View Full Version : Coyote Hunting
KMcCormick
08-02-2016, 19:30
Im in the grand junction area so GMU 30 and 31 and was wondering if anyone knows of good areas to hunt coyotes. I do most my shooting at the blm land by the grand junction airport and see tons of prairie dogs, so I set up near prairie dog town and started my normal calling routines that I would use in similar situations near Fort Collins and after 4 hours I didn't see a thing and I no longer had shooting light so I packed up and went home. Any ideas where I may want to go to next?
donek6977
08-11-2016, 00:33
I live in GJ myself and want to hunt coyote but haven't seen anything. They come out more when it colder and it's easier to track them after snowfalls. I was recommended to Cactus Canyon and Rabbit Valley for rabbits and coyote. I didn't get to try the coyote part. P. Dogs are everywhere here so there's no shortage of finding them. And I don't think you can use bait or calls on coyote.
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Pretty sure you can use calls. Doubt you can bait them though.
Electronic calls are legal for furbearers (including coyotes) in CO. Calls in general (non-electric) are always legal for small game, but non-furbearers cannot be hunted using electronic calls. You can use natural bait for furbearers. Artificial light is illegal except on private land, unless you have a night permit from CDW.
Since there if a proliferation of prairie dogs and other things for them to eat, try something crazy they're unlikely to hear normally, like a snowshoe hare distress call. They're curious creatures and even if they're not disposed to come in for a baby rabbit or something, they'll want to know what that awful racket is that they've never heard. Wind direction, terrain, etc. do matter for the little bastards. Plan your hunting spot based on the trusty OCOKA acronym: http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/survival/ocoka.shtml
O - Observation and fields of fire: They will use IV (Intervisiblity) lines -- places you cannot see their approach such as dips. Do map recon w/ Google earth to determine potential placement out to intended area of target). You could also walk in to your field of fire area from their approach (not on day of hunt) and look at it from their perspective -- what allows them to approach to the X with ease and yet concealment?
C - Concealment: Use terrain to your advantage for camouflage and blocking your outline/movement (i.e., be the bush on the hillside, not sitting there in the open)
O - Obstacles: Look for anything that can impede their movement or assists/funnels them into an area -- old abandoned car out in the desert? They have to go around it, so what's more natural for them to approach if they shoot out from its rear? Pond? They ain't going through it. etc.
K - Key Terrain: Look for choke points and anywhere that can serve you for O(1) and C. You don't have to worry about catching indirect from Coyote FA, so key terrain isn't a danger for your OP, but what makes your observation better (i.e., a little higher = nullification of IV lines)
A - Avenues of approach: Look for natural ways for them to get somewhere to observe the sound themselves.
All these play into each other and each preceding principle informs the next.
http://www.wpi.edu/academics/military/ocoka.html
https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/management/upload/5._OCOKA_Military_Terrain_Analysis.pdf
If you can, watch videos of coyote hunting in your area -- pay attention to how the coyotes behave (where they come from, how far out they stop to observe, etc.). If you notice a consistent pattern of behavior, make it a strategy.
Make a range card of your field of fire w/ yardages/DOPE come up and be prepared to adjust on fly.
reference, page 8 actual (pdf numbering, not viewer numbering): Colorado's official small game hunting manual:
http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/smallgame.pdf
(http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/smallgame.pdf)
after 4 hours When calling coyotes, sitting in one spot and calling for more than 30 minutes isn't necessary. Most coyotes that are going to come to the call with be there in 15 minutes or less. So be mobile, cover ground and that will up your odds of action.
When calling coyotes, sitting in one spot and calling for more than 30 minutes isn't necessary. Most coyotes that are going to come to the call with be there in 15 minutes or less. So be mobile, cover ground and that will up your odds of action.
Didn't catch that. They must have thought that's the dyin'est rabbit ever. lol.
Question, where do you turn in the coyote pelts?
For the last few years I've been selling mine to Petska fur. You can look at their website to see their routes through Colo.
Thank you TRnCO. I'll certainly look into that.
you guys thinking about trying to call coyotes need to get out and try. The coyote population across the eastern plains is very robust this year. I started the year by killing six on one stand and in the last two days I did 18 stands and called in 21 coyotes, killed 18 of them. They are worth a little money in the round, so you don't have to skin them to sell them and you can expect around $30./ea. average. You can shoot them, put them in a bag and freeze them and sell them frozen. That's how I do it. There is still some mange, of the 18 I shot, 5 had mange from one degree to the other.
Get out there and try. There's never been a better time, IMO.
hunterhawk
12-04-2016, 22:53
$30 seems high in the round.... what are they getting for green or put up do you know? Congrats by the way! Wish i had spots out east!
