Montana coyote hunting beginner questions

[RC51kid]

I probably posted almost the same question last year. Laat year was my first attempt ever at coyotes. No luck at all last year but it was still good to get out and try. This year going to try again.

Hunting in westernish montana. Helena, Townsend, south to maybe Whitehall/Butte. Really i will go to where i need to but thats where i am starting. Right now only using hand calls. Just want to try to learn and see if i can call one in.

Last year i learned some basic info. Trying to focuse in now on understanding things better.

My understand is that in Montana breeding season should be about jan-march with the peak being jan-feb. Does that sound right? Does this change the there behavior or what calls i should be using?

I also read pups are born spring (peak mid April). That they dont leave the den for about 4 weeks. I imagine this also changes the coyote behavior.

Let me know if i am off on any of those detials.

But the main thing is i am trying to narrow in on what hand calls to learn and use. First of all for winter (jan, feb maybe march). T hen what would i use for spring.

I would kind of guess i need to know rabbit distress, pup distress, some type of coyote greeting/ social call like a howel and some type of coyote challange or territory challange. Does this sound right or should i focus on different calls?

Also some things i read said start out at softer volume and slowly work you way up.

Also said call about 30-45 seconds, pause about 2 min and repeat. Go about 20 min and then maybe change locations. Does that sound about right?

Going to be on public land. But going try to find land maybe near pivot fields, some open grass lands that should have rodents (all of Montana lol) and water available. Feel like there would need to be some terrain with cover nearby but dont know if that matters.

Let me know if i am off on any of my thinking and point me in the right direction.

 

[coyoteman]

You should start by buying a couple of the Calling All Coyotes DVDs by Randy Anderson , I would go for his earliest ones. Lots of hand calling and lots of good info.

In regards to coyote biology you're on the right track. They keep getting more territorial the closer it gets to the time they drop their pups.

For calls I would have a couple different types of open reed howlers along with various distress. Open reeds can also be used for distress sounds. There isn't a wrong sound, aside from slamming your truck door. Coyotes are curious and will come in to check things out. Dont be afraid to sound different than what everyone else on youtube sounds like..I consistently call in coyotes with prairie dog in distress(electronic call) and the closest prairie dog town is 5 hours away. Learn some different howls and different distress sounds. Fawn in distress is easy and it works...50% of the time, every time haha. You need to master coyote distress sounds though, adult as well as pups.

Time on a stand is not a hard and fast number. The majority of your coyotes are going to respond within 15 minutes. If its the first stand of the morning and winds are light allowing your sound to carry farther, Im giving it more time. Mid day and windy, I'm packing up after 20 minutes and walking farther into an area to get within earshot, if the spot warrants it.

Wind direction should always be on your mind. If you're calling solo you absolutely must try and put yourself into a spot where you can have a visual on your down wind side.

Think about where you're going to park the truck. Low spots and patches of cover to hide the outline are good. By this point in the season the majority of the young stupid coyotes are dead. Hunt smart and keep after it, you'll kill some

Good luck!

 

[Hunterrancher15]

fox pro and hand calls. In my area the females distressed when they are in heat or a distressed rabbit works well. If they don’t come in within 30min we move to the next spot.