new to hunting coyotes. tips?

[ali_squidz]

Hey y'all. Im brand new to hunting. I am trying to hunt coyotes. I got an electronic call. An AR-15. 223. I got some scent and rotting meats. :-p I was wondering if anyone had tips to help me out. Thanks in advance!

[Norsesmithy]

Some people have used live bait with some success. I've been out with a friend's 4H breeding project "culls" but I'm not sure they contributed to that night's success, as I'm not sure the coyotes figured out they were there before being popped (the two we got were coming from upwind, and seemed to be following a scent trail that was pretty far off from where the bunnies were tied out).

Otherwise I don't plan out hunts very much, just go out with a wounded rabbit call and see if I can draw one in on nights when they sound like they're close already.

I'd just say that you should get to know some of the residents in the area you intend to hunt, and on nights where you've got enough light to shoot, call around and see if they've been active in the area.

Then go out and put some time in behind the rifle. If you've got a mentor or a shooting buddy, bring them with.

[ali_squidz]

What tine of day do you usually head out? Tried dark last night and since there's no snow cover its hard to see. I tried sundown tonight and was surprised at how little light I needed to see as long as the sky is slightly lit still. I am thinking of heading out in the am just before sun up.

[Norsesmithy]

Depends, I've shot one in early dusk, and I've shot a couple in the overnight hours on days with good moon conditions, and I've even shot one at like 3 in the afternoon, just because it was where I could see it and didn't run away before I got the rifle out.

I've got pretty good lowlight vision though, my eyes are still young and I make an effort to treat them nicely. Generally if it's a clear night and we've got at least a quarter moon, I'm good to go, so long as I make sure to avoid sight lines with artificial light and give myself time to adjust (time to adjust can be an hour plus depending on what you are doing before you decide to go out).

[ali_squidz]

What's a sight line with artificial light?

[Norsesmithy]

Any place where I can see someone's house lights or where car headlights might be visible to me, etc.

[ali_squidz]

Oh ok. Thanks for clarifying . where I am at right now there isn't a house or car for miles . Im currently hunting from the kitchen slider door. Lol! I can post a pic from here in the am.

[Heffay]

If you kill it, be sure to eat it.

[yukonjasper]

I'm jumping into the sport soon. Just assembling what I need. To better educate myself I ordered a book to get some ideas.

We were prompted by DNR to take up predator hunting when we asked what we could do with land we bought to make it more productive for Pheasant and Duck production. Seems not many people do it anymore so the populations of coyote, skunk, racoon, fox etc. are very high.

I'll be interested in how you do - what works what doesn't. Good luck.

[Spartan]

Been trying to hunt Coyote too. Not much success so far.... spot light , calls. "WAGGLER" lots o tracks ... no shots yet... 3 trips to southern MN

[tman]

If you kill it, be sure to eat it.

Skunks and porcupines, too?

[Norsesmithy]

Porcupine ain't the worst. I know people who've eaten skunk, but the process for de-stinking them is something I've not got the patience to do, even just once for novelty factor.

[stesch_s10]

I've been coyote hunting a few times. More if I could but oh well.

When I go with my cousin in law, we leave town just before sun up.. like 10 minutes before. Get to our location at 5-10 minutes after sun up. We sit for 3-5 minutes scoping the place out getting accustomed to the surroundings. Then one of us will begin either with a locator howl or a jack rabbit distress call (hand calls no electronics) for 15-25 seconds. Then stop and watch for a minute. Then begin again with either a howl or distress for 15-25 seconds. Then stop and watch. If we don't see anything within 15 minutes we get up and go to another location.

One time we howled 5 sessions in one spot and saw nothing. Then we switched to a jack rabbit distress and as soon as we got done calling that first time a coyote came RUNNING at us. He ended up getting in thick cover and catching wind of us.

For locations, we have spots with dug outs or mounds of dirt next to a knee high grass field. We sit on the mounds and call towards the grass field. Another spot we have is over looking a river bend and we hind next to some trees and can see down into the river area.

Try and camouflage yourself and your equipment the best you can. When your "looking" around for movement, use your eyes first then slowly move your head.

[Snowgun]

Huh, I wonder if anyone has done spectrum analysis comparing electronic, hand held, and calls from an actual rabbit.


UPDATE:

Did a little digging, found this:

http://www.arizonahuntingtoday.com/foru ... php?t=6559

Sounds like some of these electronic units are shipped with crappy speakers. They also don't make allowances for high frequency (>20KHz, Adult humans can barely make 16KHz, Coyotes can hear up to 100KHz).

Seems with a little engineering you could make a bad ass product.

[OldmanFCSA]

I had the best luck with live bait, ex-wife was pissed I used her bottle-baby-lamb.

Steel fence posts in a round circle, wrap with 2 layers of fence wire (48" tall), put 1 post in middle, tie lamb to it, back up 150 yards and wait.