Close coyote hunting

Aktion · #1 01-03-2005, 01:53 PM

Hi everyone,

I have been trying to hunt coyote on my land. The major problem is fairly dense woods. My general FOV is no more than 100 yards and in most spots less than 75 yards. I can conceal myself pretty well. I see their tracks all around me, but I can't get anything into view.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

HPBTMTCH · #2 01-03-2005, 07:31 PM

It`s possible they have came in and smelled or seen you somehow. I hunt a good bit on my farm, and it does`nt take but once to educate them. Is it legal to hunt from a treestand? A decoy and a treestand could mean the difference. Change calls, and wait a couple weeks. If you shoot one, that will end calling within at least half a mile for a month. The howl is very effective right now with mating season coming up. Try that. Do you get an answer if you howl? A bunch of squeals and howls might mean they are pups, so only answer with friendly female howls. But if you get one that is alone, or answers out away from the pack, that might be the dominate dog, if he thinks you are another coyote, he HAS to come in to check you out. Remember, he will circle down wind to see who he`s dealing with. Good luck.

Skinny Shooter · #3 01-03-2005, 07:53 PM

Hello Aktion, welcome to the Hood.

Dittos on what HPBTMTCH said.

Aktion · #4 01-04-2005, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HPBTMTCH
It`s possible they have came in and smelled or seen you somehow. I hunt a good bit on my farm, and it does`nt take but once to educate them. Is it legal to hunt from a treestand? A decoy and a treestand could mean the difference. Change calls, and wait a couple weeks. If you shoot one, that will end calling within at least half a mile for a month. The howl is very effective right now with mating season coming up. Try that. Do you get an answer if you howl? A bunch of squeals and howls might mean they are pups, so only answer with friendly female howls. But if you get one that is alone, or answers out away from the pack, that might be the dominate dog, if he thinks you are another coyote, he HAS to come in to check you out. Remember, he will circle down wind to see who he`s dealing with. Good luck.

Thanks for the info. It is OK to use a tree stand, although I like being on the ground, or at least higher ground. I have a few good spots, one of which is on the edge of a swamp with really good cover, but my FOV is barely 90deg. If they circle around, I wont see them.

I will try a decoy.

I have not had any responses form my calls in the woods. But I have sat on my deck at night and called and have got responses.

What about scent block? Is there a specific kind for coyote hunting?

Thanks again.

Rocky Raab · #5 01-04-2005, 03:36 PM

It's my opinion that cover scents are worthless. A coyote can still smell the human scent underneath the cover - just like you could still smell sewage under an air freshener.

The problem may be that you're using the same stands over and over. They already know that when they hear X coming from Y that it's really Z and not a free meal. You be da Z.

They learn quick.

Try a treestand, and an electronic call with a decoy (a rabbit fur or even a stuffed toy) draped over it. Borrow a call if you can't or don't want to buy one. One success and you'll be a confirmed caller, I guarantee.

HPBTMTCH · #6 01-05-2005, 07:58 PM

I have the same opinion on cover scents as rocky. I have also found that you have MUCH more success if there is a coyote close enough to hear your calling. Coyotes have a pretty large range so they may not be home when you call, which means, try going after them the next time they answer. I`ve noticed everyone seems to pay more attenion if they just lit the woods up so you KNOW they are there. How long do you stay? I explain it to guys that want to learn to call like this, say you are in a bar, or at a sporting event, and theres a guy beside you runnin` his mouth. Well, you can take it for a while, but eventually you want to kick his posterior end, lol. So i like to stay for an hour to hour and a half if you are using the howl. I have killed many coyotes after sitting more than an hour, especially this time of year. I started doing this when i would call in the morning with snow on, and come back later in the day to find coyote tracks all over were i was calling.

Aktion · #7 01-06-2005, 07:01 AM

I usually call in the same spot for about 30-45 minutes and if I don't hear anything at all, like leaves and branches cracking, I move to another spot. I will try staying in the same spot the whole time.

I have never got a response from calling in the woods. Usually I hear something circling. I always assume its a coyote. Could probably even be a deer.

When I first got my call, last winter. I sat on my deck and called for about 30 minutes. They started howling back. Although they seemedt to be far away. There was fresh snow on the gound. When I got up the next morning there were tracks all over my yard and a few on my deck.

I'm going to head out today after work. There is some fresh snow now.

I'll let you know the results.

Thanks,

foster · #8 01-06-2005, 11:03 AM

Quote:

. Remember, he will circle down wind to see who he`s dealing with. Good luck.

So how do you stop the coyote from sniffing you out if it circles downwind every time?
Thanks for any and all advice.
I get them howling back at me, even yipping and barking at me, but they don't show themselves. Iknow they're there because their tracks are everywhere in the snow, and I can talk to them! And they talk back!

