HELP... for new predator hunter!!!

[Big joe]

I live in Salt Lake City , Utah. I really want to learn to hunt coyotes successfully. I have been out 5 times and have yet to see a coyote. One time I did hear them howling each time I blew the call. Anyway... I have lots of questions... How far from the salt lake area should I drive before the hunting is good? How far from my truck should I walk before I start calling? How far should I walk between setups? What is the best cover scent? Is it a good or bad thing if hawks/ ravens show up while I'm calling??? ANY OTHER INFO you think might help me I would really appreciate!!! I'm all ears !!! Thanks!

[toxic111]

Since I don't live the SL area I can't give you any hints on that.

As for the other questions I will do my best.

I usually park my truck where it can't be seen from where I am planning on setting up. I have been as close as 100 yrds, to as far as a mile. I actually called one in after a five minute calling session in the first case.

If your first set up is bust, move into the wind another 500yrds or so, and just work your way along.

As for cover scent... depends on the area, up here I have never used it for coyote hunting. One time 5 of us were set up on the side of a hill, my brother & I were taking turns calling. 2 of us had just finished a smoke. We called in 2, both came in fromt he downwind side (wind was about 20-30mph). My sister in law shot one at 25 paces, and the coyotes nose was to the wind. If they are hungry enough, or haven't been hunted hard, they will come in.

Now if you are getting hawks and magpies coming to the calls, you are getting the sound close. I usually start looking pretty hard when I get magpies in, 9 times out of 10 I have had a coyote on the way in as well.

[HPBTMTCH]

Big joe, sounds like you are doing OK. This may sound silly, but i find the one thing you need to be successful at calling coyotes is to be where a coyote can hear you call, lol. Buy a siren, or get a tape or CD of one and drive around just before daylight or just after dark and see if any respond to it. If so, then remember where they were and come back to that spot. Learning where they are is half the battle. The one piece of advice i have, others may disagree, is if you are howling as a primary call you need to stay at least an hour, or more. If you are using rabbit distress then you might move after 20-30 minutes. Good luck.

[22-250fanatic]

My best advice is don't give up. It took me 3 years to finally get a yodi to come to the call. After the first one did I am hooked for good. I agree with HPBTMTCH you must be in an area that you can be heard and that doesn't mean they will come to you. I sometimes go several hunts without seeing a coyote, I've made numerous mistakes while calling and missed several opportunities. I try to move 1/2 a mile between calling, however last year I only moved about 400 yards and called in a coyote that didn't come to my other setup? I was lazy in my setup and didn't expect one to come, therefore I wasn't fully ready and missed the shot. He locked up at the timberline and had me pegged, I had left my decoy in the bag(lazy).

A lot depends on the terrain and conditions, you have to keep trying and learn as you go. Nothing is foolproof except persistance. I've killed coyotes within 200 yards of the farmers house we hunt on. We hunt primarily in hilly farmland and a lot of coyotes are inside 50 yards before we see them you have to be ready and quick. Spend time listening to coyotes and imitating the calls. I could list all of the mistakes I've made but it would be a pretty long list. This year I've called in 3 and got 2 of them. I increase my kill total each year, don't give up.

[L. Cooper]

Set up is everything. You must be undetected while you get there. Cover scents are a waste of money. You can't fool their noses; sometimes you can make them forget to use their noses properly, but you can't fool one that is trying to get a sniff. Just manage your scent plume so that you can clearly see down wind. We have shot lots of coyotes as they stop to figure out what is going on when they hit that scent. A clear line of fire downwind is a key for us when we set up because, if they can, they will often circle to get down wind.

We often try to use hills and ridges to hide the sound of the truck. Then a short trip over the ridge will be good enough. On the flat, with few trees, you should walk some. Don't talk, ever. I am still astonished whenever I am hunting and hear some voices from long distances. Don't slam doors. You are going to use sound to attract them, don't make sound that warns them. Don't skyline yourself during the approach; follow edges and hollows.

Toxic is right about magpies. They love to travel with coyotes. If you call one, watch the direction he arrived from very carefully for a while.

We seldom (not never) use howlers; mostly dying rabbit type calls. It seems to us they are much more cautious approaching another coyote sound, but sometimes come on a dead run to a free meal. Sometimes in bunches too. In my experience, all the calls work. We like raspy sounds and loud. Start softly though; they may be just a few yards away if your approach was good. Don't scare them. We will howl to get a response, then move closer to use the rabbit calls if it's possible without exposure.

We call for 30 seconds; wait 5 minutes; call again; wait again. If sign says coyotes, we will stay put for 1/2 hour. If nothing within 15 minutes and we have no confidence, we move. Move far enough (ususally into the wind) that your sound is going into virgin territory. Conditions will make the distance vary. Strong wind is bad calling. A nice breeze makes your scent predictable and calls still carry into it. Hills muffle calls. Calling over a ridge hides your approach, gives good visibility, and allows the call to carry. Stay low on ridges.

Try to blend in, but cammo is not necessary. Stillness is. Any motion will be detected. Break up your outline with bush in front or behind. Stay low and still. I have called coyotes by simply lying down flat on my back in short grass.

When you decide to leave, spend 5 more minutes with binoculars to really examine the country. You will call way more coyotes than you will see. Try not to just educate them.

We think one shot for every three set ups is about average. Of course, we have gone 4 for four or 0 for 6 on any given day. So persistance is important. There must be coyotes nearby; they must not know you are there; they must not have been called before (or at least in the last few weeks. We seldom call from the same spot twice in a year). Get those things right, and they will come to have a look at what is making so much fuss.

[royinidaho]

Big Joe,

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