new to coyote hunting

[ivarhusa]

Aqua Teen Hunger Force. WTF?

[furbearer365]

I wouldn't worry right now what calls to use and to much on how to use them.  All predator calls made will eventually call in a coyote but if you mess up the set up you will probably never see him when he comes in.  What i mean is a coyote doesn't know who the difference between Randy Andersen and Foxpro, but if the wind ain't right, that he knows.  Try taking the time to scout rather than hunt.  Take the rest of the year off from hunting and try driving around and walking to find coyotes and good ways to set up on them.  I promise it will pay off.  I personally would rather hunt less and kill 10 coyotes than hunt like a renegade who goes and does more damage than good and by chance kills one or two.  Be more productive and thoughtful in everything you do when predator hunting.  Calling in the right area but the wrong spot will mean the difference between killing and not even seeing.  If you find an area that may be promising, try to find a way into it that no one else will take.  Generally people are lazy when it comes to hunting coyotes and drive to the end of a road, get out and walk 50 yards and call.  I guarantee a coyote or two heard them and just laid there because they have heard and dying rabbit come from that area before.  Look for a back way in even if you have to walk a mile or more.  Try this and get back on here and I promise you will have a picture for us.

[Bofire]

 :)Learning to call yotes is hard, and on going. This may sound crazy, you got to sneak in to a spot you found, set up call. see, shoot.
it is too much.    Find some yotes, preferrably not called alot, look it over figure out how to sneak in, do so,call, do not move, forget about your gun,  ;)call one in!!!!!!!, once you figure out that part, learn how to call one AND shoot it. dont get in a hurry. you have years to figure it all out. you ARE going to screw it up. CAlling university:
year 1-2 called some yotes did not know why.
years 2-4 called a few, hunted hard, did not call what I could have, learned some stuff

years 4-7, studied yotes, called alot,  tried dozens of calls and electronic calls, drove everywhere, killed a few yotes, and misc. other game.
after a bit I Relaxed went after learning this game. My new rules. 1 Call where there is coyotes, make sure there are coyotes there, track, what ever. I dont think the sound is too important, the passion in the sound is.. Sneak in, walk a lot, treat coyotes as game animals, they are not easy.  Watch how they approach, remember that on the next  stand, study the lay of the land, little ditch lines etc. rolls of the hills
Shoot constantly and NEVER from a rest, shotting sticks at most, at all ranges and quickly, with one rifle,
shoot one at a time, dont count.
I am not into posting numbers but I kill  what I consider a respectable amount every year for the last 3, considering I live in West WA. avg. high teens low twenties.
Being good at hunting coyotes, in my opinion is about like being good at Elk, much harder than deer or bear for me. Alot like Turkeys.
my 2 cents
Carl

[JoshT]

Excellent post furbearer... I couldn't agree more.

Two tools that will help you a ton are:

Binocular... use it... all the time. Get someplace where you can see for a long ways... then learn to look for coyotes. Watch what they do, how they move, and where they like to hold-up. I shoot about 5 'glassed up' dogs for every 1 coyote I call in.

Maps... learn your areas well... mark potential 'stand' locations, note prevailing winds, etc. Last month I was pretty worried that my honey holes were being hammered on... but I was wrong. I know those dogs up and down because I know that 3 mile stretch like the back of my hand. I'd rather have 5 square miles memorized than 50 square miles that I was 'cold calling'.

I know it sounds wierd... but I really encourage folks to take it easy on the dogs this time of year. I know, I know... they're just coyotes... but, they also deserve some respect. Like I said before... if they're bugging your critters... then get after them. But, if you're out looking for them just to shoot'em... give them untill at least August. Hell, there should be plenty of chucks to shoot pretty soon if you're just looking to get some killin' in.

[dontgetcrabs]

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!!

YEP!!! That's a bad idea! A friend of mine got a $150 ticket for hunting that area a couple winters ago.

[handbanana]

this is all great info guys, most of which i haven't heard before.  keep it coming!  this first hand stuff is much better than any dry "basic how-to" stuff i can find anywhere else.

[Aksigns]

It has been my experience that you can learn so much in the beginning by tagging along on a hunt with someone that has the experience and skills already. You must be very observant while hunting though - be a sponge if you find a willing teacher.

Last November I was in WA for some medical checkups and decided to hunt for coyotes for several days. I went to the Yakima Training Grounds by myself and didn't see or hear a thing-lots of sign though, I knew they were there. As I sat in a hotel room in Ellensburg after day two I found this website and a young fellow (i'm going to be 50 this year) was asking if anyone wanted to go coyote hunting the next morning. I jumped at the chance. I had a great time - he called in 4 different coyotes in three hours of hunting on about a half dozen stands, with only three or four diff call sounds. No I didn't get any - BUT the experience helped me on a hunt about three weeks ago where I shot three of four called on different stands.

