pointers on coyotes

[PubTender]

I get very bore in the early months of the year and was thinking of taking up coyote hunting ? I work with a few guy's that do it but are not very successful. So I thought I would turn to you guy's for some advice on tactics, best calls and set-ups. I live in northern Kent county. Also what is a good all-around gun for them? I was looking at a savage (.223/20g) over and under ?

[Mike Rathnow]

First of all the 223/20ga. is all the gun you'll need. It'll let you take the longer shots, plus the yotes that run in close to you with the 20ga. The best advice I can give you on your setup is to be "STILL". More coyote are missed, and spooked because the hunter is moving around too much. I've seen hunters using mouth calls and their fingers are flopping up and down, they're swinging their heads around trying to spot a coyote. It's not going to happen. Move your eyes not your head, and when you do just move slowly. Another thing when leaving your truck, DON'T slam the doors or the tailgate shut. Most of the time the areas I hunt, I hunt from 100 to 200yrds away from my truck. Also after you do setup, don't just start calling. Let the area or woods get used to you being there. What I mean by this is, there are hundreds of eyes watching you enter the woods. Let the animals and birds forget you're there. Then start calling.

As for calls, the rabbit in distress is still the best all around call you'll have in your bag of tricks. But there are small hand squeakers, lip squeaks will work, e-callers, howlers, There are literally hundreds of different type of calls on the market. I personally like the FoxPro for my electronic call. But the again it's going to be your choice.

When hunting coyote always be aware of the wind. Hunt with the wind in your face or hunt a cross wind. 99% of the time a coyote will try and circle around you and try to pick up any scents of danger, before coming into a call.

Another thing when hunting coyote you need to breakup your outline. Always hunt with something to your back, a large tree, berm, or some kind of brush. But break up your outline. Camo is important, but the most important things on your body to camo is your face and hands, I've hunted coyotes before with just a brown shirt, and blue jeans. But my hands and face were camouflaged.

Another thing is to get some videos and watch the real pro's go out and hunt. Those will help you out greatly. Here are a few links on calls for you to check out. Good luck to you. In my books there's nothing more exciting than predator hunting. After you call in your first animal, be it a fox, coon, coyote or bobcat. You'll be addict to this sport just like the rest of us.

www.gofoxpro.com
www.loudmouthgamecalls.com
www.allpredatorcalls.com

[PubTender]

Well I just went window shopping at Gander on lunch. I had no idea electric calls were that much. I think for just starting out I will get the call ,rabit decoy and just use my 7mag for this year.I also have a ruger 10/22, but thats probably to light of a load? When do you prefer to hunt them, mornings or evenings? I mostly only have evening's available to me.

[Mike Rathnow]

Right now anytime you can get out is a good time. As the weather starts getting colder, and the snow starts, the coyote will need to eat more to add that extra fat to keep warm. I really don't even start hunting yote's until December and Janurary rolls around. I have taken at all different time of the day and night. But looking at my hunting logs I keep, in the winter months early morning and from dusk throughout the night seem to be the best time for me. Coyote's like fox will lay up on the sunny side of hill and sleep during most of the day.

[jdpredhunter]

Hi pub tender only thing I can add to Mikes info is that you do have to wear hunter orange while hunting coyotes. Wear orange camo that will break up your pattern that is the biggest thing. Far as I have been able to find out coyotes are color blind thay see in shades of gray so the orange will look gray to them.
Good luck

[phensway]

im not so sure about that hunter orange thing.... im also not so sure about coyotes being color blind.... how could the "ultimate predator" be color blind?? not 100% sure on either one, but ive never heard of such a thing...

[Skinner 2]

Orange is needed this time of yaer to call coyotes. They is a time in the summer when no orange is needed. Ckeck the booklet on that. It is listed I just cannot recall the exact dates.

Coyotes are color blind like dogs. The orange does not bother them, but I still use the orange camos and only a hat.

I will check back in later. Right now i'm deepfrying walleyes and they are calling me.

(Edit)
OK dinner is done.

Hunter orange is required during the day between August 15 - April 30 so
right now orange is not required. Orange as stated is not needed after dark.

Phens. Still waiting for areport ffrom last night and today?????

Skinner 2

[Cobra]

Have you ever noticed how much more detail you can see in a top quality B&W photo as compared to a color one? And detail for a stalking predator is the key. I've dinked around during gun deer season, head to toe in orange camo while sitting along a snowy fence row and have called them in. Don't move and they will have trouble seeing you. Have been told that blue literally glows for them but never wear it in the field anyway.

[vizslak]

Dogs don't perceive all colors, but they see more than gray.

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/LA/DrP4.htm

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