Calling coyote with my dog around...

M

MAArcher

New member
Just wondering what people think might happen if I take my dog, a 1.5 year old 65lb Drahthaar (German Wirehair Pointer) out coyote hunting. He already has chased some coyote we've come across on your walks in the woods. I'd like to use him, or at least allow him to come, when I coyote hunt. But I'm wondering what would be best. If I trained him to just sit in one of those dog duck hunting blinds I figure that would be OK, he's not running any coyote off and training him to sit still in there will be good training for the duck blind. But I know some people use there dog to decoy and others use the dog to run down the coyote. Any thoughts on which path to take? I don't want to take him out and just have him run off every coyote I call in. I'd like to train him to do something useful.
 
Originally Posted By: MAArcher I don't want to take him out and just have him run off every coyote I call in.

probably best to leave him in the truck.
 
I well trained dog will make no difference, my GWHP use to hunt everywhere with me. He would at my side and cover the upwind side with his nose, I'd here a low grumble and know it was time to start looking up wind. He was steady to wing and shot so he'd stay at my side through the whole stand until I released him. I was shooting combo guns with him and then we'd hunt birds on the way back to the truck.

You shouldn't need a blind for him if he's laying down he is out of sight to coyotes and his mottled coat does blend in.

I hated the day WA banned dogs for coyote hunting.
 
Last edited:
I love that breed. Thought about trying one as a decoy dog. I would interested to see how one would do in that capacity. If you just call in the winter they WILL run most off. To really get the most out of a dog you have to hunt the heat. You will get a favorable reaction to a dog on occasion this time of year, but they will hurt far more than they help.
 
Dogs can be fun to take along. I have had coyotes come within feet of me as if I didn't exist while checking out the dog that was big enough to whip them.
It has been outlawed here unfortunately. I imagine a ranch hand could get away with a cow dog.
 
A friend uses his lab. It simply sits near him quietly and once coyotes spot him they come on in closer. He likes the dog sitting up and easily spotted.

Hey-A
 
I have had my Labrador sit quietly next to me on essentially every stand I've ever made for coyotes or bears in the last 14yrs. I appreciate the company and I have never observed anything unusual from the animals coming in. Obviously it is very important that they hold completely steady and never break.

And as an aside it is a bit of a safety feature. My lab saved me a couple of years ago from a guaranteed mauling by a female black bear that I never saw coming from behind. I just shoved the rifle Forward and shot it right through the mouth at the exact moment the dog was lunging forward and biting at its side. If she had not smelled that bear coming in behind us, and for the first time in her life broke from her sitting position I would have got hammered!

The bear was in total predatory mode after hearing my mouth calls and came in from dead down wind, my scent was in its face every step of the way. The game wardens ruled it a legitimate self-defense shooting and the bear biologist determined that the bear was in perfect condition. It was just hunting us.
 
Originally Posted By: jcs271I have had my Labrador sit quietly next to me on essentially every stand I've ever made for coyotes or bears in the last 14yrs. I appreciate the company and I have never observed anything unusual from the animals coming in. Obviously it is very important that they hold completely steady and never break.

And as an aside it is a bit of a safety feature. My lab saved me a couple of years ago from a guaranteed mauling by a female black bear that I never saw coming from behind. I just shoved the rifle Forward and shot it right through the mouth at the exact moment the dog was lunging forward and biting at its side. If she had not smelled that bear coming in behind us, and for the first time in her life broke from her sitting position I would have got hammered!

The bear was in total predatory mode after hearing my mouth calls and came in from dead down wind, my scent was in its face every step of the way. The game wardens ruled it a legitimate self-defense shooting and the bear biologist determined that the bear was in perfect condition. It was just hunting us.

There were times when my GSP was alive I would have him along calling. He sat tight and I always had his head in the corner of my eye as he saw everything first. He was the same way in the front of my outfit when driving, he saw things first. Not often out on the stands but sometimes I'd take him.

Osky
 
I had the same question a couple months ago.

