Coyotes

[HOT ROD]

I am new to coyote hunting. I have managed to get two so far. But I am looking for any tips that can help... I use a fox pro as my caller. Most of the time I start with a prey sound.. Mainly cotton tail jack rabbit or lightning jack. I let the caller play for 5 to 7 min. Give it a few min break. Then play sum coyote vocals. Female barks or long howls.. Then finish with coyote pup distress or platinum grey fox... What other sound would be good? I let the caller play steady with prey sounds. Is this good or bad? How long do U give a stand? When is the coyote breading season. And what is good sounds to use then. There has been a couple of times. When they would hand up. Way out there. And just bark and carry on. What sounds to play then? What are they say in to me? Thanks for any help U can give...

 

[nwbow87]

Randy Anderson has some great DVD's, that Primos produced. Great advice for beginners. They usually pup out in the Springtime. Territorial calls work okay, but the parents are more likely to hang back to protect the pups. Mid spring is good for the young dogs, as they have been kicked out and are wandering. Depends if you want to hunt fur, or are trying to depredate. Timber dogs are different than Prairie yotes IMO, given the terrain and Hunting conditions for them.
If you are already bagging them, I'd say build on that foundation. Knowledge is power.
Good hunting.

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[mcseal2]

Breeding season starts now, about half the coyotes I've seen in the last 2 weeks have been paired up.

You are onto some good sounds. I hunt in the Midwest where coyotes get pretty call shy and I have had better luck with high pitched rabbit sounds or bird sounds than the jackrabbit or adult cottontail sounds. I think I get more coyotes to respond to my mouth calls but hunting alone I kill more using an electronic call and decoy. It keeps the coyote's attention off me when I need to move a bit to get the gun on them.

I am doing better this year than I have on several past years, despite not hunting mornings much. Before returning to ranching full time and having to feed cattle every morning, I used to have my best luck calling from daylight until 10am. Evenings it seems the last hour of daylight is best, so the window is shorter. This year I started worrying much less about how much country I can see, and more about how I can set up without being seen or heard. In more open spots, especially higher on hills, setting up the decoy and call where they can be seen means I have to make myself visible. Calling coyotes from lower elevation spots where I can't see as far lets me set up where I can't be seen from as far either.

Once I have my spot picked I try to get in and set up as quietly as possible and keep all my movements slow. I get to my spot I'll call from that usually has a bit of cover and get my FoxPro and decoy (if I use a separate one) out of my pack and ready for use. I then slip them into a spot where a coyote coming directly in or circling downwind will give me a good shot. I get back to my calling location and if it's necessary I use my rangefinder to determine where 250yds is in all directions a yote might come from. Lots of places I call I can't see that far (or be seen from that far). All my yote guns are zeroed so I don't need to worry about hold-over until I'm past 250yds, but I have to start adjusting pretty quick after that. My AR is only pushing a 55gr V max 2962fps, my 243 pushes a 90gr Accubond at 3028fps. Some others I use shoot flatter, but all are good to 250 so I want to know where that is. The ones pushing an explosive bullet much faster will likely wreck a bobcat so that's something to consider too. I'll never try taking another cat with a 75gr V max at 3450fps, I know that.

I have started using a quiet mouth call for my first series, usually a Primos Catnip or Verminator Tweety, and then giving it a minute of silence. I have whatever decoy I'm using, the one built into my FoxPro or my Mojo critter going before I start calling. The Mojo is taller and more visible if there is much vegetation. If I get a response to the mouth call hopefully they haven't pinpointed my location with just one series and will look at the decoy. After that series I start a pre-programmed series on my FoxPro. The ones I've had the best luck with lately start with a young cottontail or bird distress for 12 minutes and end with 3 minutes of pup distress. I have 20-40 second pauses built into the series between calls. Bobcat supposedly lose interest easily so I keep my pauses fairly short in case I'm lucky enough to interest one of them.

 

[mcseal2]

I try to use good camo and match it to my surroundings as well as I can. I like Mossy Oak brush, Cabelas Outfitter camo, and Kryptek Highlander the best. I have a mesh Natural Gear leafy coat that I throw over the top if there is enough wind that the vegetation is all moving. I cut the coat's sleeves off at the elbow so the leaves don't get in my way for anything I'm doing with my hands, and trimmed some leaves off the hood and neck area so they don't bug me. I missed a 30yd opportunity on a yote in a tournament a couple years ago from a string off a ghilly suit getting in my AR's action when I chambered a round in the dark that morning. Camo like that is great if it doesn't impede mobility or visibility but I mostly avoid it now.

