coyote hunting.

[model 12 toby]

need tips for hunting coyotes in general. got a lot of good tips on hunting ghogs from you guys so let me have it again. I live in eastern ohio. I hear coyotes quite a bit. never see them. got johnny stewart call. ghelli suit. got my ground hog gun plus an AR also. would rather go in morning or in the evening. what kind of set up should I attempt? what sounds should I use? If only I could even see one at 500 yards that is un aware of me. I know that scope adjustment. ;D

 

[LRPV]

Sit in shadows. Try to keep the sun at your back. Mind the wind direction and set up so that where you think they will come from, they will not be downwind and get a sniff of you. And remember that nearly every time, they will NOT come from where you think they will. Morning and evening is a good time to hunt them as they are going to be active then. Just be careful when making your way to a set not to get busted. It takes a lot of trial and error to find out what's going to work best for you.
Jason

 

[model 12 toby]

I've been told that the habits of eastern coyote are different than western? I'll probably won't get to shoot them in the open will I? Will they always stick to thick cover.

 

[model 12 toby]

crickets??? all I hear is crickets????? seems strange.

 

[Trapper243]

A lot depends on how much ground I have to work, and what I am trying to accomplish. If I am making a run across big ground, like a large western state, I will call at more volumne and continuous. I may travel a couple of miles between stands and if I make enough stands I am going to find someone in the mood to respond. If I am working ranches or ground that is smaller, and I am going to be hunting that ground much, I call small. In other words I don't make many loud stands trying to cover lots of ground with the call. I may only call loud enough to wake a bedded coyote in a single piece of cover, and I may sneek within yards of that cover before calling. Many coyotes these days have heard a lot of electronic noise, and many will run from calling or just ignore it, that includes howling. It seems odd but years ago I started with a mouth call, went electronic, then digital, but now find myself back on the mouth calls. I feel I get a cleaner sound, and the coyotes often respond better. Not to talk you out of electronics, I still use them, just don't expect miricles. I also find myself glassing more these days and calling less. I pack two guns if I am using distress sounds. A rifle and a shotgun with 3" #4 buck, and a very tight choke. The other thing, just because you kill one, don't stop calling or think it is over. Many coyotes are in pairs or larger groups and if you get one close expect another. They may be hung up at a distance, but that's what the rifle is for. When you are done calling, glass before you move.

 

[model 12 toby]

thank god. finally some sound advice. I called one year before last in a clearing in very thick woods. took a shot at it and hit briar right in front of barrel with 40 grain v-max. to say the least it got away. coyote definitely didn't wanta leave cover. he was coming up on fawn decoy I had. I haven't hunted that spot in 2 years but i'd say I need to again. I'm just wondering if it's the truth they won't come into the open in the eastern states? is their behavior really that much different? I hear them at night just over the hills on both sides of me. I jusst need to get to calling and am wondering if it's a waste of time to look to the fields here?

 

[Trapper243]

Some coyotes that work will just rush you, most will want to swing downwind to varying degrees... Try working the wind so the coyotes end up where you want them. Only way to know how they act in your neck of the woods is to spend time in the field. It would probably help to go for a walk and look for tracks to see what kind of ground they are using. if you ask around on the internet, long enough, you will get all kinds of answers. Just keep in mind, coyotes educate quickly and Tracks don't lie.

 

[model 12 toby]

thanks for the advice. I haven't been out much. I shot steel plates out to 960 yards last week. I just started calling a very large hill side. well, mostly glassing it. going to start coyote hunting every single monday at sun up. it'd be so nice to catch one relaxing at 800 yards or so with very little wind. I also got quite a few areas to hunt that are way smaller. AR's going with me there. God I wanta make this season a lot better than last year. I guess it's going to be more attention to details. things that screwed me last year.

