Calling coyotes but they won't come all the way in!! (LONG)

S

Sheldon_Charron

New member
Hey guys. Looking for some help here. I'm having a lot of trouble getting coyotes to come all the way in to my caller. They do not come in like all the videos show. I have had a fox come right up to my Jack In The Box decoy, but coyotes seem to be hanging up out past 200 yards and further - like 400-700 yards! I originally thought they weren't coming in at all, but then started seeing glimpses of them and losing them. It wasn't wind or movement. This weekend, I saw one come in across a field from nearly a mile away. He came very slowly, sat, then walked, then stopped, sat, walked, etc. He finally hung up at 700 yards and walked uninterested to my right down a farm trail that ran through the field, and disappeared into the woods along the creek. Downwind was to my left! Now it was very windy, and I used FOXPRO's deluxe speaker attached to my FX3. I tried turning down the volume when he started to come in so it didn't seem too loud. And believe me it was LOUD! When he stopped coming in, I turned it back up. When he disappeared into the woods and didn't come out after several minutes, I tried an invitation howl, then later, a challenge howl. About 15 minutes after I saw him last, I gave up and went back to my truck. My lab was in the cargo area so I let him out for a leak. He ran around for a few minutes, and as I was loading him up, I spotted what I assumed was the same coyote about 100 yards closer than before, running away. Who knows how close he would have come, whether the dog brought him in, or if I would have gotten a shot if I stayed longer.

I found that rabbit distress calls weren't working, but when I see coyotes it's usally when using FOXPRO's rodent distress call. I think they get called quite a bit around my areas and most people use rabbit distress sounds. I have tried everything including using my dog as a decoy and I am not having regular luck. I howl at night and GPS and call locations where I have received a response the next day. I have hunted in places with fresh droppings and tracks in previous night's snow. I have nailed some, but I have hunted several full days and put on hundreds of miles in the last two weeks. It has been unusally warm here - slightly below freezing - so I know coyotes aren't as hungry as normal this time of year but some of you hunt in warm weather so please give me some advice here. I'm getting very frustrated with the lack of response. The ones I have shot seem to hover at 200 yards or so. I am anxious to have a coyote charge in and am now praying for bitter cold for the first time in my life! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Any advice?? I usually start with a rodent distress at half volume for about 5 minutes, then switch to higher volume, then after 15 minutes try an invitation howl, then a challenge bark. I let the call play without too many pauses. Sometimes I throw in the odd coyote pup distress for a second or two then back to rodent distress.

Thanks! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Hmm dont know. Hoew often do you hunt your spots? And I play my sounds for 3min then give 5min then play again. If no response then after about 10min of nothing the ill try the yote sounds(distress howls etc). But i go off my gut so if i feel like howlin right off i will. Just depends. I think it sounds to me your yotes are highly educated.
 
Coyotes generally hang up or reverse course when they see you, hear you, or smell you.

Quit wearing baseball caps. They turn like a flag in a shifting wind and the silhouette gives you away.
 
I think you hit it on the head when you said your area gets called a lot. When I lived in Arizona, I went weeks and weeks without even seeing a dog because our area was so overhunted. Sounds to me like you are trying to call a bunch of tutored dogs. I agree with txagyotebuster -- try something different like pig distress or something else out-of-the-ordinary. Good luck!
 
Just some thing that has worked for myself in the past is that when a coyote is on his way quit calling and just let him work his way to you. if he hangs up give him just little reminder of why hes heading your way and once he gets inside about 200 to 250 yards just give him a little lip sqeek to keep his attention, and general direction. also make sure that you can see him on your down wind side cause they like to work the wind the same as you are.
 
Completely ditch the distress calls And go strictly coyote sounds. When you see one, determine what sex it is if you can and use that against them. And choose a vocalization accordingly.

Some one will back me up on this. Kinda surprised it has'nt already been mentioned.
 
Here is an idea....
1)Buy a Mil-Dot scope then spend a few hours learning how to range tagets(coyotes). This will enabling you to get range est. on desired target in yards or meters.(If you wanted to cut this part out of the equation you can buy a range finder although I would highly recommend a Mil-Dot for various reasons).
2)Find out a good gun/bullet combo. I usually use a Remington LTR 20" in .308 or a Ar-15 .223. These rifles will shoot around a 1/2 MOA w/ a little work. If using a .223 I would recommend a 1/7 twist with the heavy Barnes bullet for any shots from the 400-500 yard range as I feel this is max range for a .223.
3)You will need to find the average velocity of your bullet in FPS (feet per second).
4)Email me w/ your bullets BC and the velocity, Bore height, average Altitude, average hunting temp and I will find your "Dope" (bullet drop)for every 25 or 50 yards out to 1000. I will also calculate your hold overs for MILS or Hash marks.
5)Find a place to shoot out to desired distance and confirm all DOPE. Practice, Practice, Practice. As you will see that shooting from 100-400 yards is relatively easy but if you have any 1/2 value or cross winds your POI will change!
Example: At 600 yards I know that if I am shooting in a 3 O'clock 10mph wind I will adjust 21 clicks right to compensate for the wind. If coyote hunting in the field where every second counts I usually "hold over" for any wind value. This also allows you to adjust for changing conditions.
6)Once all DOPE is confirmed you can make a "cheat sheet" w/ your balistics taped to the TOP of the rifle cheek weld or the inside of the objective flip up covers for quick reference to your hold overs or clicks or MOA (Minute of Angle).

