Need some encouragement

[TheChad23]

Been getting quite discouraged lately because I've been out twice this year with setting up at some spots I was for sure would produce some coyotes with lots of coyote tracks and ideal living area but came up with nothing.  I've been going right at sunrise and the weather at night has been below freezing so I thought that would help with coyotes being deperate for some food.  The only thing that hasn't cooperated with me is the wind because it has been light and swirling.  This Coyote Tournament has encoureged me alittle bit and some of my team mates have told me about there success but kinda gets me discouraged that I can't get any.  Had a game warden stop me and chatted with him a bit and he told me he was in the same area as me two months ago and called in two coyotes.  This permit needs to come so i can see all the coyotes that have been killed.  I'm on winter break for school already and have plans with a couple of people to go out with them but need some encouragement for me to keep getting up super early and spending my gas money.  Let me hear some stories or some good advice for some encouragement.

[Jack Diamond]

Had to read this 3 times. You have only been
Out twice and are discouraged,and need photos to keep you going,and worried about buying gas?      Maybe you should consider another sport.   Hunting coyotes is not cheap nor always rewarding!

[FALFire]

Are ya hunting the east side or west side?

Hunting twice is nothing........You haven't even started yet!

I've hunted both the east and west side, the west side sucks, lots of dogs but the cover can be so dense it makes for tough hunting. Don't get discouaged, it happens sometimes, I'll go out and get nothing to respond, then two weeks later I'll get 4 dogs to come sreaming to the call in the same location.

Watch your movement and pay particular attention to the wind, sit up over looking a large area approaching dogs. Move only when they move when you see them coming and keep all movement low to the ground. Sit with a tree, rock bluff or some brush behind you to break up your outline.

[TheChad23]

I was spoiled last year and had coyotes come in everytime I went calling and just getting a little discouraged and this small game thread has been alittle dead with stories.  I'm hunting the east side scablands.  I'm not sure if I make too much noise coming in or what but I haven"t seen any movement while walking in to my spot or heard any howls to be able to locate them or get closer.  I have major success last year and all these skunkings just suck.  I'm not too discouraged to keep trying but just wanted to hear any advice or get some stories out there.

[rynokron]

If you got one every time you went out it wouldn't be called hunting. Make sure you are not getting busted walking in and setting up. Try walk into the wind or at least a cross wind. Don't skyline yourself if you can help it. Keep at them. persistance pays off.

[TheChad23]

That's some good advice. I'll use it next time I go out.  I do tend to skyline quite a bit to have a vantage point to see over a large area but might be ending up getting me busted. Thanks I'll use that one tomorrow.

[carpsniperg2]

Most people are holding out on stories and pics until the permit for the yote contest gets here. You will see a lot more when it get's going. There is lots of times I have been calling and not killed anything. Over the years I am around 1 yote for every 6 stands I make. I do see them more often then that but a lot of call shy yotes and stuff can always go wrong. Plus I do miss from time to time

[Gringo31]

I think if I average things out I call/see a dog every 3 stands.  I'll go 0-4 and then get a dog on the 5th and 6th.  Most the time I think I spend too much time worrying about the perfect stand instead of just maximizing the number of stands I get in.   

Also, for me, and I'm curious what other guys experience on this is, but I don't have the best luck first thing on these frosty mornings.  It seems after a few hours when the sun is up and  starting to warm that I do better.

Saying you did two stands is like saying you made 10 casts from the bank fishing.

[JJB11B]

This info is helpful to a lot of us newbies....

[billythekidrock]

Saying you did two stands is like saying you made 10 casts from the bank fishing.

I agree.

Two stands is just about enough time to work one up if you hadn't had your coffee. 

[billythekidrock]

This info is helpful to a lot of us newbies....

Where are you hunting?
What type of info do you think would be most  beneficial?

[demontang]

Well I've been out way more and not see a yote. I'm sure I will soon seen as it happens to me every year.

[wraithen]

I've got 4 stands in and haven't seen anything except one pi**ed of hawk screaming at my ecaller and a few other birds. Still having fun except when "something" makes the woods go silent and hangs out with me. I hate that creepy feeling. One day I'll get used to it.

