How "unacceptable" is crusty, crunchy snow for calling?

[ivarhusa]

Sidewinder and I had perfect snow conditions Tuesday AM. It was powdery and quiet. It turned to freezing rain on us and we got out of there. We have had consistently sub-freezing temps since then, in the Mid-Columbia, and now there is a crunchy snow cover.  I made 4 stands today, and winced at each step, each one being louder than I would allow myself normally.

So, was I wasting my time? I am inclined to think "it doesn't help", of course, but since my calling should be much louder than the crunching, there is hope to call in a dog that hasn't heard my arrival.  Your thoughts?

Ivar

[Gutpile]

It doesn't help but I was able to close the deal on one today and my friend called up a pair and missed. I know what you mean though about wincing with each step. It was pretty loud out there today. We were in a real good area with lots of sign so one can only guess how many did hear us and spooked out because of it.

[aer212]

I'm not an expert but we made 7 stands from Friday until dark today and the only ones we called in were on the last stand. What was the difference between the 6 stands we made unsuccessfully and the one successful one? The last one we didn't walk on any snow. I'm sure that doesn't prove anything but nevertheless we called in three coyotes on that last stand and didn't get any of them. What happened is the roads around here are all snow covered so we drove until just before a we crested a hill and parked. Got out and walked in the tire tracks where the snow was displaced so it was relatively quiet walking. When the tracks ended we setup with the wind blowing in our faces and called into two ravines. About the time we started calling the fog came in and visibility was about 100 yards. I kept seeing coyotes out there and finally lifted my rifle to check through my scope and sure enough, there was a coyote. After I saw it I kept the call playing but it wasn't coming in. It almost seemed like it heard some noise and decided to check it out then when it got there decided to go mousing. So I switched up sounds maybe 5 different sounds including mice, rabbit, porcupine, and pup distress. Nothing I played made it pay any attention. Finally when I put the partridge distress on it started coming my way really taking its time. Next thing I know there are a couple coyotes yapping warning barks from behind me. I knew I was busted and the original coyote turned and headed out a ways looking at the 2 behind me. I turned and looked at the 2 and figured out immediately what happened. There is a big ravine behind me running almost perpendicular to the wind direction and those 2 came in also but came in right to our scent. Next thing I know the whole stand is busted and thats why we didn't get any of them.

[AWS]

Went to the eastside a few years ago and we hunted wet snow the first day, killed one.  It froze and we crunched in for three days and didn't get a thing.  The following three days we hiked back to all the stands we made earlier keeping in our old foot prints and picked up six more coyotes.  Seemed to make a difference to us but we were also hunting pretty tight cover.

AWS

[Jerry malbeck]

If i cant drive into a area and pack it down the day before i stay home , its just to noisy unless the wind is blowing like mad . They can hear a lip squeak a 1/4 mile away , Im sure they can hear that crunch for miles :chuckle:For me its hard to walk in a slippery tire track though.
you could always go walk your stands a day before and then go back 

[ivarhusa]

Jer, this is reinforcing the message that it can be productive to hunt along roads. Message not missed.

[Jerry malbeck]

Look for areas that have been traveled by farm machinery like a cattle ranch you know of 

[hoosier85]

Freezing rain and cold. Wouldn't that be a blessing in disguise thou , I would think so. Bunch of hungry yotes hunting for food and trying to stay warm. Know the feeling thou with crunch leafs deer hunting. On the up side though you can hear them comming and plus if they see you and try to take off it will slow them down maybe. The way I see it yea it sucks making noise in the woods but everything else moving around is too? When you walk in act like a deer and bob your head maybe that will confuse em 

[Jerry malbeck]

Hoosier , yes and no . Most of the time a coyote can stay on top of that crunch and remain real quiet . If they are sinking thru most will hold up until it gets colder and they can get around on it .mouseing for them becomes alot easier as the mice cannot dig back thru it in a hurry to escape them so they have to try to outrun them   . 

[Gutpile]

Freezing rain and cold. Wouldn't that be a blessing in disguise thou , I would think so. Bunch of hungry yotes hunting for food and trying to stay warm. Know the feeling thou with crunch leafs deer hunting. On the up side though you can hear them comming and plus if they see you and try to take off it will slow them down maybe. The way I see it yea it sucks making noise in the woods but everything else moving around is too? When you walk in act like a deer and bob your head maybe that will confuse em 

They wont break through normally. It'd have to be very very thin crust. So you wont hear them and it won't slow them down.

[Antlerking]

We maid 7 sets today and did not have a lot of action. It was hard to sneek in and set up without making much noise. I am sure we scared a few off before we even started.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I read somewhere long ago that animals don't mind noisy footsteps much if they sound like the varied footsteps of another animal.  when man walks, it goes: crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch ad infinitum.
When a deer walks, it goes: crunch.....crunch crunch.......crunch.     crunch....crunch........crunch.......crunch crunch........etc.
I've tried it deer hunting, and it seems to make a difference.  Don't know about coyotes, though.  Not much experience there yet.
Steady crunching means MAN!

[rasbo]

though it seems loud as hell to you,most times the sound dont carry that far...It still drives me nuts though...

[Jerry malbeck]

I read somewhere long ago that animals don't mind noisy footsteps much if they sound like the varied footsteps of another animal.  when man walks, it goes: crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch ad infinitum.
When a deer walks, it goes: crunch.....crunch crunch.......crunch.     crunch....crunch........crunch.......crunch crunch........etc.
I've tried it deer hunting, and it seems to make a difference.  Don't know about coyotes, though.  Not much experience there yet.
Steady crunching means MAN!

I was told years ago by a GOV. Control opperator that what you say is true. I do know its alot easier to walk up on game on horseback then it is on foot .

[Heredoggydoggy]

aer212 mentioned fog.  Fog not only cuts visibility, it muffles sound and makes it hard to tell the direction it's coming from.  Probably why the coyotes he saw were ignoring his calling and going for closer prey that they could home in on easier.