Any tips for getting timber/clearcut yotes???

[atomicjoe23]

I'm stuck on the West side (Kitsap/Mason counties) and I have had absolutely NO luck getting any yote whatsoever to show his face (or any other body part for that matter!!!). . .

I'm fairly new to coyote hunting, but I've read just about every thread on this forum, every predator hunting article that has hit the newstand since about October. . .I wear full camo including face and hands (both winter and green camo depending on what it's like outside). . .I use cover scent, I try to make sure that the wind is in my face and the sun is at my back and I try to sneak in as quietly as possible. . .I wait for at least 5 minutes (usually 10) before I start calling after I pick a stand. . .I start with a nice long, high pitched howl (not that I've ever gotten a return howl back) and then I wait about 5 minutes and I do distress for about 30 sec. . .wait for about 2 minutes and then another 30 sec. of distress. . .continue that cycle for about 15-20 minutes. . .I keep my hand/call at my mount so that I'm not moving my hand around messing with the call (other than some slight movement around the horn of the call) and I "try" to minimize any other body movement. . .I'm good at sitting still, but I do slowly scan the area with my head over here in the woods it's kinda necessary evil I'm thinking. . .and I always make sure there is something behind me to break up my outline. . .I wear a boonie hat also so that I don't have a human head outline as well. . .I've never skylined myself coming in. . .I always stick to the low spots and work my way up the hill. . .

. . .I don't have an E-caller yet, but it's on the list. . .I'm thinking I actually need to get a coyote before I drop the dough for an E-caller though. . .here's what I do have though. . .Primos Lil Dog & Hot Dog, a Ki-Yi with a closed reed and a crow call. . .I've called crows to me with the distress call, but I haven't seen a yote yet. . .they could be hiding in the woods I don't know. . .but if I can't see them it does me no good. . .I try to set up close enough to the woods that I could see movement inside of it hopefully. . .

. . .I've mainly been hunting in the Dewatto area because that's what's close and taking trips to Eastern Washington specifically for yote's isn't really an option at the moment. . .

. . .I'm thinking about getting a woodpecker call and try that and see if I can't get some response from that next though

. . .I am desperate for any help that will get me my first coyote here in Washington. . .

[billythekidrock]

Are you sure there are dogs in the area? A few tracks and scat could mean only a couple dogs. You might try hunting a few more areas until you find them.

Some things to consider.
There are not a ton of yotes on this side.
You are probably calling some in, even though you aren't seeing them.
Try not to sit with the wind in your face, instead try sitting with a crosswind and watch the downwind side.
Try starting your set as soon as you are ready. Don't wait. The longer you are in the area the more your scent is spread around.
Don't use cover scent unless it is natural. Crush evergreen needles and rub on your clothes.
Try locating at night or real early in the morning with howls or a siren.
Try more stands in a day. Try a run and gun aproach with only ten minute stands and hit as many places as you can.

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for the tips BTKR. . .

. . .I think that where I was at today probably had some yotes in it. . .I passed 10 scat piles (only 2 old) on the way to the stand on the access road. . .I believe you when you say that I have probably called some in. . .I just haven't seen them. . .

. . .I think that I will definitely try the run and gun approach next. . .what do you think would be more effective. . .driving between stands or walking however far down the access road that I'm on???

. . .and how far apart would you suggest the stands be???

[atomicjoe23]

This timber hunting is WAY different than my experiences with coyotes in IL. . .we had the same type of brushy woods, but it was all broken up by corn & soybean fields. . .and the yotes were NOT bashful. . .you couldn't drive a mile without looking into one of the fields and seeing them. . .they regularly ate dog food off of peoples porches, etc. . .

. . .I personally would have thought that a couple of the places that I have tried here would be prime coyote territory based on my experience. . .coyotes must have different preference West of the Mighty Mississippi though is the only thing that I can figure. . .

[Bearhunter]

Sounds like you need my Phantom predator call I just posted in the classifieds its been really good to me.  Id say probably 7 out of ten stands its produced, and thats no BS I suppose we have been real lucky?  Its great because it gets the noise away from the hunter.

[atomicjoe23]

Sounds like you need my Phantom predator call I just posted in the classifieds its been really good to me.  Id say probably 7 out of ten stands its produced, and thats no BS I suppose we have been real lucky?  Its great because it gets the noise away from the hunter.

That would be why I would like to get a remote E-caller. . .I just can't afford it at the moment. . .I would prefer one with the ability to download MP3 files. . .I'm thinking of making my own and using the pre-amplified remote speaker unit that they sell in SW's for $35. . .I could probably swing that, but it wouldn't be wireless which would be a PITA!!!

[atomicjoe23]

Oh yeah. . .I forgot to mention earlier when I mentioned the coyote scat. . .I saw what to me looked like two piles of bear crap too. . .right on the trail and pretty close to the main road!!!

. . .I could definitely be wrong because I did grow up in Southern Illinois where there are NO bears!!!

best way I could describe them would be small cow patties, but filled full of what looked to be blackberries to me. . .they didn't look fresh, but they weren't dried out and crusted with white either, but that could be do the rain and recent melting of the snow as well. . .I didn't see any tracks. . .

. . .I saw a lot of deer tracks but I could only find one positive coyote track. . .the deer hooves dig down into the trail, but the trail was hard enough that I don't think a dog or cat would leave much in the way of sign other than scat. . .

