Coyote behavior

[jds holler]

I'll tell ya something that was a real game changer for our calling success, is head-gear. My favorite is the old camo mosquito net type. literally a camo net bag over your head. We cut eye holes and mouth hole. Then a camo cap to keep the net oriented. This totally breaks up the outline of your head which is what coyotes identify you by. They aren't exactly fun to wear, but we soon found them to work so well that the discomfort is worth it.

We learned how well they work when we'd be walking from the truck to a calling stand. Sometimes we'd flush a coyote from his bed as we walked up a gully or draw. Instead of immediately bee-lining out of Dodge and barely exposing themselves, the coyotes would often take their time, and look back trying to figure out just what we were. Several of them have stopped within easy rifle range, and gave us their pelt. jd

 

[Plumsask]

I'm an avid coyote hunter and live where I'm surrounded by 10,000 square miles of coyote hunting ground and could hunt here 10 yrs and never hunt the same stand twice and I try not to.

I read here about folks building rifle that will kill coyotes out to the next county. Why?

If a called coyote will commit to 500 yards why not to 300, 200, 100, 50? What causes them to hang up?

I see photos of a well known predator hunter hunting wide open country and taking a lot of coyotes with a shotgun. What do you think his secret is?

Your thoughts.

We hunt very flat open prairies in Southern Saskatchewan, si etudes a coyote will make you before he closes the distance, sometimes they don't commit and won't come all the way in. For the reasons listed that's why I've built a rifle capable to 800 yards or so. My furthest to date coyote is only 656 yards

 

[jds holler]

We hunt very flat open prairies in Southern Saskatchewan, si etudes a coyote will make you before he closes the distance, sometimes they don't commit and won't come all the way in. For the reasons listed that's why I've built a rifle capable to 800 yards or so. My furthest to date coyote is only 656 yards

Yeah, a point that should be made about the long range thing, is that there's a big difference between shooting 6 or 8 hundred yards from the bench, and being able to do it from a pair of shooting sticks on the windy prairie. I know I don't have what it takes, but I won't say that some a ya don't.

Back in my coyote killinest days, the fur was valuable, so we didn't want to blow them up with a powerful rifle. 222's and shotguns were our arsenal, and I've only killed a few that were much over 200 yards.

I've gotta say that everybody who's never skinned a coyote thinks they're twice as big as they actually are. jd

 

[searcher]

Shooting long shot equates to ego and a lack of hunting ability.

Why shoot anything a long ways off other than that?

I hunt these days with a 22 Creedmoor which is very capable of taking long coyote shots. Having the ability and experience to shoot a coyote at 400 plus yards is a great tool to have but I’d rather and most often get them closer.

Most of the time, in my opinion anyway, if a coyote hangs up at a quarter mile or more it’s already seen something it doesn’t like.

There are a significant number of long-range hunters of coyotes and other varmints who just happen to be extremely skilled hunters who also enjoy shooting from afar when the conditions exist to make that the preferred shot. I'd certainly not think of them as egotists who lack hunting ability.

So - "why shoot anything a long-ways off?" You answered part of it in your last sentence about coyotes hanging up. A lot of us are out there hunting them not for sport - but to eradicate them with purpose. And for some of us, that means taking that 1/4 mile shot. For us, these are not "sporting clays" rounds.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I thinks it is a lot about how you set up. I live in the Nevada desert and still have em come in close. If you set up on a hill looking over big areas without a lot of cover like on TV, then yeah you call dogs from far that spot you first. Makes for exciting calling footage. I focus on draws and canyons at the base of or in the mountains rather than big open creosote areas. People pass by the thicker areas cuz they can't see far enough, but that means they can't see you either. I like when there is no way they can see me until they are within range. A draw is perfect or get up into the pinyon and juniper. Id rather setup my rifle to maximize the easy shot from 10 feet to 300 yards than compromise the easy shots just in case one hangs up at 500+ which I am far more likely to miss.

 

[xswanted]

There are a significant number of long-range hunters of coyotes and other varmints who just happen to be extremely skilled hunters who also enjoy shooting from afar when the conditions exist to make that the preferred shot. I'd certainly not think of them as egotists who lack hunting ability.

So - "why shoot anything a long-ways off?" You answered part of it in your last sentence about coyotes hanging up. A lot of us are out there hunting them not for sport - but to eradicate them with purpose. And for some of us, that means taking that 1/4 mile shot. For us, these are not "sporting clays" rounds.

“Long range hunters”

The oxymoron of oxymorons.

Dont get me wrong, I have and will shoot coyotes at long range. It’s fun to know you can do it when the opportunities arise.

