Whats working?

[K_Josh87]

Howdy all,

This is my first time posting in this section of the forums, So, Yes I am a newbie in here, and am not terribly familiar with past discussions on peoples hunting tactics. I am in south central ish minnesota, and we have been trying fairly frequently without much to show to take some yotes out of our neck of the woods. I Typically hunt with one buddy of mine, typically set up with two rifles and maybe a scatter gun in thicker brush where we may expect a closer encounter. This is year number two for us, and our tactics go as such on a typical hunt, we set up with a call (foxpro fury) and now a recently added mojo critter. usually try to get the wind direct two our faces, and call sloughs or woods. Calling sequences of 10 to 20 mins total. This year without snow, we have been calling in the early mornings mostly at sun up, and a lot of times locating late night, or in the last couple hours of dark before the sun comes up, and setting up on spots we know yotes should be, and often have had locators responded to. Typically start with a non invasive distress call, such as a screaming rabbit, or cottentail dist. then maybe move into a few coyote howls or challenge barks to finish off. So far this year, we have probably set 15-20 stands at least, on some pretty appealing ground, with not one dog called into view...

What others doing without snow, and any suggestions on what we may be doing wrong here? I feel we are set up with very good equipment, and definitely have more money invested into killing these critters than we should! (But hay, its fun!) And are not getting results like I would like to see. Any suggestions, comments, thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy huntin/ trappin!

[Grayfox]

The only thing I'd quit doing is the challenge howl. I can honestly say, I've never had any luck with it. If you start barking too much it'll end up being a warning to them to stay away. IMHO

Rob

[K_Josh87]

Thanks for the advice grayfox. How about volume? I think i tend to call way louder than needed...

[K_Josh87]

Hunted tonight with the red light and scatter gun for the first time.... no luck, but wasn't playing the wind correctly either on my main spot i called, I do think I have one coming in on my last set.... as when i finished my set, i think one was out in the tick brush maybe 75+ yds out... and spooked out of there when i stood up, which in turn spooked about 6 turkeys out of their roost, which pretty well made me leave a log of my own before I got out of there! :-)

[Dave S]

All I have to say is good luck hunting 'yotes anywhere around Le Center or Le Sueur. I've been out several times since I purchased my .223 only to have some knuckle heads sitting in their cars on the road trying to call from their vehicles.

There's also a lot of competition in this area. Especially with the group that runs dogs for coyotes. Hasn't been doing the rest of us any favors by the trespassing complaints. Although this year isn't going to be an issue, I had a hunt ruined by a few snowmobiles who thought it would be cool to bust through the cattails in a WMA by St. Thomas.

I've had too many bad experiences in this area to even care about hunting coyotes anymore. I'll just kick back and enjoy the grey fox as they pass through the yard nightly.

[K_Josh87]

Yeah the group that runs dogs makes it tougher for those trying to call them thats for sure, but they are at least killing some of the critters! They normally run right below our house a couple times a winter, and without snow i have yet to see them, we have yote tracks and [PoorWordUsage] all over the marsh, and i have had my bait pile set since early december, and have yet to have one look at it. I have not hardly seen a cottentail or a pheasant around though!

[Dave S]

I agree that the crew running dogs is getting more than just some. A couple years ago they had 76 coyotes.

I don't hear the howling like I used to between here and Caribou Gun Club. Once in a while they'll come up behind the house and start going at it.

Right now I think the best place to find coyotes is the MN River Valley. Lots of 'yotes there. A little more snow would be a huge benefit.

[K_Josh87]

Yeah, They are around, but seem to be plenty educated. We hunt a couple spots near caribou, But we have not yet ran into a yote out that direction, and haven't had many respond to the locaters out there either. We hunt a lot around Cleveland, we have several spots which we have frequent responses to locater calls, but cannot talk them out this year in the day light... I am also doing some hunting in the mapleton area where i grew up as well. I have a spot in the river bottom i am hoping to go scout tomorrow in the daylight, see what it looks like. I have also scouted some ground up around henderson. So, we shall see what happens. If we keep tossing the line, we are bound to have one run into us on accident oventually! Let me know if you have any luck out around here!

[bassman186]

Still no luck up this way hunting in Carver. Went out all morning on friday... only to try 3 different spots, walk 5 miles and need a nap that afternoon LOL.

I'll keep wishing for snow!

[K_Josh87]

Same story down here....Good excuse for a nap though!

[K_Josh87]

Say, I know who you are.....