Posted: 1/12/2010 12:10:56 PM EDT
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OK, I didn't want to hijack this anymore than I have.
So tell me what I'm doing wrong. I really only started actively pursuing these silly critters about 2 yrs ago. I did it for the exact reasons (actually both of them) stated in the other post. 1. The yotes are destroying the turkey population 2. Gives me time in the woods between seasons. I bought a few books, let my googlefu work for me and got to work. I set up using a cross wind to my advantage, I've hunted at all times of day focusing on early morning and dusk. I KNOW they're there. Absolutely no success while doing a dedicated coyote hunt. I've killed 7 while just sitting in a tree deer hunting this year though. By far the best success I've had calling was when I've been turkey hunting and especially with a decoy out! ( I can just hear that conversation with a game warden and a rifle in my hand though, so not really and option) I built the ol' Varmit Al's caller, downloaded a bunch of MP3 to use. I've thrown it all at them. I have used the silly little wobbly rabbit (so far it's only attracted a very curious young buck back in August), I read about the feather on a stick and tried that too. What is the best sequence to call? Should I start with a distress call or a coyote call? If I use a distress call do I stick with that or transition and make like another dog showed up and he may miss a meal if he doesn't come? That and my volume level I fear are my worse mistakes. Talk to me about volume and call sequences. I have a jet black one that I couldn't get a shot on during deer season and I want that sucker in a BAD way. ETA: I'm a very experienced bow hunter, so scent control, playing the wind and sitting still are not foreign concepts to me by any stretch. TIA. |
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Reducing predation on local game populations is something that we all have to keep in mind when we are predator hunting. Here in AZ, for example, the coyotes are decimating our antelope herds. There are "Save the Fawn" hunts organized every year to try and curb this, but even so it seems we just can't kill enough coyotes. Make sure that you're not one of the "deer dorks" who just wants to try his hand at hunting coyotes, though. There is a literal plethora of people here in the west that get out there without really dedicating themselves to success, and therefore educate the heck out of the animals. It's always good to try our new sports, but once you've decided to want to do it, learn everything you can - not only for your own success, but to make the sport more enjoyable for others. Using turkey distress sounds has actually brought in quite a number of coyotes and bobcats for me - adding a decoy would make it that much better! Depending on your local warden, it may not be a problem.
It sounds to me like you might be having the same problem that a lot of new guys have, and that is stand location and stand setup. Make sure you are hunting in areas that have sign in them, and this is where a little scouting goes a long way. Just because they are there at one point in the day doesn't mean they hang out there all day long, and some areas are basically just a highway. Get a map, do some scouting, and mark down what you see. Soon you will figure out a basic pattern and this will help you choose your stands. In areas where you can't scout ahead, go for areas that are rich in prey during the early and late hours, and during the day find areas where they can lay up and nap while keeping an eye out for danger. If you've ever watched a coyote sleep, you'll notice that they raise their heads and look around about every 2 or 3 minutes - I don't know how they get any rest like that! You also need to make sure that you are choosing stand locations that offer plenty of safety routes to you - leave all the open terrain to the other hunters, and try to brush up a little, especially in areas where there is a lot of pressure. Wait a minute, didn't I write a book about this? 
Call sounds are really going to depend on the prey base in your area. Rabbit is always a good one to go with, but this time of year many animals which are still alive are that way because they are educated, and you'll need to change up your sounds. Birds, rodents, turkeys, cats, chickens - the list goes on. Trying out animal distress sounds that don't exist in your area is a tactic that should not be overlooked - remember, animals respond a good portion of the time out of curiosity. This is why I have called in deer, javelina, horses, elk, cows, etc to animal distress sounds; obviously they didn't come to eat, they came to see what was up in their neighborhood. Howling is something that you need to be using right now, as the mating season is starting. Long invitational howls (3-4 seconds) will bring in lonely animals, and short challenge type howls (1-2 seconds) will bring in males that are ready to fight their rights. After a few minutes with no response, start in with your distress. If you do get a response, try to give what you get; in other words match what the other dog is saying. When they shut up this usually means they are heading in, but keep an eye open for coyotes that will respond while another is just talking about it. Bobcats are not scared off from howling, but be aware that fox will run from a howl, as they are on the coyote menu. You ask a very good question about the distress to howl transition, which brings up greed - another good reason that predators show up. They don't want to be the last to the table anymore than we do! Once you start distress, however, it's best to stick to it, but feel free to throw in some howls at the end. Since I hand call mostly it's easy for me change tone and pitch, and towards the end of a stand I'll start getting really desperate sounding with my distress, like I'm being eaten alive. This makes another predator want to show up and get his piece. And remember - if an animal comes in and you shoot it, or miss it, or it busts you and leaves, stick to the plan! Keep calling for the full time on stand, as it's not uncommon to call in multiples, even after a gun shot. In the case of a fox or bobcat it may even be the same animal that you just missed! Keep your volume low to start with, and then work up to a higher volume after a few minutes. Think about your terrain and how your sound will go out into it - if you are getting a lot of echo, calm down the volume, if it sounds like it's stopping 5 feet in front of you, ramp it up a little. Whether I am using my hand calls or by chance a digital caller, I will call for a few minutes and then give it a 30 second break, but I don't wait too long because bobcats can lose interest with too much of a pause. I have experimented at length with call sequence time and pauses, and to be honest it doesn't really matter. Calling continously or pausing doesn't seem to affect the number of animals I draw in, but I have a certain "groove" on stand and it works for me, so I stick to it. Your groove may be different, so once you figure out a calling / pausing sequence that works for you, stick to it until it stops working. If you already know about playing the wind then you are way ahead of the curve. Stick to a crosswind and make sure you can always keep an eye on your downwind side. Good scent discipline before a hunt, to a stand, and while there are important, but I hunt with a guy who kills more animals than I do and he smokes on the way to and from stands. How? He never lets them get downwind if he can avoid it, and trust me, he avoids it a lot. Oh and it would be great if you nailed a balck yote! That's something I have yet to see out here in the west, but I see them from your southern / eastern guys quite often. Good luck out there, and let me know if you have any other questions. Oh and just for fun reading, check out my blog if you haven't already: The Adventures of Rizzo |
New4John, I am almost in the same boat you are. Been hunting for two years now, and between three guys last year we had two yotes and three foxes. Dozens more missed opportunities and a heck of a lot more no shows. Me and my buddies are probably THE best educators of coyotes in the greater Phoenix area. 
This year has started out the same. We have been out three times and hit dozens of stands, only seeing one yote at 300 yards. My goal for this year is to bag a bobcat, but if I can't even call in a yote or a cute little kit fox, then my goals may be too lofty. |
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I'm starting to "pass" hunt yotes with my buddy that runs +3000 acre catte operation here in central Texas.
I go out ridin' with him, checking the girls, young'ns & fences and when a yote passes in front of us we bast it. I traded him a Savage 340 in 222 a coupe of weeks ago (for his daughter to hunt with), but she hasn't got to shoot it yet cause it still lives in the truck; he's got several yotes, a couple of "misguided" stray dogs & several buzzards. I didn't realize the birds were such a problem to the cows, but they can be. Gonna take my newly acquired NEF in .223 out next week & help him out. |