Foxpro advice

[bowman]

I need some help. I bought a FX5 about a week and a half ago and I was wondering what kind of advice you guys have.I have taken the call out 3 times without luck. Tonight at dark I played the Coyote Challenger Howl and I got a coyote behind me and out in front of me to call back. It was so cool!

How long do you call at each stand? Do you call straight through or take breaks? What sounds do you recommend getting? What kind of sequences, if any? Decoys? Stand locations? Any advice or tips you have would be great. 

I have been hunting around Marysville and In Darrington a bit, by myself.

Thanks, Bowman

[Lowedog]

I am no expert but I would say just stick with it and keep trying different things.  I have had most luck with screaming jack.  It really sounds like something is dieing a terrible death. 

I haven't had a coyote come to a call in at least the last 6 times I have been out.  I think Big10guage and Bullelk have killed them all. 

[carpsniperg2]

right now they are not responding much to the food calls they are in sex mode. we only use howls challange etc this time of year and do very well. most stands depending on wind and country we are calling in we call for 20-30 mins for yotes just got into the decoy thing with the prey sounds but not for the howls and etc. stands always use the wind the best you can and i like to get the advantage by being higher than them if i can. hope this helps.

[Bofire]

 :)I know people that have tried for many years before gettig one coyote.
keep at it
Carl

[shoot-em-dead]

1 play the wind- try and set up against a bluff or something that they will unlikely come in from behind
2 if it doesn't feel right- leave, A good example is last week I went into this draw nice and quiet and about 3 min after I set up a flock of geese flew out of the pond about a quarter mile away. Obviously something spooked them so the set was a bust before I ever called. I left the area and went somewhere else immediately.
3 this is the mating season so howls work well- they still come in for food as they still eat but you will be trying to call in pairs and that means two sets of eyes. You have to remember that they are predators so sneaking in for the kill is what they naturally do best. This is the toughest time of year for me cause I have not perfected the howls. In Primos mastering the art video with Randy Anderson, he says they have 16 main howls that they use. If you don't know what they are saying- you will be like me and have little success with howls.
4 keep trying and try and learn something from every set. Weather you call one in or not there is always something to learn, persistence is key- at least that is what I tell myself.

[Axle]

There are some good coyote calling videos on the market. You can get a wealth of info from them. Good investment!

[bonecrusher]

just dont get discouraged ( we all say that and then we still do) and don't be afraid to mix it up with some oddball sounds. sometimes they've heard a jack call a million times and its the piggy squeal that will bring um running

[CastleRocker]

Don't know about everyone else on here, but this is what works for me this time of year.  Female invitation howl, I let it play for about 20 seconds, turn it down and mute it.  I wait about three minutes, and do it again.  Immediately after I mute that, I switch to one of the male challenge howls, let it play twice, then I call back at it with my own howler (hand call).  I wait about a minute. Then I do female invite again a couple times, then both male calls again, sometimes I do the back and forth male challenge thing a couple times, and then I turn on either Lightning Jack, or a baby cottontail and let it play for about a minute, I turn that down gradually and mute, and then I sit still and watch for five minutes or so.  If nothing is dead, (or at least running away scared) by then, I move.  If something is dead, or running away, I hit the wounded pup kiyi sound.  Sometimes that changes the running scared one into a dead one.  I've only called one additional dog in after the initial shot(s) with the kiyi, but I still try it.   

That's just what seems to have worked best for me in the last four years or so since I got the Foxpro.  I change it up every once in awhile just to experiment, especially when it isn't working (lately!)  But it seems like I always come back to something similar to that.  If nothing else, it's a place to start.  I think coyotes in different areas and elevations respond to different calls.

As far as how many sets per dog...I was doing real good (for me anyway), before Christmas, but I'm on a 0 dogs for about 15 or 20 sets run right now.  It's frustrating.  I've never really kept track, but it seems like my son and I (up 'til now), averaged about one dog called in for every 4 to 5 sets.  Of course about a third of those are the "running scared" ones when we are done shooting.  A lot of folks won't take a shot at a running coyote no matter what, but I figure if he busted us, then we just educated him, and I'll definitely take a poke or two at him if his is lined out running across an open cutting or a road where I have a good, safe shot.  My son is pretty good a whacking them on the run.   

I want to try some of the new Foxpro sounds they have out.  From what I hear, they are much more authentic sounding.  Some of the Foxpro sounds I have are not very impressive.  I think my hand calling sounds better that some of theirs.

Just keep at it!  It will happen for you.

[Lowedog]

Thanks CastleRocker!  I am only on about my second year of calling and that helps a lot. 

I have had about the same luck as you since x-mas.  I was having good luck before them getting them to come to the call.  Killing them was a different story. 

[tlbradford]

A lot of folks won't take a shot at a running coyote no matter what, but I figure if he busted us, then we just educated him, and I'll definitely take a poke or two at him if his is lined out running across an open cutting or a road where I have a good, safe shot.  My son is pretty good a whacking them on the run.   

You can't get better at the running shots unless you practice them.  I have the same philosophy.  I also have a couple of different things to try though based on the coyotes body language. 

1) If I have multiples come in, shoot one, and the rest start running for the hills....If I haven't been seen or scented I will not shoot at the runners.  I will immediately begin calling again, especially if it is early timewise in the stand.  I have had many disappear into the sage or over the hill, and then come back into the same call and die at 10 yards.  If you are not spotted or sniffed you have a great chance of calling them back.

2) Same scenario but late in the year calling heavy pressure areas....If I have a partner I will go to an adult coyote distress or a kiyi to try to get the coyote to stop for a standing shot.  If I am by myself I will take the running shot.

3) Same scenario but early in the year or lightly called areas...I will let the runner go, or try to call them back in.  If the terrain allows it, I will sometimes relocate 200-300 yards away and start in with a different sound for 10 minutes or so.

Unlike some on here, I do not go entirely to howling late in the year.  It is cold, the coyotes are working on defending their territory and breeding.  they need a lot more calories now, then they do early in the season.  Distress calls will still work, and for beginners, they will still work better than howling.  With the electronics, try unusual distress sounds later in the year like goat, pig, chicken, turkey, etc.  It doesn't matter if they are not a native species.

When howling I usually stay away from any deeper tones.  Male howls, adult challenge howls, can have the opposite effect on younger coyotes and send them running in the other direction.  Keep in mind what howling means to a coyote.  Howling announces where the coyotes are to other coyotes.  They may use it to warn other coyotes to stay out of the area, or use it to assemble close coyotes to start hunting, or announce a food source.  They may use it to attract a mate or attempt to scare off would be suitors.  I have found that if you sound puny you will get more of the curious ones to come in, as well as the tough guys looking to start a fight.  Here are a couple of exceptions:

1) If I am targeting a specific dominant male or female.  I may get more aggressive and use a deeper toned challenge howl.  I will not use multiple howlers to sound like multiple coyotes.  I want them to think I am looking for a fight, but alone.

2) If I know I am targeting several coyotes.  Same thing as above.  I want the pack mentality so they all come to see the intruder and to run me off.

Location is super, super important when howling.  Coyotes have clearly defined territory.  If you are on the edge of their territory, howling will mostly be ignored.  Infringe on that territory and you have a better chance at getting a response.

This is just my opinion on everything and take it with a grain of salt, since I am about 2 for 15 this year on stand success.  However, I have killed a few when I took it a lot more serious years ago.

[Intruder]

Good advice Tbrad!