How often ?

Keith Karr

Keith Karr

Well-known member
I’ve been night hunting coyotes for two years. My partner has been going for about 4-5 years.

We are hunting pastures and hayfields in west central Ga.

When I got started one of the first questions I asked my buddy was “how often do you hunt a spot”.

He said no more than every 4 to 6 weeks…..so that’s what we’ve been doing.

I’m just wondering what you guys with years of experience do.

How soon will you return and call a location ?

Does killing one or two on a hunt change how long before you return to hunt the spot again ?
 
I hunted on 2 ranches for many years, one 5000 acres + and one 11,000 acres. We had one spot we hunted primarily for bobcats and a couple of hot spots for coyotes that we hunted every week. Sometimes, if we didn't call anything one day, we'd hit them again the next day or the day after and they produced very regularly. A lot depends on the surrounding area, and of course, population.
 
Big difference between calling in one and killing it and calling in a family group and close missing an adult. Especially shooting unsuppressed. Keep track of the call sequence/sounds if you know your returning. Also where you setup and walk in/out. Don't let coyote pattern you.
 
For us, it depends on if there were shots fired. Or if we kill every one that comes in. We will usually go back to places in two weeks. We also have different calls. Foxpro, Icotec, Primos, Western Rivers, (Lucky Duck soon) and we will play different vocals from another call so it sounds different than the previous time we were in there. Or we will set up in a different location if the wind requires it.

If there were shots fired and some got away, we will usually give it 3 weeks. Wind direction always plays a factor so we may "HAVE TO" go to a place sooner or avoid it longer if we shouldn't try it that night.

I've had people go to a place one night with no results, but they go back the next night and have success. As long as they aren't getting too educated, there is a chance. I have personally not gone to the same place on back to back nights.

There are so many people calling them now that coyotes don't go many nights without hearing calls whether it's the section next door, or your same location. Around here, most farmers give everyone the Ok to hunt so the pressure is great. Giving a place 4-6 weeks around here, those coyotes would get hunted 5-6 times before we got back there. (That is just a guess, but if you aren't exclusive to thousands of acres, you can be sure those coyotes are getting hunted by adjacent properties.)
 
Go through your area and hunt it the first time with just distress sounds. Come back through and only use vocals. If u do use another distress make sure it’s completely different if you used a rabbit the first time use a bird sound or rodent. Kill the coyotes you call in and make sure you’re set up right so when they do come in you can kill them. Call from a different spot with a different wind.
 
10-12 years ago I called one spot 3 evenings in a row. First evening I used a Fox Pro, cottontail distress. Shot a hard charging coyote with my 17 rem. My buddy (paraplegic) was watching from the truck, downwind of me 1/2 mile. He saw 2(?) coyote that stayed in the creek bottom. 2nd day another sunset call(before thermal, night vision was legal) I used mouth calls, howled. Saw him signal out the window(gun case) that a coyote was seen. I went to female whines, one coyote came out of the bottom cover and I shot it at about 250 yards. He told me after I shot 2 more ran down the bottom of the dredge ditch. 3rd evening I told they probably will run out the same way when I call. He was ready from the truck, when I signaled I would call. I turned the fox pro up loud, and howled at the same time. He managed to shoot one, said they were "flying" down the bottom of the dredge ditch.
 
Good points in all of the above posts. Each spot is different and what works one location may or may not work elsewhere. The point made is that what works for me may not work for thee; best go out and try 'em all and see what works best in your area. :)(y)
 


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