Questions on Calling Coyotes

[dunraven]

Been out at night lately trying a new thermal, trying to call coyotes. What seems to happen is I may hear a pack open up in my area, but they seem to always be going away from me. I.t seems I am just spooking them

Have electronic calls and mouth calls. Lately been trying to start with a howler, but, honestly, it doesn't sound realistic to me.

What calling strategies seem to work for you guys?

 

[Jeff Porter]

Have you night hunted without thermal in this area with success ? Or is this your first foray into night hunting ? You may be hunting a buffer zone between territories. I have had them hang up rather than start a turf war with other coyotes in the area.

 

[spencerhenry]

I’d ditch the howling and use prey sounds.

 

[22BRGUY]

Start with very light sqeekers at first as one or two might be closer than you think.
I and my son had best luck with mouth calls.
Once you blow a rabbit squealer, WAIT! They Heard you! but they are very cautious
about just charging in.
Give them at least 10 minutes before blowing again. Good Luck!
For Crows, electronic calls work better.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Once you get to a spot wait 15mins before doing anything. Just sit there and check the wind pattern. You may not be in a spot to even call. Wind is the most important thing. They are coming downwind and they expect to smell what they hear

 

[Gargoyle]

I've lip squeeked yotes into my truck in TX and never been able to get IN, IL yotes to respond to expensive callers. Out East I've resorted to sneeking up on them while they are sunning at 08:30-10:00 and drilling them like that.

 

[JB10]

Here in AZ i have not had much luck with vocals. Coyotes get called here alot. Animal distress works best i have found. Pay attention to what animals are around. In areas where i dont see many rabbits the bird sounds tend to get them in or rodent sounds. Early in season when its starting to cool down like in late October here the yound ones come running in to almost any prey sounds. As winter goes on ones that have been called are getting an education and sneak in or i have seen them walking the perimeter checking things out first if they dont have wind to check. We can not thermal or night vision hunt in this state so i have no experience with that.

 

[DirtySteve]

When you are done on a set wait 30 minutes before moving and you may catch call wise coyotes coming in...

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

If a coyote sees,heard or smells ya, figure no show to calling. Coyote don't randomly travel in their territory, always a purpose. Routes are based on wind. I have skinned a lot of coyote, don't recall one without fat, even in the winter. Two nights ago, see one enter hayfield about 300 yards away, squeeze type mouse squeaker pulled him right into 70 yards. My most undesirable setup, is hearing motor vehicles behind me. Just don't have much success with that. Coyote roam several square miles, so they must be within hearing range(simple I know but often not thought about). This situation is more critical in areas with section roads, as they often just will not cross roads in a reasonable time(you call 15-30 minutes and leave) they are still working their way to the sound.

 

[1lessdog]

Been out at night lately trying a new thermal, trying to call coyotes. What seems to happen is I may hear a pack open up in my area, but they seem to always be going away from me. I.t seems I am just spooking them

Have electronic calls and mouth calls. Lately been trying to start with a howler, but, honestly, it doesn't sound realistic to me.

What calling strategies seem to work for you guys?

When I hear that people are starting off with a howl in Dec. That to me is a hint that they have not called very much. I blow a distress all the time. With a distress sound there coming in for 2 reasons. One for food the other is curiosity. They have no idea if it's another Coyote or other predator. But they want to know.

Stick with distress sounds. You will have success. Walk into the wind when going to your stand.

I shoot a rifle with lots of speed and I hold on fur out to 450 yds. I don't carry a rangefinder. This is how I know distance when on a stand. Years ago I took a frozen Coyote and stuck him in the snow. I shoot a 4.5 x 14 Burris and keep it on 12 power all the time. The scope has a duplex recital. At 100 yds I put the crosshairs on the back and make a mental not where the bottom heavy cross hair is at. And I do it clear out to the maximum distance I feel comfortable shooting which is 500 yds.

I see people on TV that walk out to a stand with a big backpack. I don't know why. I have a lanyard with 4 calls and a shell holder on the stock with 5 shells in it. That is all I carry and have never need anything else. No binoculars or cover scents. Don't make it any harder then it needs to be.

 

[1lessdog]

I also have a lenth of parachute cord to drag them back to the truck. A loop over one shoulder and about 6 ft behind me and a loop to hook to top jaw. If you have 2 a half hitch around 2nd upper jaw.

 

[17cal Fan]

For sure walk in with the wind in your face. If it's at your back, you're busted before you start. If it is a crosswind, don't walk any farther through it than you have to.

I use electronic calls and always put them up wind. If the yote stops short of the call he'll be in front of you. I'll walk past my stand into the wind and set the call down. They're not looking for you, they're looking for the source of the sound. If you are not using a scanner, scrounge one up and never stop scanning.