[CastleRocker]

Hey there;

   Sounds to me like you are doing it right.  But you wanted tips for around clearcuts...here is what works (most of the time) for us.  Some things are common sense, some things I've picked up from other folks I've hunted with, some...I don't know who came up with them, but we use them too.  Personally, I don't think hunting anything is a exact science.  Just do what feels right at the time, and enjoy not being at work.

    We try to set up just inside the timber with the wind blowing across the area we are watching.  We've had coyotes come right down the cutting line, and almost into our lap, especially if there is a firetrail.  A quartering wind seems to work the best.  Watch the downwind!  We don't use any manufactured cover scents.  I believe it is a waste of money.  I do like to put my clothes in a bag of fir boughs and dirt/moss and leave them in the garage.  (For some reason, my wife doesn't want bags of branches and such in our closet, go figure!)  I don't know if it helps, but it makes me feel better about my scent trail.  Gas up the night before, so you don't get fumes or anything on your hands, boots, etc.  Don't put Tabasco sauce on your eggs in the morning, it will make you fart...oh yeah, don't do that either.  Keep a sharp eye out!  If you see something move out in the cutting, stay focused on it.  If it's just a bird flushing, keep looking at it.  Something made that bird fly.  Although, sometimes I think there are show-off type birds that just fly for no reason other than they can. 

    As far as sounds go....we've shot a LOT of rabbits, and have never heard one make the kind of racket I make when trying to sound like a "dying cottontail".  We've made some bad shots on rabbits and heard them chirp or squall for about 10 to 20 seconds and that's it.  One time I used an "elephant in distress" that came on my Foxpro, as a signal to my son that the stand was over, and we had a coyote come in to that.  So make whatever sound you like to listen to.  This time of year, (mating season) I do a female invitation howl on my hand call and then I answer it with a challenge howl on the e-caller with about 10-15 seconds in between.  I do that two or three cycles with a few minutes in between.  Then I'll throw in the other howler, with a more dominant challenge howl.  I do that three or four times a piece a couple minutes apart, and then through in a cottontail in distress or a woodpecker in distress.  By then 12-15 minutes have gone by and I'm thinking it's time to move.  Sometimes we sit for 30 or more, most times by then, my butt is going to sleep or I'm getting impatient, and so we move a half mile or so and do it again.  As far as I know, I've not had one single coyote answer me that came on in.  It seems to me that the ones that answer....that's all they do is talk.

    As far as e-callers go, my first one,  I built from Varmint Al's website.  It's wireless and cost about $65.  That's not counting the amount of grief that I endured after "borrowing" my daughters Ipod, and loading it up with predator calls.  I can't put a dollar figure on that.  I finally saved my allowance and bought a Foxpro.  Would rather have a Wildlife Technologies, but I still can't afford one of them.  Wife needs to up my allowance I'm thinking.  I like hand calls.  I've got a howler, and I do some howling with a Primos cow elk diaphram.  (Discovered that one by accident a few elk seasons ago.)  Also have the normal distress calls, but use the old cow diaphragm call sometimes for that too.

    Everybody calls a little different, I think it just a matter of being persistent, and getting out there and trying different stuff until you find what works for you.  I had lots and lots of calls before I found what worked the best for me.  Gave them away until I have just my "go to" calls.  Well, I type fast for an old logger but it's getting late and 4:45 comes early.

Good hunting to you!

Erik

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for the tips CastleRocker. . .I just used the last of my Varmint cover scent and I the only reason I got that is that I didn't want to put soaking wet leaves, etc. in with my clothes. . .the leaves and such are my normal plan as well. . .probably the best that we can do all things considered. . .

I could try to set-up just inside the timber next time as well. . .I set up just a little ways away from it this time so that I could see stuff just inside of it. . .it was a big clearcut with an access trail running right through the middle of it cross-wise. . .I set-up at about the halfway point looking downhill. . .the sun wasn't too my advantage though so that kinda sucked. . .

Thanks for the tips guys and keep them coming!!!

[saylean]

Another tip...

dont give up. I have run into the same issues recently...I just cant seem to get them to come in for me...

Bears seem easier than coyotes for me!

[atomicjoe23]

For now I'm fine with the bears staying away. . .although it might let me know that at least my noises are effective for something. . .

[billythekidrock]

Another tip...

dont give up. I have run into the same issues recently...I just cant seem to get them to come in for me...

Bears seem easier than coyotes for me!

Same here.

[rasbo]

Another tip...

dont give up. I have run into the same issues recently...I just cant seem to get them to come in for me...

Bears seem easier than coyotes for me!

Same here.

this warm weather dont help at all....

[bearmanric]

you need different call's two every one use's primos. keeping trying different place's it's easy to give up. hunt close to farm's or chicken or pig farm's. keep trying. friday i'm leaving for 9 day's in Arizona. i'll see over 5 coyote's a day easy crossing road's and in feild's. will get spoiled. bigger density much bigger.Rick

[atomicjoe23]

i'll see over 5 coyote's a day easy crossing road's and in feild's. will get spoiled. bigger density much bigger.Rick

Sounds like what I was used to in Southern Illinois. . .

. . .the whole 3 years that I lived in San Diego I only saw one coyote, but I wasn't hunting them then either. . .