new to coyote hunting

[handbanana]

hello everyone.  im brand new to coyote hunting and am in the yakima area.  ive gone to a few different places including the moxee area and the wenas wildlife reserve and ive not been fortunate enough to even see a coyote yet.  ive been all over the internet as well as local sports stores picking peoples brains and ive amassed a pretty good (maybe not) bag of tricks to use but still no luck.  ive been using mouth calls and electronic ones ive downloaded so im not sure if its my calling or what.  the areas ive been hunting have clear signs of recent coyote activity so i know that they're AT LEAST there.  from what ive read i understand that right now isnt the best time to be trying to hunt but im doing it anyways.  basically i have no idea what im doing or what im doing wrong so anything you all could let me in on would be great, thanks in advance. 

[billythekidrock]

First you have to explain the name "handbanana".

[Gutpile]

First you have to explain the name "handbanana".

Sheesh, please don't.   

[270Shooter]

I was wondering the same thing.

[magnanimous_j]

The best ATHF character EVER.

[handbanana]

magnanimous is the winner.  thanks anyways guys

[JoshT]

from what ive read i understand that right now isnt the best time to be trying to hunt but im doing it anyways. 

That's the best advice you'll get...

Leave'em alone till Sept. That way there'll be more to hunt, unless they're eating your farm critters... then by all means proceed.

[tlbradford]

If you are hunting over recent sign then you know they are either in the area or are using it as a travel corridor.  One of the best ways to learn what they are doing is to backtrack fresh sign.  This will usually lead you to an area where they are actively hunting, or bedding.  This time of year, following sign will give you a little different information than what will be true come hunting season.  You will be able to locate denning areas, and territorial boundaries.  The denning areas are used during birth and pup rearing.  They will be abandoned by late summer.  Coyotes don't sleep in dens year round.  Howling at sunset, or just before sunrise will usually give you the general are that the coyotes are bedding or denning.  If you locate by howling in the middle of the night, you will most likely be closer to their hunting area.

Either way, getting out there and calling over fresh sign will bring you success sooner or later.  Learning your calling areas and what the coyotes are doing will increase your odds and help you choose stand locations.  Feel free to ask more specific questions and we can give you some opinions.

[div4gold`]

If you have the time or are already familiar with the sagebrush land just east of the restricted area of the Yakima Indian Reservation I'd give that a try.  Just east of Dry Creek or Mule Dry.

[handbanana]

the areas ive been hunting are usually near orchards and fresh scat is seen often containing fruit from the trees.  dens are everywhere, too.  i figure that the coyotes are hanging out in the orchards and feeding at night.  with this in mind ive been trying early morning hunts because i think that the orchard hands arriving at work around 6am would surely drive the dogs up into the hills.  for my next early morning hunt like this im thinking about not calling at all and just seeing what may come walking by.  im starting to think that my calling may be driving the coyotes away because im doing this completely from the hip and have very few references to compare my calling to.  anyone think this might work?

[handbanana]

ill check it out, thanks

[Bofire]

Whats ATHF?

[WAcoyotehunter]

Coyotes can spot you from a long ways out- make sure you sneak to your spot to call.  Use a ditch, ridge or treeline to get yourself into position and then wait for 5-10 minutes to let things settle.  This will help.

Orchard coyotes can be a challenge- you might find a nice vantage and spend a morning or two scouting with the spotting scope.  If you see one in the distance, try a couple soft calls and test their response.

Good luck!!! 

[jdb]

If you have the time or are already familiar with the sagebrush land just east of the restricted area of the Yakima Indian Reservation I'd give that a try.  Just east of Dry Creek or Mule Dry.

anywhere on the res is permit only!!

[tlbradford]

I have never had too good of luck trying to call the coyotes in the orchard during daylight hours.  I like to target the surrounding areas where they will be after feeding in the orchards.  You are right that the daytime activity by workers will make the coyotes wary and force them out of the orchard during the day.  Especially if the hands carry around a rifle and take pot shots at them when working.  Getting in and out like wacoyotehunter described will help.