Getting coyotes to commit

[omicron1792]

Yeah I have severely miscalculated how far they will circle the downwind side. I plan to start setting up for the crosswind moving forward

I too hunt heavily wooded areas with some small openings. They feel safe in the woods and not in the open. It’s just a lot different than people that hunt coyotes out on open prairies.

I kill a bunch of them right at the wood line. My philosophy is ABS (always be scanning). They might give 5-10 seconds max as they come to field edge and look at what’s making the noise. Yes, sometimes they come out to caller and those are easy ones. Most are killed right there at edge of woods peaking out at the caller.

EDIT: the more I think about this it’s almost two different types of hunting. People in big open fields often talk of success calling in coyotes, but they might see them at 500 yards running in, and shoot them at 250.

The coyotes are running towards our callers in wooded areas in same way. We just can’t see them. We don’t have opportunity for shot at 250 yards. My guess is those same coyotes in prairies would check up the closer they get to the caller too.

 

[omicron1792]

I've read their night vision is actually pretty good so it may help on the ones we haven't spotted yet that are observing the field before coming in.

I’ve killed a bunch walking in. There is often one sitting watching the field as I walk in. I walk with rifle attached to tripod over my shoulder and scanning with other hand. That way if one is in field I drop tripod and ready to shoot.

 

[waspocrew]

Have you had good luck with them at night? I've considered getting one but haven't bit the bullet yet

Don’t use a motion decoy at night unless you are ok with an owl stealing it. I get birds flying into my call all the time. Motion decoy can be helpful during the day though.

Night hunting is tough. I’ll have the same thing happen - vocal and they just hang up. I’m still trying to figure it out, but it’s been fun either way.

 

[omicron1792]

I've read their night vision is actually pretty good so it may help on the ones we haven't spotted yet that are observing the field before coming in.

You not using thermal?

 

[omicron1792]

Don’t use a motion decoy at night unless you are ok with an owl stealing it. I get birds flying into my call all the time. Motion decoy can be helpful during the day though.

Night hunting is tough. I’ll have the same thing happen - vocal and they just hang up. I’m still trying to figure it out, but it’s been fun either way.

Man it’s addictive. I have failure more than success. But the rush when they come barreling toward a call is one of my fave hunting moments.

 

[KurtR]

We just went to rabbit distress and it has been best for us up here. Then pup in distress when we shoot on gets the others to come back and take a look

 

[TxLite]

I’ve killed a bunch walking in. There is often one sitting watching the field as I walk in. I walk with rifle attached to tripod over my shoulder and scanning with other hand. That way if one is in field I drop tripod and ready to shoot.

I haven't killed any in the walk in but I generally do spot checks with the scanner as I walk then do a good scan of the field before we step into it to get to the edge and set up. I often see pigs and deer on the walk in (pigs are not legal to shoot at night in this particular location) but haven't spotted a coyote yet doing this. When we hunt the bigger open corn fields its a different story and have spotted them in the distance on the walk in.

You not using thermal?

I'm using thermal and have a scanner. I generally scan the entire time then jump on the rifle when I see something that needs a hole poked in it.

But the piney woods of Texas are thick with underbrush and yaupon so there is always a chance that they hang up in the brush or behind a thick pine tree where I can't see them, but they could potentially see the field

 

[TxLite]

I kill a bunch of them right at the wood line. My philosophy is ABS (always be scanning). They might give 5-10 seconds max as they come to field edge and look at what’s making the noise. Yes, sometimes they come out to caller and those are easy ones. Most are killed right there at edge of woods peaking out at the caller.

This aligns with what we've seen as well. We've killed a few that came to the caller, but most seem to stop at the edge of the woods and inspect the field. They are not keen to coming out of the heavy stuff

 

[TxLite]

Don’t use a motion decoy at night unless you are ok with an owl stealing it. I get birds flying into my call all the time. Motion decoy can be helpful during the day though.

Night hunting is tough. I’ll have the same thing happen - vocal and they just hang up. I’m still trying to figure it out, but it’s been fun either way.

Hadn't considered this but it makes sense. I have had owls swoop the call at night and hawks during the day