Distance a coyote can wind you???

S

Skinner2

New member
What do you think is the average distance a coyote can wind you, say under a 10 mph breeze, 10 to 20 MPh and over 20MPH. In Michigan I have not had a whole lot of ecperiance with this. I can think one ( that I know of) that picked me off before I new it was there. I think movement got me on that one though.

Two weeks ago I rushed a shot onder 25 yards being afraid I may get busted. There was no wind that morning. I got the coyote with the second shot.

I have killed many many whitetail with every legal method and I don't think I have ever been winded over 40 yards??? Just lucky????

Lets here yoyr distances.

Skinner 2
 
the slight breeze is what you need to be concerned with. As the wind picks up it gets even harder for any animal to wind you. It dissapates the scent molecules so fast and far that it doesnt allow an animal to distinguish or pin point anything.
 
I think H-Bar Elite hit the nail on the head with this one. if the breeze is less than 10 mph and you're in wide open country you should consider getting up in a tree or something else with to elevate yourself. They will wind you from far, far away if you're on the ground and they come in from your downwind side. I've seen a coyote come to within 40 yards and get shot on Calling All Coyotes 2 - the wind was blowing around 20 mph and Randy Anderson suggested that kind of wind helps disguise your scent.
~Scott
 
With wind less than 10 mph your scent will tend to "V" out more and a coyote won't have to be exactly "downwind" to catch your scent. 4-500 yards wouldn't be out of line in these conditions, but so much goes into how much the average hunter tries to disguise or limit their scent. A nice steady 10-20 wind will end it at a much greater distance. Upwards of a half mile or even more.
The stronger winds may disperse the scent some, but again, if they are truly downwind, 400 yards would be about as close as you can hope to get them. No matter what the conditions, it adds up to trouble.
 
But you also need to concider how wind currents travel around and over hills, trees, etc. If, for instance you are sitting on top of a ridge with a steep drop off directly in front of you, your scent might not be getting to the bottom of the hill 50 yards in front of you.
I agree though that with a slight steady wind on flat ground, they can pick you off from a fair distance. I've been picked off, without a doubt from scent, at about 200 yards.
 
Man lot farther than I would think. From what you guys are saying the coyotes we are killing must always have a nose full of human odor. Most of the places we have to call from have houses, barns, roads well within some distances mentioned.

I have called and killed 6 coyotes within 175 yards from one house and that has houses on both side. The owner has sat drinking coffe and watched me shoot 2. I even called and shot one from his yard. Maybe Southeast Michigan coyotes noses are ammune to us /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Skinner 2
 
Not immune, simply used to the scent. If they constantly smell human and don't get shot, they are less likely to be concerned with the smell, unless it is somewhere unexpected.
 
Had one wind me this weekend at 200yds in about a 15-20mph wind she made the mistake of looking back to see who was barking though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
In good conditions, I think coyotes are able to distinguish the odor between the homeowner (ho) and me. If the ho has not shot at or otherwise threatened the coyote, the ho's scent won't be as alarming as mine would be.

I think about the drug sniffing dogs which can pick out 1 kilo of cocaine wrapped in plastic and hidden inside of a gas tank, or a produce truck full of onions, and to these dogs, their scenting ability is not life-or-death. I've heard a canines ability to smell put this way: we humans can smell dinner cooking, and maybe tell the difference between chicken and beef, whereas a canine can tell you the seasonings and in what amounts and probably even what the chicken ate.

The nose knows.
Fred
 
I tried a lot of thinks including storing my camo in plastic bag with sage brush, but what do you do about your breath, your gun and all the other things that even you and I can smell. Its hard to stop breathing!!!!!!!
Keep them up wind when possible.
 
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