey when people are turkey hunting. Um, that’s pretty much why I think that’s the purpose of that. But other than that, you can technically kill a coyote all year long. Uh, now, thermal season though is specifically through. So, earlier I told you that they had opened up for two months out of the year, um, which was February and March. However, they just this is the first year they’ve done it. They’re doing it from January 1st to September 30th.
Host: Wow.
James Runner: Thermal season, yeah.
Host: We must have a lot more coyotes than we need, I suppose, right?
James Runner: Well, exactly.
Host: Um, and then you have the Which is crazy that we still have so many deer.
James Runner: Well, if you look at the population of deer that we used to have compared to now, it’s not nothing what it used to be. Between the whole CWD thing where, you know, that’s supposedly killing them off, then you have MDC going in and killing a whole lot of them off at the same exact time, plus you have predators taking care of them at the same exact time. I have seen the deer numbers drastically drop between by between three to four years ago. I mean, you see deer all the time. I don’t know if
Host: You tell the insurance companies so that they’ll drop the rates? Because we’ve got to be hitting less of them.
James Runner: Oh, they know. I’d tell you right now, the insurance companies know that they’re not hitting nearly as many. Absolutely, but I can tell you right now, we don’t have as many nearly as deer as we used to have.
Host: Interesting. That’s so interesting. Um, so, during you during that thermal season, is that what you called it?
James Runner: Right.
Host: Are you nocturnal then too? I mean, are you like awake at night all the time?
**Work-Life Balance & Business Inspiration**
James Runner: Yeah, so, and that’s another thing. I mean, I still have a contract job on Fort Leonard Wood too. So, I’m very I’m very it’s usually on weekends and stuff like that, um, that I get to go out and do it. Uh, which keeps me busy on my weekends and stuff too. And that’s what I told myself when I retired. I wanted to do something that was going to be fun, or I didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t want to do any kind of shift work anymore. I didn’t want to really, I don’t know, I really didn’t want to have to be at a certain place at a certain time, everything else. However, of course, as soon as I got out, I found another job anyways, but but I really enjoy my job and I work with great people. So, there’s that plus, but I told myself, I wanted to do something in the hunting industry. And when they when I heard that they were opening it up that, you know, that they thought about doing this, and they they sent out a survey. So, I sent out
Host: They being who?
James Runner: MDC. I’m sorry.
Host: No, I figured that’s who it was, but I wasn’t sure.
James Runner: They felt out they sent a thing out saying, “Hey, you know, right now it’s this, blah blah blah, what is your thoughts on it?” So, I sent all my stuff in, and then I was like, “You know what? If they’re asking this, there’s a reason why they’re asking this, right?” And I could tell by the two months that we would be able to hunt a thermal anyways, like we had a lot of coyotes. Like people think we have a lot of coyotes until they go out and they see, and they’re like, “Holy crap, we have a lot of coyotes.” Um, so, anyways, so I I I seen that and kind of in a future and that’s kind of was like, “You know what? Now is a good time to start what could be a business at the same exact time as this is coming in, because there’s people out there that doesn’t want to spend the money on the thermal devices, right? But they still want to be able to see like, “Hey, like what is what is out here at night?”
**Coyote Hunting Services Clarification**
Host: So, you take people hunting? Oh, okay. That’s real that’s one of the questions I had for you. I just assumed, like someone like me, that has cattle, I’m not a hunter, and my husband kind of is but kind of isn’t, doesn’t really, you know. So, we have had people come in before to take care of the problem. I thought that’s what you did. You actually You do both. Okay. So, people actually call you up and be like, “Hey, come take care of this problem I have.” And or you literally do like, is it like a guided hunt?
James Runner: Yep, absolutely.
Host: Oh, well, that’s super cool. See this why I told you I white we talked earlier before we started recording that I don’t like to have a script. That’s that’s one of the reasons because I always like to see where the conversation leads and I did not know that. That’s interesting.
James Runner: Yeah. So, I do both. Now, if you’re a landowner and you have a coyote problem and stuff like that, I don’t charge you whatsoever. The only thing I ask is that you allow me to hunt that land. You know what I mean? Now, I don’t ask you to hunt like deer hunt, turkey hunt, anything like that. I know farmers are very sacred to that kind of stuff. We know how that works, right? Because that stuff puts meat on our table at the end of the day. Well, if these coyotes are taking away from our meat, a lot of farmers want that taken care of. And now I’ve had people reach out to me and be like, “Hey, how much would you charge me to come out here and take care of this?” I said, “You know, if you let me come out there and coyote hunt, because they think that I can go out there one time and get rid of the problem.” And I said and I tell them it doesn’t work like that. Um, and then as they’re hunted, they are very smart animals. They get smarter and smarter and smarter. Um, every time you throw a call at them, they’re getting smarter, they’re getting educated. Um, so it takes time to be able to do it. Uh, and that’s why I asked them like, “Listen, like, I I would love to come out and I would love to hunt your land.” There’s things that there has to be done, right? For one, you have to give me more than a couple chances to be able to do it. Um, so you kind of have to trust in me that that I’m going to do right by you, which obviously I do. And I and and and I built that trust with them, right? Right to begin with. And I tell them, I always try to, “Hey, if they say um,” I always try to let them know when I’ll be out there. That way, they know, “Hey, somebody’s on my land, blah blah blah.” It’s just more of a respect thing. Um, and two, I always send them pictures when I’m done, if I kill anything because it just shows, okay, you know, this guy’s out here doing good work and um, he’s doing it untracked. I’m not, you know what I mean? It’s not like I go out there and leave a mess. I’m extremely, extremely, um, professional when it comes to that kind of stuff. And I shoot suppressed too. So, when I do shoot, people don’t even know I’m really out there. Uh, unless they see my vehicle, and other than that, they don’t even know I’m out there when I’m doing it other than me telling them, “Hey, I’ll be out there tonight, blah blah blah.” But it’s usually like you said, that when I’m out there, it’s usually late at night and I’m taking care of business when everybody else is sleeping.
