Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: demontang on January 05, 2011, 07:31:35 AM

Title: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 05, 2011, 07:31:35 AM: So I found a spot that has tons of rabbits and tons of coyotes. I can't seem to get them to come into a call. They will howl back at me but never show? I think there food base is covered and they seem to be lazy to come check out my calls.
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: BlackRidge on January 05, 2011, 07:39:24 AM: Same here, found a rabbit/yote highway, setup, and no takers

I keep hearing other members talking about using other types of calls around this time of the year. Pup distress, communication/location howls, and even a few bird noises. Have yet to try it out myself, but at this point, I'll try anything as long as it yields some kind of results
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 05, 2011, 08:06:40 AM: Cottontails are open! Start shootin!

If they'll answer but not come out in the open, are they discovering you first? Scent? Cover?
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 05, 2011, 10:49:35 AM: There is brush fingers and I set so the wind blows my sent toward a open area so I can see down wind. The sun is at my back and I set in brush and where camp to help break up my shape. I haven't dipped into my call sounds to much because the area doesn't seem to have been hunted at all yet. My tracks are the only ones I see in the snow any where so I'm not sure what's up. I almost shot a huge rabbit on the way out but figured a 52gr amax might mangle the meat up to much.
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 05, 2011, 10:54:23 AM: Quote
I almost shot a huge rabbit on the way out but figured a 52gr amax might mangle the meat up to much.

Head shot! That's dinner!

If you're not getting them to come in.. Set some wind ribbons out in the area that you're viewing. Might learn something from that.

-Steve
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 05, 2011, 11:37:26 AM: That's a good idea. There is a lot of valleys/cuts in that area
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: billythekidrock on January 07, 2011, 05:51:21 AM: Quote from: JackOfAllTrades on January 05, 2011, 08:06:40 AM
Cottontails are open! Start shootin!

If they'll answer but not come out in the open, are they discovering you first? Scent? Cover?

That would be my guess as well.

You might also look at the access point and try coming in from a different direction. Is it possible that you are "pushing" them as you park and walk in?
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 07, 2011, 02:13:43 PM: Well there is only one way in this time if year. Even locked with 37's cant make it up the back road because of 5ft snow drifts. I was thinking if trying to walk in a different way but I can only drive in one way. I'm heading up early tomorrow to give it a shot
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: Instinct on January 10, 2011, 06:38:43 AM: Dang 5' drifts? Where u at lol that's crazy
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 10, 2011, 08:39:38 AM: Lol by selah. The wind blows the snow on that road right in to a cut out of the hill and it gets deep fast.
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: tlbradford on January 10, 2011, 12:13:43 PM: Disinterest in calls is common this time of year. You either have to find the sound that triggers a response, or go after them. This is just a guess, and correct me if I am wrong in my assumptions, but I am betting the howls are still a long ways off. Your set-up sounds very good. I doubt it is them scenting you. More likely something BTKR touched on such as vehicle being heard, or being seen during set-up, although I am doubting that. I am going to assume you are covering your approach to your stand and walking in far enough to discount vehicle noise.

Next time out, try to get closer to the source of where they were howling as long as the terrain allows this. If they are still howling back at you and won't come to the call, after you have tried everything in your bag of tricks, then go find out what you are dealing with.

Hike all the way in to where you heard them. Study the sign, where the tracks come into the area, where they go out, where the largest concentration of sign is. Also look for natural territorial boundaries; a fenceline, a road, a change in type of terrain, creek, natural travel corridors. Look for a lot of scat in these areas. If you come across this type of boundary on your way in to investigate the howls, then set-up and call from there.

If this is an area I am going to call frequently through the years, I will gladly give up a morning of possible success, to learn all I can about the area I am calling to. If you bump coyotes, then it will give you solid information for future stands in the area.
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 10, 2011, 07:00:48 PM: So the truck is about 1 mile or so away over a ridge so I don't think it's my truck. I need to get back up still and do some tracking in the new snow to figure the patterns out. It's a long hard walk in but if I can get them to play I think it will be a productive place
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: billythekidrock on January 11, 2011, 05:28:01 AM: Quote from: tlbradford on January 10, 2011, 12:13:43 PM
If this is an area I am going to call frequently through the years, I will gladly give up a morning of possible success, to learn all I can about the area I am calling to. If you bump coyotes, then it will give you solid information for future stands in the area.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: Big10gauge on January 11, 2011, 06:22:54 AM: You might be trying to call them out of their own territory. It's also not uncommon for this time of the year for the coyotes to howl but not come in. Best bet is to get in as close as you can and call once you locate them.
Title: Re: Lots of rabbits= call shy yotes?
Post by: demontang on January 11, 2011, 08:37:29 AM: I'll have to give it a try. I think that I might take my 243 or 338 in just so I can shoot longer range if I need too.