New to Coyote Hunting

J

jmads21

New member
I am in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, about 1-2 hours from Wisconsin border. I have grown up hunting and being in the outdoors. I am big into Bow hunting Whitetail, and hunting every rifle season, and just getting into muzzleloading now.

Well the last few years the deer population and has going down hill rapidly, and the predators seem to be multiplying and showing more signs than deer. I have only shot one coyote in my life while rifle hunting deer. I have had a few run through while bow hunting.

I have tried going out coyote hunting, but really had no idea and never researched much on it. Where I hunt/camp is, we have 360 acres of private land that mixes between dense swamps, fields, hardwoods, and fresh cuttings. Camp was an old farm back in the day so it has 4 big fields to choose from different sets. also have hardwood ridges on the edge of a swamp, and a few open fields/old food plots in the woods surrounded by swamps. So our land should be ideal for coyotes, which we do have plenty. Nobody has really tried hunting them on our property.

I am planning on going out this weekend. I was curious on how you would set up in these hunting conditions. When to be out in the field by? Where to set up a wireless E call? How long to sit in one set before packing up? What calls to use and how often? Should I set up in a blind or on the ground? I have been thinking of some game plans.

I will be using a 243 Winchester for now. Depending on how things go the next few months I will justify investing in a ar .223

I am excited to get out there and actually try for yotes. I would like to have somewhat of an idea what I am trying to do out there. any help or advice is welcomed. I figured some guys from MN, or Canada may have similar hunting enviroments as the U.P. of Michigan.
 
360 acres is enough for about two stands. Stand length will differ from person to person. Some are 15 minutes others are an hour.

Scent will be your biggest concern. Keep your scent from where you think coyotes are.

This time of year I'd play distress sound, rabbit will be the most popular. With the acception of a vocalization or two, you need to understand what you're saying if your going to use vocals though.

Sit where you can see the coyotes approaching from where you think they are, and sit still.
 
+1 on the scent being your biggest concern. You need to be thinking about scent and wind direction before you even leave the house because if you enter a property with the wind at your back the hunt may very well be over before it gets started.
 
.243 is a perfect coyote round, one of the most popular here at PM.Really no need for a .223 other than they are fun. Highly recommend watching byron south coming to the call videos volume 2, 3, 1 in that order.I think he has more now which are also probably good. He gives a wealth of knowledge to get you started. Another good one is called coyote behavior by jay nistetter. Good luck!
 
As you can see jmad, nobody is going to give you the secrets to calling coyotes here. Nothing against this forum, or the people on it. Everybody was a beginner at one point and 99% percent learned their own way. I think alot of the standoffishness is that. Also some people or groups that are competive nationwide, don't want to give secrets.

Coyote calling is much much more...... Irritating, I think everyone has had a dry spell; intense, I've never gotten the fever more than when it cools off enough for ME to get the first hunt and first shot in; and thought provoking, when hunting deer you have probably a few stands, coyote hunting covers that in a morning or less depending on travel time between sets and coyotes are extremely smart and weary (most of the time).

I can't stress enough that what sounds you play is less important than making sure you can see the entrance of the coyote(s) to the direction your scent is and that you don't blow the stand before you start; smell first, sound second, sight third.

 
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Lots of good info here....I don't think Anyone is holding back any "Secret Coyote Killing Info"?I'm in Missouri and don't plan on running to all the other State in this Country and kill all the Coyotes that are left....?

As several stated....Scent Control and Wind Direction can make or break a good Hunting Set,some say to not worry about scent control but each thing You do to keep a Your scent from carrying will better Your odds in being successful.

I like setting up in existing Ladder Stands or Blinds and calling from there or using old Buildings,Sheds,Farm Equipment,bails of hay etc to hide in or behind.A feather Distractor is simple and effective and some times it's best not to over call an area.The .243 is what I started out using for Coyotes but I reccomend going to a lighter Caliber that's easier on the hides like a .223,22-250 or a .204 to name a few.
 
If I can restate my comment. I'm not saying that there isn't good info here. I'm saying your not going to gets cliff notes on calling coyotes. Sequences, exact weather conditions, etc. won't be stated very often.
 
That's true on most post mbaysinger.... I guess most of Us leave out that info merely not to bore the Readers to death but some Hunters do post what wind directions,temperature,moon phase and time it was during their successful Hunts to give others an idea of what was going on.My FoxPro Shockwave has a lot of that on info on its screen plus what Sounds I was using during my Hunt, I'm just not in to checking all that stuff too much?

