Heading into December, just wanted to hear some good tips on calling strategies. Up to this point in the calling season I think most guys are pretty strictly prey distress, but is December the time to start mixing in some vocals? If so, what are some good approaches? I've typically only called early season and so I don't have hardly any knowledge on the vocals side of the game. All help is much appreciated
December calling strategies
- Thread starter onzha
- Start date
Austin Laughlin
Well-known member
Generally here in Missouri, the first couple of weeks in December are really tough. First part of November is our rifle season, followed shortly after by anterless/doe season. Coyotes are full up with easy meals, and just don’t seem to respond well for the first couple weeks of December. Here lately our December weather has been exceptionally warm, some days in the upper 60s, low 70s. Just seems to make it tough.
Me personally, I don’t call much in the first half of December unless we luck out and get a really hard snow that sticks around. But again, that’s just how it is in my area. Prey distress works year around, a coyote is an opportunistic eater. If they’re in the area, and under other circumstances, they’re going to eat. It’s not until February here that I introduce any kind of vocals, and with the pressure these days, even then I don’t do much of that.
Me personally, I don’t call much in the first half of December unless we luck out and get a really hard snow that sticks around. But again, that’s just how it is in my area. Prey distress works year around, a coyote is an opportunistic eater. If they’re in the area, and under other circumstances, they’re going to eat. It’s not until February here that I introduce any kind of vocals, and with the pressure these days, even then I don’t do much of that.
Softpoint
Active member
I was at one of my calling areas yesterday and a road killed elk was still not touched. The DOT dumped it back off the road a few weeks ago. Turns out the coyotes were all at the dead deer 250 yards down the way from it. Lots of food out there and makes for tough calling. Only coyote vocals seem to get responses.
I'll use vocals all season but use them differently during the season. In early fall I use them if nothing has responded to distress or prior to a fight. Sometimes it will call one, sometimes it has no effect and sometimes a distant coyote will respond and give me a location for a stand.
When I start seeing/calling/killing pairs then I use them regularly to start stands. That seems to be early this year. Then by late January or early February vocals are the primary call for me.
If I start a stand with vocals I'll wait quite awhile before the next sound. Even longer if one has responded vocally within calling range.
Patience is the key. If you know you have one coming, let them. Too many times I've been impatient and thought I could hurry things up and play another sound just to have them turn and leave.
I'm with Softpoint. When calling gets tough, vocals it is.
When I start seeing/calling/killing pairs then I use them regularly to start stands. That seems to be early this year. Then by late January or early February vocals are the primary call for me.
If I start a stand with vocals I'll wait quite awhile before the next sound. Even longer if one has responded vocally within calling range.
Patience is the key. If you know you have one coming, let them. Too many times I've been impatient and thought I could hurry things up and play another sound just to have them turn and leave.
I'm with Softpoint. When calling gets tough, vocals it is.
Deafcaller
New member
Over here in eastern OR I went 15 or so stands with nothing until last week. Tried every prey sound I had on the lucky duck as well as my hand caller to no avail, only a lone Magpie now and then. I then hunted a buddy’s ranch and saw 12 coyotes within an hour pouncing around the pivot fields for mice. All but 2 ran away from the distress sounds played at low volume. The last 2 I used a group challenge and brought them in quick. May be worth noting that all the ones that I watched run away were paired up. The 2 I got were loners, both young males. Headed down the road a ways and threw the challenge out again and had 3 run to the call from about 800 yards out. Got 1 of them, a young female that just about ran the call over. I normally stay away from any vocals because I’m so hard of hearing I can’t hear them respond. Lol. But making them mad seems to be doing the trick here for now. Play the challenge loud as you can. Good luck
Grigsby
Active member
Last weekend (12/3) I called in 2 coyotes with hand calls. First one came quickly after one set of rabbit distress. Nearly ran right past me but I hammered it with my shotgun. Next stand I belted out 3 sequences of rabbit distress and then started some ki yis and a young female showed up. Pounded her with my shotgun too. I was surprised with the results because it is warm (for ND) and no snow on the ground.
Prior to these 2 stands I was scouting another area and saw a coyote following/pushing 2 deer for about 1/2 mile. I think there is a high number of coyotes compared to deer gut piles in this area, so they probably have them cleaned up already & are looking for other food.
I think coyotes' responses vary a bit from year to year in my area depending on the local conditions.
Prior to these 2 stands I was scouting another area and saw a coyote following/pushing 2 deer for about 1/2 mile. I think there is a high number of coyotes compared to deer gut piles in this area, so they probably have them cleaned up already & are looking for other food.
I think coyotes' responses vary a bit from year to year in my area depending on the local conditions.
Interesting. Do you think it'd be a bad idea to start with a howl or two and then wait a few minutes, then play distress?
Grigsby
Active member
No, I don't think that would be a bad idea. I have read on here and have watched TV/youtube hunts where people do that on almost every stand they make, and it works for them.
However, I usually don't howl first because I assume other predators (fox, bobcat, badger, etc.) may not come in to avoid an encounter with a coyote. So I usually start with prey distress and if nothing seems to be coming then I try coyote sounds. I may try howls to start more in the future though.
