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Coyote Hunting
1/27/2012 12:59:13 AM
Alright, I am as green as they come in terms of hunting. I would like to give it a shot, no pun intended. I have a friend coming home from Afghanistan and I want to take him out if he is game.
I am willing to go anywhere east of San Diego and have a Jeep. Thanks in advance for any info.
I am willing to go anywhere east of San Diego and have a Jeep. Thanks in advance for any info.
1/28/2012 2:18:02 PM
Originally Posted By HighSeasPoker:
Alright, I am as green as they come in terms of hunting. I would like to give it a shot, no pun intended. I have a friend coming home from Afghanistan and I want to take him out if he is game.
I am willing to go anywhere east of San Diego and have a Jeep. Thanks in advance for any info.
Alright, I am as green as they come in terms of hunting. I would like to give it a shot, no pun intended. I have a friend coming home from Afghanistan and I want to take him out if he is game.
I am willing to go anywhere east of San Diego and have a Jeep. Thanks in advance for any info.
Allrighty... lets start off with the basics. Do you and your buddy have your MANDATORY Hunting Certificate? If not.. GET IT, There is an on line course where you have to take a test then head on over to Turners or On Target in Laguna Niguel, THEN get your hunting license and required stamps.
I also suggest going on to a forum called Varminter.com... There is a ton of great information on there.
I had the luxury of a pro varmint hunter taking me and showing me the ropes. You may be able to find one on Varminter.com that is in the area who is willing to go with you and show you lots of tricks and habits of the coyotes.
1/29/2012 1:09:03 AM
Okay, you will need hunter safety and the license. No tags needed for 'yotes, but bobcats and fox do need tags. Now, head east, or south east. There is a lot of BLM land near Dulzura. It's open to hunt. Laguna Mountain is national forest. You can hunt there. Out to the far east, you hit the Anza Borrego Valley. Some is national monument (No hunting) some is BLM, with a Wilderness Area caveat. (Bring HORSES, jeep must stay at the trail head.) East even further, Niland and Brawley. Yotes around the farm areas. Lots of open turf to hunt, non posted, BLM, and state lands.
Since you have never hunted them, I will give you some basics: A spotting scope, and some GOOD binoculars. I do not mean spend $500 on glass. But be sure the binos work properly and can stretch your eyesight a long, long ways. I like to listen for them at night while camping. Not much need for calling them at first when you are learning, so do not sweat that too much. You hear them calling, get an idea which direction. Try to pattern wind if any; get to the side where the wind will not send your scent straight to the dogs.
Before first light, be up a hill if possible. Even 20feet is better than zero elevation. Start looking, see if you spot any runners. Often, you will be closer to the dogs than you think. They can see like hawks. They can hear like an elephant. They can smell like a pig. They UNDERSTAND hunters, whether animal or human. When you hunt them, they can sense it, and they WILL get crafty quick.
But, they do bed down and rest after a long night of hunting rabbits and mice. If you see them, watch them. See if they bed down. Stalk and get closer. They are going to see your clumsy stalk; it's cool, it is half the fun!!
Get within 200ish yards, and then try to set up so you can get a shot. Use ANY cover available to hide your presence. Dirt berm, bushes, low creek beds. Yo will have to glass them up once you move- they WILL move on you.
So, you are within say 200 yards,a nd the dog starts moving off. Set up with him in your sights, and whistle. Schweep- he will stop. Or, yip real loud if you can not whistle. He stops; you take aim quickly and shoot. 'Cause once he starts moving after you stop him, he is likely to NEVER stop for you again. That dog will move, rest. Move, rest. And you have been burned.
Good luck!!!
Since you have never hunted them, I will give you some basics: A spotting scope, and some GOOD binoculars. I do not mean spend $500 on glass. But be sure the binos work properly and can stretch your eyesight a long, long ways. I like to listen for them at night while camping. Not much need for calling them at first when you are learning, so do not sweat that too much. You hear them calling, get an idea which direction. Try to pattern wind if any; get to the side where the wind will not send your scent straight to the dogs.
Before first light, be up a hill if possible. Even 20feet is better than zero elevation. Start looking, see if you spot any runners. Often, you will be closer to the dogs than you think. They can see like hawks. They can hear like an elephant. They can smell like a pig. They UNDERSTAND hunters, whether animal or human. When you hunt them, they can sense it, and they WILL get crafty quick.
But, they do bed down and rest after a long night of hunting rabbits and mice. If you see them, watch them. See if they bed down. Stalk and get closer. They are going to see your clumsy stalk; it's cool, it is half the fun!!
Get within 200ish yards, and then try to set up so you can get a shot. Use ANY cover available to hide your presence. Dirt berm, bushes, low creek beds. Yo will have to glass them up once you move- they WILL move on you.
So, you are within say 200 yards,a nd the dog starts moving off. Set up with him in your sights, and whistle. Schweep- he will stop. Or, yip real loud if you can not whistle. He stops; you take aim quickly and shoot. 'Cause once he starts moving after you stop him, he is likely to NEVER stop for you again. That dog will move, rest. Move, rest. And you have been burned.
Good luck!!!
1/29/2012 7:03:45 PM
That's fantastic. Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure my friend is gonna want to wander the desert with an AR after spending 14 months with an M4 in Afghanistan but I will be using this info eventually regardless.
Take care.
Take care.
1/30/2012 12:32:22 AM
He will dig it. There is a real beauty to the desert...... when you are not going to get shot at. And, if you happen to see a small puddle of oil, it was from my truck's axle seal that blew on me today. 