Host: Yeah. So, the I know these are very, um, layman type questions. And I should know better because I remember growing up with I mean going coyote hunting with my dad. I’m trying to remember, I mean, you don’t use blinds or things or do you? So, where where are you usually located when you’re, you know, just I mean, you’re just do you walk or do you find a spot and sit or
**Hunting Strategy & Coyote Intelligence**
James Runner: Uh, so usually what I do is, uh, I try to locate locate them. So, the first thing I’ll do is I’ll I’ll get where I want to be, right? So, what’s going to give me the best scenario? Uh, with the wind being that night, uh, and stuff like that because they that’s what they use. They use their they use their nose more than anything. Um, so I try to make sure for one, I won’t even hunt a place if I don’t have if I don’t have some kind of wind advantage to them, I won’t even go in there and hunt them. Now, you can give them a little bit, but you can’t give them a lot. Um, so as soon as you go in there and if you give them, you know, if you give them your wind, that hunt’s already over before you even started. Remember, I told you they’re getting smarter and smarter and smarter. If you go into a place and you start calling, and that wind’s wrong, that spot’s ruined. You’re you’re not going to do any luck there. So, that’s one thing that I always make sure. I won’t even I’ll go on my my app and say, “Hey, um, can I even go hunt this place tonight because how the wind’s going here and there?” If it’s if if I can see that the wind’s blowing in the wrong direction, I wouldn’t even go there that night.
Host: Wow. What kind of sign do you look for to see if there’s coyotes in the area?
James Runner: Um, for one, just listening. I mean, they’ll tell you real quick if they’re around or not.
Host: They’re noisy little things, aren’t they?
James Runner: They’ll tell you. I mean, but a lot of times you can look for tracks. Especially as much rain as we got right now is a great time to get out there and do it. Um, you’ll find their feces and you’ll see in the feces, what do you always see in coyote feces? Is hair. Full of hair.
Host: Rabbits and squirrels and deer and
James Runner: Everything, right? They’re predator. They’re eating that meat and they’re eating animals. So, that’s something you always find. Cause people are like, “I don’t know what that is.” Well, what’s it full of? And that’ll kind of tell you that it’s a predator of some sort. And then you can tell kind of by the size of it what it is. Um, but realistically, you can do that, but I get set up on a location. Back to it. I get set up on a location. I look on a map, my OnX map is what I usually use OnX. I can look on there, I can see the terrain, what’s going to give me the best advantage to it. I go in there and I do a how. Usually they how back at me and stuff like that.
Host: Wait, do you do that with like some type of a caller you just can can you do it right now?
James Runner: No, I I I well, I have to you’ll have to use that.
Host: You you have a call that I was like, if you can give me a really good howl right now, I’m going to be really happy about that.
James Runner: Yes, I do. Yeah, I wish I if I had that with me, I could. Um, but I I use a E-call for the most part. Uh, now when it’s just me like real quick, like I’m going to a location, I want to spot them, I’ll literally just get out of my my truck. I’ll howl if I have a good 360, I can locate and get on that farm. Um, now if I’m I’m if there’s only one way the way the field is set up and I can only hunt it one way and I have to go in there and a specific win to hunt it that way, I don’t have a choice then. Um, and I don’t hunt those spots very much because remember what I told you they’re very educated, right? So, if you go in there and you set up doing it one time, you call to them, three or four coyotes come in, you shoot one of them. Well, guess what? Those other three are going to remember you being there. And it’s very important to rotate your places where and stuff that you’re at. Uh, because if you go to that right back to that same spot a week later, guess what? Them coyotes aren’t coming back down there. They know exactly what’s going on. They’re very, very smart animals. People don’t realize that.
**Best Time to Hunt Coyotes & Behavior**
Host: Is there a time of year like wintertime or I mean, I would imagine if everything’s covered in snow, they’re easier to spot, but that’s not always the case, obviously, just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we have snow. So, is there a time of year that’s easier to hunt?
James Runner: Yes. Um, January and February is the easiest time and that’s because then they’re looking for a mate to mate. And it’s kind of like, do you deer hunt or anything like that?
Host: I have, but no, I’m not a hunter.
James Runner: So, that’s kind of like their rut when it comes to it. Uh, that’s their mating time. They’re looking for their mate, they’re they’re doing what they need to do. They’re a lot more active. They’re trying
Host: They’re active. They’re not as focused.
James Runner: Right. Right. Well, they are, but not on you. Um, so that makes it easier. One of they’re they’re out doing that. Two, it’s a little bit colder, so they want to be out moving around anyways. Um, so that’s that’s another time. And it’s it’s crazy to think like this, but there’s probably around that time frame, especially before we didn’t have all this hunting before, you were you would see the most coyotes during that time because they hadn’t been hunted for so long. Right? And then all of a sudden January would hit and now all of a sudden they’re hearing these sounds and so they start coming in packs at a time.