 

[PathFinder]

Personally I quit calling by Christmas. But here's the things I think are critical.
1. Find a good area. Zero other hunters, lots of dogs, and good terrain conducive to calling.
2. Set up right. Hide the truck (but don't waste time walking too far to stands). Know exactly what the wind is doing. Camo up an lay back rather than sitting straight up.
3. I only ever use distress sounds. Mostly cottontail, some rodent, and some pup distress.
4. Use a shotgun, and spend some time and money patterning it. Mine accounts for 80% of my kills.
5. Don't kill them until they're in your lap, start turning to leave, sit down, or circle downwind.
6. Go a ton. It will probably suck and be frustrating for a while.

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[HOT ROD]

It is hard hunting them alone. They always seam to be try in to get the wind. And they don't wont to stop. To put a good shot on them. So try in to stop call or switch sound. They will spot my movement. I live in Casper Wy. And its flat most of the areas that I hunt. There is sum big draws. So its hard to hide the truck.. So I hunt the draws. But if coyote comes from a different draw he will probably see the truck. Any one have a clue what them coyotes are say in. When they hang up and bark and carry on. Is it they know U are there. Or they call shy? What sounds to use then. Try sum barks back. Sum aggressive howls? Lately I have been using snow camo. Thanks every one...

 

[mcseal2]

Usually when they sit down and bark they aren't coming closer. They are suspicious or not that interested. Once I got a big male by challenge howling at him after he did that, but it usually doesn't work.

That's my experience anyway. If there is a shot when they sit down I take it. If it's a long shot that allows for the most elevation error of any shot angle you'll get, more vertical target. Only exception is if they are constantly looking back like another yote is following.

 

[JO.]

I almost always use my mouth calls in conjunction with my foxpro. I generally start with the mouth call and then play the fox pro off and on for a couple minutes at a time. The mouth calls are easy to learn how to use and will always present a different sound/volume than a electronic call. Most areas I hunt have educated dogs so I have better luck throwing in sequences with the mouth call to give them some variety they might not have heard.

 

[HOT ROD]

Thanks every one...

 

[mcseal2]

It is hard hunting them alone. They always seam to be try in to get the wind. And they don't wont to stop. To put a good shot on them. So try in to stop call or switch sound. They will spot my movement. I live in Casper Wy. And its flat most of the areas that I hunt. There is sum big draws. So its hard to hide the truck.. So I hunt the draws. But if coyote comes from a different draw he will probably see the truck. Any one have a clue what them coyotes are say in. When they hang up and bark and carry on. Is it they know U are there. Or they call shy? What sounds to use then. Try sum barks back. Sum aggressive howls? Lately I have been using snow camo. Thanks every one...

Try setting a decoy up to help steer the coyote to where you can get a shot, and to where you have a clear shot to the downwind side of the decoy. They might be seeing your truck or figuring out something is up if they are stopping and barking. Remember wind can funnel down the draws and be different than the prevailing wind above. Thermals from the ground heating and cooling morning and night can get you in trouble too.

Often I can stop a coyote by barking without a call, just using my voice. If that doesn't work I try a howl, it doesn't have to sound good just make them curious. Have the crosshairs on them when you try to stop them they might not stop for long.

 

[HOT ROD]

I made my own decoy. I haven't tried it yet. Its just a stick fishing line swivel and a feather....

 

[mcseal2]

That is often enough. I have a similar one I use at times, two turkey tail feathers taped up in a V shape with fishing line tied to the junction where they are taped. A swivel is tied in line, and I have a clip on the other end I can attach to a limb. It gives me elevation to make the decoy visible when one on the ground wouldn't be, and with the V shape it really gets to jumping and swirling in the wind. Very lightweight too.

 

[mcseal2]

Well I went out to try to call a coyote or fill a doe tag about 2 today. I made a couple sets calling then got into the place I wanted to take a doe at about 4pm. No luck calling early, but the high was in the single digits and I think the yotes are moving until about 10am and holding tight until near dark now. Anyway I jumped 6 does getting into my spot from a strip of grass by a pond that they don't normally hold in, must have been up there sunning in the cold. They ran toward the Interstate Highway that borders the north side of the property and stopped at 300yds in the perfect spot below the ridge where I could shoot safely. Only problem was the older doe I wanted to shoot had the hindquarters of the smallest doe right behind her vitals. I passed on that and watched them run off. I went in to the spot I planned on sitting until dark and settled in. At 5:25 I saw a coyote come over the hill and watched him come toward me. As he approached he took 3 big bounces in the air like he was hunting mice and then sprinted off the hill toward the timber. I saw 6 white flags from deer go tearing off away from my position into the timber. I thought you screwed my deer hunt after I sat out here in single digit temps and wind, I'm smoking you! I had a mouth call still in my pocket from earlier, so I blew a few quiet notes and a pair of coyotes came in. I'm not sure that the coyote I saw originally really intended to chase deer, or if it just spooked the deer meeting up with the other coyote. Anyway they both came toward me on the opposite side of a netting sheep fence and before the leading one reached the point it would have winded me I barked to stop it and took the shot. I dropped it and heard the hit, immediately swung to the second one. It stopped at 300yds for a second and I missed it.