Distress works best for me. Rabbit, bird or small rodent. Start low, a few squeals over a 10 minute period. If nothing shows, crank it up some and repeat.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Only time I have success with howling more than distress is late January in IL. when the females go into heat. Estrus barks and young male howls will get the big dogs fired up. Other than that stick with distress. Try some less used ones. If all the other hunters are hitting the rabbit , try woodpecker distress and rodent squeaks. Once I get one coming , lip squeaks usually will finish the job.

 

[Plumsask]

When I hear that people are starting off with a howl in Dec. That to me is a hint that they have not called very much. I blow a distress all the time. With a distress sound there coming in for 2 reasons. One for food the other is curiosity. They have no idea if it's another Coyote or other predator. But they want to know.

Stick with distress sounds. You will have success. Walk into the wind when going to your stand.

I shoot a rifle with lots of speed and I hold on fur out to 450 yds. I don't carry a rangefinder. This is how I know distance when on a stand. Years ago I took a frozen Coyote and stuck him in the snow. I shoot a 4.5 x 14 Burris and keep it on 12 power all the time. The scope has a duplex recital. At 100 yds I put the crosshairs on the back and make a mental not where the bottom heavy cross hair is at. And I do it clear out to the maximum distance I feel comfortable shooting which is 500 yds.

I see people on TV that walk out to a stand with a big backpack. I don't know why. I have a lanyard with 4 calls and a shell holder on the stock with 5 shells in it. That is all I carry and have never need anything else. No binoculars or cover scents. Don't make it any harder then it needs to be.

Just curious what cartridge you sre chambered for that you "hold on fur" out to 450? What are you zeroed at? What bullet and velocity? Sounds impressive. Coming from a guy who shoots a 6mm Ai with a 90 gr. TgK at 3500 FPS.

 

[1lessdog]

Just curious what cartridge you sre chambered for that you "hold on fur" out to 450? What are you zeroed at? What bullet and velocity? Sounds impressive. Coming from a guy who shoots a 6mm Ai with a 90 gr. TgK at 3500 FPS.

I shoot a Remington 700 BDL with a Krieger 1 - 14 twist 26 inches long 22-6MM AI with 50 ge Sierra Blitzking and Winchester 760.

I also have a 6MM AI with a Brux 1 - 13.5 twist. Shooting 55 gr Sierra Blitzking.

The 22 - 6MM AI will shoot 5 shots in the same hole at 100 yds is why I shoot it all the time.

 

[K22]

Once you get to a spot wait 15mins before doing anything. Just sit there and check the wind pattern. You may not be in a spot to even call. Wind is the most important thing. They are coming downwind and they expect to smell what they hear

While I only dabble in yote hunting, I found this to be very true. Wind direction is a significant factor.

I have an antiquated Primos call. The fawn distress call works fairly well here in the east.

 

[Uncle Bruce]

While I only dabble in yote hunting, I found this to be very true. Wind direction is a significant factor.

I have an antiquated Primos call. The fawn distress call works fairly well here in the east.

If you are calling insight of a building site try a house cat distress or tomcat vocals. They must taste great because the coyotes come trotting in.

 

[K22]

If you are calling insight of a building site try a house cat distress or tomcat vocals. They must taste great because the coyotes come trotting in.

Great idea except my electronic called does not have that feature. However, I believe you are spot on with this advice.

Several years ago, I shot a coyote that was stalking a farmer cat. Corn field had been harvested and the cat was sitting on the edge of the field presumably looking for an opportunity black bird kill since there were a large number of birds in the field feeding on the left-over corn.

Anyway, I was hunting ground hogs at the time, and I saw this critter creeping up on the cat. Just like those Nat-Geo lion stalking shows. When coyote rose up, I nailed him at about 250 yards with my Rem 700, Varmint, 223 Rem.

 

[Plumsask]

I shoot a Remington 700 BDL with a Krieger 1 - 14 twist 26 inches long 22-6MM AI with 50 ge Sierra Blitzking and Winchester 760.

I also have a 6MM AI with a Brux 1 - 13.5 twist. Shooting 55 gr Sierra Blitzking.

The 22 - 6MM AI will shoot 5 shots in the same hole at 100 yds is why I shoot it all the time.

I've contemplated a 22-6mm AI...... now even more lol

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Tonight I messed up. Setup about 15 yards behind a house. The owner had asked me to try for the backyard coyotes coming from some city property. It was about 100 yards to the edge of the brush/trees. 5 minutes into cottontail distress, I scanned with handheld thermal for 3rd time. Saw the coyote just in the trees, muted the call and had to move rifle on bipod. That move produced some crunchy snow noise, which sent the coyote walking away. Thought I still could get a shot, but suddenly it's just disappeared. Investigation (walked in the brush a short distance) showed the area was an overgrown sand/gravel pit with some snow covered spoil piles. On the front edge of the latest snow storm, the overcast sky and spoil piles(and brush) didn't allow me to see that coyote with my eyes. And I now see why a stand-up tripod is needed with thermal.