[Kain]

Some of you guys are spoiled.    I call one ( that I see) about every 25 stands.  That does not mean I even get a shot.  Gotta love the west side.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I agree with Gringo ....If it was freezing at night then come mid morning when the sun comes out it is prime time to call in yotes....a coyote is like you ... when its cold you stay in and when it heats up you head out .....I run by this theory on everything including big game ... I should of went today but I did not ...maybe tomorrow ...I have been out a couple times and did o.k most of been luck 

[demontang]

You know I'm kind of lucky I generally average one yote a stand by the end of season. But really I might call one in every 5 stands.

[boneaddict]

You have only been
Out twice and are discouraged,and need photos to keep you going,and worried about buying gas?      Maybe you should consider another sport.   Hunting coyotes is not cheap nor always rewarding!

I'm usually the blunt one around here.    but....this is about as straight forward as it gets.

[Arteman]

Most people are holding out on stories and pics until the permit for the yote contest gets here. You will see a lot more when it get's going. There is lots of times I have been calling and not killed anything. Over the years I am around 1 yote for every 6 stands I make. I do see them more often then that but a lot of call shy yotes and stuff can always go wrong. Plus I do miss from time to time

What permits, what yote contest, i think im going to take up predator hunting.  Prior to now I've just shot them when I've seen them, other then bobcat with dogs and shocking young dogs off yotes (trash) thats about the only small game I've hunted.  A hunting subject i know nothing about, please fill me in, thanks.

[boneaddict]

We have a very kicked back contest we do every year.   Its more for braggin rights than anything.   It was deemed we need  a permit for such fun things, so It was postponed a bit this year.  Its called Coyote Madness.   I think this is year IV

[Arteman]

We have a very kicked back contest we do every year.   Its more for braggin rights than anything.   It was deemed we need  a permit for such fun things, so It was postponed a bit this year.  Its called Coyote Madness.   I think this is year IV

I would consider this thread jacking, and sorry to the original poster, but is this something that just HW members do, a contest on the site?  Maybe I need to do a search on it.

[boneaddict]

Yes, this site only, and I wouldn't consider it thread jacking.  In fact if he wants to learn something its a thread the OP should monitor.  Lots of photos tips and stories for a couple years worth.  The current one is as we speak in the recent column to the right and the others can be found in the top 10 threads of all time on the stat page.  I believe the first contest was erased so as not to confuse people, but the last two years are there.

[boneaddict]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,84424.msg1108025/topicseen.html#new

[Arteman]

Thanked Bone.

[carpsniperg2]

Yes I agree 100%, I don't even worry about getting up and out at the crack of dawn. Seems like until the sun is up good and warming up, I don't call crap in. If I am in a area early I will howl and see if I can get a response. If I do or not I will always come back later and still call the stand. Also a tip, keep a calling log! Write down your notes! Time of day,length of stand,temp,if you see a yote, if you kill one, etc. It will teach you a lot when you look back after a year of calling.

[Arteman]

Anyways I meant to say thanks, I checked it out and that's cool!  I started HW this year when shed hunting was the top topic, slowly trickled to the trailcam thing, and then of coarse hunting in general, well that's starting to petter out so i was thinking well back to shed antlers in a few months, but now I have this to follow, can't wait tell this gets going.  Maybe join the race next year with a little more experience.  Can't wait to get out and learn this sport.

[boneaddict]

Every coyote you kill is probably another 100 bucks out there on the range......probably a 1000 mice too, but the snakes need to eat too. 

[carpsniperg2]

Every coyote you kill is probably another 100 bucks out there on the range......probably a 1000 mice too, but the snakes need to eat too. 

Indeed and probably a ton of game birds as well!!! They are so hard on the birds

[trippledigitss]

When I first started I think I went out at least 15-20 times by myself before I even saw a ky-oat. Best thing I ever did was get with a couple of veterans who told me good place to go and one of them also took me out with him*. (BIGINNER & PredatorPro*) One weekend with hunting with him and/or having their help and I had my 1st dog. Then after that it seemed I went on a killing spree, I got one almost every time out for awhile. (and now I have TWO to my name...)  But I went on a dry spell for awhile too. Just keep at it, you learn something every time out, even if you dont call one in, like they say 'practice makes perfect' right? ( I keep telling my wife this but I still run into resistance with her....  ) I also watched alot of hunting shows like Predator Quest, Calling All Coyotes with Randy Anderson and read alot here and elsewhere. I'm still a rookie but I'd say the biggest thing is wind and movement is second.  And I swear by my decoy ( I cuss him up & down if I dont get something!  )  I dont hunt without it! Good luck dude, keep at it!

