Still no dogs for me!!!

[atomicjoe23]

Went out hunting this morning (with another forum member) and I still haven't even seen a coyote since this snow hit the groundon the West side of the state!!!

We saw PLENTY of coyote, rabbit, hare, and deer tracks. . .but NO coyotes. . .sat two stands for a total of about 2 hours of calling before the snow started falling again!!!   

. . .but I guess I did get to practice my mouth calling some. . .and test out my new snow cammie's. . .which are great!!!

. . .so not all was lost. . .and a bad day of hunting beats a good day at the office. . .also learned that I want some snow shoes. . .BAD!!!

[atomicjoe23]

OK. . .so I decided that I can live with post-holing through the snow. . .there is NO WAY that I'm gonna pay $150+ for a pair of snowshoes!!! NWIH!!!

[rasbo]

HANG IN THERE THE WETSIDE CAN BE TUFF

[atomicjoe23]

Any suggestions for us???

We mainly used rabbit distress calls. . .alternating between Croix's hand-held e-caller and mouth calls. . .we threw a few howls in here and ther just to see if we could a response after we had been on the set about 45 minutes without a response. . .neither of us have ever called for coyotes before. . .

. . .where I grew up you didn't need to call for them. . .they were just there. . .like it or not. . .

. . .I've got a DVD and a min-CD that came with my mouth calls. . .so that I can listen and try to imitate the sounds. . .I get my dogs attention if nothing. . .funny the cat comes prowling in the room when I'm practicing). . .I haven't finished watching the DVD yet (The Truth V. . .Calling all Coyotes). . .and I've been watching Predator Quest on the Outdoor channel. . .pretty much anything that I can listen to in order to improve my calling, but I think I am gonna build one of VarmintAl's "El Cheapo" remote callers because it's way more convenient and I would be able to use it conjunction with some sort of decoy/lure. . .

been reading this forum, VarmintAl's, Predator Masters, and a couple of predator hunting mag's as well. . .I'm gonna let the snow settle again and then give it another try on the next promising day. . .

Thanks in advance for any advice!!!

[littlebuf]

im in the same boat as you no dogs yet but i just started hunting yotes, and like all the other hunting ive ever done i allways just had to figure it out the hard way. persistance has paid of in all my other endeavors i wanted to learn to bear hunt i gave it hell and got a bear, same with deer and elk i just worked my @$$ off and i imagine thats what ill have to do with dogs, lord knows how many ive probably scared off with out ever seeing them. i know one for sure cuz he pissed in my boot track as i saw when i was headed out

[croix]

It was a fun trip and we were on yote tracks as soon as we got out of the jeep. Bad part is that all of the areas I know of that are clear enough to get a shot more then 15 yds are behind locked gates and the walking was terrible. There was just enough crust that I could get one or two steps on top of the snow then sink through the crust to the top of my boots. It was like walking up stairs everywhere we went (even down hill)  

There are a couple of spots that I'm sure could produce but I was unwilling to walk to them today. My legs are pretty much shot after the two sets we made. Still had a great time and the country is beautiful out there with all the snow. Can't wait to get out when the walking is a little easier.

[atomicjoe23]

lord knows how many ive probably scared off with out ever seeing them.

No doubt!!!

Croix is right though. . .it was a good time, it was beautiful and it was good to meet a forum member!!!

Thanks for taking me out and showing me around Croix!!!

Oh and Croix. . .I found a couple of online articles on how to make your own snow shoes out of PVC or electrical conduit. . .I can get the webbing for free. . .I already have lots of string/rope. . .I'm thinking of making a pair. . .let me know what you think. . .it will sure beat post-holing around. . .and it will be WAY cheaper than buying a set!!!

[billythekidrock]

Joe, just don't get discouraged.
The westside can be tough unless you are hunting farm land. Timber and cuts make it very easy for coyotes to sneak in and out without you seeing them. Another thing to think about is how many yotes are in the area to begin with. Typically the westside does not have large numbers and they can be spread out.

[runniNgunnin]

lord knows how many ive probably scared off with out ever seeing them. i know one for sure cuz he pissed in my boot track as i saw when i was headed out

lol! yeah, i think stuff like that has happened to most of us, i had one run way out of range after i took some shots at it, and it squated and started poopin looking back at me... i just stopped shooting from the ungodly distance and watched in disbeleif.... haha     

[FrankDown]

I picked up aa pair of 36" Mountaineers for 70 dollars off craigslist.  They are basically new, it owuldnt hurt to look arounf there until you find some cheap enough maybe.

[atomicjoe23]

Looking on Craig's List was the first thing I did when I saw how much they cost. . .still more than I want to spend. . .I was hoping to spend around $30. . .I have 3/4 the materials that I need to make my own. . .basically I would only need to buy grommets and either the PVC or the ECT to make my own. . .all of which would be $30 or less no prob!!!

[saylean]

Dont get discouraged man. I spent the day looking for predators in the snow...no luck...came across some tracks...just couldnt make it happen..oh well!

Good Luck!

[Machias]

One thing, most of the time if I'm only calling for yotes, 15 min per stand max, if I think a Robert is in the area and may come in then I'll stay for 30ish minutes.  2 stand in two hours, I would suggest you up your calling stands.  I like to go out before daylight and stop and howl.  Once I get a hit I keep going down the road and howling every couple of miles.  I try to line up several spots and then go back and call in those areas once daylight rolls in.  Ups your odds a bunch over just cold calling.

[atomicjoe23]

One thing, most of the time if I'm only calling for yotes, 15 min per stand max, if I think a Robert is in the area and may come in then I'll stay for 30ish minutes.  2 stand in two hours, I would suggest you up your calling stands.  I like to go out before daylight and stop and howl.  Once I get a hit I keep going down the road and howling every couple of miles.  I try to line up several spots and then go back and call in those areas once daylight rolls in.  Ups your odds a bunch over just cold calling.

Sounds like a good idea. . .the snow was just too much work to walk in without snow shoes. . .it was brutal. . .we were sinking in past the tops of our boots every time just on the road and once we got off the road it was past my knees in some/most places!!!

[billythekidrock]

Any suggestions for us???

 I think I am gonna build one of VarmintAl's "El Cheapo" remote callers because it's way more convenient and I would be able to use it conjunction with some sort of decoy/lure. . .

Before you build "El Cheapo" you might take a look at the Big Horn XL Outdoor Amplified Speaker by Cass Creek. You can find info and buy it here.
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=apc&product_name=Cass+Creek

I made "El Cheapo". It works and while it was fun to build, by the time I did all the running around to get all the components I had over $100 into the project.

I am sure the amp/speaker combo are better with the CC and the 75 feet of speaker cable you can get some distance.

Just a thought.