Coyotes after Prairie dog shoot?

A

arrowem

New member
Hi, I was wondering if after a prairie dog shoot in North Dakota, we set up for coyotes to see if they come in looking for scraps. Has anyone done this? Seem like it might work? I've never hunted western coyotes.

Thanks, Jason
 
most likely they will come but it'll be dark when they come in for clean up. BUT, as it always is with coyotes there are exceptions to the rule. Many years ago a good friend of mine and I were shooting prairie dogs and a coyote came right on into the "kill zone" while we were still shooting. I normally don't shoot coyotes in the summer and although very tempting to pop this one, we simply held our fire and watched as this coyote didn't take long to find a dead pdog and off he went with his prize. Was pretty cool and to this day it's one of those stories that is hard for me to believe, even though I was witness.
 
Was slaughtering rock chucks one day. Really, really slaughtering them. Two of us killed well over 200 for the day. But at one point, a bobcat just sauntered up onto a rock in the middle of our kill zone and watched the movie for a little while. Then sauntered away.

Have seen dirt geysers erupt in the midst of a p-dog shoot several times. Badgers going to work right in the middle of all the shooting.

- DAA
 
I got this coyote with my matador. I was shooting prairie dogs the day before and went back out the next day. This coyote came in while I was wanting on a prairie dog to poke his head out at 75 yards. Since I already knew my exact pellet drop and wind drift, making the shot was easy.
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Call BEFORE you blast for hours at prairie dogs.

We normally sneak in to the colony and call first, it can be very productive.

We also have a prairie dog "All clear" sound on the FoxPro.
It works once or twice then they wise up.

Go in camo and try to stay out of sight , you will have better prairie dog shooting too.
 
I have seen it a few times but nothing predictable. I have seen at least one come right out into the dog town while we were shooting, have seen at least one sneaking in while we drove out. Know a guy who had two come in, grabbed a dead dog each and we’re gone. Had a badger come into shooting lane at least three times picking up a dead dog, taking it to her den and the turn right around coming for another for her young
 
I have had fox, coyotes, badgers and Ermine mill around, helping themselves to fresh kills. The most fun to watch is this adult Golden Eagle plop down and shred still kicking gophers. He will eat until almost unable to get his full belly airborne. Osprey will usually prefer to kill their own, waiting by a hole while we shoot critters all around them.
 
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I have never thought of it before and to be honest not sure why. I will be sure to go back and call after we get done shooting "prairie dogs" or as we refer to them sage rats. This is what I love about this forum always getting new ideas.
 
I've had intentions of calling around a dog town within a day or two after pdog shooting, especially if there is good cover, a creek or crp surrounding it. My theory was they'd come in to feed then bed down close by to come back again. I never did make it back out to try it though.
 
What Jetman said. Coyotes are around dog towns. I bet I killed close to fifty coyotes as a kid out the window of the pickup off of dog towns randomly. Didn't even know a dying rabbit screamed at the time.
 
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Cool! you guys talked me into it. I've got night vision and thermal scopes so why not! We're out there to hunt, so we will see how it goes. We go mid June so after we get back I'll let you know how it went.
 
I was in your same exact position last year, and I made the same decision to take my thermal gear. After a drive from Ga., we were dragging to say the least. And, after shooting pd's from early to late, trying to call coyotes didn't seem like that good an idea. I did get one of my buddies to go twice, and I did call and shoot a couple of coyotes. From an "old timers" perspective, it was just too much. I finally came to the conclusion that, I can't shoot pd's in Ga., but I can hunt coyotes in Ga. So, this year, the thermal gear will be staying home. Think I may take my Foxpro and try to call a spot or two late in the evening.
For a younger guy, it is a great idea. Good luck and be sure to give us a report.
 
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