Blue Ridge Coyote hunting???

L

logstove

New member
I am interested in getting into some hunting around here, but land is hard to come by with so many housing developments around here. We got some WMA here, but don't see any regulations on hunting WMA. Read where the mountains of WV had a bunch of coyotes, and I am presume if that is the case then the National Forest in the extreme west part of VA harbors coyotes? Some of the WMA's close to Front Royal is close to the Blue Ridge and National forest so I could try there. Has any of you VA lads ever hunted coyotes in the mountains of VA? How do you select locations to hunt? Shotgun or rifle? I don't see much regulations about coyote hunting in VA, especially those where WMAs or National forest is the stomping ground. Anyone care to chime in? I know we got millions acres of National Forest so someone's got to want to shoot them! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Thanks!
 
logstove,
You can only hunt on WMA's during a regular hunting season, even for groundhogs and coyotes. Kinda crappy IMHO, but that's the law in VA. I think it is the same for National Forest land within the state, but don't quote me on that one. Go to VADGIF's website and you can find out for sure. I hunt mostly Piedmont and foothills of the Blue Ridge for coyotes, all on private land.
I use rifles, although I do have a mount for the Lightforce attached to one shotgun, mostly for nuisance beavers, but it's death on foxes too. I've had better luck with coyotes during daylight, rather than at night.
Beat the bushes and ask permission to hunt coyotes and groundhogs, don't mention shooting foxes in horse country, or you'll get run outta the county!
Good luck,
F1
 
I agree with flyrod1 on what he said about horse country, especially around Front Royal and Frederick Co. area, those steeple chase guys are funny about their foxes, but they don't like yotes messing it up either. I've always said, permission is contageous, all it takes is 1 to get you started, just keep a good reputation. I talked with a Game warden at a local office and he confirmed what Flyrod1 said, not only does a game animal season have to be open, but you have to carry an appropriate caliber for the season,ie... no 270 in spring gobbler or early squirrel season. Best thing to do is introduce yourself to your local Game Warden and get the details first hand, don't rely on the hearsay or those cheesy pamphlets. Give him the specific areas you want to hunt and the whole scenario. He may also know where you can get permission and tell you areas that have higher yote populations. Good luck.
 
I live in Southwest,VA with an abundance of national forest land and flyrod1 hit the nail on the head about only being able to hunt while another season is in. Otherwise it's open season on yotes in VA. However if you call in a fox or cat you can't harvest it unless you are within the furbearer season of Novemer 1 to February 28. Electronic calls are permissable in VA as well. You asked if any VA lads had hunted the mountains of VA? Well in around here you may see an occasional yote crossing a field if it's way down some back road. Or maybe once in a while one will fall victim on the interstate. So YES you have to hit the mountains. By experinace has been the thicker the better. However, as I've learned here on PM, the same yote that won't cross that 100 acre field during daylight hours, will feel all to comfortable to respnd to your call at night; and it is permissable to hunt at night for coyotes in VA. I use a .22 Hornet most of your shots will be under 100 yards. I would like to upgrade to a .223 or .22-250 just for knockdown power. Some of my buddies use shotguns. I'm limited as far as private land to hunt on. My first and only yote to date (I only got into it and seriously called for 2-1/2 to 3 months this year) came from a parcel of only 15 acres with prime property all around. If someone is willing to let you hunt even a small parcel do so!!!!. If that small parcel of land borders predator harboring property they will here your call and they will come. It doesn't matter if it's 1 acre or 100 DON'T turn it down! I've also seen a bobcat this past year on that small parcel I mentioned above. Sometimes those small parcels are key passages to other land, or in a predator's case a part of their hunting ground. I've found however in the off-season as many have stated asking permission to hunt coyote isn't all that difficult. The normal response I get is kill all those darned things you want. Deer hunting maybe another story.

Hope this helps /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Just to make sure we are all on the same page, my understanding is that we are not allowed to use electronic callers on National Forest Land but we can use them on the WMAs so please tell me if I'm wrong I know there are some changes in the handbook and they may not show it yet. I have some spots in the National Forest I want to use my FOXPRO. I have also heard we are going to be able to hunt three Sundays this year but I have yet to see it on the VDGIF website or in the handbook ?

Coyote hunting on the WMAs and National Forest starts Sept. 1 - March 10


Copied this from VDGIF Website http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/

Electronic Calls
Unlawful to take or attempt to take wild animals and wild birds with recorded or electrically amplified calls, except for bobcat, coyote, crow and fox. Electronic calls may be used to take bobcats, foxes and coyotes on private lands with written permission of landowner and on public lands except National Forests. Use of a light is permitted as long as the light is not attached to or cast from a vehicle.
 
I've hunted in the Mt Rogers area several times, have heard yotes howling but not had a shot. Beautiful areas with wide open spaces. The regs are a little funny if I remember from last year. I live in NC and made the drive there twice last winter. If you go during the fall, be aware of campers/hikers as they are out in force then, probably in the spring also. Good luck on finding land. it is my biggest obstacle not only to yote hunting but any hunting here in NC.
 
VaPredHunter you are absolutely correct.

I've had way to many bad experiences in National Forest to go back. I've had guys walk in front of me pee on a bush wave and keep on walking. If one plans to hunt national forest make sure it's not within' "walking distance" of a frequently used pull-off spot. Or, sometimes landowners are willing to let you cross their property if it is adjacent/joining to National Forest land.
 
VirginiaCoyote, The National Forest does have some good hunting. A friend showed me some spots he hunts for deer, bear, and bobcats. My step dad and I camped their a week during rifle season a couple of years ago and I’ll bet we didn’t see 10 trucks all week. You just have go to the more remote areas some of them can be accessed by public roads. Go to the first forest road out of town you are guarantied to meet many fellow hunters for sure. During bow season you hardly see anyone in the National Forest a few years ago I almost got a bear with my bow. This year I plan to do some serious predator hunting in the National Forest early and late season. Good luck, Chris
 
Guys,

Sorry it has took me a bit of time to get back to you all. I appreciate the responses. Being that I can only hunt WMA's here, predator hunting can only be done when WMA's are in-season. This sucks big time. Heck, two weeks is not alot of "learning curve" time, but it typically takes a bunch of time to refine your skills at calling predators.

Where I come from, my dad owned a farm and I left home when I become 17 or 18 and been away since then. Now, my dad says the renters on his farm hear howling often and we know coyotes are around there....this is in KY.

As many of you know, our hunting heritage is slowly dwindling. Land is being gobbled up and becoming too expensive for the common everyday fella to afford. Because of this, and wanting to recapture my youth, I am saving up some money to purchase a large parcel. I have looked at SW Virginia but even there land is expensive. I've looked at WV and you can get more land for your dollars. I kinda want large land and hopefully with a old house that is rentable. Not exactly want all woods, but like a mix of open fields and woods etc. I am open to joining a group to purchase land, but realize that this is not always feasible.

How I long for the days when driving to shoot was easy to do! This is really a sad scenario, my younger days of working on my pop's farm (in KY) kept me out of trouble but most of all, I loved shooting and hunting on that farm. Don't see to many lads experiencing this way of life anymore...so maybe I can buy a farm and my son can enjoy what I used to do when I was a young fella.

Thanks for the help guys!

logstove
 


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