When I do end up shooting a Coyote I look at what I did to get that Predator in,the time of day,temperature,wind direction and sequence of sounds that worked that particular day?I've had many Un-productive days but still enjoy going out and learning from my Mistakes.I wish We had a Live Chat on here because at times I get Lazy and don't want to type down everything I've tried over again to someone new just coming in to the Sport of Coyote/Predator Hunting,but We owe it to them in helping them to be a Better Hunter and also a Respectable Hunter.
 
Scout it out in daytime. Look for tracks and signs. If you know where they are, get into your stand before sunrise, spend 20-30 min on stand. Don't move as best you can. Watch the down wind side, coyotes will circle to the down wind side of the caller and attempt to catch a sniff. The more stands you do, the higher your chances of success. Watching videos helps, but getting out in the field is best way to get one
Good luck
 
Like I said, everything you need to know is in front of you on PM - Read Read Read.

I am not withholding any pertinent hunting information, it's all here to learn about.

It's called work!!
 
360 acres is about 1/10 of the average coyotes territory,which means they are actually on it a very small percentage of the time. The time spent on the property increases if they den and raise pups on the ground or have a regular food source. If you have a small property with good adjoining ground use a bait station to increase your chances or get permission on more ground nearby.
 
I too am just considering Coyote hunting. I just purchased a nice .204 to go along with my 243. I am primarily interested in target shooting because shooting is what I want to do. On the other hand there is something very special about hunting. Right now my favorite is the Wild Turkey which, of course, is done, by me, with a shotgun. So, yes, I would like some advice on how to get started hunting Coyotes as well. I agree with the statements suggesting getting out and hunting and doing the necessary "work" to become a good bunter. But, I can also say that had not a few individuals taken the time to discuss wild turkey hunting techniques and actually taken me out hunting to show me how it is done, I might have never learned enough to get started. Sure it took work but there is work related to knowing which direction to go and random "work" hoping somehow you accidentally head in the right direction and somehow figure it out. I have been hunting Wild Turkey for 26 years now and am still learning. I will certainly never know it all. But, I have killed a Wild Turkey in 25 of 26 seasons because some individuals took the time to tell me what to do and some even showed me just how to do it. Right now I don't see that anyone who is an accomplished Coyote hunter has really done that, at least not on this thread. I don't feel I can get started hunting Coyotes based on what I have read so far. Just my opinion. Calls? Which specific ones do you recommend? Where to set them up and use them. Bait? And on and on.

For someone who wanted to start Wild Turkey hunting I would say this. Go somewhere that you know there are wild turkeys, either because someone has told you, you have seen them or heard them gobble and set up before light. If your area allows decoys set one up or wait until you hear a gobble. If you hear a gobble, get closer, while it is still dark on the ground, but no closer than about 100 yards, at least not at first. After the bird has flown down don't go tramping around as you will spook birds. The wild turkey has amazing eyesight and he will see you moving and be gone long before you ever even know he was there. Full camo, head to toe. You only need to be able to make a basic hen call, a few simple strokes on a box call. Then, you MUST be able to sit still for 2 hours. Get as hidden as possible using branches and brush to form a crude blind to "hide behind" with a clear view of your decoy with your back up against a tree. Use a 12 gauge with 3" or 3 1/2" #5 or #6 shot from a shotgun you have patterned before the season so you know it shoots where you are aiming. Know where 40 yards is and when you get an opportunity inside of 40 yards shoot the bird when his head is extended in the neck aiming at his red waddles. You can move on a bird, by that I mean move the gun, if you move slowly and steadily. NO quick movements. You cannot quick draw a wild turkey. Later, you can start moving on birds if you like but get a few kills under your belt by STAYING PUT first. A minimum of 2 hours, no less before you move to another location. Any questions?

Now, will someone provide the same sort of info for me regarding Coyote hunting?
 
Jim....Coyote Hunting is similar to going after Turkey's or Deer,they can see long distances,smell You from far away and have very good hearing also.

I usually set up where I can see long distances or along a field edge and I use existing ladder stands to sit up in.Early mornings or late evenings is the best time to call in or see a Coyote moving about here in Missouri.I use several different Mouth Calls like Rabbit in Distress,Fawn Calls or even a Turkey Call to draw in a Coyote,Fox or a Bobcat when they are in Season?

I also have used a Feather Diistractor on a stick or hang a Feather from a over hanging tree branch.An Electronic Caller works great too but is more expensive as well as the many different motion decoys.You can start out cheap using what You have or go Big and spend a lot more money the choice is Yours!

Another thing to use is a Mouse Squeaker when You see a Coyote that's fairly close or simply give a lip squeak or kissing sound when a Coyote is closer to You.Several a Hunters use Coyotes sounds or mouth Calls to Bark,Howl or make Pup Yelps/Distress sounds to call in Coyotes!
 
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