I have always been very good at keeping my adrenaline/breathing down to make a shot before getting excited. What has been bothering me recently is that I have missed several 2nd shots that aren't easy but are 50/50 shots after the adrenaline dump hits from my first shot connecting. It's not an issue hunting big game, but I think it might become one hunting predators. I almost never miss my first shot and kill one, but have missed 2 quick follow up shots in a row at longer dogs that make a brief stop while the adrenaline has me shaking a bit. I'd take any advice on this.

Lastly, the Sirocco 100gr from my 25-06 at 3187fps did an excellent job on the first 200yd coyote. It dropped in it's tracks and the exit wound was the size of the tip of my pinky finger. I'll take that size exit on a yote to hopefully prevent a blowout on a cat. If I ever call in a cat while carrying that rifle I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[HOT ROD]

My coyote gun is a Remington at 15 223. First coyote I shot was with a 65 grain sierra game king. Shoots really well on paper. It tore my first coyote up. Reloaded sum sierra 55 grain blitz. They shot well and just a 22 cal hole in and nothing out. I all so tried sum 64 grain Berger. They didn't shoot to well. I really didn't mess with them to much. I only tried one powder. I want to shoot a little heavier bullet. Because the wind all ways blows here in Casper. I will work on a load for my model 7 youth 243 for next year...

 

[7stw]

I am new to coyote hunting. I have managed to get two so far. But I am looking for any tips that can help... I use a fox pro as my caller. Most of the time I start with a prey sound.. Mainly cotton tail jack rabbit or lightning jack. I let the caller play for 5 to 7 min. Give it a few min break. Then play sum coyote vocals. Female barks or long howls.. Then finish with coyote pup distress or platinum grey fox... What other sound would be good? I let the caller play steady with prey sounds. Is this good or bad? How long do U give a stand? When is the coyote breading season. And what is good sounds to use then. There has been a couple of times. When they would hand up. Way out there. And just bark and carry on. What sounds to play then? What are they say in to me? Thanks for any help U can give...

They will breed late January through early to mid February. I use more coyote vocals this time of year. Primarily interrogation howls to start a set then prey distress. And end with a pup frenzy. I use hand calls or diaphragm calls to make most all of my coyote vocals. Mfk makes great diaphragm calls but when I first started I used double reed elk calls with good success. I howl from the roads near where I'm wanting to hunt at night to locate some. It doesn't matter how "gamey" an area looks if there aren't any there you can't kill any there.

Hunt the wind and try to always keep the sun at your back. I use some chicken feathers on an alligator clip with a fishing swivel and let the wind move it. I also use a primos battery operated one in conjunction. Fawn distress works well for a prey sound and when hunting close to a farmstead or town kitten or dog distress work good as well. Coyotes are smart in the natural world no prey animal cries nonstop for minutes straight I use silence intermittently.

We hunt several tournaments this time of year and rarely use any prey sounds during those primarily just howls and female whimpers. A lot of guys start their volume way too loud even when windy on an e caller IMHO.

Those dogs that are hanging up smell or sense a "rat". I shoot a 220 swift some but mostly my 7mm-08 ackley and will use my 28nosler or 7stw as well and can kill them at distance if need be and always range some landmarks before calling to up my odds of a hit. They do some damage. The furs get nice here but aren't really worth much this year. Work the terrain and stay after them especially if you keep experimenting with different tactics. Called a triple in the other day and got lucky and killed a double with the swift.

Killed this female that had a vole in her mouth when she came trotting in. Only used coyote sounds on both hunts never turned a prey distress on.

The 28 with 175gn accubonds left a hell of a hole.


Sent from NSA wire tapped device.

 

[Wileycoyote]

.243 w 87gr vmax, not very pelt friendly. I bought some 58gr but haven't got around to reloading them yet.