Host: Wow.
James Runner: Um, so January and February is always the easiest time, mostly because it’s mating season during that time. They’re really, really active during that time. March slows down, starts getting real slow and then April, you’re pretty much you’re calling in at that time. You’re calling in the helpers mostly, the helper coyotes that help mom, uh, and helping dad go out and look for food and stuff like that. They’re called helper coyotes. They’ll stay there with them. They won’t go around the den or anything like they’ll stay close to it. Uh, then they’ll go out, they’ll get food and bring it back and stuff like that for the mom and dad during that time. Dad will go out and hunt too, but mom will not leave that den with those pups.
Host: Does the dad go into the den?
James Runner: No, he will not. He will not go in that den.
Host: Does he stick around?
James Runner: He does. He protects.
Host: Oh, that’s good.
James Runner: Yeah, he protects he does. He protects the den. He doesn’t let anything around it.
Host: Wow. I did not know that. They don’t mate for life or anything though, right?
James Runner: No, they say once they get a partner, that’s it. However, obviously if you, you know, one of them dies, uh, obviously they’ll find another one.
Host: Doesn’t that make you feel bad? See my my husband always says, “I wish I could kill these geese.” Because we have a million of these geese and they’re protected and we can’t kill them and I would like to, but we don’t. Um, and I’m like, “No, because I’ve always heard that they mate for life and if you what if you kill one and then the other one’s all alone and it makes me sad to think about.” Now I know that coyotes are the same way, I didn’t know that.
James Runner: Yeah, they are, but they you got to remember that they’re going to find another one regardless. Um, they will find another one and then they’re producing, you know, five, six, seven coyotes at a time.
Host: Wow, that’s a lot.
James Runner: And then they’re producing and then that’s why they get so, you know, now they’re over they’re overrunning people with stuff and and now you’re talking about, you know, people’s like the person I’m going to go help tonight, they reached out to me. Um, just killed their baby goat. So, it’s just stuff like that that you know, that you’re you’re messing with livestock and stuff and that’s when it gets starts like
Host: Yeah.
James Runner: I think one of the scariest things, I mean it was it wasn’t necessarily scary, but it was creepy is we had a a coyote that was just in our front yard trying to get in our fence to my big German Shepherd. So, obviously something’s not right, you know, he’s pacing back and forth, he’s acting crazy. We realized that he had had to have rabies. He the way he was acting, he was trying to get, I mean, he wasn’t afraid of us at all. And uh, you know, obviously he we he had to go away. But yeah, he was trying to get into my yard in the middle of the day. I mean, he just wasn’t right. And I thought, yeah, he’s he’s definitely rabid. But uh, that was pretty creepy because you’re just thinking, gosh, you know, what if that was a little kid out here in the yard or something like that.
**Rabid Coyote Encounter & Proactive Measures**
James Runner: And that’s that’s the problem is a lot of people are reactive, right? To it instead of proactive about it. Um, because they’re like, “Oh, well, it’s not going to happen to me. It’s not going to happen to my dog. My dog’s fenced in and this and that.” I’m telling you right now, coyotes can jump very high. Uh, it’s a wonder that dog that coyote didn’t try to jump over to that dog. And yeah, that that German Shepherd might have been able to take down that one coyote. Um, but usually they don’t travel just by themselves.
Host: This one wasn’t I think he was very, very sick.
James Runner: A lot of times. Do you remember the time of year it was?
Host: Uh, I remember it was kind of chilly, um, so it was I’m going to guess and say around March-ish because it wasn’t freezing cold, but I do remember it was kind of kind of chilly and that there was no leaves on the trees. I remember that.
James Runner: Yeah. Probably just trying to get food to take back to the mom and dad would be my guess for the pups or for the because she couldn’t the mom and dad’s at that time are getting all they can really focus on is getting the den built for the pups, the mom and stuff and all the dad protects them.
Host: I didn’t know they had that like family type situation, you know? That’s crazy.
**Security Bank Ad**
Mike Dunbar: This is Mike Dunbar with Security Bank of Pulaski County. Trends change, technology changes, but one thing hasn’t changed, our commitment to this area. For decades, Security Bank has been right here making decisions locally and putting people first. Because when your bank knows your name, your goals matter more. Security Bank of Pulaski County, local then, local now. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Online at sbp-c.com.
**Sugar Creek Farms Ad**
Announcer 2: Looking for real farm fresh flavor without all those extra chemicals and who knows what else? At Sugar Creek Farms, your pork is locally raised, hormone-free, steroid-free, and antibiotic-free. Stock up now on breakfast favorites your family will love, savory sausage, mild or sage for just $4.99 a pound, and thick-cut bacon for only $6.99 a pound. But only while supplies last. Pick up in St. Robert, cash and bulk discounts are available. Message Sugar Creek Farm on Facebook, or text 417-531-0483. That’s 417-531-0483 today. Sugar Creek Farms, real food, raised right.
**Guest Interview Resumes**
Host: Back with James Runner from Coyote Reaper Outdoors. Thank you so much for coming in and doing this. This is really, really interesting. We haven’t had a guest, well, all guests are different, but we haven’t really had anything like this. It’s very interesting to me that there can be it’s so neat to think about the different people that we have in the area and each person’s skill set and knowledge base, and there’s so many people that are good at so many things and who would have thought that this is one of those things like you know what you’re doing when it comes to these coyotes. And I just think this is so cool and that you just developed this business out of a love for hunting and saw a need for doing it and
**Coyote Population & Hunting Frequency**
Host: I have a question. In an average year, how many coyotes do you think you kill?
