I was just hoping to get some thoughts from some predator hunters on here.
Do any of you call on the westside or in areas where the woods are thicker? Other than the open east side and the occasional clear cut most of the west side where I live is semi heavily forested. Just wondering if it is a waste of time to call in these areas? I know the animals are there just not sure its worth making a stand.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I live and hunt here on the Westside, near Mt St. Helens. Only been at it a few years, but have called in over 2 dozen, and knocked down about a dozen. It can be tough, there are many areas they can be in, and lots of food. I can share a few things that might help your success rate.
1) Being quiet. Going into an area, coyotes can hear your car stop. That gets them to hold up. So park at least a good 100 yards away if you can. Walking on gravel roads. I have been with people that sounded like a Freight Train. Quietly sneak in. I have been with other hunters too that carry chairs, bipods, binoculars, range finders, etc., never fails, they too make too much noise, things clanging and banging around. Coyotes have excellent hearing and know what sounds people make. Either they be hunters or just hikers. So try and not to sound like either going into your stand. Once a coyote knows you're in the area, it's game over.
2) Camo. Cover your face and hands. They can spot your hands moving and your face very easily. So camo up and get behind some kind of cover. Our usual range is 30 yards for calling them in. Stay still, don't be moving around. Also if with a buddy, no talking, use hand signals.
3) Locate. If you can (which I never do, lol) get out during the dark, and locate by howling, then by sun up, get into their area, and try calling. I know this part sounds funny, but it works and is great advice. But for me and my buddy, we like to just wing it. Give us some woods, and we'll just walk in and find a spot to setup. Works for us. We have had a few singles, doubles and a triple. What we have done is, just go out in the woods. Finding clearcuts. Then sneak in, setup on the outer edges, put the caller out front about 60 yards, and try. We might do this all day. Going from place to place. Sometimes we get action, sometimes not.
4) When you find a hot spot, where you finally call in a coyote, go back. Next day if you can. Some say wait a week, why? We have called coyotes in the same spot twice on the same day. Or, the next day go back, and call more in. Once you start calling them in, you will start gathering hot spots, or what some would say, "Honey Holes".
5) Weather. Never have luck with it's raining. We call them in around 8am mostly. Then again around noon, then about 3pm and again around 7pm. Doesn't matter to us as you can see, but the best time I would suggest is first light. They have been up all night hunting and about ready to bed down.
Hope this helps.
Lastcat