 

[HOT ROD]

I had a good calling day today... Nothing to show for it though.. I missed two times. Made 4 stands and got shots at two dogs. On two stands. Both those stands were started with female long howls. And rite away I got howls rite back. Sat for a few minutes and started a couple barks. Then I waited five minutes and went to snow shoe. He came charge in rite in... Second stand was just female long howls and sum barks... Now if the nut behind the gun can shoootem....

 

[mcseal2]

Congratulations, even when the shots don't hit its exciting and rewarding to see them come in.

Coyotes aren't a huge target. If you see a skinned or mangy one, there isn't much to them without hair. Add in the excitement of one charging you and everyone misses sometimes. Best advice I can give is keep the scope on it's lowest power unless the situation makes a long shot likely. Let them come in close, but don't pass shots you know you can make either. I've let them get to close and had to take a running shot as they left instead of a 100yd standing shot. If I get a good chance with time to get steady within 150 I'll usually take it personally.

I zero my coyote guns using Hornady's ballistic calculator. I see where they need to be at 100yds to hit a max height of 2.8", meaning the highest the bullet will rise before starting to drop is 2.8". I hold low on the chest, like heart shooting a deer, if I know the shot is less than 200yds. If I think its 200 out to 250 I hold center of chest. Past that it depends on what I'm shooting. I shoot a lot of coyotes out of the feed truck and don't have time to range them, this is what I found works for me to make shots fastest. Since I've been used to it for years I use it on all my rifles anymore. Knowing your actual velocity helps, factory ammo rarely shoots as fast as the box says it should, and reloading manuals often show velocities my handloads don't reach.

We have had rain off and on the last couple days, muddy as heck and not good calling conditions. I've been working on rifle loads. I had decided to go with the 90gr Nosler Accubond factory ammo in my 243 I use calling but now it's unavailable from the place I'd been buying it. I figured I'd use the time to work up handloads and shoot between showers. I got one shooting darn good with an 85gr Speer SPBT, the worst group it produced was 4 shots in .7". The others have all been under .5". The chronograph gave me a pleasant surprise also, at .5gr under the max load of H4350 it was averaging 3333fps from my 23" barrel. That's darn good speed, 300fps faster than the 90gr factory load and more accurate! The BC of the Speer is pretty darn good too at .404. Should be a great windy day coyote gun, just hope it doesn't put the hole in them that the 87gr V max shown above does. Getting good speed from a light deer bullet was always my goal with this rifle when I had it built, finally found it.

Tomorrow afternoon if we aren't busy with the mud I plan to pattern my 870 12 gauge with the 3 brands of #4 buck I bought. I thought my old turkey gun would make the perfect predator shotgun but it hit really high with everything I tried in it. I don't turkey hunt anymore so I figured I'd just as well make the gun good for something I do hunt. I bought a 20" Rem-Choke barrel for it with adjustable rifle sights on it, and a Carlson's choke tube made for coyotes. I figure I'll pattern all 3 buckshots on cardboard and adjust the sights to match whatever the best one is. Should work.

I'm getting practiced up and everything dialed in as much as possible. A friend asked me to hunt a tournament with him next month. He works at the parts store in the town he lives by, plus day works for the ranches so he has lots of great ground to hunt. He hasn't shot his rifle yet this year and doesn't know if he'll have time so I'm taking him one. I'll take the shotgun, DPMS Prairie Panther AR, custom 204 AR built for the 45gr Hornady SP bullets I like, and 243. What we use will depend on the spot. Real tight spots we'll have the shotgun and an AR, normal spots we'll have both AR's, and open country we'll have the 204 AR and 243. With the contest if we call in several in a spot I really want to have the chance to take multiple coyotes so I want an AR on all sets. Coyotes should all be paired up by then also so multiple are likely. Nothing I have beats the bigger bolt gun for long shots and a missed coyote or one hit and lost doesn't count. Bobcats count also so I want to have a small gun on all sets to not destroy one if we are lucky enough to get one in. I hope my new 243 load won't destroy a cat, but if I have the choice between the 204 and 243 I'd much rather shoot one with the little gun.

 

[KClark]

Not an expert but a few things that work for me are:

When using an electronic caller start out with the volume pretty low, too loud and it will blast away the dogs that are close by.

Stick with one sound for at least 30 minutes, if nothing comes by then usually doesn't hurt to change up.

Stay on the stand 45 minutes. This is a tough one for me, I get bored.

Keep your gun shouldered and pointed in the direction most likely to produce a yote, bipods and shooting sticks are your friends. Coyotes are really good at catching movement.

There's nothing like getting out there and making noise, you can't get'em from the couch.

Good luck!