James Runner: Hmm. Well, it’s
Host: Harvest, whatever the word is. I don’t know.
James Runner: Uh, mine are going up much more now because the thermal season’s a lot longer. Uh, I would say probably right now, I’m just a little bit over 100 for this year.
Host: Wow, that’s a lot. Holy cow.
James Runner: So, and that’s usually probably about where I’ve been prior to this. Um, so there’ll be a lot more this year because of that. Um, I have being able to hunt a little and of course, I have the time to do it now compared to where I really didn’t before. Yeah, you know, always working and stuff in the in the military and stuff. But now that I have the time to be able to do it. Got my weekends free. I know they’re free, right? And stuff like that that I have a lot more time. And luckily for me, I I have a wife that supports everything that I do and is like, “Yep, uh, go out, go hunting. Hey, I’m I’m going to go out hunting tonight.”
Host: So, she’s not like, “Sure you’re hunting.”
James Runner: No, no. She she supports what I do and uh,
Host: That’s awesome.
James Runner: And she won’t go with me, but
Host: I was going to ask you if she likes to hunt.
James Runner: She’s She’s she will enjoy the hunt, but she doesn’t enjoy the cold. Um, and then this time of year and and realistically the grandkids, that’s where her She enjoys the grandkids. Yeah. That’s where she’s at. When she has a minute of time off, that’s what she’s doing. She’s with the grandkids.
Host: I can relate to that so much. Well, you said that you like to fish. What kind of fish do you like to catch? What’s your favorite?
**Fishing & Spoonbill**
James Runner: Oh, man, I tell you, um, I really like to to go catfishing. Uh, bass is always fun. Crappie’s good and fun.
Host: Oh, no, crappie.
James Runner: But I have you ever been spoonbill fishing?
Host: No, I haven’t.
James Runner: Ah, it’s it’s it is exciting. Uh, it is very exciting. It’s it’s I guess it’s because you don’t really, you know, you’re not sitting there patiently waiting and and waiting for your bobber to go in or anything like that. This is something you snag. And when you snag it, like you better be ready.
Host: Really?
James Runner: Cause that pole is going to come out of your hands if you’re not ready. It is crazy.
Host: And you And is that something you do anytime like
James Runner: No, it’s two months a year too. I want to say it’s like, man, when is this? Uh, it’s like mid-April, or I’m sorry, mid-March to like the end of April, I want to say it is, like a month and a half long. Uh, and that’s because that’s when they’re moving up river and stuff. Um, that’s the only time you’re allowed to do it. If you catch one that’s out of season, obviously, you have to let it go. And as I said, it’s not something that you hook and it’s not something like you put a worm on and throw it out there and catch it. You literally snag them.
Host: I’ve never done that before.
James Runner: It is I I tell you, and the fish is actually really good if it’s cooked right.
Host: Yeah.
James Runner: Um, they say they say it’s actually part of the shark family. It’s like real white. There’s no bones in it whatsoever. It’s just cartilage. Even their big, big spoonbills is all cartilage. So, you can’t like like when you see you might see one mounted every once in a while, and it’s actually just because they had to have bugs come in and and do it.
Host: Wait, what? Say you you’re going to have to explain that part a little bit more.
James Runner: Uh, so, have you ever seen what they look like? That big paddlefish at the end of them? Well, that is all cartilage, it’s not bone. And what the they have those like little insect bugs that’ll go and they’ll eat all that off there and then all you have left is literally that cartilage, and then you can put it in like a frame and stuff. So, I actually had one of them done, it’s in my house, looks really good.
Host: So, that uh yeah, I don’t even know what to say to that. That sounds disgusting but interesting at the same time. I actually have had that fish before. When I was a kid, one of my dad’s friends, I had was always bringing us that fish. And uh, I remember really liking it and thinking it’s not super fishy tasting, um, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had any.
James Runner: You got to cook it. To me personally, you have to cook you have to, um, throw it in a smoker and cook it low and slow.
Host: A smoker.
James Runner: And low and slow because and fried’s okay, don’t get me wrong. You can fry like catfish.
Host: That’s how we do our catfish.
James Runner: But it’s not as good as catfish. Yeah, of course, nothing I don’t think’s fried is good as catfish. But that’s just
Host: Catfish is pretty darn good, huh?
James Runner: But for the fish being fried, you you can’t be catfish, but, uh, and it’s okay, it’s just a little bit more chewy then. Um, but low and slow smoked for like eight hours, that’s the way to do it.
Host: Interesting. I would have never thought to do it that way.
**Three Surprising Facts & Travel for Hunting**
Host: Well, we asked you, we being me, asked you, um, what’s three things that people might be surprised to learn about you? You said you’re a 20-year, 23-year vet. We discussed that you’re originally from West Virginia. And you travel all over the US to hunt. Where all do you go?
James Runner: Uh, so I I try to hit up Colorado every year, uh, if I get drawn or not. Uh, obviously depends on that.
Host: For like elk, deer? Elk.