But it’s ego that does that. Sense of self. Not arrogance or “egoists”. I know I can do it, I know my rifle can do it and I have the knowledge and confidence from previous experiences to make it happen.

But for the most part anyone, who chooses to “long range hunt” or “shoot” moreover, is doing it as part of, we’ll say “inflated modesty”, to make everyone feel better.

It’s not something that screams humility.

To each their own.

I’ve done both. I prefer calling them in close to shooting them at long range. Not “sporting clays” close, I like rifles.

These days the majority of coyotes I shoot are bedded. I hunt flat open country in Eastern ND so sneaking is a challenge, and a flat shooting rifle certainly helps. Lots of shots end up being in the 300-450 yards.

Maybe it’s my own lack of ability that I can’t get closer. Could be. Maybe the best sneaker of coyotes out there can get closer than me and tell me I’m shooting too far. Or suck at sneaking up on stiff. But it’s the most enjoyable way of hunting them for me. Snowshoes, wide open pasture and snow banks with bedded coyotes.

Yes please.

Im not sure why anyone would want to eradicate coyotes. Then what would we hunt? Deer? Boring.

 

[1lessdog]

I'm an avid coyote hunter and live where I'm surrounded by 10,000 square miles of coyote hunting ground and could hunt here 10 yrs and never hunt the same stand twice and I try not to.

I read here about folks building rifle that will kill coyotes out to the next county. Why?

If a called coyote will commit to 500 yards why not to 300, 200, 100, 50? What causes them to hang up?

I see photos of a well known predator hunter hunting wide open country and taking a lot of coyotes with a shotgun. What do you think his secret is?

Your thoughts.

I have hunted the same spots for 45 yrs. Most I will hit at least 3 or 4 times a year. And many I will kill one or two each time I call them. Coyotes move into areas when other leave.

I built a 22-6MM AI and 6MM AI just for Coyotes. I like speed and very little hold over and to me they are the best calibers for me.

I will let Coyotes come in as close as they can. If they hang up under 450 yds there in trouble.

Yes on video they shoot them with shotguns. What your not seeing is hr and hrs or days of calling before you may get one with shotgun. And there is lots of editing.

 

[searcher]

“Long range hunters”

The oxymoron of oxymorons.

Dont get me wrong, I have and will shoot coyotes at long range. It’s fun to know you can do it when the opportunities arise.

But it’s ego that does that. Sense of self. Not arrogance or “egoists”. I know I can do it, I know my rifle can do it and I have the knowledge and confidence from previous experiences to make it happen.

But for the most part anyone, who chooses to “long range hunt” or “shoot” moreover, is doing it as part of, we’ll say “inflated modesty”, to make everyone feel better.

It’s not something that screams humility.

To each their own.

I’ve done both. I prefer calling them in close to shooting them at long range. Not “sporting clays” close, I like rifles.

These days the majority of coyotes I shoot are bedded. I hunt flat open country in Eastern ND so sneaking is a challenge, and a flat shooting rifle certainly helps. Lots of shots end up being in the 300-450 yards.

Maybe it’s my own lack of ability that I can’t get closer. Could be. Maybe the best sneaker of coyotes out there can get closer than me and tell me I’m shooting too far. Or suck at sneaking up on stiff. But it’s the most enjoyable way of hunting them for me. Snowshoes, wide open pasture and snow banks with bedded coyotes.

Yes please.

Im not sure why anyone would want to eradicate coyotes. Then what would we hunt? Deer? Boring.

Yes, the shooting sports are competitive by nature, including trophy hunting. I hunted big game for years almost exclusively until I found that while I do like hunting, I like it a lot more when there is shooting involved in each hunting day - and preferably a lot of it. Nowadays, my perfect "hunt" is blasting ground squirrels and coyotes. On a good squirrel hunt, I can get in the equivalent shooting of a dozen F-Class or bench rest matches in one day - and have live targets that are in need of eradication - though that is a pretty loose term and only pertinent to the immediate area we shoot. Like the whack-a-mole, new ones appear in short order.

 

[searcher]

I think there are really only a handful of important things to know to be successful in calling them in close. Being in a good spot. The more spoor - the better, not sky-lining ones-self on a hill - sit against a tree or brush if you can. Have the sun to your back if possible and be sure you are downwind. Don't move around - and if one must move, do it extremely slowly. Make sure you don't slam the door getting out of the truck and that the truck is a good way from where you will be calling. Getting busted by coyotes almost always comes as a result of them seeing you move, smelling you or hearing you. Never set your caller up right in front of you. Set it well off to the side of, and away from you. Use a caller with remote control to change sounds and volume. Don't over-call by broadcasting non-stop sounds. Allow up to 30 seconds to a minute of silence between sequences. Use a distractor like the motorized "twitching magpie", set up near the caller speaker. Those do a great job of focusing the attention to near where they hear the sound. Unless you move and they detect you in their periphery, they will usually come in. If you find that they are all hanging up and you aren't doing anything wrong, sometimes it is because they have become "educated" from you or others calling.

