Anybody else using a dog when calling coyotes?

Varmint Al

Varmint Al

New member
I have started taking my Black Lab, Bart, coyote calling. It works very well. Bart is my eyes, ears, and nose at the stand. On a recent trip up to the Sweetwater Mtns, CA, we got a couple of coyotes. Bart really does a good job spotting and smelling the coyotes before I can. I don't wear camo and Bart is solid black and it does not seem to bother the coyotes at all. We usually set in front of some cover in plain view. Anyhow, anyone else using a dog?

I know that some people use a dog to chase the coyotes and lure them back, but I don't do that. Bart is a show dog and AKC registered and I don't want him to learn to fight. He is also excellent with doves, pheasants, and ducks. As an aside, I have been training him to fetch hooked trout and it works.

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Here is the story on the first one, pictured: It was about 9:00am and Rush was on the AM radio. I heard coyotes howling on the hill north of Lobdell lake. Well, enough of Rush. I got my rifle and Bi-Fur-Pod and selected the Dan Thompson Howler and the new L&M call. Off we went heading for a good stand in the sage brush. We (Bart hunts coyotes with me) setup in the shade of a small white bark pine tree. I put Bart on a very short leash tied to my belt. If he were to lunge forward, he couldn't get as far as the muzzle of the rifle. I scanned the ridge top with my binoculars and there were 2 coyotes at about 1000 yards and in among the cattle. I gave two greeting howls and they stopped and looked my way. They were not that interested. I started with the L&M call and made a medium volume distress call. The highest coyote started walking toward me and stopped after traveling about 50 yards. The second coyote stopped but didn't come my way. About this time Bart stiffens up and does a very low growl. A third coyote was headed toward us out of the creek bottom. If Bart hadn't warned me, I wouldn't have seen it. This male was circling around and headed downwind and went out of sight over the rise. I moved the sticks around to match his possible approach. I guessed pretty well and he stopped at about 75 yards just peaking at me through a sage brush. That was all the target I needed. One shot and one coyote down.

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The bullet entered the bridge of the coyote's nose and there was no exit. The rest of the story is here if you are interested: http://www.varmintal.net/ahunt.htm#NewCall

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al
 
Great job and nice pics. I have thought about bringing my shorthair out with me but i'm a little concerned she would get to far away and the coyotes would have a pretty easy meal (she's prettys meak) and if i had her leashed to my belt i would never get a accurate shot off because she dosen't do the whole sitting still thing well if i'm pointing a gun ( she thinks it's time to retrieve a pheasant) I do think it would work good though i might have to just buy a mountain cur and get it over with.
 
Hey Varmint Al, glad to see you up and moving around! Thanks again for the info on the mini-lathe.

Hunting with dogs is really fun. If your wanting more info on it, talk to Cal Taylor whose a member here on the board. I'm not sure if he's checking in much due to the big game season, he is a guide. But in my opinion for what it's worth he's the man to talk to. I had the opportunity to hunt with him and his dogs this past spring. All I can say is that it is a different kind of hunting if it's done right. As a ordinary caller, you call your coyotes in and make your stand as you normally do. Coyote shows up and you shoot. But with dogs as the attractant it seems like it opens up a whole new world. I was able to observe more coyote behavior that I ever have before. It also allows you more time for you to have the best opportunity for the best shot. I was hooked on it after the first day and plan to add an additional dog to the household. Again, good to see you posting, don't be a stranger!
 
Hi Al. Glad to see you posting here. I’ve been using dogs for all of my calling for quite a few years now. Have 3 Airedales that I am using now for coyotes (sometimes). Also for fox, bobcat, bear, and lion. Never make a stand without them. They are my eyes, ears, nose, and legs.
 
Ive been taking my GSP for two winters now, and he and I both enjoy the outing. He is not timid but too much the other way for my tastes, but I love him anyway. I used an E collar in case he got to far away and would not sit by me or in close proximity at first, but he picked right up on what was going on after the second coyote came in and whacked. He sits and doesnt move while I call, but sniffs the wind and keeps an eye out. I bought a camo dog vest for him since he is mostly white, with brown head. He has a blast and so do I. Ive read people using dogs for decoy and also to lure them in from long distance, which Im sure is fun. My dog is not large enough I dont think to handle two or more coyotes, and he is my only dog. Best wishes for you and you Lab and good hunting.
 
Hi Nyati. A few weeks ago I was calling in the same general area and after 3 or 4 stands with nothing coming in and Bart setting by my side on the short leash I thought I would try it without the leash on one of the stands. You can guess what happened. About 45 seconds into the call, here comes a coyote on a dead run straight in. Both Bart and I saw it at about 100 yards and Bart bolted, barked and chased after it. He went right out inline and there was no way I could shoot. After he got out about 50 yards and the coyote had turned on the after burner and was leaving fast, Bart comes to a stiff legged stance barking and growling at the coyote. Won't let that happen again. I could easily have gotten that coyote had Bart stayed by my side. For Bart the leash is absolutely necessary. Until Bart sees something, he is very quiet and alert. He has much better eyes than I have and can detect a coyote or deer at 600+ yards by the motion.

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This is Bart's serious look!

Bart doesn't pay any attention to the calling sounds, except that he really perks up when I finish a series and he is scanning the area. When he does see a coyote or a deer or wild horse. He tenses up and I can sense it. He then gives out a very low volume growl. I am sure that you couldn't hear that sound 10 ft away.

I really enjoy taking Bart along. When I am ready to go on a hunt, Bart never has to check his calendar to see if he can make it. All of his days are marked "Ready to Hunt - Let's Go".

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al
 
Beautiful Lab Al and great pictures and story.

I have a chocolate lab and a beagle. Both are real hunters by nature. I've contemplated for sometime in taking them out for early warning on in bound yotes.

Good to see you posting here, your experience is much appreciated... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Great story AL, Also love your site, lots of good information.

I would love to use my wifes lab like that but no way would the she allow it. She appoligizes to the dog now when he looks at the coyote hides I'm tanning. Guess she belives he thinks he's next.

Skinner 2
 
Al

GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU HERE...

I have been thinking about using my Golden Lab and Chow mix but I too would not like to unleash him.

My pratice calling does not bother Dawg untill I stop then he whols and looks for the critters that are hurt.

I will have to give it a try...

Great to see you hear hope to hear more from you.
 
I hunted a couple of months ago with a guy and his Airedale Terrier. The wind was blowing like mad and we never did see any yotes or foxes, but the dog got "birdy," for lack of a better term, a few times. Airedales are very cool dogs and I'd like to get one someday. It was sure nice to have an extra-sensitive set of eyes, ears, nostrils, and powerful jaws watching out back!

I've thought about taking my GSP and/or my Retriever/Setter mix out with me, but I have my doubts they'd make it back. I think they'd get lured away into too much of a fight pretty easily. Besides, my GSP might spontaneously combust if he has to sit in one spot for more than 60 seconds on a hunting trip. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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