James Runner: Elk, yeah. And I’m trying to get mule deer as well, because I’ve never got to kill an elk or a mule deer. Unfortunately, when I was in the army, I never got to say like any cool places like that. Um, it was always like Eastern, I mean, I’m sorry, yeah, Eastern stuff like that. We’re just pretty much whitetail, which I wouldn’t mad about that either. Um, so I try to go there and I just started this up last year. I this is something that’s newer. Again, now that I’m retired, I’m taking advantage of the things that I can do now.
Host: That’s awesome.
James Runner: Um, so I got that, um, and then like I said, I go home every year and hunt West Virginia. I put in for a bunch of draws through other states. Um, last year was the first year I got drawn. I put in for Illinois. I got to go to Illinois and hunt. Uh, this year I put in for Kansas and got drawn for Kansas this year. This is the second year. Last year I didn’t get drawn. I went there two years ago, uh, hunted. Last year didn’t get drawn. This year I got drawn again, so I’ll go to Kansas. Uh, and then of course Missouri. So, and then and prior to that, like if I didn’t get drawn in Kansas, I’d go to Kentucky and hunt as well. Uh, so I usually hit up four to five different states a year for whitetail. Uh, just really depends on the time I have, time with work, um, and before I didn’t I wasn’t doing this, but I will still make time for my whitetail hunt. Like that’s that’s that’s what I enjoy the most.
Host: What’s your favorite way? I’m I was just sitting here thinking you probably have a freezer full of venison all the time. What’s your favorite way to cook it?
James Runner: Ooh. Well, it depends. Obviously, you have your burger, right? So, you can cook that in just about any way you want. Uh, I usually put about 20% uh, fat with that with my deer because it’s so lean. Uh, so when I cook it, it does have a little bit of fat and stuff, of course. Um, and then your my tenderloin, honestly, just fry it up like you do catfish. Fry tenderloin is so good. Uh, that’d probably be my favorite way to do it. It’d probably be fried tenderloin if I had to to pick anything at all.
Host: Do you always have a freezer full?
James Runner: Uh, well, usually. Um, but about this time of year, it starts getting pretty low.
**Appreciation for Missouri’s Public Land**
Host: I also asked you what your favorite thing about the Pulaski County and surrounding area is. And you said what it has to offer. So much public land around the area. I I find anytime someone’s like, “Oh, I love this area so much.” They’re always an outdoor person, it seems like. Otherwise, you know, if they’re kind of a city person, they’ll just they’re usually not real, you know,
James Runner: Yeah, because the first thing that’ll come out of their mouth is, “Oh, Springfield and St. Louis are so far away.”
Host: Yes. And I’m thinking, “Yes, thank God they’re so far away.”
James Runner: Yes, absolutely.
Host: I don’t care if I don’t have a target or not. Uh, yeah.
James Runner: I tell people to take advantage of the national forest and stuff that we have around us. I don’t think a lot of people realize like how lucky they are to have what we have around here. A lot of people don’t have anything like that in their states and they got to drive here to just come and do stuff like that. Um, and you could just jump on, you know, they got a bunch of firebreak stuff like that. You could jump on one if you like hiking, you know, you can do that kind of stuff. Hunting, um, there’s ponds where you can fish out of. There’s just so much to do here around this area when it comes to the outdoors. It’s it’s kind of crazy.
Host: Yeah.
**Thermal Products and Feedback**
Host: Well, we’re going to get James’s contact information in just a moment. So, if you have a coyote problem, you know how to get a hold of him, or I guess if you want to do one of your hunts, um, they can get a hold of you. But before we do that, I want to have you spin the wheel. Okay. So, you just give it a good spin.
James Runner: All right.
Host: He’s like, oh, what am I getting into here? It says, ah, what do you know for sure? So, if somebody said, “All right, James,” why I just did say that actually, “What do you know for sure, absolutely certain, nobody could talk you out of it or change your mind? What do you know for sure?”
James Runner: Hmm. What do I know for sure? Um, I know for sure that I hunt with the best thermal products that there are on the market.
Host: Oh, do you, uh, what do you so, do you sell them? Do you sell products?
James Runner: I do not. Nope. Nope.
Host: Do you are you sponsored by them? Do you see you seem like you really like them.
James Runner: So, yeah well, they don’t, they don’t and that’s another thing, I’m not not anything with them, but I do really like them and it’s because I’ve I’ve used so many different products.
Host: Oh, yeah.
James Runner: Um, that to me, uh, the products that I’m using now are the best on the market. And the reason I know that for sure is because I’ve dealt with the rest of them.
Host: So, when you say thermal products, what kind of products are you talking about?
James Runner: So, I personally and what I like the most is Rix products. Uh, they actually in and and I’m not saying that because of what I I I’m a big advocate on what can I do to help somebody in their in their business? Because I I love to see businesses grow, and I love to especially when, you know, they start out and and they just do well. It’s like it it’s awesome to me. I love to watch businesses be able to expand.
Host: Especially when it’s someone that’s passionate about their business.
James Runner: Exactly. Um, so anyways, they did this survey recently, uh, and they just asked for feedback. And when companies do that, that’s important. I don’t care what the company’s asking about. Um, and I always do it all the time. Like if if I have anything to do with that company at all, I’ll submit something because I want them to know like what I personally think and what can I what can they do to be better or what can they do to sustain it? I don’t know if that’s my military AAR’s and stuff coming out in me, but I I really enjoy doing that stuff. So, they recently did a feedback back in like April or March. I can’t remember what it was, but anyways, I was I was up front with them what I thought about the products. I was just getting kind of into their their products at the time. Uh, the issues that I would that I’ve seen and that I would like to see changed and stuff like that. And and just gave my my personal opinion. But I was very brutally honest about the things that I said and stuff like that. Well, they just recently sent me a uh, a brand new thermal for that and said, “Hey, thank you so much.” Like they picked me out of the top three uh, for the feedback and stuff. They were just like, “You know, da da da.” And that just shows like how much the company cares. Just to just to listen to somebody that they just send you stuff like that. Now again, I’m not sponsored by them or anything like that.