I used to wear head-to-toe camouflage, sprayed scent killer on clothing and did all the things one is usually told to do. I rarely do any of that anymore as if one has a motorized detractor and puts the calling speaker off to the side, they will rarely see you (regardless of what you are wearing) unless you move or they can hear you move or smell you. Even though you may be in the open just sitting there in plain view, they are keenly focused on where the sound is coming from and the motion of the detractor. If you use a mouth call, you need to be as rigid as a tree or they will see you from great distance. Camo helps with the mouth call. In my experience, if the wind is blowing towards them, the scent sprays will not help you - so not much reason to use them. I instead try to get downwind in my setup. I Call for about 20 minutes. I find that most coyotes will come running in soon after starting the call if they are within hearing range - but may take them 5-10 minutes to get to you. After shooting one, I always continue to use the call to try to bring in another before getting up. If in a relatively treed area, be on high alert as they can be almost on top of you before you even see them. I set my scope on the lowest setting and adjust it higher only when needed. The more buddies you go with, the lower your success rate can be unless they are as disciplined as you about not moving and being quiet.

 

[K22]

In my opinion, the caliber selected is the least important element. Rather I rate the following issues as the most important regarding a successful outcome. If these are not master, a thousand of dollars custom built rifle with the hottest new caliber would not make any difference from reasonably accurate rifle and adequate caliber.

1. Location - changing location frequently as necessary

2. Calling skills

3. Paying attention to wind direction

4. Limiting movement while on a stand and calling.

I have seen this obsession with trying to select the "perfect caliber" my entire competitive shooting and hunting career of 50+ years. Why? Because it's easy to try and buy your way into high performance.

However, in my vast experience, it's the operator's skill as a marksman and hunter that makes the most significant difference in a successful outcome. This is much harder than buying a piece of equipment because it requires experience / training / commitment to the craft.

 

[jds holler]

Searcher, you almost sound like a few of my favorite calling partners. We for damned sure went to the same school of hard knocks, and learned the same lessons.
I'd call coyotes with you anytime. jd

 

[1lessdog]

I was at Scheels yesterday and they only have 2 different hand calls. I asked a worker and he said everyone is using electronic call. I started with a Scotch pump Predator call. I seen it in the back pages of Fur, Fish and Game magazine. And called in lots of animals with it. I used Olt, Barham brothers, Scarry but the Big River was and still is my go to call. I have over 10 Bug River calls and change out the reeds when they split or break. You have to find a old time caller to hear the true Rabbit distress call. My hand calls so much more realistic than a electronic call.

 

[jds holler]

My all time favorite rifle for calling with is my little Model 43, 218 Bee.
I shoot it so well within a hundred yards, that I don't bother packing the shotgun like usual.. If any coyote gives me a fairly clear shot, it doesn't matter if he's running, skipping or flying -- he probably gonna die. That rifle handles like any 22 rifle that most of us grew up with, and when I'm packing it, I feel like that same kid who could bust rocks, bottles and cans that were thrown in the air. (kids, DO NOT DO THIS!)

Here's my grand son with that rifle and his first coyote that I called to about 40 yards. That young man is now nearly 30, and just had a son born about six months ago. That rifle will be his one of these days -- but not yet . jd

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I was at Scheels yesterday and they only have 2 different hand calls. I asked a worker and he said everyone is using electronic call. View attachment 1716755I started with a Scotch pump Predator call. I seen it in the back pages of Fur, Fish and Game magazine. And called in lots of animals with it. I used Olt, Barham brothers, Scarry but the Big River was and still is my go to call. I have over 10 Bug River calls and change out the reeds when they split or break. You have to find a old time caller to hear the true Rabbit distress call. My hand calls so much more realistic than a electronic call.

I prefer hand calls too. The e caller is a lot of trouble with charging, dead batteries, more crap to carry. Trying to run the call while holding the gun. Maybe if I didn't hunt alone one could run the call while the other shoots. That would be better.

 

[AWS]

A little trick, I sew a patch of Velcro on the left thigh of my pants and stick on Velcro on the back of my remote. I don't have to hold the remote or worry about it falling, leaving my hands free to handle the rifle or shotgun or both( I shoot combo guns a lot).

I like callers that use disposable batteries, always start with hot caller in the morning and have multiple batter packs for a.quick change in the field. I buy 200 packs on Amazon, that is a lot of calling for $40.
.