Just make sure you buy lunch or gas for the hunter that takes you - you never know how long you're going to have this friend. I'll be back to WA for checkups again this fall and I hope to hunt with my "teacher" again.

[ivarhusa]

I am taking in all the lore being shared on this thread as well. I'll second the motion to "keep it coming".

I am on the path toward becoming an adept coyote hunter (I hope). I've only shot four, two called and two "spot and stalk".

My powers of observation are improving.  This weekend I spotted four coyotes while driving (about 400 miles, mostly wheat country), which is more than I had seen from a car in the previous 20 years. Now I am looking for coyotes, specifically, where before I would just hope to see a large ruminant.

It figures that I will only be able to call in the critters that don't know I'm there. This repeats the mantra of others that sneaking in is very important. When I consider where to put my stand, I struggle with the balance that must be struck between "seeing a lot of territory" from the stand, and "being seen by a lot of territory". (I welcome other points of view on this dilemma.) I aspire to find a stand that lets me look out perhaps 200 yards in some directions (most, you would hope), and that has plenty of land within earshot from which your approach was not detectable.  The quieter approach, the less chance of being detected.

My terrain is pretty frustrating to sort out a stand in (to me, so far) because there is so little contour to use as cover.  Lots of broad, flat, shrub steppe areas.  I plan to get an e-caller, hoping to draw coyotes in past me, perhaps closely, due to the vegetation. E-callers can take the worry out of "being close" (to paraphrase an old deodorant advert).

[Big10gauge]

Ok here's my 

The guys above have pretty much summed it up. Here’s what I use to determine where to hunt and call from. You have to do you homework during the “off-season” to find the good areas, but the coyotes may be in another area depending on time of year. I was lucky enough to have a mentor for several years that breathed and lived for coyotes, mostly nite hunting but hunted quite a bit during the day, Unfortunately his health has become terminal. I’ve seen pictures of him with his pickup full of coyotes just from a weekend hunt and a 400yrd shot to him was a “gimme”. That was back in the 60’s and 70”s. Anyway back to the topic.

1.   Coyotes: Needs to be a fairly good concentration of coyotes in area, this will change depending on time of year. Now knowing how to find those areas you gotta know what is going to make a coyote stay in those areas.
2.   Approach:  Needs to be quiet and not visible and not with the wind blowing from you into your calling area.
3.   Calls: Well everybody has their favorite, I think call duration/sequence is probably a more important factor than type.(Unless it’s mating season, then good luck)
4.   Calling: Should be dictated with the weather. If the wind is blowing, call more frequently in smaller distances between sets. If it’s over 20 mph you might as well resign yourself to a slow day.(of course there are exceptions)
5.   Set Location:  Needs to be a place where the coyote will not have an problem
coming in and you have good visibility. (You can call them across open areas, but it will reduce your chances)
6.    Wind vs Terrain:I feel that terrain plays a more important part than wind direction, Unless you’re trying to get the coyote is as close as possible, coyotes usually will not circle downwind unless they are suspicious or really close. Close to us is 100 yrds.
7.   Scent: Coyoteswill not cross where you have walked in. I suppose there are exceptions but we’ve seen them hit our scent where we have walked and it’s like a brick wall to them.
8.   Decoys: I decided not to use them for the most part, the motorized ones make too much noise, and by placing the decoy out all you are doing is making more movement.
9.    E-Callers: E-callers same as #8
10.   Movement: During calling the most important time not to move is during the actual call, that is when the coyote stops and orients on the sound. When they are moving I don’t think it is as critical as we quite often talk in low tones to each other.
11.   Distance to first set:. I’ve heard people saying that you have to ease the door closed when exiting the truck and gently cycle your bolt .Well if that’s the case you are hunting way too close to your truck and any coyotes in the immediate area have already heard anything you’re going to throw at them, or know better than to come in.
12.   Once you called them in you have to hit them, Take your gun(s) out and shoot at the distances you will be expecting to see coyotes and use the same set-up you will be using while hunting, Shoot from different positions, this will tell you what if any issues you will have with your set-up. We also use mildots or similar reticles. If you plan on shooting coyotes over 300 yrds, practice and practice some more. Especially on leading and shooting in a crosswind.
13.   Use a rangefinder for the longer distances.
14.   One more thing please treat the coyote as you would any other animal, it deserves as quick a humane death as possible, follow up your so-so hits to the best of your ability.

[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.

anywhere on the res is permit only!!

YEP!!! That's a bad idea! A friend of mine got a $150 ticket for hunting that area a couple winters ago.