Host: Maybe you should be.
James Runner: Yeah, right. Um, and and I tell you though, you’ve already had them on here, uh, Mike under.
Host: Oh, yeah, yeah.
James Runner: He’s honestly, he’s probably one of the best guys, uh, like when it comes to outdoor stuff, if I ever need anything at all, I just reach out to Mike and be like, “Hey, Mike, I need this and da da da da.” And he’s like, “All right, man, and then I’ll have an answer within five minutes of something.” Like that’s one thing he’ll do. He’ll stop doing whatever he’s doing. I’m like, “Man, just whenever you get time.” Blah blah blah. No, he’s he’s really, really good to me and takes care of me and stuff like that.
Host: He seems like a great guy.
James Runner: He he goes above and beyond. People don’t realize how much he does for not only the community, but for the fallen outdoors and stuff like that, right? He just he does a lot.
Host: Yeah, I was really impressed with him. Yeah, thought he was.
**Chess Skills and Filming Hunts**
Host: Speaking of impressed, I hear that you’re a heck of a chess player.
James Runner: Well, you know, back in the day I might have been, I haven’t done it in so long until, uh, that’s kind of how I knew what you’re doing, because I haven’t played in so long. Um, but you know, it seems so complicated to me. I always wanted to know how to play, but it always seemed so complicated to me. I used to I used to be really, really good at it, but, you know, I hadn’t played in so long and uh, it actually, and and that’s how I knew. So, we went to all bar we went to Barbarian’s together.
Host: Oh, that’s right. You went okay, we’re talking about my friend Tanya from the Bone & Barrel Sportsmen’s Center. So, she is one of the ones that very, very, uh, adamantly said I need to get James on the podcast.
James Runner: Uh, and her husband, he’s like, “Oh, I I like to play chess.” And I was like, “Oh, we’ll play one day.” And so, we were sitting by the pool one day and it was this great big, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen them but they’re like great big giant chess pieces. And you like you move the whole like
Host: I have seen those.
James Runner: They’re like they’re like the stone ones. They’re great big plastic, but they’re you know, they’re and you got to they’re about as tall as you. You got to move them like that. Right? So, it was fun. It was it was probably, you know, they played come up to here like your chest, but it was kind of fun.
Host: Oh, wow. Yeah, those are big.
James Runner: Oh, yeah, those are big. But anyways, we played like that and uh,
Host: Yeah.
James Runner: I destroyed him. Any
Host: Oh, you destroyed him. Yeah.
James Runner: Oh, he just destroyed me. Anyway he was, yeah, he was like, “Oh, okay, well, I guess we won’t be playing chess again.”
Host: He’s like, “That’s enough for me.”
James Runner: But he’s awesome about it. But anyways, so, I you know, that’s the first time I played in years and years and and it all came back to you. You remember it all of it? Yeah, it’s crazy how things like that work.
Host: I bet that’s one of those games that’s good for your brain. You know, there’s certain things you should do to keep your brain sharp. I would think chess would be one of those games.
James Runner: Probably shouldn’t have stopped playing then. He’s sharpened that brain up. You can’t get all the the brain activity going just from chasing coyotes. Right? How do people get a hold of you if they if they just want to learn more about what you do, or maybe they want to go on a hunt?
**Contact Information & Outro**
James Runner: Um, well, you can just look me up on Facebook, Hunter James Runner, or, um, you can look up my website. It’s coyotereaperoutdoors with a z.com. Um, I’ve been saying coyote this whole time and you’re you say coyote, coyote.
Host: Coyote, coyote. I don’t know, maybe I usually do say coyote. I guess. I don’t know. Syrup, syrup. Which one is it? Yeah, anyways. Moving on. Coyote Reaper Outdoors with a z. Make sure you don’t put a s, put a z. .com there. Um, and then, um, and this is a local thing. So, if you guys ever have any questions about them, all my information is on my website as well. Um, my phone number, stuff like that. So, you just look me up, give me a call at any time. And I do. I have I have beginners all the time call me and be like, “Hey, you know, I’m having this area issue, blah blah blah blah. Uh, how can I what am I doing wrong?” And I’ll just tell them. I mean, it’s this isn’t something that at the end of the day, a lot of the people that I take out hunting with me, they’re not they’re not doing it, um, for well there’s okay, I should say there’s two different people. There’s one that has, uh, you know, a lot of money and they just want to go out and shoot all the stuff, right?
Host: And then there’s ones that want to learn.