My fur buyer tells me that if I were to skin, roll them up without any further prep and freeze them, he'd give me $2./ea. more than in the round. Putting them up and selling them has variables. The fur market fluctuates, just like grain or oil markets. BUT if I were to sell to my fur buyer he told me that I could expect about 3X what he gives me in the round.
My first batch of 18 that I sold two weeks ago averaged $25.25. Early season coyotes aren't worth as much as they are now, and yes, two weeks makes a difference in fur quality. They will be fully prime about middle of this month, so this batch I expect to average near $30 and in two weeks I'd expect to average about $35.
hunterhawk
12-07-2016, 09:34
Cool thanks for the info! They are a pain in the but to put up! I dont blame you for selling in the round! I would have to buy all the stuff to put them up again as i sold all my stuff when i moved out here! I just need the time to go! Keep posting pics! And good luck.
HBARleatherneck
12-08-2016, 16:56
about 10 minutes ago from my house. 510 meters.
still some mange
https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004000727187/media/42388094906/medium/1481326587/enhance
https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004000727187/media/42388095281/medium/1481326646/enhance
Did it get one of your cattle? Couldn't you have just gave a warning shot, or shot it in the leg? It was probably trying to feed it's kids.
HBARleatherneck
12-09-2016, 16:09
about 10 minutes ago, same thing as yesterday 510 meters 1 shot. The coyotes ate the other coyote pretty fast. This one is really ugly and mangy.
https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004000727187/media/42390122210/medium/1481321366/enhance
https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/004000727187/media/42390122297/medium/1481321250956/enhance
Dog eat dog world out there!
huntnfishn5280
12-09-2016, 18:39
They recycle fast!
newracer
12-09-2016, 22:45
That one looks like it was dead already.
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nice shootin'.
Mange is such a nasty disease. Hate to see it. Of the 64 coyotes that have been killed by me and guys hunting with me since Oct. 21, 9 have had mange to one degree or another. I think that percentage is lower than what we saw in the last two seasons.
had a fun stand first thing Saturday morning. I got into position before shooting light and waited a few minutes for enough light to see. I let out a few howls and got an immediate vocal response from a group about 1/2 mile out. I waited a bit for better light, and while waiting I got them spotted with my binoc, and they were already coming my way slowly but surely, so I let them come. They got to about 250 yards out and one of them decided to howl a few times, which was cool. As soon as it got down howling, I let out one more howl on the Revolution, and here they come on the run, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Things got real rodeo like real quick. I was following the lead coyote in the scope and tried to bark stop him, but he rolled right on by, headed down wind, which was basically behind me. Thankfully one of the others decided to stop for a moment and I got her dumped at about 40 yards. The other three headed out, so I hit my pre set #1, which I call my "stop" barks, and sure enough all three stopped, so then I quickly hit preset #2 which is one of my favorite coyote fight sounds, and here all three coming back on the run. I decided to shoot #2 as it was still coming in at about 50 yards. It was coming straight at me, so was basically a standing shot. #3 was slightly behind and beside #2, and when it saw #2 go down, it stopped and I quickly dropped it. The fourth coyote decided it had seen enough and headed out, but with the fight sound rockin' on the Revolution, it just had to stop for one more look at about 120 yards, and it didn't take long for me to drop the hammer on it right there. All happened so quick that I actually had a hard time finding them all, because I lost track of where they were when I shot. This was my second quad of the season, but the coyotes on the other stand that I killed all came separately so they were much easier to handle. Either way gets the blood pumpin....
Killed three more Sunday which puts me at 95 for the season. About time to hang it up until next Oct. Fur buyer comes tomorrow for the last time.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/songdog/KIMG0585_zpsmproeagx.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/songdog/media/KIMG0585_zpsmproeagx.jpg.html)
That's great shooting. mind if I ask why you use a bolt action and not a semi since your shots seem pretty close in?
Firehaus
02-27-2017, 21:03
Awesome! I bet the deer hunting out there is good after your done.
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why you use a bolt action and not a semi since your shots seem pretty close in? Couple of reasons. The suppressed bolt action is slightly quieter than an AR. And I don't care for the nasty dirty brass that I end up with from the suppressed AR, and this rifle is lighter than any of my AR's. Plus this rifle is a 17/204 and I prefer to pick up my brass after a stand since .204 brass is expensive and I don't want to have to look for my brass, and more than I already do with a bolt action.
I've learned that I can be quite effective at killing coyotes with a bolt action. Only one stand this year that I needed a sixth shell, and I killed all six coyotes on that stand anyways.[Coffee]
ACE2GOOD
02-28-2017, 08:34
That sounds like an awesome stand and a great memory you will cherish for a long time. I haven't gone out in quite a while but a lot more action then I ever saw. We seem to have more luck seeing coyotes during deer season [facepalm]
hunterhawk
02-28-2017, 09:09
What? You had a hard time finding a coyote after you shot it? That never happens :-) jk congrats. Go get 5 more..no one likes a quitter!