[TheChad23]

Thanks for the encouragement. I've had the best at earlier times so maybe I shouldn't give up so quickly and stay out longer and I might see something. Thanks for the tips guys.

[Arteman]

The only thing I do know about varmints has to do with bobcats from when I been dog hunting.  If you see a bobcat in a spot it will be there again, they live and hunt in the same small areas their whole life, the only exception is a Tom cat during breeding season out on the prowl for females.  Dog hunting we would strike the same cats in the exact same spots almost daily, next strike might be a few hundred yards up or down the road from the previous, if it was to cold to get it jumped and caught then we would call them addresses, you then pattern them so as if you was getting a lot of cold strikes in the mornings you could come back and try that cat in the evenings for a warmer track.  we know the cats hunt the same pattern because weeks apart you would cold trail the same cat down the same exact drainages almost foot for foot according to gps tracking collars.  You can even tree them, let them go, and catch them again another day to train young dogs.  A good houndsmen doesn't kill everything he puts up, just that much farther he would have to go next time, as it doesn't take much to clean out an area.  I know some only kill Toms.  My whole point is that this year boot hunting I have seen 3 cats in Washington, I know they will be in the same spots if i want to try calling them in, I'll call those addresses.  Don't know about Washington, but if I was to buy an Oregon license this year I do know a lot of addresses down there where I would like to try calling.  Problem is I just need to learn the calling part now.

[Kain]

Thats very interesting Arteman.  How big an area are we talking about for bobcats?  The reason I ask is I do some scouting in the snow and when I find a cat track I will try to follow it and some will go in a straight line for a long ways.  Then some just seem to walk in huge circles or criss cross all over in one small area.  Is that the difference between males and females you think?

[Arteman]

Thats very interesting Arteman.  How big an area are we talking about for bobcats?  The reason I ask is I do some scouting in the snow and when I find a cat track I will try to follow it and some will go in a straight line for a long ways.  Then some just seem to walk in huge circles or criss cross all over in one small area.  Is that the difference between males and females you think?

Kain, I wouldn't know how big but would guess in an area you know there is a cat if you came back enough to that spot you have seen tracks in snow, or seen a cat that eventually it will be close enough to here your calling.  We never chain dogs up, we board them doing about 20 and when are reliable dogs strike we stop and they jump off and hunt for a track, usually a piss post their striking.  Cats, even lions hunt the roads, during the winter you will see that they check colverts for rabbits.  I know this because roads are a hound hunters enemy, if the dogs can make it off the road they will usually move a track pretty good, sometimes you'll come to a stretch of road where a cat has walked it for like 600 yards or more, weaving in and out of the road, if its a cold track this can be a nightmare, every 20 yards you get a strike, the dogs bail off and jerk off a bush with their tails going a mile a minute, yell at them to get on the box, go 20 yards and do it again.  In the snow you can avoid this by driving through tell the track leaves the road.  Sometimes we have gone through all that trouble to finally get it off the road and going just to have the dogs end up on the road below us doing it all over again, sometimes its better just to move on to find a better track than to waste the day away on a very cold one that's been walking the roads.  Also to many times you'll put them right back in there den so home for them wasn't to far away, and you know its a cat race if the dogs are doing circles once jumped, big or small circles, good for young dogs that fall behind as that cat might get ran right back in their face, but if it takes off in a strait line for the next county start frying them but usually the older dogs will give away the younger ones when its trash.  Anyways, kinda turning into a hound hunting post but I'm just telling what I know and have learned about a bobcats habits, might help with calling, Idk but i aim to find out.  Kain do this next time you find a track in snow, if you see where it left the road try and get on the road below or above witch ever way it was going and find its track again.  You'll be that much closer, if you cant find it then you know its probably still in there.