Coyote calling help

[KimberRich]

I've done a little Coyote calling in the past but am hoping someone can shed some light on a few things for me.  Being new to this I'm not sure if this is like asking someone for their honey hole but I'm hoping that we all share the same desire to limit the coyote population to increase our big game population so I hope I get some insight.  There are a lot of really experienced, knowledgeable predator hunters on this site that I would love to hear their opinions and thoughts.

I'll be using a Foxpro electronic call.  I've been practicing like crazy with my mouth calls but don't feel great about it quite yet. 
It seems that certain times of the year, certain calls work better than others. 
Is it breeding time right now?? and if so, what would be the best call?  Male Challenge or Female Bark Howl or ??  What about later in the spring? Pup howl? 
Will the food in distress calls would work all year long?  Better in the winter when there's less food or spring when the pups are hungry?

I've watched a ton of videos and such and don't know where to start.  Do I howl then go to food in distress calls or food calls then start challenging?? 

What's worked for you guys?   Thanks

[Big10gauge]

Well I’m sitting at work with nuthin going on so here’s my  . The breeding season is on and as for the best call right now, I would say that howls can help improve your success BUT they can also scare the dickens out of them. IMO the challenge howl is probably responsible for more coyotes going in the opposite direction if you don’t use it correctly. I’ve been out with guys that get a vocal response after using a non-threatening howl on a e-caller and then go immediately to a challenge howl or another similar howl and then wonder why the coyote didn’t come in. If I was a male horndog coyote and heard a challenge howl from one direction and a female invite call in the other direction I know which way I’d be heading, of course I’m more of a lover that an fighter. My best success using a challenge howl is only after you have been able to exchange several vocals and then the coyote initiates the challenge howl first. I've seen females come in to a challenge howl (probably just to see the fight and take home the winner).  You have to play the odds on which call will elicit the most responses. Right now unless you have an area that hasn’t been hunted much the coyotes have probably heard every tune there is on an e-caller and using a howl then a distress call or vice versus is probably the most played tune going right now but you probably will get some success using this approach. As for your hand calls vs an e-caller don’t be surprised if your handcalling calls in coyotes this time of year even if you think you’re not up to snuff yet. It used to be coyote hunters used handcalls for years before deciding to get a e-caller, I bought my first one last year after many years of handcalling, in fact I didn’t buy my first open reed until about 4 years ago, e-callers can help quite a bit but I think they can also be a hindrance to learning how, what and when to call since it’s pretty easy to pick a sound, turn up the volume and then unmute.  Remember a coyote always has to eat so distress calls work year-around but tend to be less rewarding in late winter but picks back up, again such things as extra cold weather etc. can change the game. Another thing for this time of year, it can pay to sit on the stand a little longer, for me pairs seem to be somewhat harder to call in right now but if you get the right calls they can respond pretty quick, singles seem to still responding to distress and an occasional booty call.

[Bofire]

Howling is the hardest mouth call to learn. Stick with food calls, curious calls learn them, then learn the howls. Female invite, lonsome howl work best for me.
I generally will start with a prey sound on my FP kinda quiet, after a few minutes I use a prey call a few sqwacks and leave the caller running. If nothing turns up depends on time and place I might try a howl and leave the caller running or a howl and go back to mouth calls prey type.
Carl

[dannysdaddy]

I ALWAYS carry my mouth calls as well as my fox pro.  in my experience what works one day may not work the next.  i think overall i have the most success with prey calls.  i have also learned to know what the food source in the area is.  i have hunted areas with a very low rabbit population and dint call anything in with a rabbit call.  on the flip side the same area has a big rodent population and do very well calling them in using a rodent sound.  i think it all depends on where you are at.  i have never called in a coyote with a howler and i dont really know how to use one very well.  i stay very basic and have WAY more success doing so.  i hunt a few farms and do well using the foxpro with sheep,chicken, and calf distress calls.  i really think it all comes down to the exact area, food source, and personal preference.  good luck!!!

[KimberRich]

Well I bought the Spitfire today and am headed over north of Tonasket tomorrow for a few days to try it out.  Mostly private ground where i'm at so I'm hoping the local dogs aren't up to speed on the e-caller sounds.  Thanks guys.  I'll give a full report when I return!