Calling Coyote

Hey fellas, so the boy and I have been doing some research and going out into the foothills to try and sight some coyote.

I have read that some coyote won't come when called. I am wondering how true this is and have any of you called them in?

I have also read that coyote are everywhere and wondering if this is so? We live in Castle Rock and going west to the foothills but not sure about our chances?

I am not one to go ask ranchers to let me on there land out east so were kinda stuck to National Forest.

Any pointers? Much appreciated.....[Beer]

I hunt Pike National Forest, when I go for yotes I usually have 3 or 4 locations for set ups and I spend up to 45 minutes at each set up. Using a electronic caller my success rate is about 1 out of 4. That doesn't mean that yotes don't show up on the other set ups we just average 1 out of 4. We also call in alot of bobcats, foxes and a bear!!! Do some scouting and National Forest should be ok, no one hunts yotes out here.

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Originally Posted by DSull

I hunt Pike National Forest, when I go for yotes I usually have 3 or 4 locations for set ups and I spend up to 45 minutes at each set up. Using a electronic caller my success rate is about 1 out of 4. That doesn't mean that yotes don't show up on the other set ups we just average 1 out of 4. We also call in alot of bobcats, foxes and a bear!!! Do some scouting and National Forest should be ok, no one hunts yotes out here.

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Thanks for the reply! We have been going to Pike National Forest just west of Castle Rock.

Have you noticed they like to frequent types of terrain? Hilly, open space. lower elevations, etc?

What time of day do you find best? We see a bunch of bear scat, some deer, etc.

We haven't taken a call yet but looking to buy one, any suggestions? Do you have any pic's? I am trying to keep the boy interested and he really enjoys being in the mountains. We tend to go before sunset and hike out in the dark.

Thanks again![Beer]

I've used a hand-held rabbit distress call to call foxes and coyotes right up to my deck.

I hunt these bastards alot. Yeah it's true that some can't be called in....at first. You have to change your tactics and setups. As with any animal, weather conditions and food drive them to come runnin or stay in position. Yotes have excellent eyesight, so any movement, they will que into pretty damn fast. They have an excellent sense of smell, like all dogs, and if you smoke or have your gear soaked in fu-fu clothes softner, not gonna happen unless you mask your scent. Be sure to play the wind. I use a mix of e-callers and mouth calls. I will howl and bark when I first get into position so that I can locate them. Wait a little and start into rabbit distress calls along with magpie and crow sounds. These used in unison tell the yotes that their is food and that the scavengers have already found it. Also magpies are know for being skiddish around humans, so if their call is introduced into the mix, it puts the yotes at ease. Don't call constantly as nothing in nature is going to squeal for 15 consecutive minutes. Call in short bursts. Camo is best worn with a pattern that matches the surroundings. I take a few hats and shirts of different patterns in my pack. Varmint hunters do not need to wear orange. When choosing a good hide or setup point, find an area that has open visual space to the front and a brushy or forested backdrop. This will help you see the yotes coming in, and help them not to see you. Yotes are virtually everywhere. But since we have had so many fires that have decimated such large areas of land, there most likely is the possibility that they will be skiddish and very cautious because alot have been pushed out of their normal range and are now competing with local yotes for food. Ticks are really bad this year and mange is a concern as always, so take caution when handling the carcass. Don't pet the family dog after you handle a yote. A 2 gun system works for some people such as a rifle and a shotgun. I use my rifle exclusively. I have had yotes come in to almost 20 yards. And when the rifle is sighted in at 150 yards, you can understand the complications that may arise. Good luck with your hunt. -Song Dog

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Originally Posted by Song Dog

I hunt these bastards alot. Yeah it's true that some can't be called in....at first. You have to change your tactics and setups. As with any animal, weather conditions and food drive them to come runnin or stay in position. Yotes have excellent eyesight, so any movement, they will que into pretty damn fast. They have an excellent sense of smell, like all dogs, and if you smoke or have your gear soaked in fu-fu clothes softner, not gonna happen unless you mask your scent. Be sure to play the wind. I use a mix of e-callers and mouth calls. I will howl and bark when I first get into position so that I can locate them. Wait a little and start into rabbit distress calls along with magpie and crow sounds. These used in unison tell the yotes that their is food and that the scavengers have already found it. Also magpies are know for being skiddish around humans, so if their call is introduced into the mix, it puts the yotes at ease. Don't call constantly as nothing in nature is going to squeal for 15 consecutive minutes. Call in short bursts. Camo is best worn with a pattern that matches the surroundings. I take a few hats and shirts of different patterns in my pack. Varmint hunters do not need to wear orange. When choosing a good hide or setup point, find an area that has open visual space to the front and a brushy or forested backdrop. This will help you see the yotes coming in, and help them not to see you. Yotes are virtually everywhere. But since we have had so many fires that have decimated such large areas of land, there most likely is the possibility that they will be skiddish and very cautious because alot have been pushed out of their normal range and are now competing with local yotes for food. Ticks are really bad this year and mange is a concern as always, so take caution when handling the carcass. Don't pet the family dog after you handle a yote. A 2 gun system works for some people such as a rifle and a shotgun. I use my rifle exclusively. I have had yotes come in to almost 20 yards. And when the rifle is sighted in at 150 yards, you can understand the complications that may arise. Good luck with your hunt. -Song Dog