James Runner: And then there’s ones that want to learn because they want to get better. Those are the two people that I usually have, right? Um, and and realistically, it’s it’s it’s crazy what you learn off people that don’t learn either, because it puts you in a mindset again like, you know, they they’ll ask a question be like, “Well, this is why I’m doing this.” Because now I just naturally do it, right? Right, to where I don’t even think about it anymore. Like, well, so that’s the cool thing about it is when when I get to do those people out like I told you, I had a lease. I specifically take my customers there. I don’t I don’t take people on private property, right? I take people on the places that I own, right? Cause that’s I I would never I wouldn’t take people random people on somebody else’s land. Again, like I said, I’m very professional when it comes to to that. So, when I take them there when I get set up, I explain to them why I’m doing what I’m doing. I let I I make sure I don’t care what it is. I make sure that they learn something while they’re with me. I think that’s very important, um, because I mean, that’s mostly why they’re there is that they want to learn. And don’t get me wrong, a lot of people just don’t want to have the they don’t want to spend the money on the equipment. Like it’s expensive.
Host: I bet.
James Runner: It’s very expensive. Yeah.
Host: It’s very expensive.
James Runner: Um, so they can see what it’s like. And then and I have like I have like different levels of of thermals from, you know, the smallest is like a 384, and then I have a 640 unit, then I have a 1280 unit, which is the highest level you can get right now on the market. So, I’ll make sure that I take, uh, when we go out, I’ll make sure that I have all three with me, so they can see through all three of them and stuff like that. And it gives them a sense of, okay, I know what this is going to cost me, right? Or I already have this much money, and I see that this is what I need type thing. Um, so they’re also a lot of people will come out just for that because they want to see, hey, what kind of thermal gear do I need? Um, what kind of calls do I use? What kind of what kind of calls do I need? Stuff like that. So, mostly it’s because they’re trying to learn something from me. Um, and a lot of them people just literally just reach out to me and go call me, they’ll message me, they’ll text me, they’ll hit me up on Facebook, “Hey, this is going on. I don’t know understand why coyote coyotes are doing this.” Um, and then I’ll give them why I believe that they’re doing it. Wow. And what they’re doing what they’re doing. So, so knowledge is power.
Host: Did you ever think you would be a coyote expert?
James Runner: I don’t think I’m an expert in any type of way. You sound like you’re pretty much an expert. But, you know, I’ve done it so much and I’ve learned so much. There’s not a there’s not a night that I don’t go out or day that I go out that I don’t learn something. Yeah. Like, even though there’s times where I’m like, “Man, I’m in the perfect scenario. There’s nothing that can really mess me up here.” They will do something that is totally off the wall and you’re like, “Why did that coyote do that?” And you just learn something.
Host: Do you ever film your hunts?
James Runner: So, that’s something that I’m getting ready to get into. I’ve just started. Yeah, I was just starting you’ve got to do that. I’m just starting to, uh, do it. Now, I have a bunch of stuff. So, these are cool things about my thermals is, um, if for some reason I forget to hit power, like if I hit forget to hit, uh, the camera on there, it’ll it’ll record up before I shoot, it’ll prior to it’ll record 15 seconds while I shoot, then 30 seconds afterwards. So, no matter what, I’m getting it on and inside my thermal where I can transfer it. Wow. But now I want to start building it up to where before, explaining the temperature, explaining what I’m doing and stuff like that. So, then people can learn from those videos. Uh, that way if I ever get a question, “Hey, da da da.” You’re like, “Hey, watch hunt 17 or blah blah blah.” And it’ll explain exactly that to you and you’ll learn be able to learn from something like that. And also because, you know, I do enjoy it. Uh, and I’m out there a lot doing it, I might as well do something that people can watch and enjoy as well. Cause I mean, it’s it’s kind of a lot it gets a lot of people is they’ll go on YouTube because they want to learn something. Well, that’d be a great way for people to learn at the same time.
Host: That’s so great. Well, it’s going to be fun to watch you kind of expand this and see what all you do because, I mean, I wouldn’t I don’t know anything about this kind of thing, but I wouldn’t guess that you have a ton of competition out there doing what you’re doing. Like, there might be a lot of people hunting coyotes, but to be as professional as you are about it, I just Yeah.
James Runner: Yeah, there’s not. And and this is the issue that I have a lot of times, and it’s nothing against nobody, right? Because everybody, there’s their time where I had to learn this too. Right. Um, but I messed up a lot learning. And because of that, I made dogs extremely or dogs, coyotes extremely smart while doing that. Well, the problem is a lot of times they’ll just get because they know that their cousin or they know that their whatever has a thermal and they can come out and take care of it, right? Well, what they do a lot of times is they actually just go out there and educate the coyotes. And then when they do that, then they call me because the job didn’t get done.
Host: Yeah, so they’re making your life harder too. Yeah.
James Runner: Yeah, so there’s there’s things where then I’m, you know, I’m having to go out there a lot more than if they would have just got a hold of me to begin with that it would have made things a lot easier. And like I said, I don’t charge landowners anything. Like if there’s especially when I’m they’re protecting livestock and stuff, like that’s that’s you’re taking away from food that can be on my plate as well, right? Um, so and I tell and I and and I get and I get farmers reaching out to me a lot. But it’s always usually it’s a reactive thing. Um, and then
Host: Cause you do, you think it’s not going to happen to you.
James Runner: Right. You know. And and and you see all the time, people, you know, uh, they they came and got their dog right out of their yard or their cat right out of their yard and like, “Well, I have my dog on my leash. I’m not worried about it.” That’s like the even worse because they don’t care. Yeah. Like when they want something and they’re hungry, which is right now is like a very, very time that you’re going to see fox, coyotes, everything destroy things is because they have to take food back to that den to feed them pups. Right now is a is the time that people and they don’t think about it. Like they just don’t, but right now is the time that you need to be very, you know, keep your eye on the swivel and and don’t let your dogs just go out. Don’t just let them hang out outside and stuff like that. You know, you should have some kind of leash on them and watching them. And if not, then they’re they’re at risk.
