Deep Snow and Coyotes

mikegranger

mikegranger

Well-known member
I finally found some coyotes today /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif That turned out to be the easy part. We've been dumped on lately and have 1 1/2 to 2 feet of snow on the level. Can't get off any roads so me and the snowshoes hit the drifts today. Must have put on five miles. All of the coyotes I saw were responding to my howls but none would come to the calls. I finally decided if they weren't going to come to me, I would go to them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

As I got closer to the coyotes, would try and entice them my way, but no luck. Finally ended up getting right on top of two different groups before the male would respond. The females never did show their faces. Each time, the males would slowly bust their way through the snow but I had to be less than 1/4 mile from them. Makes for a verrrrry long day. This is the first time I've experienced this type of behavior, but the old timers are saying we haven't had this kind of snow since 1978.

A basic principle of wildlife biology is an animal cannot expend more energy acquiring food than the food will provide. I think with this deep snow, the coyotes are not willing to expend the effort unless it's right in their lap!!

I'm praying for a chinook!


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Nice work Mike. So did you ding one or two?

I find it great that you are able to get them to vocalize even during a weather change, allowing you to close the gap. Here in the east, penetrating a coyotes core area or personal space seems to be the only way to get a response. Asking one to cross a field or two isn't going to happen.

With the mt lion story so popular right now, and you hoofing through deep snow on shoes with a couple coyotes on a drag line, folks are saying "and I saw a couple of coyotes running a man down too!"
 
Good one Kendog. But they would say "I saw a couple of coyote hides running a man down"!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Can't remember the last time a drug one farther than the closest fencepost.

One of the ranchers I asked permission from walked out his front door, looked at my truck and asked "how are you getting around?". When I said snowshoes he offered up all of his land. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Hard work and determination will open a lot of doors.
 
hey Mike Granger, been watching your posts and have similar results here in Helena area. Dogs no wanna talk and nothin seems to be workin. Just found out a trapper been working my two favorite spots. always good till now. Three weeks no kill! Spotted 3 a mile away and they left. crunchy snow but not more than 8-10" most spots. predawn locating with mouth and e-calls no good. I have noted there are fewer signs of critters. keepin my chin up, better to hunt than
honeydo. last area heavily run by snow machines and few dog sign. I'm headin farther east this sat.

Tony
 
Hey Mike, I can address both of your main topics; I traveled over 800 yards through 18" deep powder about 6 or 7 weeks ago . . . withOUT snowshoes. Can you give me some advice on purchasing snowshoes? What about cross country skis? Which would you recommend for navigating this deep, nasty stuff we have out here in the NE corner of MT? After that 800+ yard hike, I called a coyote in from what must have been 1800+ yards. I was up on the top of a peak in the middle of a long, wide coulee. I was blowing distress sounds out of the tally-ho for about 10 minutes or more and then I saw a coyote PLOWING through the deepest of snow. He was in the bottom of the coulee, running along / in what was a dry creek bed. I figure he was 1800+ yards when I first got him in the scope. I lost him in the creek bed and kept calling on / off for about 15 more minutes before I decided to finally change my position on the peak to look for him . . . he busted me from about 8 yards away and went back the same way he came in!!!! Anyway, it was a DARN long walk back to the truck!
Scott
 
Trshootem,
Welcome to the best predator board on the net. Everytime I drive through the area just south of White Sulphur I think of coyotes. Looks like a wonderful place to me. All the way down to Livingston. Should be plenty of public ground to hunt on. Most ranchers don't mind someone shooting dogs either. Just make sure you ask first!