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Thanks for taking the time to write this up! I appreciate the pointers...[Beer]

Me and the boy (9yo) plan to head out and find 3-4 places to set up. Maybe build a small shelter out of old twigs, limbs and the like. Figure this will keep us out of sight enough. I am trying to figure out the best type of calls, electronic over me doing it. I am thinking electronic would be best since I have no clue how to blow a distress or bark or anything else.

I have also thought about; fleas, ticks and other disease, so I am not sure if I killed one what I would do w/ it? Any suggestions?

How often do you go? Any luck lately?

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by motorep

I've used a hand-held rabbit distress call to call foxes and coyotes right up to my deck.

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What kind do you use?

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Originally Posted by 10mm-man

What kind do you use?

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Faulk's P-60 A.

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Originally Posted by motorep

Faulk's P-60 A.

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Did it take a long time for you to learn to call?

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Originally Posted by 10mm-man

Thanks for taking the time to write this up! I appreciate the pointers...[Beer]

Me and the boy (9yo) plan to head out and find 3-4 places to set up. Maybe build a small shelter out of old twigs, limbs and the like. Figure this will keep us out of sight enough. I am trying to figure out the best type of calls, electronic over me doing it. I am thinking electronic would be best since I have no clue how to blow a distress or bark or anything else.

I have also thought about; fleas, ticks and other disease, so I am not sure if I killed one what I would do w/ it? Any suggestions?

How often do you go? Any luck lately?

Thanks!

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I try to go call atleast once a weekend. Sometimes I don't get to cuz the wife has other plans...[Bang]

I called two weeks ago, early morning, north east Ft. Collins on the edge of a farmers field. I had a fox and coyote come in, the fox seen the coyote and beat feet. So I dropped the yote at 90 yards. Upon inspection the yote had a slight begining case of mange and had 3 fat ticks on his head. I drug the carcass into the woods and let it lay. It will feed other scavengers. And we have an abundance up north here.

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Originally Posted by Song Dog

I try to go call atleast once a weekend. Sometimes I don't get to cuz the wife has other plans...[Bang]

I called two weeks ago, early morning, north east Ft. Collins on the edge of a farmers field. I had a fox and coyote come in, the fox seen the coyote and beat feet. So I dropped the yote at 90 yards. Upon inspection the yote had a slight begining case of mange and had 3 fat ticks on his head. I drug the carcass into the woods and let it lay. It will feed other scavengers. And we have an abundance up north here.

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That is exactly what I though about doing w/ it if it had the same. Someone on another forum said the same about leaving it for other scavengers.

As for the caliber, what size do you use? I have heard of guys using 22LR, 22Mag, 17HMR, 223 and up. We have a 22 and of course my 223 but figured we would use the 22 if he was close 25-50 yards. Any suggestions?

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Originally Posted by 10mm-man

Did it take a long time for you to learn to call?

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Ha! No.. A rabbit in distress turns off their common sense, I think. I'd heard rabbits die a couple times, just tried to imitate that.

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Originally Posted by 10mm-man

That is exactly what I though about doing w/ it if it had the same. Someone on another forum said the same about leaving it for other scavengers.

As for the caliber, what size do you use? I have heard of guys using 22LR, 22Mag, 17HMR, 223 and up. We have a 22 and of course my 223 but figured we would use the 22 if he was close 25-50 yards. Any suggestions?

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I use a .204. I'm sending a 40gr V-max BoatTail@ 3800 fps. Small caliber so I don't tear up the hide. Super flat tradjectory and has 980/770 ft-lbs of energy at 100/200 yards. If they are standing still, the yotes curl up and fall over. If they are runnin, they pile up real quick. I have never not had one drop and stay down.

I personally won't use a .22lr on yotes. I watched one these tough dogs shrug of a 22-250 round that hit the shoulder blade and exploded in the chest cavity. The yote ran for 250 yards. It took a second round in the neck to bring that yote down. I would recommend using the .223 with a vmax projectile.
The more energy on impact, the better.

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Originally Posted by Song Dog

I use a .204. I'm sending a 40gr V-max BoatTail@ 3800 fps. Small caliber so I don't tear up the hide. Super flat tradjectory and has 980/770 ft-lbs of energy at 100/200 yards. If they are standing still, the yotes curl up and fall over. If they are runnin, they pile up real quick. I have never not had one drop and stay down.

