Distance between stands

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peterk1234

Member
Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to coyotes? I am trying to figure out set up options for a section (640 acres) of land surrounded by thousands of acres of private, open country. The section starts off fairly flat with mostly sagebrush. Then it drops a couple hundred feet rapidly to a large meadow with a creek lined with trees and shrubs. Then back up it goes into rolling hills and small drainages. Tempted to go to the edge of the drop off but wondering if I can do multiple sits in different spots in one trip. Thanks Pete
 
More than once I've called one slope of a ridge or hill, walked over the hill and called the other slope.

I've even walked in one side of a road a 100 yards called and the crossed to other side walked in a 100 yards, called and killed a coyote.

For me wind , terrain and vibes or whatever you want to call it, sometimes me something tells you just have to call here.

Without seeing the land, I'd be tempted to make four stands if the conditions are right. Your not just calling the 640, your calling a long way out into the private land, you just have to wait till they cross out of it.
 
In big wide open flat country we try to go one mile to make our next calling stand. If there is a perfect spot to hide our vehicle we may only go 1/2 mile.

In the mountains and canyons and hunting off of ridges we may only have to go 400 yards to get our calling sounds into new areas.
 
When I get a new property to hunt, in my county, I first check satellite images and then I lay out a grid system and go to the farthest back of the property and hunt my way out to the "front" of the property. I don't even try to hunt it all the first trip, it may take several trips depending on what takes place on previous hunts. Take your time, get to know the area and enjoy the outing!
 
I was hunting with a friend about 3 weeks ago. We set up on a hill with the call about 25 yards away pointed south. I went on the other side of the hill pointing north. The wind was 5 mph.

I could not hear the call. Nada. Nothing. He told me he was blaring it at about 30-40. It was an x24.

That was an eye opener for me.
 
Great advice already. I’ll generally go a mile between stands but make exceptions all the time. If I had a private 640 acres I would probably make 3 to 5 stands depending on the wind/terrain.
 
If I'm walking from stand to stand I try to go about 800 yards. If I'm driving, that 800 stretches out a good bit.
There are times, though, that 800 yards is too much.
One time I was calling with shotgun in hand a coyote came in but held up at a little over a hundred yards. It didn't like what it saw, probably me, and wouldn't come any closer. I sat and tried different sounds until it just walked away. I got up and moved and while walking to the next stand saw it about 400 yards away. I had only gone about 300 yards, but qui8ckly found a good spot to call from and set up. Started calling and the coyote came in in about a minute. I let it get about 15 feet from the call and DRT.
I've done this a number of other times only moving 300-500 yards and called in coyotes that had been barking at me or that just wouldn't commit.
It doesn't work every time, but it's a good thing to have up your sleeve. As I've learned the hard way, coyotes haven't read the books on how to kill a coyote. Use whatever distance seems like a good idea at the time and you just might be successful.
 
@Sprinkman That sounds almost like the classic scenario often dealt with in my area. Get a response and they only want to come so far or not budge at all. It’s generally the edges of woods or roads around here where they just don’t want to cross or expose themselves. If you can find a way to cut the distance to them, it can be a game changer. Of course you run the risk of bumping them, but if it seems doable, I’m trying! Proximity is key!
 
I used to have a private duck hunting club to coyote hunt on, and it is 710 acres, It nearly always had 3 pairs of coyotes on it, one pair on the NE, another on the SE, and the 3rd on the SW. I never had one come from the NW. Over the years, I noticed that any new pairs of coyotes would come from the same area, if the wind was the same. Admittedly, this was a coyote haven, and I've not seen another property like this one for coyote density.

On larger properties, I'll go 300-400yds or so between stands, depending on wind, terrain and previous experience on it. If I go more than 500yds., it's probably due to stand selection.

Call the interior of the property first and then call to the adjacent private lands. When you are calling on your sq.mile, maybe lower the call volume a bit, and then increase it when you hunt the borders.
 
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