Post by: AWS on January 19, 2010, 09:28:20 AM
I think breeding season is starting early this year with the warmer weather, we saw allot of scratching on the ground. One suprising thing that if we were withing a mile of an orchard the coyote s--t contained allot of apple skins, the first time we've seen this. Also the weather was really against us. The weather was really warm and the coyotes weren't in need of allot of calories or were willing to go any distance. The wind had to be the worst, it was constantly changing, we'd head into a spot that would be perfect for the the wind when we left the truck and it would change sometimes two or three times during the set. We were busted half the time by shifting breezes. The rain wasn't a big help either.
I think the coyote numbers are down also, when we were in the tent at night or on early stands you would hear a coyote howling in the distance The might be only one answere. In past years there would be answers from all directions. Also we were flushing allot more pheasants and quail walking into stands than ever before. In the past you might hear a rooster or two in the distance and flush a hen or two but this year we were flushing groups of 5-6 birds regularly in many different locations and the quail seamed to be scurrying everywhere.
We are already planning another hunt next year, I think my coyote hunting is done for the year as I have allot of projects to finish. B in L still has a few months of winter to hunt back in NW WI and the coyotes are thicker than ever back there.
AWS
Post by: wastickslinger on January 19, 2010, 10:09:23 AM
And about the apples. They love them. Wait till you walk by a carrot field. There will be orange landmines every five feet arount the field.
Post by: b23 on January 19, 2010, 01:11:59 PM
If you don't have a good shot that you feel will connect, don't pull the trigger. Don't just snap one off in their direction because "well maybe I'll get lucky". It makes for some weary spooky coyotes.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 19, 2010, 01:20:03 PM
Post by: FALFire on January 19, 2010, 01:40:15 PM
Post by: Jerry malbeck on January 19, 2010, 05:46:50 PM
there are some good spots out that way if you know where they are , I quit hunting that whole area about 7 years ago .
Sorry you had a bad hunt, its sad to put in the time and money just to end up with a screwed up week . :bash:
Post by: AWS on January 19, 2010, 07:33:18 PM
We are looking forward to next year, tough dogs just make it that much more intresting.
AWS
Post by: littletoes on January 30, 2010, 07:12:23 AM
Been seeing quite a bit of sign that the dogs are "there" and are feeding on mice. Several new areas that have been dug up day to day. Finding mice, and finding them easily. Its almost like summer hunting for them, but a bit colder.
I've also been seeing "people" tracks everywhere too. Saw 4 rigs out there, and it was the middle of the week, so that tells me quite a few folks have taken off from work to hunt dogs....just like me. And THAT was early in the morning.
The dogs won't come near the roads with all the road hunters out there, made me wonder if I was seeing any of the folks from this board. Seen one guy in a white pick-up driving around, calling out his window, then moving on.....LAZY. Nothing like getting them ed-ju-mi-cated with moves like that.
Been getting lots of answers to my calls, but nothing coming in.....and with the breeding season about to come on its going to get a lot worse.
Seen a few, and watched them out there about 600 to 800 yards...they were hunting each bush, walking around and totaly ignoring any calls that I tried....just didn't pay me no-mind and went on with thier business.
Post by: bearmanric on January 30, 2010, 01:02:51 PM
Post by: littletoes on February 06, 2010, 09:46:28 AM
At one stand, me and my partner was calling and two guys came up behind us and set up with thier e-caller, and started calling 200 yards behind us. Don't know how they didn't hear us calling.
Funny as hell, even with them calling, and us calling, we called one in to 37 yards.
I was more worried about getting shot by the two guys behind us, than shooting the 'yote. Ya know, when folks show up in the woods, you don't know how careful they are, what kind of training they have had, etc.
Am I the only one that worries about this stuff?
Post by: Shootmoore on February 06, 2010, 09:51:05 AM
Now days you just need to buy an e-caller and push a button. While it is effective it pretty much just increased the numbers of hunters who educate dogs and puts more hunting pressure in more area's.
Shootmoore
Post by: AWS on February 06, 2010, 12:20:38 PM
A few years back I started using a howler in combination with distress calls and was having pretty good luck. When out one weekend and almost everytime we set up and used the howler we'd see some one trying to sneak up on us. We ended up calling more hunters than coyotes. Quit using a howler on public lands.
It is pretty suprising how short of distance a human can hear a call. Alot of time my partner and I will split up, him watching a backdoor or a blind aproach that can't be seen from the main calling stand, even at 50-100 yds we need to use a radio to comunicate as we canot hear the call.
AWS
Post by: jds15151 on February 06, 2010, 02:22:51 PM
Post by: Rudy on February 06, 2010, 08:50:26 PM
It is sure interesting to hear y'alls stories. Seems that Washington is very similar to Texas. I am new to varmint hunting down here but will be up at Yakima this summer for 14 months training National Guard soldiers. Hope to get in a lot of hunting while I'm there and hope to meet up with some of you. Jeff
If your ever gonna be over around Kennewick (bout an hour and a half east of Yakima) let me know, a friend of mine got us permission on all sorts of private land, we can probably get you on some dogs!
Post by: jds15151 on February 07, 2010, 07:57:30 AM
Post by: littletoes on May 01, 2010, 10:55:26 AM
Haven't seen this thread in a while, sorry for the late reply.