I personally won't use a .22lr on yotes. I watched one these tough dogs shrug of a 22-250 round that hit the shoulder blade and exploded in the chest cavity. The yote ran for 250 yards. It took a second round in the neck to bring that yote down. I would recommend using the .223 with a vmax projectile.
The more energy on impact, the better.

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OK, GOOD 2 KNOW! I have seen guys (say it was a 22lr) and drop a yote at 50 yards. Figured if was that close it would be ok? Thoughts?

don't use a .22LR.

I really don't like yotes and the like, but I don't want an animal to suffer.

clean, ethical kill. That's why I use a 6.8[Tooth]

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Originally Posted by TheBelly

don't use a .22LR.

I really don't like yotes and the like, but I don't want an animal to suffer.

clean, ethical kill. That's why I use a 6.8[Tooth]

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Yea, I hear ya! I agree... maybe the 12 gauge, seen people take them with those.... or I guess I will just take the 223 out.

I have been looking for a new rifle just not sure what caliber to get??

some good info. posted already. I also call them a lot, average over 50 per winter, and I also would never go calling with any of the rim fire cartridges. Just not enough umph to do the job consistantly.
I used hand calls for the first 20 years of my calling and have now switched to using almost only ecalls. If money is an issue, hand calls do alright, but where the ecall shines is volume, placement, sound selection. About any hand call on the market will work. When you use a hand call just be sure to inflict as much emotion into the distress sounds as you possibly can. You're trying to immitate a dieing critter after all, so don't be shy.
A lot of volume isn't necassary, but if the wind is blowing or if you want to reach into the next county, it comes in handy.
The placement of the ecall is like having a buddy with you. You tell him to "sit over there, up wind of me, and I'll sit over here and shoot clean up as they swing down wind of you." In other words, you can use the ecall like to your advantage. In general, coyotes will end up downwind of the sound source. Not always, but usually.
The sound libraries that are available on the ecalls these days are darn near endless. The realizm of the sounds is unbeatable. And although it doesn't seem naturual, you can turn on an ecall and leave it on and call plenty of coyotes. They aren't smart enough to know that a rabbit can't scream for 15 minutes none stop. And matter of fact, if I'm hunting with someone that is carrying a shotgun, I will place that person near the call and turn it on and leave it on. More times then not, a coyote will come non-stop to the caller that is left to play constantly. Seen it many times.
FoxPro is the leader in the ecall market. They have lots of models to choose from. I'd start there if I were in the market for an ecall.
Coyotes can be found any where and every where in this state. Most are found on the eastern plains. If you call a coyote 1 of 4/5 stands, you're doing alright. If you go a full day without calling one, it happens. Go again the next day and you may call one on eveery other stand. Don't get discourged.

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Originally Posted by TRnCO

some good info. posted already. I also call them a lot, average over 50 per winter, and I also would never go calling with any of the rim fire cartridges. Just not enough umph to do the job consistantly.
I used hand calls for the first 20 years of my calling and have now switched to using almost only ecalls. If money is an issue, hand calls do alright, but where the ecall shines is volume, placement, sound selection. About any hand call on the market will work. When you use a hand call just be sure to inflict as much emotion into the distress sounds as you possibly can. You're trying to immitate a dieing critter after all, so don't be shy.
A lot of volume isn't necassary, but if the wind is blowing or if you want to reach into the next county, it comes in handy.
The placement of the ecall is like having a buddy with you. You tell him to "sit over there, up wind of me, and I'll sit over here and shoot clean up as they swing down wind of you." In other words, you can use the ecall like to your advantage. In general, coyotes will end up downwind of the sound source. Not always, but usually.
The sound libraries that are available on the ecalls these days are darn near endless. The realizm of the sounds is unbeatable. And although it doesn't seem naturual, you can turn on an ecall and leave it on and call plenty of coyotes. They aren't smart enough to know that a rabbit can't scream for 15 minutes none stop. And matter of fact, if I'm hunting with someone that is carrying a shotgun, I will place that person near the call and turn it on and leave it on. More times then not, a coyote will come non-stop to the caller that is left to play constantly. Seen it many times.
FoxPro is the leader in the ecall market. They have lots of models to choose from. I'd start there if I were in the market for an ecall.
Coyotes can be found any where and every where in this state. Most are found on the eastern plains. If you call a coyote 1 of 4/5 stands, you're doing alright. If you go a full day without calling one, it happens. Go again the next day and you may call one on eveery other stand. Don't get discourged.

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Man thank you for taking the time to answer some of my questions! I appreciate your and others comments very much! I am excited to get out and get yote w/ my boy. NO RIM FIRE for sure.......