Well done TRnCO.
I popped this guy at 440 yards off the back deck the other day.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mwLTt2K/0/L/i-mwLTt2K-L.jpg
Go get 5 more..no one likes a quitterIt sounds so easy, I might try a little more just so I can finally say I reached the century mark in a single season.
Colowyo, wonder if we're pickin' on some of the same coyotes. I've killed 5 behind my house this winter, including two that I sniped from the deck.
It sounds so easy, I might try a little more just so I can finally say I reached the century mark in a single season.
Colowyo, wonder if we're pickin' on some of the same coyotes. I've killed 5 behind my house this winter, including two that I sniped from the deck.
Could be. I'm at 154 and 33 (or where 29 turns into 33).
I've got a few this year of the back deck.
Could be. I'm at 154 and 33 (or where 29 turns into 33). Well we're pickin' on different coyotes then, I'm just south of town and I do believe you're N.E. of town.
Well we're pickin' on different coyotes then, I'm just south of town and I do believe you're N.E. of town.
Yep. We are probably five miles NE of town. Nice shooting.
Man I would love to join you guys one night. I'm north of where you guys hunt.
Great-Kazoo
03-01-2017, 21:31
Have Suppressed Guns, Will Travel
yankeefan98121
03-01-2017, 23:42
I'll carry kazoos "stuff" if I can come too
Man I would love to join you guys one night. I'm north of where you guys hunt. Actually I do very little hunting around Elizabeth, and I only hunt during the day time. I usually head east, sometimes way out east, to do all of my calling. More coyotes out that way anyways and much bigger pastures to roam.
sold my last 10 coyotes Tuesday and was surprised to get an avg. of $28./ea I'm about done for the season since that was the last time the fur buyer comes for the season. If I get a call from a rancher having problems, I'll head out, but otherwise, I'll hang it up until Oct.
just resurrecting this old thread. Maybe get some guys wound up to go out and try their hand at killing some coyotes. The mange hasn't wiped them all out yet and they are still worth decent money, even this late in the season. I got out Friday all day and killed 6, but only 5 got a ride home. The 6th had mange. Killed 2 more yesterday morning, one of which also was nasty mangy. Still lots of coyotes on the eastern plains.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4748/40034281602_24dc7e0e7e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/23ZGa9w)DSCN1372 (https://flic.kr/p/23ZGa9w) by Tim Richard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156405073@N02/), on Flickr
I get my coyote back from Almost Alive Taxidermy hopefully this month.
Grant H.
02-04-2018, 13:28
One of the guys from church and I bagged a few in WY 2 weeks ago. All of them had mange at some level, but one of them had the worst mange I have ever seen. The critter looked about dead before being shot. Not surprisingly, he was off on his own and not with a pack. I think he was likely sick enough to have been put out of the pack.
hunterhawk
02-04-2018, 16:00
Congrats. Good looking dogs! I have still only been out once this year... life gets in the way of the fun stuff
just resurrecting this old thread. Maybe get some guys wound up to go out and try their hand at killing some coyotes. The mange hasn't wiped them all out yet and they are still worth decent money, even this late in the season. I got out Friday all day and killed 6, but only 5 got a ride home. The 6th had mange. Killed 2 more yesterday morning, one of which also was nasty mangy. Still lots of coyotes on the eastern plains.
What round/bullet weight/velocity/distance were you shooting?
for this trip I carried my .17 Rem and am shooting the Hornady 25 gr. HP around 3900 fps. My longest shot was 225 yards, shortest shot was 55 yards.
I usually carry my 17/204 which shoots a 30 gr. Berger HP, (which is discontinued) at about 3950 fps. Just felt like knocking the webs out of the .17 Remington for a change.
managed to get a half day of hunting in before the winds kicked up today. Little .17 Rem. still packing a punch. These all came in twos.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4617/39409883215_55d482e8ac_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/233vXg6)DSCN1375 (https://flic.kr/p/233vXg6) by Tim Richard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156405073@N02/), on Flickr
Nice. I’m an optic away from completing my coyote rifle. Hoping to make it out with a friend/coworker sometime this year.
Nice. I’m an optic away from completing my coyote rifle. Hoping to make it out with a friend/coworker sometime this year.
Give me a holler when you think you'll have time coming up.
Give me a holler when you think you'll have time coming up.
Will do. Might be a few more weeks before I even buy a scope and who knows how long after that before I get time to sight in and work up a load.
Seems I'm as busy as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. (No offense, Jim.)
Hopefully, I'll be busy again by then, but check in with me just in case I'm not.
I better get up there and make sure I can start inviting.
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