To coyote hunters...

[BP Hunter]

This late afternoon I went coyote hunting. I had an electronic caller and a rabbit decoy. I had the decoy about 60 to 70 yards in front of me. After about 10 minutes of using an adult Jack rabbit distress call, a coyote popped up about 40 yards away behind the decoy. It was looking straight at the decoy and I was at the dogs line of site. I slowly raised my rifle and had him in my crosshairs and fired. I was surprised to still see him standing and he trotted away back to where he came from.

My two questions are: since I have limited areas for coyote hunting, can I return it the same spot but using a different call? I know once you get busted, they would never come back. My other question is, does the cold usually affect the point of impact? The last time I shot this Ruger Hawkeye in 25-06, I was easily hitting targets 400 yards away at maybe about 50°F. But this late afternoon it was a cold 14°. Thanks for all your responses.

 

[Grumulkin]

1. I think you could try a different call. If it's an open area coyotes frequent, you could also just try sitting there in the early morning or evening and snipe them when they come out into the open all without any calling.

2. The cold you describe shouldn't affect the ballistics so much at 110 yards as to cause you to completly miss a coyote. You should check your scope and, if possible, take a few shots on paper in similarly cold conditions to be sure.

 

[Davek1977]

I have no expeirence in calling coyotes, but I don't believe temp should have played much of a role in your accuracy issues. I'd check the scope and make sure you didn't bump it or maybe have a loose ring/base/etc

 

[BP Hunter]

Thanks for your responses. I will check my POI on paper this coming Friday hopefully for another hunt this Sunday.

 

[witchhunter]

Usually if you fool one and miss, you have to mix it up. Try fox puppies or canine puppies if you got em. They will start breeding around here soon so you can try some male challenge barks and howls. When you shoot and miss, immediately go to a wounded pup coyote squalling. And jack another round in! Oh, and quit trying to blame the temperature on your poor marksmanship!!Either your scope is off or you missed! No sympathy here, we have all missed coyotes at 40 yards....

 

[BP Hunter]

Oh, yeah. Any hunter that says that he has never missed is a big fat liar. I most probably did. I will check it on paper this Friday. Thanks for the tips!

 

[MrMarty51]

A coyote will remember the last thing it heard, if it was a gunshot, chances are it will never come back in, if it was a critter in distress, chances are it`ll circle around and come back in, even if a shot was the next to the last thing it heard.

 

[gamestalker]

Them coyotes are very smart critters and will absolutely remember the last call that was used on them. So I would try some other calls, and I would also try keeping the volume down very low. The low volume works good for fooling an already call wise dog, I think it makes it harder for them to distinguish both exact location, and tends to increase their curiosity.

And when working with super call educated dogs, a decoy helps them to look past the familiar call, thus becoming more interested in the feathers or other attractant they can visually see moving in the breeze or mechanically. Also add some scent attractants too, if it's legal in your state. I like to use a gut pile from a rabbit or other varmint, and sometimes my wife will have some of her trapping stuff, which I sneak from her trapping bag when she isn't watching me like a hawk.

And above all, try to put yourself in a position that is elevated and limits the direction that the dog will come in from. Elevated position helps to prevent the dog from busting your scent too.

GS

 

[witchhunter]

My buddy just called, his son missed three yesterday! Missed three and called in 5. We call it educating 3 around here.