I am currently selling some items to get an electric call and glad you shed some light on it for me. Thank you!

We are going out tonight to find a place or two were we might be able to set up. I have the eastern plains are good but I am not ready to go ask a farmer if i can hunt there land. I hate rejection and not sure yet what exactly to say? With that said I will be in NF land....

If any of you ever want to come show us how it's done, (or let us tag along) please let me know!

If your scouting out an area, do your homework. Pay attention to food sources such as p-dog towns, rodents and rabbits. Be a tracker and take notice of tracks in the area. Those tracks will tell you how many, where they come from and where the yotes go. Plan out your setup before you get on stand. Figure out their most likely avenue of approach and set your stand up accordingly. Remember that yotes are opportunistic hunters. They want to work the least amount for the easiest meal possible. And that will control the way they approach your call. They would much rather trot accross an open field to get to their meal, rather than bust brush. But there are always exceptions to that. Work the land when you go hunting. Don't skyline yourself when moving into position. Stay low and try to make as little noise as possible. Like I said, yotes can hear, see and smell very well as with most predators. Even it your stand is ontop of a hill with alot of cover, work the wind and also the terrain, even if you have to walk halfway around the hill to approach your stand.

I will try to set something up with some of the land owners I work with to bring you out and get you on some yotes. The areas where I hunt are abundant with yotes, foxes and bobcat. I took a bobcat, 6 foxes, and 40 or so yotes off one property last year.

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Originally Posted by Song Dog

If your scouting out an area, do your homework. Pay attention to food sources such as p-dog towns, rodents and rabbits. Be a tracker and take notice of tracks in the area. Those tracks will tell you how many, where they come from and where the yotes go. Plan out your setup before you get on stand. Figure out their most likely avenue of approach and set your stand up accordingly. Remember that yotes are opportunistic hunters. They want to work the least amount for the easiest meal possible. And that will control the way they approach your call. They would much rather trot accross an open field to get to their meal, rather than bust brush. But there are always exceptions to that. Work the land when you go hunting. Don't skyline yourself when moving into position. Stay low and try to make as little noise as possible. Like I said, yotes can hear, see and smell very well as with most predators. Even it your stand is ontop of a hill with alot of cover, work the wind and also the terrain, even if you have to walk halfway around the hill to approach your stand.

I will try to set something up with some of the land owners I work with to bring you out and get you on some yotes. The areas where I hunt are abundant with yotes, foxes and bobcat. I took a bobcat, 6 foxes, and 40 or so yotes off one property last year.

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Thanks for all the help! I haven't been much of a hunter the last 9 years. i have had my son since he was 8months old and couldn't wait until he got older so we could go hunt. Now is that time and he really loves the thrill of hunting, he has an itchy trigger finger and can't wait until he can hunt. Right now he knows I have to down it and he is ok with that. he is really eager to take his hunter safety course and I am sure once we get on em he will be even more excited.

I appreciate the offer of bringing us out and if there is any way I can help out let me know. I wouldn't mind throwing in on the cost of the hunt. Please do let us know!

Thanks,

little ot but i have coyotes too on my property..... if you hit them with a spotlight do they freeze up like deer do or are they gonna bolt?

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Originally Posted by cofi

little ot but i have coyotes too on my property..... if you hit them with a spotlight do they freeze up like deer do or are they gonna bolt?

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I think that is a good question and not ot at all, would like to learn as much as possible....

Tell you what I can come out and we can "find out" for our self....[Flower]

It depends on the light source. I have seen them freeze and I have also seen them leave a dust trail in retreat with normal white light . A few of the guys I hunt with use red filters on their light and the yotes don't seem bothered by it. I personally don't hunt at night anymore. I like to see what's beyond my target in case of a miss or pass through. If you are going to hunt at night, be sure to walk your AO a few days prior to look for possible problems such as roads, homes and livestock in the area.

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Originally Posted by Song Dog

It depends on the light source. I have seen them freeze and I have also seen them leave a dust trail in retreat with normal white light . A few of the guys I hunt with use red filters on their light and the yotes don't seem bothered by it. I personally don't hunt at night anymore. I like to see what's beyond my target in case of a miss or pass through. If you are going to hunt at night, be sure to walk your AO a few days prior to look for possible problems such as roads, homes and livestock in the area.

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Good advice! [Beer]

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Originally Posted by Song Dog

It depends on the light source. I have seen them freeze and I have also seen them leave a dust trail in retreat with normal white light . A few of the guys I hunt with use red filters on their light and the yotes don't seem bothered by it. I personally don't hunt at night anymore. I like to see what's beyond my target in case of a miss or pass through. If you are going to hunt at night, be sure to walk your AO a few days prior to look for possible problems such as roads, homes and livestock in the area.

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something to think about sure! we will be trying to call them infront of out concrete barn so we have a big backstop