I have an 8 month old Goldendoodle that is around 60lbs that I've taken with me on about 20 stands in the last couple months. He really likes going with me, he is well behaved and I like taking him with me. However, I believe he has scared off at least 3 coyotes. There were likely others that I never saw. He didn't bark at or chase any of those three coyotes and he may not have even seen any of them. I believe all three spotted my dog and decided to head the other way. The biggest problem with my dog is he is still a puppy and can't hold still and the coyotes pick up on his movement. His bright white fur also makes him stand out.

I have shotguned one coyote at 20 yards while he was with me but I don't think that coyote saw either of us until I started to swing my shotgun. About 10 days ago I called in a bobcat to 140 yards that decide to stop comming in when he spotted my dog. The bobcat sat there and looked my dog over for about 10 minutes before deciding to go the other way. I could have easily shot that bobcat but I'm too cheap to buy the NM trapping permit.

The other concern is my dog getting hurt by some coyotes. Even a single 20lb coyote would probably win in a fight against my 60lb dog. A bigger coyote or multiple coyotes would be really bad news for my dog.

Overall I think my dog is going to cost me a lot of coyotes but I'll still bring him with me on occasion. Here are a couple pictures of my dog.

E4-C580-B6-E261-48-B1-B052-05-F144-C2-AED7.jpg


DBD54459-B875-4-B6-A-94-C5-24211-B98-EED5.jpg
 
That bright white fur might be an issue but as you said, his inability to sit still is guaranteed to be a problem. He is still quite young, Stick with it and he'll figure it out. Once he sits absolutely rock-solid still then you'll be able to determine if the coyotes are picking up on his color or not. I think you probably will be okay as long as he's not moving.
 
The fellow I mentioned above who does well with his lab has a light colored yellow lab, makes me doubt the color issue? I do know his dog is well trained and will sit tight, just like his master. They kill a bunch of coyotes. Are you sure when your dog is jumping around or moving when with you the coyotes aren't actually spotting you? Also your first dogs in May have been pups and not a territorial dog or pair?
As for cats I have never had any luck with a dog around, but over the years I can recall only a time or two in that situation at best. Perhaps using pup distress but I'm not sure I'm remembering that incident correctly.

Hef-A

Late add, I have seen some very tough cattle dogs get the short end of things when tangling with coyotes so you would be wise to keep a tight rein on your dog.
 
Last edited:
My friend who shoots a lot of coyotes always has his yellow lab with him. He swears by it. I would be a bit concerned if they get into a tussle, but he has never had a problem.
 
I know of a gentleman who has a large Labradoodle that will retrieve coyotes. He seems to understand coyote hunting and knows to stay still until the shot upon which he will take of and drag the coyote in by the scruff of the neck. I asked about the dog getting hurt one day and he said that the mutt has proven himself tough enough by finishing the odd one for him.
 
Bring him along he'll have a great time hanging out with you. Just make sure all his shots are up to date and keep him away from those coyotes that look mangy.
 
My Black Mouth Cur goes with me every single time I go. She generally will spot them before I do so I always keep an eye on her and when she jerks her head I look where she is looking. Soon as the shot breaks she is off after them. Twice we have been with the shotgun and both times she saw the coyote and was after them before I knew anything. First time she was 5 yards from the coyote before he saw her and when he did he turned inside out trying to get away. On that one I had to let him get some distance from her before I shot him but she was on him before he quit rolling. She loves coyote hunting, when we are deer hunting she is snoring but when the call comes on she is laser focused and quivering with excitement. She is definitely a plus for spotting or tracking wounded coyotes. There have been several marginal shots where she tracked them several hundred yards and I haven’t lost one yet with her with me. Plus it’s nice to have your best friend with you out hunting.
 
I hunted with a blue heeler for twelve years, never once saw a coyote run away from him. Normal reaction was to either stop or come closer. My dog would move around, never more than about 10 yards after 2-3 min. he would run out of patience and lay down close to me but still alert. He only chased them if he deemed them to close to me, then come back after about 30 yards.
Most of the time they would follow him back just to die.
I never saw a difference in time of year.
I still miss him three years later, I believe he was the best coyote killing asset I ever had.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top