 

[model 12 toby]

i've grown so accustomed to going out and watching the sun come up at least once day a week I'm going to have to do something that's similar. I usually target shoot or shoot ground hog. I told my friends at work last week that if I have to spend 500 dollars on clothes to stay warm then so be it. I'm not going to be couped up not shooting or hunting anything. been trying to think of all the things that kept me from hunting last year. got a call with a wire. defintely a no no. those things suck. no carry handle. I wanta go out with rangefinder and bi nocs over my neck. rifle over shoulder and maybe a caller with a handle. like to do the handcall thing but I just don't know. I was so close last year on a couple occassions. going to hunt small plots up close and big plots doing as much glassing as anything. Shot my first ground hog over 500 yards this year with one shot. came close on 2. one at 798 and one around 1100. took me 3 years to get ghog over 500. did it pretty steady though. If I got bored I target shot a bit. anyone got any advice on clothing? something that i'll never get cold?

 

[model 12 toby]

the record around here is bout 22 below but it usually doesn't get that cold. hands are usually first to get cold. second probably feet. face probably third. going to start with those three things. then go from there.

 

[MQ1]

This is what you are going to want to wear in Ohio if you don't want to get cold.

1 pr silver liner socks
1 pr good wool socks, medium weight
1 pr good boots not too tight

Skivvies...not cotton...something like under armour
Smart wool heavy weight undergarments
Heavy Fleece Pants with Windstopper or wool pants (fit loosely)
Heavy Fleece pullover with Windstopper or wool jacket (fit loosely)
Wool hat and wool neck gaiter and gloves if you need them.

If it is damn cold, you can wear a fleece vest under your jacket and you'll stay toasty.

Now I know this to work, because I have bow hunted Ohio most of my life. Nothing colder than sitting in a tree stand for 8 hours on a cold Nov/Dec day.

Cabelas has some great Fleece Products. Columbia has some affordable wool products. Both work, but when push comes to shove, the under layers of wool will be what keep you warmest. Under Armor products are good, but when it gets cold, the best I've found is the SmartWool. Expensive, but worth every penny IMHO.

MQ1

 

[MQ1]

Lawrence is right on about getting sweaty. I'll often hike to my stand without hat, jacket, or gloves, knowing that if it is a long hike...better to be cold during the hike than get sweaty...which will freeze you in short order once you stop for 15 minutes

MQ1

 

[model 12 toby]

i'll have to remember that. They always talk about how important it is to not sweat in cold whether on the various survival shows. more food for thought. thanks. I'm probably going to start on monday. ghog hunting season isn't quite over yet either. might have to go twice a week for a while. man she's going to divorse me. ;D

 

[model 12 toby]

if only I could get her to. it's an idea though. that'd be like parting the seas. ;D

 

[sscoyote]

Don't leave good fur lay! Learn to skin it, process it and have it tanned if nothing else, and sell it at tourist shops, etc. Oughtta' be some place back there that'll buy your furs.

 

[model 12 toby]

first 2 outings. ;D. arrived in field 20 minutes before sun up. started with baby deer call. wasn't there 25 minutes and round 20000 lbs worth of heffer and calves surrounded me. got up slowly and walked out of woods. course cows still barreled ass through the woods back and forth. sounded like frieght train. setting up outside fense next time.

2nd. heard coyotes at house. decided to put call out. called for bout an hour. they were answering back to me. neighbor let his little yappy bastard dog out and it barked for 45 minutes straight. I went in and said screw it. going to new location on friday. not sure what to expect. probably a herd of wild horses will show up i figure. lmao

 

[fr3db3ar]

Watch out for the llamas. They're sneaky quiet and they spit. :-X

 

[Yotecallr]

If possible, sit in an elevated area with your back to the sun and don't sit behind cover, sit in front of cover with your camo clothing. Make movements slowly if the coyote isn't looking your way, if he is looking at you, don't make any movement or it's goodby coyote.

 

[model 12 toby]

probably go out again friday morning. going to set up looking over a large area. seen the big grey one a few of us have spotted on the way home. he's a horse. loaded a bunch of ammo for my bolt action this evenin. going to make some scope switches tomorrow for the winter. probably site in and do some long range shooting before friday if time permits. some short range too. anyone use a mil dot with any success. I'm anxious to try to set up something and test it to see if ballistics work out right. seems like it sure would be handy out to 5 or so. after that I figure there's going to be a little time to range and dial.

 

[284driver]

And to answer your other question, eastern coyotes do come out in the open.