As turkey season comes to a close, many of us are setting our sights on Fall. Many hunters have begun their work on food plots and land management as they look to give themselves the best chance for success.

When you look at the entire picture, an important part of the equation is predator control through varmint hunting. Varmint hunters target small predators and pests, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of wildlife ecosystems. By controlling the population of species such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and rodents, hunters help protect larger game animals like deer, elk, and turkeys. This balance is essential for maintaining healthy wildlife populations and ensuring sustainable hunting opportunities.

With the release of the new CVA Cascade Varmint Hunter, we thought it would be a great time to share the purpose and positive effects varmint hunting can have on your season.

Types of Varmints and Their Impact

Coyotes are often the primary target for Varmint Hunters across most of the country. They are highly intelligent animals with high reproductive rates. They prey on young deer, fawns, and other small mammals having a significant impact on their survivability rate. Some studies have indicated that coyotes can account for up to 25% of fawn deaths each year. By managing coyote populations through hunting, Hunters can reduce predation pressure on deer, leading to more balanced ecosystems and healthier deer herds.

Foxes, while smaller than coyotes, pose a threat to small game and ground-nesting birds. Red and gray foxes prey on rabbits, turkeys, Pheasant, Black Grouse, and Partridge. Controlling fox populations can help increase the survival rates of these small game animals and birds, enhancing hunting opportunities for many species that are already in danger.

Wild Hogs are the most prolific Varmint in North America. With an estimated population of 6 million, this number grows exponentially each year due to a rapid birth cycle and the lack of natural predators. It is estimated that each year wild hogs cause 2.5 billion dollars worth of damage to crops and agriculture. For hunters, wild hogs disrupt wildlife habitats and destroy local ecosystems. They can destroy months worth of food plots in a few hours and contaminate water sources, driving local game completely out. By controlling the local hog population, hunters can drive them out and reduce the competition against game species for resources.

Racoons are another common target in varmint hunting. These nocturnal omnivores are known to raid nests of ground-nesting birds, such as quail and turkeys, significantly impacting their populations. By hunting raccoons, hunters can help protect these bird species during their vulnerable nesting periods, contributing to their overall population.

In summary, varmint hunting plays a vital role in wildlife management and the preservation of healthy ecosystems. By understanding the impact of different varmints on large game populations and implementing responsible hunting practices, hunters can contribute to a balanced natural environment. As hunters it's essential to stay informed and committed to conservation efforts, ensuring that future generations can enjoy a well-managed wildlife population. By emphasizing the importance of varmint hunting and predator control, we can help maintain the balance of wild ecosystems while improving big game hunting efforts at the same time.

If you are looking to get into varmint hunting, having the right gear is critical to your success. The new CVA Cascade Varmint Hunter (VH) is designed from the ground up to include the features and accuracy that every hunter would need. To learn more about this rifle, click here.