Farmers and ranchers have plenty of good reasons that most city folk consider to be no reason at all.
What seems like nothing to you is a huge deal to someone who makes his living off the land.
I learned a few things living so many years in Kansas.
ETA: Down there ranchers will kill any yote in sight. It's not a matter of if they have caused problems for him. It's a matter of when. Same goes for prairie dogs.
I agree with you there, if you're keeping live stock out west, then smoke 'em if you got 'em.
But he said he didn't have any live stock, and didn't mention any attacks or what not, so I didn't think it was necessary to shoot them.