I personally believe right now is the hardest time to call coyotes. Now when the males begin breeding and defending territories it will get better. I just work a little harder now. This year a lot harder. What the heck, I need to keep in shape to be able to run with Redfrog, aahh, I mean the big dogs! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif :rolleyes:
 
Look into ebay for some snowshoes, I looked and it looks like a guy could get a pretty good pair for under 50 bucks, I guess I would prefer the old canadien style, anyway there lots of them for sale. I do have a pair of cross country skies but the isan't any way I coouold get o where I wanted to call and still have my scope sighted in. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif any down hill slope will put you down if you kow what I mean. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Songdogslayer,
I'll be up in your neck of the woods in a couple of weeks. Don't shoot them all. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I have a pair of CA Lund 58" snowshoes made in 1943. Of course I shouldn't be wearing classic snowshoes but what the heck. They work!

I would recommend something with a narrow, long track. Our snow is powdery so you want to float. I really don't think ski's will work for me as we have too many hills but they may work very well for you. I used to cross country ski alot and you can really move on them. That is if you are in shape!

I have yet to see a coyote plowing through the deep snow. You should've got that one on tape. When I was hunting with Redfrog up in Canada, called two in through CRP. One of the dogs was running and leaping in the air trying to see over the grass. Now that was a sight. I killed him! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Don't ask Redfrog what he did to his! :rolleyes:

Here's a picture of my snowshoes. I think you can still get some like these. Remember though, I'm not an expert. I'm learning as I go as far as snowshoes are concerned.

fa1f5081.jpg
 
Wolves in your area should have no problem running you down with them shoes on eh . By the way my parents live a little south of you and I'm wondering what type of calls are you using ? I've called a little around there and had success with Primos deer bleet & bawl .
 
songdogslayer - I'm an utter newb when it comes to hunting coyotes, but I've literally spent hundreds if not thousands of hours on cross country skis of all sorts, as well as a decent amount of time on snowshoes.

Don't get skis unless you want to spend the time to learn how to use them. Cross country skiing off trail, even on gently rolling terrain, will take dedication. I no longer take people out snow camping on skis the first time. Too many friends spent too much time face down in the snow with a pack on their back.

Snowshoes on the other hand are practically just like walking. With modern designs (hang the wooden ones on the wall) there is virtually no learning curve. Utter klutzes can put them on and scale and descend a ridge here in the Sierras. Something that would take many hours of frustration on skis to duplicate.

I own a pair of Tubbs Altitude 25s, and they work just fine. Take a look at either the Tubbs or the Atlas web sites to find out what size you need for your application. Then as was suggested, see if you can find them on Ebay.

http://www.atlassnowshoe.com
http://www.tubbssnowshoes.com

Oh - if you do go with snowshoes, make sure you use poles as well. I haven't tried it yet, but I bet you could paint the poles white, and use them as shooting sticks.

Regards,
Scott
 
This is a little of topic but figure you guys hunting coyotes in the snow will know this.
Here in Idaho we are getting record snow this year.
Do the coyotes migrate like the deer and elk.
Areas that are usually only in about a foot of snow are in 4 or 5 feet of snow this year.
So I am just wondering if the coyotes have to migrate down to get out of the snow also. Or do they stay in their territories and wait for the snow to crust over so they can chase the bunnies.

If they do migrate down that must create a lot of conflict with the resident dogs and would explain why there seem to be more dogs on the deer and antelope winter ranges this year.
 
Thanks for info Scott & Mike. I will be looking into some snowshoes . . . just too much snow out here to slog through it the hard way. Good hunting to you all!
-Scott
 
Do coyotes migrate
When we get lots of snow like this year, We get a big antelope migration form north to south, With this antelope migration the coyotes seem to tag along. I think the coyotes would rather eat mice and rabbits BUT the snow is really to deep to get at the mice, and if you have 4 or 5 feet of snow it may be too deep to get at the bunnies too. The Northern antelope really don't have much of their wintering grounds left (sage brush flats) So there gets to be quite a few that are starving and very weak and many die, this is where the coyote come in. Their numbers get very high near these herds
 
Songdogslayer, The better half got a pair out of Cabelas for my Christmas present. What I have used them so far they are excellent. They are light weight and really keep my keg from sinking in the snow. Shoot me a call and maybe we can get out soon. Things are finally starting to slow down for me.

2bowhunt
 


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