East coast coyote hunting.....

centerfire_223

centerfire_223

New member
I sit and read about all of the different setups that some of you guys use out west. I was just wondering if anyone from out here in my section of the country has any ideas for a newbie. I started hunting varmints last year and have yet to get one to come to the call. I don't know if its my setups or something else i'm doing wrong. I'm hunting in areas that have lots of coyote sign. Things may change this year though I got my JS caller here a couple of months ago. I'm sure that will be a definate plus. Thanks for everyones help.
 
Its hard to offer any suggestions with out some ?'s you would like answered.Don't get discouraged, there are guys that hunt for years with out killing a critter.What type of terrain do you hunt? What is the most common food source? What is your expected prey?

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www.varminthunters.com/shooters
 
How many stands are you making? How many total have you made? How long do you stay on a stand? Need lots of info on what/how you you are doing.....

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Critr

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www.SaguaroSafaris.com
 
One other little thing. You mentioned that there was a lot of sign where you're hunting. That's great, but are the coyotes there WHEN you're there? I mean there range is pretty big and if you're calling an area they were in yesterday, or six hours earlier, you might not be too effective.
I like to use an old time siren an hour before daylight to stimulate coyotes into howling in response. I note the area and call there at first light. That gives me the confidence that there are critters in the immediate area. Just a thought.

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"Doing the Right thing isn't always easy, but it's always RIGHT!"
 
I just don't know where to begin. I hunt everything from swamps to hardwoods to clear cuts. With a few pastures thrown in for good luck. I usually sit a stand at least 30 minutes. As far as knowing the coyotes are there I haven't tried the locator before daylight trick yet. That could very well be the problem. I probably have only made about 25 stands. That maybe my problem not giving it enough time. I have hunted everything SC has to offer. The coyote is shining at the top of the list for hard to hunt animals. If I'm hunting a clear cut would it be better to set up on the outsides of it. Or set up on the roads that run throught it? Thanks for everyones help, Ronnie
 
centerfire_223. . .

Just wanted to personally welcome you to Predator Masters...

I like to try to welcome everyone when they first join our group, but we are growing so fast it is impossible to keep up with everyone any more.

We've got a bunch of great folks that are always willing to help a fellow caller out.

Enjoy yourself and visit us often...
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Thanks for the welcome AZWill. I hope everyone can just be patient with me, as I am very new at this game. And what a wonderful game it is. I only got one coyote last winter. But am looking forward to getting shots at many more this year. Once again thanks everyone for helping me out.
Ronnie
 
C_223,
What I'm saying with that is even though coyotes are in the territory you're hunting, if they're four miles away at the far end of their range at the time you sit down to call, you're out of luck. If you're a turkey hunter it's like trying to strike a gobbler by locator calling. After elicting a gobblers response, you move to a suitable spot to set-up and work the bird. Same for coyotes.
When discussing clearcuts, I think it depends upon what stage of regrowth or how recently cut the forest is. When I hunt very recently cut clearcuts here in the national forest of the Ozarks I try to get the wind in my face and my back to the clearcut. Set-up like this forces the critter to use the cover and terrain in front of you to approach the distress screams. Even if the coyote can't get downwind, he'll still most often want to approach in the cover. If for some reason he gets hinky enough to want the wind in his nose, he has to leave cover and get in the open. Always watch the edges of the cover for slinkers.
If the cut is several years old and the regrowth is in that absolute uncontrolled thick brush stage, I'll set-up differently. I like to find a ridge, point, saddle, or some travel lane going into or out of the cut. Especially if that terrain feature puts me crosswind of the cut. Then I'll use just a little cover out of the cut and set-up there. If the predator is out of the clearcut he'll most often run the terrain break toward the cut, no problem. Even if he circles for the wind, he's in a shootable position for you or a partner strung out downwind. If the coyote comes out of the cut, he's left cover where you probably couldn't get a shot anyway, and is putting himself in a position for you to kill him.
I try to consider the wind, terrain, cover, where I feel the predator most likely is, and position my stand to place the critter in a spot for a shot. The advice is handcalls. E-calls make things a little simpler, just get crosswind of the caller. I also like to be uphill if possible. I hope I explained this in a way you could visualize. Hope this is helpful?

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"Doing the Right thing isn't always easy, but it's always RIGHT!"
 
I understand what your talking about GC. I'll keep these things in mind when i set up from now on.

Another place that I hunt is an old clearcut that has been thinned out in the last couple of years. You can see a long ways in there. It mostly has semi open hardwood hollers but when you get to the ridges they are all open pines. There isn't even that much laps laying around. You can see at least a couple of hundred yards. In some places much further than that. With this type of place would you try and call from the open pines or down in the hardwoods?

Also how do coyotes react to new clearcuts. Say less than a year old. This clearcut has laps everywhere. So thick with them you can hardly walk through it.

I have just gotten myself a JS512. How far does most everyone put it out from them. Or is it different for every stand.

Sorry for being so long and full of questions.

Ronnie
 
To get an idea of coyote numbers,and whether they are there ,or just moving thru. Check your laws,and if legal try this.Put out a road killed deer , and see how long it last,If its hit the first night then calling there is a good bet ,I it only gets hit ever few days, try to patern the yotes and find out when they are there.It takes time and hard work. "Good judgement is gained thru experience,and experience is gained thru bad judgement." Keep your head up and remember we are the smarter predators.

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www.varminthunters.com/shooters
 
Regarding your clearcut questions, I like to hunt them. The edge habitat is great for smaller prey species, rabbits, mice, voles, birds, squirrels, ect...
And it's this edge that the coyotes prowl. Anytime I find an edge were two terrain types meet I start feeling good about my odds. Throw a third terrain type in there and believe that you'll call something. An example type that I hunt here in the Missouri Ozarks would be large old growth oak/hickory timber with pine covered ridge tops. The bottoms usually contain a brushy spring or creek bottom. Now find a clearcut which intermingles with these two and it's a bobcat and coyote heaven. Nirvana would be a brushy overgrown field across the creek. Wow! I'll use terrain features and wind to call this type of situation and more often than not call critters.

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"Doing the Right thing isn't always easy, but it's always RIGHT!"
 
GC has it right!!! Thats the type of terrain I look for down here in Lower Alabama. My boy likes to work calls and I'll set him down in the bottom and I'll climb a tree. that has been working GREAT. I never used a tree stand until 98 and don't use it when I go "back home"(Wyoming) to hunt but I sure like it down here.
 
centerfire_223 - I feel your pain and frustration brother! Last winter was my first year coyote hunting and I hunted pretty hard. I heard how difficult it was but I thought I was ready. After many frustrating hunts without even seeing a coyote, I ended the season without a pelt to show for my efforts.

The only thing that I can tell you is that you're not the only one not having any luck! Keep at it and you've come to the right place for help! These guys are a wealth of coyote hunting knowledge and I'm learning right along with you!


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