coyote hunting? 1st time advice?

[moooose102]

i am looking into coyote hunting for the first time. i have a freind, that owns 85 acres, that is willing to let me hunt it, and says he has a coyote problem. i am more than happy to help him, but i know next to nothing about hunting them. a different freind said a mouse squeaker will work for a call, but i dont know. what should i be looking for for equipment. i will be using a 223 for the rifle w/ a 4-12 scope.. 55 grain hornady spsx bullets (super explosive). i would think that would get the job done. the next logical question, is what do i do with them once i get one? leave the for the scavengers? i cant imagine eating one. is their fur valuable enough to bother with? ANY, GOOD, advice would be greatly apreciated.

 

[cottonmouth]

You'll need some good camo to include a face net and gloves, sorta like turkey hunting. Some type of call like you mentioned and be sure to hunt the wind. If he smells you it's over. Sounds like you have the right gun with the right ammo. As far as what to do with one after you kill it I can't say, maybe the experts can tell you.

J.B.

 

[patsygarret]

cottonmouth is right you will want to be completely camoed up and watch the wind. as for calls i have used the standard dying rabbit but later in the season after they have been hunted and are wise i oftern use a pheasant call. in my parts it is killer on them. i also know guys that use duck, grouse and other types of calls and have good luck with them. as for the fur depends on market of fur around here they are around 10 bucks. most are worth considerably less. but in nebraska they are listed as a pest and you dont have to do anything with them but you can always tan it ang hang it on the wall. looks real nice too. i did cook one once just to see what it would taste like. had it in a crock pot for 8 hours with all kinds of stuff and it ended up tasting somewhere in between rotten liver and a turd. check your laws on how they are listed as what to do with them. Good Luck

 

[shaggy430]

had it in a crock pot for 8 hours with all kinds of stuff and it ended up tasting somewhere in between rotten liver and a turd.

That is one of the funniest things I've read in quite a while.

 

[Roadkill]

I've been hunting them off and on for years. Be patient. They aren't dumb. When one comes in don't move. If he knew you were there he wouldn't be. He'll stop and eventually look around. Draw on him then. Don't outline yourself. Back into a bush or cedar tree. Bring small pruners to clip your way in. Keep the wind in your face or use a cover scent. Don't call too much or too loud. Its easier to call them uphill. When you set up wait 15-20 minutes for the woods to settle before calling. If crows or hawks come in you're doing it right. Have also had foxes and once a big damn owl come in. Best time down here is daylight plus an hour and an hour before sunset. The .223 does fine. Will make a jelly doughnut the size of a saucer. They are tough as hell. Be ready for a second or third shot. If you get one don't move for ten minutes. I've had more come in after a shot. They hunt in pairs. Got this one last year.

 

[CSA 357]

they are smart, use there nose alot , if you arnt seeing them while you deer hunt you need to look at what you could be doing wrong, i have never had alot of luck calling them, its always the bobcats that come in for me anyway, good luck!

 

[buck460XVR]

Some good advice here. More often than not, active 'yotes will come to a call within' 20 minutes of settin' up. Many times they are there within the first few minutes and pop up outta nowhere. My experience has been if they aren't there within' half an hour, you may as well pack up and move to another set. Like turkeys, sometimes they are curious of the call, but are uneasy about where the call is coming from. In those cases sometimes just moving is enough to make them come in. First nice morning after a few days of nasty weather they get active and are eager to come to call. During long stretches of really cold weather they will hunt all day and will seek seeps or running water. Around here you are lucky if a fur buyer will give you even a thank you for a rifle shot coyote.........

 

[wankerjake]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that coyotes often times circle and come in on your down-wind side. I don't sit on a stand with the wind in my face unless the wind is blowing to where I came from. Try to work it so you can see your down-wind side, because they darn sure move that way. Also when you see one and it's coming, let it come. They're easier to hit when they're close. If it isn't running directly away from you, it probably doesn't see you yet. Good luck. This site has lots of good info:
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

 

[moooose102]

if i find an area that they are frequenting, would it be a smart thing to put up a ladder stand? i have one, but i have not hunted from it yet. i bought it for late season deer hunting, came down with pnemonia, and missed all but the first two days of deer season.

 

[wankerjake]

I would try calling first, and after they get wise set up a stand. A lot of folks actually call from ladders for better visibility, I don't know what kind of terrain you have or what visibiltiy you'll have without one. It there's thick cover, set up you ladder stand and call from it.

 

[nastynatesfish]

half the dogs ive shot i have been in a carhart and jeans. i dont think all the camo is necessary unless your sitting in the wide open and cant sit still. a mask does help if your using hand calls which i do, but not a need to. more important is some scent killer and a fast shot

 

[timbertoes]

Keep the wind on your BACK.
Yotes circle and come in downwind. As much as people talk about the "Nose"
the first and 2nd thing on the coyotes mind is Food and Food.

keeping your movement to a minimum is more important than the wind and even the call sounds.
if you dont keep the wind at your back , you wont see the coyote.
Pretty much all i do is call and hunt coyotes.