ATV riders and coyote hunting?

jcrammell

jcrammell

New member
Well went out scouting for new coyote stands today. Found some really nice areas I think. All of sudden I could hear some ATV's coming up a wash. Here in AZ we have State Trust land and ATV's are allowed to ride pretty much unchecked. Do you all think this would make bad hunting grounds? Or do you think the wildlife gets use to this activity?

Just want to know what your opinions are?
 
My experience, ATVs equal crappy hunting. On yotes, and especially deer and elk. Basically yes animals will get use to certain sounds, but atvs are not one. There are too many ATVers who will chase an animal, shoot from the atv etc. I have seen elk move miles in front of an atv to avoid it. While they can be a tool to use, you have to be careful with use and be willing to get away from the machine when time to call. I find coyotes to be relatively used to see large white trucks driving the back roads at high speeds, but hit the brakes and off they go or drive a non-white truck/suv and they can be more skiddish.

More importantly, what are the odds of calling a stand with out interruption? Calling critters is hard enough without having an atv drive through a stand. I really try hard to get as from other activity as possible. this includes other hunters. there has been more than 1 hunter on the board who has had shots fired at a decoy etc.
 
I've been riding horseback and ATV's for years and with the exception of elk, have seen more game animals run in front of my machines than on horseback. Elk tend to stick around more often to see what's coming thru the woods if they hear an approaching horse, but flee if an ATV gets within a quarter mile or so. Coyotes are a common sight when I ride my ATV.
That said, a lot of ATV riders are just [beeep]-raising dust heads. Last August, I set up a stand in thick juniper within about 200 yards of a seldom used dirt trail. After a few minutes of calling, I had two, distinct coyote packs howling from different locations. Suddenly, about ten ATV's charged down the road, shouting at each other over the engine noise and cutting circles in the dirt. After they left, I called again and glassed at least one yote working his way toward me from about four hundred yards. I was perched on top of a hill overlooking the road and other small hills surrounding the narrow valley below. The yote was working his way down the hill opposite me and just reached the road when another five ATV's repeated the clownish antics of the first group. The yote stayed hidden behind a cedar bush during the episode and started crossing the road not 20 seconds after the ATV's departed. Just as it got midroad, two more ATV's appeared and the yote trotted across the road at a lope, in front of the machines,to my side.
I managed to call the yote to within 70 yards or so, even when three more ATV's sped by. The yote would lay low but never left. Two more ATV's approached, stopped and the riders dismounted to drain off their metabolized alcohol. I left my Firestorm on a rabbit call. I heard one of the riders comment: "What the ---- is that?" I increased the volume. The two men continued to talk and gesture at the sound, obviously spooked. I moved around the hill a little so I could see them on the road below.
One rider mounted up frantically and told the other one to do likewise. The other man uttered something my Peltors could not pick up, then pulled a handgun from a holster. He threw three, quick shots (9mm most likely) in the vacinity of my Firestorm. There was no danger to my gear, but the gunfire must have distracted me somewhat, because in moving my .308 from my lap to the opposite direction of the shooter, the rifle fired. They split with amazing speed.
The yote remained throughout all this activity, but refused to come in so I climbed on my ATV and went home with a smile.
 
We ride atvs regularly at a little place about 30 miles from here that consist of 450 acres and the deer and turkey arent the least bit concerned with our atvs unless we turn the corner on a trail and they are standing there. If they are off to the side of a trail it dont bother them at all. Also we deer everytime we ride over there. Turkey not as much but still do some. You never know until you try. Call the area a few times and look for sign. Good luck.
 
I've never noticed much of a difference in areas with higher ATV activity than not...however, i generally avoid the areas just because I don't like my hunt getting spoiled by someone ripping through my stand site. If I can get in and make a stand without anyone riding through though, I have had pretty good success in ATV use areas. Deer though, they learn in serious hurry that ATV's = gunshots.

For what its worth, I usually do stands in high off road traffic areas first thing in the morning...alot less people out at that time.
 
My buddy got both of his bobcats in a high traffic area. Lots of off road vehicles and a large group of people paint ball in that area almost every weekend.

We also scored a fox just outside of a campground with lots of OHV use.

You never know until you try. Like 300magman said, hit that area first thing in the morning. The weather is nice, no need for someone to be out riding at first light.
 
In my experience the ATV's dont make you see less. I was out elk hunting yesterday. During the afternoon we were riding around and seen 12 elk, 8 moose and 1 nice 4x5 buck. All from the ATV. I have seen a lot of deer from it.

As far as areas where the ATV's are off the trail I dont know. You are not allowed to do that in Utah. Of course it does not stop them. Some people just dont care.
 
I agree because I hunt in an area in which people drive ATV's all the time and I have taken coyotes and deer just after an ATV went by. They are there just have become adaptive to thier surroundings...
 
I agee with most. In fact, I have hunted heavy traffic areas first. I think most people try to get away from traffic to hunt and bypass these places.(Don't Blame Them) Seems I've had just as good or better hunting these areas.
 
It depends if the animals are getting shot at from the OHV's or if they are just rec riders out doing what they do. I've seen deer lay down out in the sage when they hear the RMP's change on your truck. They get smart real quick.

From my experience and in the areas I frequent the OHV operators are usually lazy people who hunt [not hunters] and generally will not walk more that 100 yards from the nearest OHV trail. If your willing to walk 500 yards you can probably score on a regular basis....
 
Just got in from a coyote hunt and guess what? ATV went by in the field, I waited a few minutes, activated the primos turbo dogg to a puppy whimper and guess who came in only to meet my 6-284. You never know if you never try and you need to be willing to change it up now and then. I have taken three coyotes out of this area but will back out for a while as they become adaptive and smart.
 
I went up into a highly used ORV area Friday and was able to call 3 foxes, got 2 of them. I focused in canyons off the beaten path, hoping that the activity in the other areas would push the animals towards me. Seemed to work just fine.
 
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