Anybody still hunting?

[Grayfox]

Anybody still getting after them or are you done for the year?

I'd be out this weekend but I'm fighting off a sinus infection. I saw a ton of tracks last week on the way home from work crossing roads in some of my hunting areas and it looked like most were paired up and doing a lot of traveling. This is one of the best times to get one if you haven't yet.

Rob

[CaptainBly]

Haven't made it out for a week or so. Hope to get out this week

[HunterLee]

Yeah got 3 today we are at 121 coyotes total and a dozen or so fox

[Grayfox]

Hunterlee,

I know you hunt with a group of guys but that's a total that would be impossible over in my side of the state. I think the coyotes are here but there's just too much cover for them to hide in and from past experience they just won't come to call during the day.

I'd love to take my son and head out your way or over to the Dakota's next year and try our hand for a long weekend. I'll have to bug you for some area's to look at for next year as I've never been over that way.

Congrats on your success though. Pretty impressive.

Rob

[joekleinjr]

I went out yesterday, didn't see anything, went out this morn with my bro, we saw two but couldn't get a shot, gonna try a new area tonight..

[Grayfox]

Joekleinjr,

How much snow do you still have down there?

Rob

[mozy]

I've never shot one and I've wanted to bag one with my bow for a long time, so I think I'll be heading out sometime this week. We have tracks running all over our property, so hopefully calling will be effective.

[certified jumbo]

Haven't got one now for awhile, but i plan to hit it up this wkd!!!

Hunter lee - are those all coyotes that you have called in or combination of trapping and calling. That is impressive!!!

CJ

[joekleinjr]

just patches here and there, most of it is gone.

[joekleinjr]

went out last night, to the new area,, found a few tracks, i think i'll spend some time there, heard a rabbit squealing a few yards away, but couldn't get anything to come in.

[jkcmj]

I heard one screaming behind the house yesterday, and do to recent bird losses I ran for the house to get the gun.... Unfortunetly he saw me come over the hill and ran way out. I huried my shot, and it was long, maybe 300 yards, but I missed anyway. He ran like hell over the hill, hopefully he stops by and gives me another chance!

[bowhunternw]

I have a few questions if anyone will give some advice. First I have been really wanting to get into this and just have not made the final push to actually do it. I see that Grayfox says that they don't respond during daylight is that what other are finding also. If so how do you go about it at night, night vision scope or spotlight of some sort? Then do you guys hand call or have an electric caller? Hunterlee very impressive, I am somewhat close to your area (any tips on what works here). I am sure that I am far enough away that I wouldn't intrude into your area.

[Grayfox]

bowhunternw,

If your hunting anywhere near hunterlee I think you have a pretty good chance of calling them in. Only one way to find out! If your just starting out you don't need all the electronics just yet. Get yourself a distress call and maybe a howler and try a few sets just before dark and at first light. I'd try to figure out where they might be coming from and set up so they have to expose themselves when they try to get down wind of your set up. I've been having better luck hunting with a cross wind in my face or even with the wind at my back lately than trying to call them when they have no chance of smelling what their hearing.

Night vision isn't allowed in Minnesota or Wisconsin and lights are only allowed in Minnesota when using a shotgun from Jan. 1st to March 15 and not within 200 ft of a vehicle.

We can usually see pretty good 5-6 days before and after a full moon with regular scopes with heavier reticles or lighted reticles.

Give it a shot with what you have. If you like it you can always add a little at a time. Good luck and let us know how you do.

Rob

[joekleinjr]

Saw one yesterday morning, i guess i need to return to the range to reset my scope, cause i missed a shot at about 100 yards,, i feel like such a failure,, hahaha,, i won't miss next time

[joekleinjr]

Does anyone hunt coyote during the summer months, or would i be waisting my time? I know it would be more difficult because of the growing vegetation, and it would take time away from my fishing.

[Fish&Fowl]

Does anyone hunt coyote during the summer months, or would i be waisting my time? I know it would be more difficult because of the growing vegetation, and it would take time away from my fishing.

Not to mention the heat, mosquitoes, and woodticks! Plus they've usually got plenty to eat that time of year. I'd stick with fall/winter, hopefully you connect on the next one!

[HunterLee]

I don't hunt them in the summer, but i will make a stand or to later in august or sept. That is a great time to get some action, but i don't like to shoot them for fun.

Coyotes do respond during the day, but its a early and late kinda thing, although we have good luck all day out in ND.

We are at 138 total with only a small amount of time left.

I trapped/snared only about 10-15 the rest have been shot.

Me and my cousin have got the vast majority, with my dad getting a dozen or so. We do alot of hunting period, weather its calling, stalking, or snowshoeing after them.

They have been really coming to the call as of late in the evenings, and no where to be found in the mornings, when i do most of my driving/scouting. The last 3 calls there have been 9 coming in, 3,4, and a pair. I was in on the group of 3 and had a buddy that kinda messed up a for sure double for me. Then he and a another guy went and educated the others and only getting one.

Biggest thing for us now is getting to some stuff that hasn't been bothered. They are getting quite thinned out in our main hunting area.

Things that have been working as of late has been distress for my buddy and howling for me. I use both a foxpro and handcalls.

[rugbymn]

We are at 138 total with only a small amount of time left.

What do you mean by only a small amount of time left? I've never hunted them before but I finally got permission from a farmer to go out this weekend. There's not a season on them, is there?

[Grayfox]

rugbyman,

Most guys around here,including me, only hunt them when the fur is still good. Early spring they start rubbing bad and the fur isn't worth anything so why shoot them. Also they'll be denning soon so I'll leave them alone while they're having and raising their pups. The only other time I'll try for them is if a farmer is having trouble with predation with their livestock and such.

I'll be out this week and a couple of times this weekend and then I'm done for the year.

Rob

[Powerstroke]

Frankly I'm going to shoot them year round if I get the chance. I obviously would like to get one with nice fur to have tanned.

The studies have shown that harvesting coyotes and fox during the fawning stage increases fawn mortality by like 40-50%. For people that manage their land for deer or at least are trying to up the deer population that's a huge incentive to keep shooting those yotes. Of course obey the regs on fox.

[Bowfin]

The studies have shown that harvesting coyotes and fox during the fawning stage increases fawn mortality by like 40-50%.

? decreases fawn mortality?

[rfish]

I agree. Shoot year around,i'm tired of beggin the fur buyer to even get $5 for them.

[rugbymn]

So I was looking through the MN regs and believe it or not, there's some ambiguity.

One part says:

"All persons must have a license (including stamp validations) in their

possession while hunting or trapping and while traveling from an

area where they hunted or trapped."

About 10 pages later, this pops up:

"Residents and nonresidents are not required to have a license to hunt

unprotected species including coyote."

So which is it? Do I need a small game license to hunt coyotes in MN?

[LakeDocktor]

Coyotes are unprotected and therefore you do not need a small game license. Protected animals you need to have your license(s) on your possession while hunting or trapping and while traveling from an

area where they hunted or trapped.

[Powerstroke]

Decreased fawn mortality for that study means that the number of fawns that died in the first year decreased by that percentage. Increased survival rates. I believe it was in Deer and Deer Hunting magazine.