The best strategy that can be applied any time of the year is to get access to new land and find coyotes with fresh ears. Start by hunting for new hunting locations. Pre-scout the area with satellite imagery and look for places where you would feel safe sleeping during the day, or denning if you were a coyote. The closer you can set up to those areas, the more likely you are to get a territorial response with vocals. Before you call, go out to the area and look for places close to those areas that will give you visibility to cover as much ground as possible to be able to shoot. Pay attention to visual markers like round bales or cattle to give you an idea of vegetation height so you know if you will be able to see the coyotes if you call them in. Look for terrain features that will give you the maximum field of fire in an area where they feel safer exposing themselves. The better you can visualize the elevation changes in the land, the better you can adjust your stand locations once you start hunting and hearing them howl and moving to set up closer to those groups. Don't pre-plan your calling sequences. Just go out and go with the flow. Stay pretty basic until you find a combination that seems to be triggering them that day. If you are doing a set-up where the coyotes you are targeting could have been within earshot of your last stand, don't use the same sounds you did on the previous stand. Don't overthink it. All you are doing is triggering an instinct.
Went out with my buddy this Friday and Saturday. Friday we ended up calling in 5 coyotes all before 1 o clock. Ended up starting off the day with some basic prey distress, trying to just start simple, and it ended up being the ticket. Reactions were quick as well, all dogs came in before 8 minutes. Fast forward to the very next day and we only saw 1 dog from the road. Made about 11 stands. started off the day with the same stuff that was working before and after a bunch of dry stands, started mixing in vocals. Ended the day off with vocals alone. Pretty disheartening to have a great day and the next day to not be able to get anything done. Anybody had similar experiences? Any advice?
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
Yes, see that. Good days, slow days. Even have days where I spot a coyote, stalk to within easy shooting range, than call to see if they will get up. Nope just lay there with ears tracking the sound. Now I always get within rifle range before thinking about calling, because occasionally one gets on it's feet and leaves, often just walking not a normal scared run.
New ground,'fresh ears' the best plan by far.
Been fortunate over the last 20 plus years to hunt with good (experienced and successful)coyote hunters from multiple States.There are few if any 'secret' sounds etc.Solid basic set ups,proven sounds and work/determination are assets but to kill numbers,they all need good ground.
Been fortunate over the last 20 plus years to hunt with good (experienced and successful)coyote hunters from multiple States.There are few if any 'secret' sounds etc.Solid basic set ups,proven sounds and work/determination are assets but to kill numbers,they all need good ground.
K22-hornet
Active member
December has always been a challenge where I hunt. It appears to be the beginning of the breeding season, where coyotes are starting to pair up and stake out a territory.
I've written about this in the past, but will repeat my observations:
Mid-December, while goose hunting, I see spots in the snow way to the N of me. Bino's show it is 2 groups of coyotes, about 50-100yds apart. Each group has multiple coyotes in it, with 2 coyotes about 10yds from each group.
I tried distress calls, with no success, just a couple of looks in my direction. Switching to vocals, the same thing, not one came to investigate.
I watched them off and on for a few hours. The only movement was when a coyote from a large group got up and walked around the 2 a few times, then went back to the big group and laid down. This happened repeatedly.
The next year, about the same time frame, at about the same place, the coyotes were doing the same thing. And, still no interest in my calls, distress or vocals.
I suspect, but can't prove, that the larger groups were males and the smaller groups were females. A male would get up, circle the girls, and do a 'sniff' check to see if the girls were ready for mating.
Thinking back to my single male years, the possibility of having sex far outweighed any desire for food, and I believe this is what I was watching.
By late December or early January, the calling success goes back to normal, but this time I'll get more pairs coming in.
I've written about this in the past, but will repeat my observations:
Mid-December, while goose hunting, I see spots in the snow way to the N of me. Bino's show it is 2 groups of coyotes, about 50-100yds apart. Each group has multiple coyotes in it, with 2 coyotes about 10yds from each group.
I tried distress calls, with no success, just a couple of looks in my direction. Switching to vocals, the same thing, not one came to investigate.
I watched them off and on for a few hours. The only movement was when a coyote from a large group got up and walked around the 2 a few times, then went back to the big group and laid down. This happened repeatedly.
The next year, about the same time frame, at about the same place, the coyotes were doing the same thing. And, still no interest in my calls, distress or vocals.
I suspect, but can't prove, that the larger groups were males and the smaller groups were females. A male would get up, circle the girls, and do a 'sniff' check to see if the girls were ready for mating.
Thinking back to my single male years, the possibility of having sex far outweighed any desire for food, and I believe this is what I was watching.
By late December or early January, the calling success goes back to normal, but this time I'll get more pairs coming in.
thanks for the info. what part of the U.S are you in? Im out west. Does the breeding season vary greatly from area to area?
Yotarunner
Custom Call Maker
Tell me about it! Im so used to hunting in the snow that all my best predator hunting gear is white and yet end of December I'm hunting in Carhartt pants and a sweater in Alberta!!!!
So far responses haven't been horrible in my neck of the woods.
K22-hornet
Active member
I'm in Colorado, usually hunting the Eastern Plains.