You can get away with a lot when you use a caller with a remote in close cover, it makes hunting close cover much easier.
As far as guns for close cover, I've gone the shotgun route and found it lacking as there always seems to be one where they stop just outside of shotgun range.
The remote is also safer if you are hunting by yourself. I have a really good hand caller but if by myself I prefer to have the attention elsewhere.
I think East vs West is a big factor for shotgun use. There are woods in Western Wa where you won't get a clear shot past 50 yards and you can get brush deflection with smaller bullets. Shotgun is also better for anything on the run. But on the East side there are a lot more open spaces. You could be headed for the woods and spot one in a field. On the West side you see far fewer just driving around. I have a relative that bikes around rainier a lot and he never sees them. Rainier is off limits to hunting but the coyotes there are still stay away from roads and people. On the East side I have seen them crossing busy highways.