I will give you an example of Steve Aryan and I on our last hunting trip where we call very open soybean field that are usually anywhere from 300-800 acres of flat open ground.
It was sunrise on our first stand of the day as we had seen two coyotes on the oposite end of the field over 1,400 yards away. We both went to the prone position and used the calf in distress on the FX3. I was ranging the yote at roughly 1000-1100 yards out. After 5 mins w/ not much responce we turned the FX3 to Lucky Bird. At 800 yards out the pair split up and came in from our 10 and 2 O'clock postions. They both where wanting to hang up. Steve was on the coyote which was hung up at 470 yards and turned around. I gave Steve the yardage within aprox. 45-60 seconds and Steve adjusted his clicks within 10-15 seconds and was ready to shoot. As the Coyote faced us for one of the last times Steve sent a 115gr Balistic Tip from his 25-06 sailing at 3200fps into the coyotes lower throat. "Excactly Where I Aimed" and with a big smile.
 
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Hmm dont know. Hoew often do you hunt your spots?



Hey Steve. My spots are all brand new this year. I have explored all new territory but am now marking spots where I see coyotes, get howls back, call them in and miss, or kill them. I think my coyotes are in fact pretty educated but might just be doing a lot of things wrong. Not positive.
 
Nahuatl

Quote:
Coyotes generally hang up or reverse course when they see you, hear you, or smell you.



I have assumed all along that was the case, but I'm not too sure. When I have had a coyote wind us when hunting with an experienced partner, they bolt immediately. This is not what is happening. I have had my girlffriend out a few times and she tends to pull at her belaclava quite a bit subconciously and although slow, I tell her to deal the itch and eyehole issue. Personally, You would be suprised how still I am and how long I can stay that way. In the past i have been told that I don't look around enough and they probably come in and I don't see them. I am more concerned about how much I move during set up or animals seeing me while trying to get into position from the car or when placing my caller.

Quote:
In many situations, silence is golden. Make em work to find that rabbit.



That is something I haven't tried. It's like I'm scared if I turn it off they will stop coming in. I ahve had them come in and act like they are searching for the sound that is only 150-200 yards away. Maybe echos?? I forget if I mentioned that have been using the JB decoy a lot, and I am going to try without it after reading some comments about them stopping when they see the decoy. Okay in sets where the coyote can't see the decoy until it's too late and then stop him for the shot, but not when he can see it from a long way out. Last Sunday though, no decoy and he still hung up.

Quote:
Quit wearing baseball caps. They turn like a flag in a shifting wind and the silhouette gives you away.



I don't wear caps. I use all white, even my gloves and usually my boots, and a white belaclava so that when I turn my head there is no brim to sillouette. I also usually sit up against a fence post, tree or abandoned building to avoid skylining myself and when there's no cover I lay low or put myself below the crest of a hill for the same reason. Even my rifle is white.
 
Mussman.223

Quote:
Here is an idea....
1)Buy a Mil-Dot scope then spend a few hours learning how to range tagets(coyotes).....



Hey man. Thanks for the tips but I'm trying for something different here. I'm trying to get good at calling them right in. Just some background on my shooting qualifications and equipment. I have been hunting and shooting for over 30 years, and reloading for over 25 years. I shoot mostly wildcat rifles, although I do have a couple of .204 Rugers and a .338 Winmag. My prinicpal varmint hunting rifles are a .243 Ackley with a Lilja #7 contour in 1:8 twist with Sierra 107 VLDs. It wears a 5.5-22x56 Nightforce scope with Illuminated MilDot reticle, which I know how to use. My light calling rifle is a Rem model 7 in 6BR Norma with #1 contour 27" 1:8 twist Lilja barrel but I shoot Nosler 55's in it for the most part. It is throated for 107 Sierras though and the magazine feeds a la Mike Bryant's Mag conversion.

I do own a Leica 1200 Scan Rangefinder and Leica 8x42 BNs, which I carry on me at virtually all times. I use sticks or a harris bipod most times when I am using the Ackley. If they are standing still, I can usually nail targets quite a ways out there pretty regularly.

I have also competed a bit in F-Class fullbore and was in the service. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I have hunted in Africa and Alaska and various places throughout North America with rifle, ML and bow, and consider myself a very dilligent, commited and skillful hunter....except at coyotes and fox. For whatever reason, when it comes to coyotes and fox...I SUCK!! I just can't seem to to get the results I see in the videos and can't get the success ratio up to wear I'm getting more dogs into the call than not.

Whew! That's a real mouthful. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Please don't think I'm arrogant by my comments. I just want to make sure we get the ballistics, guns and can't shoot stuff out of theway. Thanks to everyone for the responses and for trying to help. I'll take all the advice I can get. The dogs here in manitoba are really starting to [beeep] me off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif

I think the comments about howling might be worth looking into as well. Thanks. I am going to load up some more howls into my caller. All I have are female invitation, challenge, coyote death cry and coyote pup distress. What else might be good?
 
I’m with txagyotebuster. You probably have some educated dogs and an off the wall sound like pigs or kittens might get a better response if not more interesting. You are ahead of the game because you can see them hang up. If you have a remote caller try setting up between your caller and the area you hope to call coyotes from. If they hang up at 600 yards you have effectively cut the distance to 300 yards and that’s a dead dog. Keep working on it and you’ll figure them out.
 
Thanks Tom.

I will try some of the more obscure calls. I have also tried setting up my caller behind me, only to have them come out behind me and further away! LOL. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I know I have a lot of learning to do and like someone else said, the more sets I do the better chance I have and the more I will pick this game up. I have hunted coyotes with a couple of veterans who seem to be able to look at an area and say, "This is a good spot, and they will come from over there." They will be right the majority of the time. That's what I'm aiming for.

Take care. Can't wait for the weekend! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 


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