Coyotes?

[shae1986]

All right guys, i have been hunting these critters for 2 years now, and we've only bagged one but i have learned a lot about coyotes by being out there. But the problem is I know where they are, but having a hard time choosing a spot and calling them out. For example one night we heard them in the corn fields, where we had heard them many times before, and the next day we went out to try our luck, nothing. I don't know what to do, we had the wind right and good camoflauge, and we were set up 300 yards away, is that too close? I thought i would bring this up to you experts here and maybe you have a few tips and pointers for me and my buddy when we next go out to chase these animals.

Thanks

Andrew Shae

[jiggin' fool]

Andy,

Having called quite a few coyotes in my day, I can offer a little advice.

For starters, 300-yards is not to close to set up, and yes, you HAVE to have the wind right, or don't even bother with making the call, as once educated, they become impossible to call again.

Now, besides the wind, you have to consider getting to your stand as well. If those coyotes see you, (and they can see a long ways), you can forget it!!!! I don't care how perfect the wind is when you set up, if they seen you sneaking in, they ain't comin'.., period!!!! SO you must find access to your stand without sky-lighting yourself. Use the terrain, and stay LOW!!!! If they even see your truck parked on the road, they probably ain't coming to your call.

Now, as to you "knowing where they are".., yupper, you knew where they were the night before, but I am here to tell you that these coyotes have a HUGE home-range. When you went in to call the next day, you were more then likely not even in the same neighborhood with them as the day before.

If you want to be sure you are calling where they are, then do most of your calling early in the morning. And start out the day in the first couple hours before daylight, driving the back-roads, and trying to get them to howl back at you. It's called "locating". You can use a tape of coyotes howling, or a mouth-blown "howler". Even a siren will get them going. If you find them at 4:30 a.m., down in a valley, there is a good chance that when you sneak in to call around a couple hours later, they should still be in the neighborhood. They may not be however, as a coyote can cover a lot of distance in a couple hours. But at least it will be closer than hearing them "yesterday".

In closing, a coyote will come to a call quicker than any fox..., so stick with it. We just don't have coyotes behind every tree like they do in some of the western states.

[Austin]

Do you feel that early morning is more effective than late afternoon ? I have found some very active set of dens will calls lure them out during daylight ? If so what type of calls ?

[jiggin' fool]

Coyotes will respond any time of the day, but early morning and late afternoon are best.

As far as active dens.., you may find that the coyotes are not using the dens you have found. Most of the time, coyotes just lay out, and use dens primarily for the raising of pups. When hunting pressure gets heavy, they then may again hole-up, and even use culverts, such as those found on farm ponds.., but if they are holed-up due to pressure, there aren't too many calls that are going to lure them out.

Stick with the basic animal-in-distress calls, such as a rabbit squaller, for use most of the time. They can be "howled" up, but you won't shoot too many coyotes, as typically it is the adult male that will respond to this.

[Dave S]

after reading this thread, I had to go out for the first time this fall. I got to my area about 4:45 p.m., let the woods settle down, then started a call sequence. To begin with all I had to respond were squirrell's near by. Almost thought I was going to get gang r*ped from the 4 fox squirrells barking their minds off. They finally settled down and still no sign of any dogs coming up the ravine.

I got a little more aggressive with the calling and then I had one start howling after 20 minutes had passed since I first set foot in the woods. I still couldn't coax him in.

As far as calls that I use, I took my Primos Hot Dog and the barrell from my HS squirrell call. I took the bellows off the squirrell call and now it's a 4-in-1 call. I can do squirrell calls, pup distress calls, rabbit distress calls, and mouse squeaking all with this one call. Best call I've bought.

The call itself, without the bellows, is only just over an inch long with one metal reed at the end of the barrell and a mouse squeaker in the side of the barrell. That rabbit distress literally sounds like a rabbitt getting ripped to shreds by a 'yote.

Going to play hookie from work as soon as we get some good moonlight and get out early morning before the 'yotes bed down for the day.

[grizzald]

Yotes are actually a very smart animal. What I have found works the best is calling during the winter, when there is snow on the ground and a full moon or close to being full. And of course you have to set up right for the wind that night or you wont have a chance of them coming in close enough.