Educating coyotes/ overhunting sets

[Wiscohunter1234]

Pretty new to thermal coyote hunting in WI, how long does it take to make a coyote educated to my calls, I know there around I just can’t get them to come in! So I’m worried I’m just making it harder on myself by being a newbie caller and educating them. Also how often can you go back to the same spot and call if you have or haven’t shot a coyote out of there?

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

In my experience it is once they get shot at…

 

[Skerhunter]

Once they wind you that specific spot is pretty much done (for those dogs). Good clue is if they start barking at you during the stand (playing distress not vocals or pup distress) or on your way in. If that happens i won’t set up in that exact spot again until i kill that coyote.

Pressured/educated ones like to use terrain/cover to circle hundreds of yards down wind, so if your stands aren’t set up right you will never see them. They also don’t like to come in if they don’t think they have that advantage. Sometimes stand location is more important than what sound you use.

However you can call the same spots over and over killing multiple coyotes throughout the year. If a spots dry tonight I’ll keep going back every time the wind allows me to, until I shoot one. If I shoot all of them or some, then I usually give it a couple weeks off before I try again (let more move into area).

But just because you call a spot and don’t see anything doesn’t mean you educated them. They just might not be there right then or they are being lazy and dont care about your calls.

 

[Coleredding00]

In my experience it is once they get shot at…

Do you think that they have the mental capacity to know that the sound of a bullet was a threat? Genuine question, but that doesn’t seem to be my experience. Sure it’s jarring and scares them because it is a loud noise but i don’t think they understand that it was danger. I think calling them up and getting winded teaches them more than shooting at one and missing personally. And i hunt public land in Utah so they’ve probably all been shot at or busted someone. I used to never shoot until they got inside 200 yards but anymore if they hang up inside 700 they’re getting shot at. I will likely never call the same dog twice even if i go back to the same area multiple times a year. Hell in November i called up 14 dogs in 2 nights running the same set of stands 3 days apart, running the same sounds.

 

[Wiscohunter1234]

Once they wind you that specific spot is pretty much done (for those dogs). Good clue is if they start barking at you during the stand (playing distress not vocals or pup distress) or on your way in. If that happens i won’t set up in that exact spot again until i kill that coyote.

Pressured/educated ones like to use terrain/cover to circle hundreds of yards down wind, so if your stands aren’t set up right you will never see them. They also don’t like to come in if they don’t think they have that advantage. Sometimes stand location is more important than what sound you use.

However you can call the same spots over and over killing multiple coyotes throughout the year. If a spots dry tonight I’ll keep going back every time the wind allows me to, until I shoot one. If I shoot all of them or some, then I usually give it a couple weeks off before I try again (let more move into area).

But just because you call a spot and don’t see anything doesn’t mean you educated them. They just might not be there right then or they are being lazy and dont care about your calls.

That was the exact answer I was looking to get thank you much brother!

 

[SupressYourself]

Do you think that they have the mental capacity to know that the sound of a bullet was a threat? Genuine question, but that doesn’t seem to be my experience. Sure it’s jarring and scares them because it is a loud noise but i don’t think they understand that it was danger. I think calling them up and getting winded teaches them more than shooting at one and missing personally. And i hunt public land in Utah so they’ve probably all been shot at or busted someone. I used to never shoot until they got inside 200 yards but anymore if they hang up inside 700 they’re getting shot at. I will likely never call the same dog twice even if i go back to the same area multiple times a year. Hell in November i called up 14 dogs in 2 nights running the same set of stands 3 days apart, running the same sounds.

I agree that getting winded is the worst, followed by getting seen. However, if you miss, they almost always haul ass away. They wouldn't be doing that if they didn't perceive the shot as "danger".
I think coyotes, like dogs, learn from positive and negative reinforcement. If they come to check out a dying bunny and have a negative experience, they are going to be less apt to check out the next dying bunny. Now how long does a single negative experience stick in their brain? Who knows...
On the flip side, there are a number of different sounds that can call in a coyote. One that may be bunny shy, could come on a run to a coyote fight.

 

[SupressYourself]

Pretty new to thermal coyote hunting in WI, how long does it take to make a coyote educated to my calls, I know there around I just can’t get them to come in! So I’m worried I’m just making it harder on myself by being a newbie caller and educating them. Also how often can you go back to the same spot and call if you have or haven’t shot a coyote out of there?

You're not likely educating them if you're not getting winded. It's possible they could already be educated, or just weren't there when you were. Coyotes typically have a home range of several square miles. So if it looks like a good spot, keep going back when the conditions are right and try different sounds until you find them, or you've done it enough to realize it's not as good a spot as you thought.

 

[Coleredding00]

I agree that getting winded is the worst, followed by getting seen. However, if you miss, they almost always haul ass away. They wouldn't be doing that if they didn't perceive the shot as "danger".
I think coyotes, like dogs, learn from positive and negative reinforcement. If they come to check out a dying bunny and have a negative experience, they are going to be less apt to check out the next dying bunny. Now how long does a single negative experience stick in their brain? Who knows...
On the flip side, there are a number of different sounds that can call in a coyote. One that may be bunny shy, could come on a run to a coyote fight.

I am sure it doesn't come across as a "positive" experience. And undoubtedly they learn from the experience. i just think that its the lesser of the three evils out of being saw/ smelled, and at this point I am willing to take long shots and not feel guilty of "educating" them.

If there is one thing that thermal hunting has taught me, its that there is almost always a coyote within earshot unless you are in an are devoid of resources. More often than not i will see a dog on a stand. I have spots that I can go see 15-20 dogs in a night, but they wont respond or come in. Most of the time they will howl back, but you can play any sound under the sun and they wont come in. Sometimes its at 1500+ yards, others I have had dogs at 500 yards mousing in the sagebrush and they wont even lift their head to the call. Later in the year it gets worse so education is likely a factor. About this time of year if i am not willing to take 3-400 yard shots, I likely wont get a shot at all. They will come check it out from a distance and never come in, or they will make a loop 3-400 yards away to get to wind. its unfortunate that September and October are two of my favorite months to call, because I am usually tied up with big game hunts and the patience of my loving wife, although lengthy is not endless....