HPBTMTCH · #9 01-07-2005, 12:01 AM

Thats tough at times. The easiest way is to have 2-300 yards of open ground down wind and shoot him before he crosses the scent stream, but that is`nt very often possible. Next is to get 30 or so feet off the ground in a tree stand, or on a tall hill, they come in a lot better if called up hill anyway. In the woods without a tree stand is very hard to do, i search for natural barriers like a wide stream or a steep cliff so they can`t circle. Another trick is have a buddy set up down wind and kill him as he circles in behind. Coyotes don`t like to be out in the open, so calling along a fence row thats open on both sides, often makes them follow the fence in instead of circling. Foster, try to make the same howls and barks that they are making, that may make them curious or aggitated enough to show themselves.

foster · #10 01-07-2005, 08:05 AM

Thanks very much for those words of wisdom.
I was going to try tomorrow morning with a partner (I've always gone out by myself in the past.) However, my partner has suddenly dumped me in favour of liquor and wymin. (No way he's getting up at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after I heard his plans for Friday night!)
I know of several tree stands that I have permission to use that should allow the varmint to come in along a line of thick woods or a creek that runs down a steep valley. I'll give it a try at dawn. Thanks again. I'll post my results here.

L. Cooper · #11 01-07-2005, 11:13 AM

This will mostly reinforce some of what has already been said, but it is vital to never underestimate the intelligence of coyotes if you want consistent success.

They will always know exactly where the call is coming from. Calling from your deck just to get a response will teach them that the sound that call makes is to be avoided. You will call more coyotes than you see, and the unseen ones become educated ones. Change calls often if calling in the same general location more than once every few weeks. We have come to believe howlers are less effective at getting them to show themselves than are prey type calls. Our theory is they are very cautious respoonding to coyote sounds; often very eager if they think food is on the table.

You cannot prevent them from smelling you, so you must have control of your scent "shadow" including the ability to shoot anything that tries to get downwind. If they can easily get downwind, they will. We have shot many coyotes in that short time when they cross your scent and stop (often very briefly) to figure out what's going on.

If you call in dense cover, you will get some very short shots. Be prepared for fast action, and ALWAYS assume you are being watched. Move very little, and always watch your back (we are much more successful in pairs than alone).

Work with the idea that you must never just educate them in any way. They will figure out any patterns you have, and you will get no real responses once they have made you. If you educate the coyotes of a particular territory, you might as well just move somewhere else for a couple of months.

From your description, Action, I fear that although you haven't seen many coyotes, lots of coyotes have likely seen you.

foster · #12 01-07-2005, 02:42 PM

I'd also love to hear you people's opinions on baits.
For example, I have a rabbit pelt that wasn't killed too long ago and which I purposely left on some meat, even a bit of innards, with the idea of using it as a coyote bait in concert with a rabbit-in-distress call.
I've heard some people say it's useless -- or worse -- to do that, while some others seem to swear by it. Some have told me it's UNETHICAL!
What say you?
Many thanks in advance.
Edited to add that I use a mouth call, in case that makes a difference.

Andy L · #13 01-07-2005, 03:28 PM

I try to set my stand in thick cover where the downwind side is covered where I can see the best. Face it, your scent blows downwind and so does the sound. If the winds blowing much, your sound isnt going to carry very far in any other direction. You may think your calling into the wind, but thats just in your head. It wont go far.

Try hunting more of the edges. Ive found that if you drive into a farm, every coyote in a large distance knows your there. Same if you walk out in the open. I hunt along the roads alot. Park and walk 100 yards or so off the road. Use the road as a barrier. That eliminates them coming in from behind and will help filter him where you want him. Also, calling edges, you can sit your stand where if the coyote wants to circle downwind, hes gonna catch a bullet trying.

Most of the places I call, there are big fields around, but seldom can I see from my stand much, if as far, as you state. I like it thick. I usually am close to the edge or road though, calling them out of the thicket. Calling downwind works great, but even better with a remote.

Scent cover is a joke. Any animal that can smell as good as a coyote is going to think, "hey, this guy got sprayed by a skunk on the way in, tough day."

Baiting, well if you are good and patient. I have thrown out bait and its usually taken at night, the first night. I guess if you are willing to set out and watch it. Alot of farmers have dead piles. Places they drag their dead animals. This is usually a good place to watch from time to time or to call from that area.

Good Luck
Andy

L. Cooper · #14 01-08-2005, 09:37 AM

My theory on baits is similar to Andy's; although dead cows, gut piles, and other baits do attract coyotes, you have to wait until they decide they want to go there which can be a long wait. Calling attracts them NOW, and is a lot more fun.

I think there is merit to decoys in that they will often attract the coyote's attention, and anything that makes him stop paying attention to you, however briefly, is a help. It should be quite visible and "odd" works as well as "real" if you can find something. I have seen them investigate a small rag that moved in the breeze. They are intelligent, and like all intelligent things they can be very curious too.

HPBTMTCH · #15 01-08-2005, 11:30 AM

I always put bait out after the buzzards leave. I get 4 or 5 off them through the winter. It usually takes a good snow to bring them in. I place it in the fields behind the farm where i can watch it while i do chores. I have a night vision rifle scope for when when it`s dark. If you were to wait on a coyote to come to it, you would be in for a long wait. Of course, they may have learned there is no free meal here, lol.