Host: I have to admit, several times as you’re talking here, I’m I’m seeing in my head like Wile E. Coyote and uh, what was the guy that used to hunt him?
James Runner: Roadrunner.
Host: Yosemite Sam. Was it Yosemite Sam or was it Wait, what was Yosemite Sam hunt? He hunt did he hunt the rabbit? Did he hunt So he didn’t hunt the coyote.
James Runner: Oh, he was the coyote and the Roadrunner and like
Host: So it was the Roadrunner. He was always He was always
James Runner: The coyote was always jacking up.
Host: He was always just keep picturing like picturing that in my head as you’re talking. Like, James is out there getting Wile E. Coyote. This is great. I guess he they are a little bit wily, right?
James Runner: He was always Yeah. He was always just keep picturing like picturing that in my head as you’re talking. Like, James is out there getting Wile E. Coyote. This is great. I guess he they are a little bit wily, right? They they very much are. Yeah. You just got to I tell you they’re they’re extremely smart and they’ll do what they got to do to get food. And that’s what you have to remember is they will they don’t care what it is. They do not care what it is. Meat is meat and that’s all that they know. Dang. And it’s, you know, they’re predator they are there to kill and eat and and and
Host: What were they doing? What were they doing?
James Runner: I I I’m thinking of so many more questions to ask you, but I know I need to end this because we are getting long, but I do have one, one more question. What what are their pack size? I mean, do they have I know I’ve seen them by themselves, but they run in packs typically, right? Or no?
James Runner: So, it’s well, I’m glad you brought this up. So, there’s different times of year where you’re going to see different amounts of coyotes together. Like I told you before when they’re in the breeding season, you’re only usually going to see a male and a female. Then you’ll see like the younger pups that are maybe together that was that year’s, you know, litter. Um, and they can get big. So, the most I’ve ever called in at one time is 10. And that’s that’s Yeah. And that’s, you know, that’s a big pack. Yeah. But those are usually the pups, right? The the first year pups that have have grown up together. Um, now those ones that are actually extremely dangerous because they they’ve been hanging out for so long, they understand how to work together, right? Um, and then you got usually have the two, which is like maybe a a big male and a big female that they’re usually roaming around together and stuff like that, hunting. But they’ll be a bust up period. We call it, you know, I call it bust up period, which means they’re going to start dispersing. Right? And that’s going to be happening here in probably another four or five months, I’d say. They’re going to start dispersing around September. Um, and then they’ll get in smaller and smaller groups. Or those pups will stay somewhat together, but they won’t like they all have their own like little areas, you know what I mean? And that’s another thing, people
Host: Like territories.
James Runner: This is crazy. Um, let’s talk about territory real quick. So, just some people might understand this. Coyotes are very territorial. And what they use for territorial things, you may not even think about. So, say there’s a fence row, that could be a territorial line. Say there’s a, you know, a big tree in the middle of the field, that might be a territory. So, they have like markers kind of. They do, but they know that marker. Wow. Um, and it’s because they’ve crossed that marker before and they’ve got their butt kicked and they know not to go back over there. Yeah.
Host: So, they have like markers kind of. They do, but they know that marker. Wow.
James Runner: Um, and it’s because they’ve crossed that marker before and they’ve got their butt kicked and they know not to go back over there. Yeah. But that’s how they know. Like they literally it could be a road, it could be a barn in the middle of a field. Like they all have that certain territorial marker. Um, so if I tell people don’t get don’t get discouraged if you’re hearing coyotes and they won’t come in, it’s because they know better than to come to that spot. Uh, or they’re really, really educated. Um, so a lot of times people will say all the time, “Well, yeah, I hear coyotes over here, but I never really hear them over there.” Right. Well, there’s coyotes over there, but they’re just not as vocal as these coyotes over here. And they know that they can’t get over there. So, um, and that’s another thing is, you know, yeah, you can’t get rid of a coyote forever in an area. Don’t ever think you can do that because other coyotes will eventually move in and understand that there’s that that territorial is in there. But you can take out big coyotes and get rid of them. And obviously coyotes will continue to grow. There’s just you’re never going to get rid of them, but you can move them off your that territory for a little while.
Host: Wow. So interesting. Thank you so much for taking time to do this. This has been really interesting. I thought I knew a few things about coyotes, but I didn’t know anything. I realize now I knew nothing, except that they sound really creepy in the middle of the night. Yeah. They sound like a bunch of screaming little kids.
James Runner: If I had to say anything to anybody, just again, be proactive, not reactive. Get a hold of me before the situation happens.
Host: All right. James Runner with Coyote Reaper Outdoors. And again, Outdoors, uh, is has a Z on the end of it. You can reach him on his website, coyotereaperoutdoors@gmail.com is his email, or like he said, just look him up on Facebook. Thank you so much again. This has been fun.
James Runner: Absolutely. Had a great time.
**Podcast Outro & Sponsors**
Host: This episode of the Fort Not Lost in the Woods podcast is sponsored by Security Bank of Pulaski County. Next Home Team Ellis, TK’s Pizza in St. Robert, and Sugar Creek Farms, your home for farm fresh pork products. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Owen Media, its hosts, affiliates or sponsors. Content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Thank you for listening.