You have always had to have a Yakima Indian Reservation hunting or fishing permit for those activities on the reservation.  The only thing you have to watch out for is the area restricted for non-tribal members. I've hunted and fished all over the rest of it with no problems.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've shot a few doggies... One last Deer season at 15yds. My son got the other one on the run at maybe 40yds. But I've only called pups a few times. So this thread has been a good read for me.

The boy had a day off school last week and has been bugging me to get in the woods with him. OK, Let's see, Cat's is open.. Doggies is open... (That was last Friday)

We hit a spot that's not getting any traffic up the middle fork of the Nooksack River. I'd hoped to get up to one of the clear cuts but the snow was too deep and the road had a slide. So we walked up the snowy road. Deer tracks. Doggie tracks.. No boot prints. Good. We found a spot away from the road out a ledge, overlooking a ravine that was between us and a rise, then some land and the river to our south. Wind was from the SSE. We positioned just over the ledge looking S SW W hoping that something would come from the S SW as this ravine sort of swung that way. I've heard some calling on CD before... Just tried my wind pipes in 15 second bursts of a waller'an crippled critter. From a distance it probably sounded like a crying baby. After about an hour we decided to go do some plinkin..  On the way out we found one pile of fresh scat in the middle of the road/snow. All warm and gooey sinking into the snow! 

OK, I didn't see the bugger. But he came. I guess I'll call that a little bit of success.

Here's a cell phone photo of one hit at 15yds with wild cat 30-338. Ouch!  (front quarters were behind a tree, shot that far back because that's the only shot I had.) Had to post this for that user here that calls himself 'GutPile'.  Uh, there wasn't any!)

-Steve

[handbanana]

this thread's turned out well.  again, all the info is very helpful.  if anybody thinks they might want to hook up for a hunt it would be greatly appreciated.  the sooner the better because for most of the year i live and work in louisiana and will be heading back down soon but if i could even get just one "guided" hunt in before then i'd be more than happy.  anybody maybe interested?  any time, any day is good for me.  thanks.

[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!!

YEP!!! That's a bad idea! A friend of mine got a $150 ticket for hunting that area a couple winters ago.

You have always had to have a Yakima Indian Reservation hunting or fishing permit for those activities on the reservation.  The only thing you have to watch out for is the area restricted for non-tribal members. I've hunted and fished all over the rest of it with no problems.

then youve been lucky. you cab hunt birds in nonrestricted area's with a permit but to hunt predators you have to be hand selected by a tribal liaison. and the permit is renewable every year but kills must be recorded

[dontgetcrabs]

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!!

YEP!!! That's a bad idea! A friend of mine got a $150 ticket for hunting that area a couple winters ago.

You have always had to have a Yakima Indian Reservation hunting or fishing permit for those activities on the reservation.  The only thing you have to watch out for is the area restricted for non-tribal members. I've hunted and fished all over the rest of it with no problems.

then youve been lucky. you cab hunt birds in nonrestricted area's with a permit but to hunt predators you have to be hand selected by a tribal liaison. and the permit is renewable every year but kills must be recorded

The game warden told my friend NO hunting fur bearing animals without a special permit and was nice enough to write the number to call to apply on the back of the $150 ticket. Ha Ha

[div4gold`]

I've shot a few doggies... One last Deer season at 15yds. My son got the other one on the run at maybe 40yds. But I've only called pups a few times. So this thread has been a good read for me.

The boy had a day off school last week and has been bugging me to get in the woods with him. OK, Let's see, Cat's is open.. Doggies is open... (That was last Friday)

We hit a spot that's not getting any traffic up the middle fork of the Nooksack River. I'd hoped to get up to one of the clear cuts but the snow was too deep and the road had a slide. So we walked up the snowy road. Deer tracks. Doggie tracks.. No boot prints. Good. We found a spot away from the road out a ledge, overlooking a ravine that was between us and a rise, then some land and the river to our south. Wind was from the SSE. We positioned just over the ledge looking S SW W hoping that something would come from the S SW as this ravine sort of swung that way. I've heard some calling on CD before... Just tried my wind pipes in 15 second bursts of a waller'an crippled critter. From a distance it probably sounded like a crying baby. After about an hour we decided to go do some plinkin..  On the way out we found one pile of fresh scat in the middle of the road/snow. All warm and gooey sinking into the snow! 

OK, I didn't see the bugger. But he came. I guess I'll call that a little bit of success.

Here's a cell phone photo of one hit at 15yds with wild cat 30-338. Ouch!  (front quarters were behind a tree, shot that far back because that's the only shot I had.) Had to post this for that user here that calls himself 'GutPile'.  Uh, there wasn't any!)

-Steve

Way to go, looks like theres enough left for a skull mount