New to Coyote Hunting

ClintKY

New member
Hey all. Anyone hear from Ky? I'm new to predator hunting just got my first e caller and am super excited to try it out! Any tips you guys could give me about hunting coyotes in the deep woods would be really useful. I've learned a ton of stuff already by just reading back on the forum. Thanks!
 
Welcome ClintKY, I hunt Indiana but not deep woods mainly fields with woods around them. Just don't get discouraged, it took me a while to get my first called in coyote. It was several years ago on Super Bowl Sunday, I got bored with the game. The wind was howling so I just took a walk and stood in a fence row with some trees with a hand call and within 10 min. I saw one in the field looking for me. Bang my first and I was hooked! Since then I have learned a lot and have had a great time. Good Luck and keep reading Predator Master I learn a lot on here!
 
If i was you i would try to get access to land that has been strip mined. Also you can find right of way cuts. I have had good luck hunting the strip mines myself.
 
Made my first coyote hunt Sunday morning. No luck but I learned a lot. Looks like this time of year hunting in hardwoods is a waste of time. When I sat down couldn't see hardly anywhere. Gonna scout the rest of spring squirrel season and continue to learn and line out my equipment this summer. Probably start back in early September.
 
Nope unfortunately. Mostly just thickets that were logged and hardwoods. I'm hoping to get permission to hunt some farm areas though.
 
I hunt woods in Michigan. My most important tip for you is to keep at it. It took me atleast 50 stands before I got my coyote.
Another tip is to talk to as many people as possible about areas that have a good population of coyotes. As they say, it doesn't do any good to spend time calling areas that don't have coyotes.
I am sure that a good share of my 50 stands were in places didn't contain coyotes. My success come on the first stand I made after a tip about a location from a conservation officer.
Lots of hunters only call for 20-30 minutes then move on. My coyote come running at 38 minutes, if I had quit at 30 minutes I would have had another unsuccessful stand. My suggestion is to stay on stand atleast 45 minutes even if you don't call all that time.
I start my calling at fairly low volume, then after 5 minutes jump the volume to high for 30 seconds or so, then back off to medium to low volume. My reasoning for changing the volume is not to scare off close coyotes in the beginning. Then after 5 minutes the loud calling is to attract attention. Then the remaining medium to low calling is to get the coyote to search for the sound location rather than spot me. I use 3 different sounds at each stand about 15 minutes of each.
I have settled on using a cross wind if possible in my stand location. If I have the wind in my face the coyotes circle behind me and I never see them,(only their tracks later when I leave the location). If I face down wind it just doesn't seem right ( too many years under my belt hunting deer with wind in my face). Another issue for me about the wind comes from years of watching the thread attached to my gun barrel while hunting. It seems to me that the wind acts like someone who is breathing hard. There is a blast of wind in one direction, followed by air movement in the opposite direction as the person inhales. Maybe it is just me but the wind can be in my face then every once in while I feel air movement on the back of my neck. I just feel that I am less likely to be winded with a cross wind. A cross wind also allows me watch my down wind and not completely lose sight up wind.
I mostly hunt alone. I have found that when I hunt with a partner it is hard to control the noise level. I use boogie cords to hook my jeep door rather than slam the door. A boogie cord also is used to hold the tailgate closed before I head for my stand. I load my gun at the jeep as quietly as possible rather than waiting until I get on stand. Every item of equipment has its places so when I get on stand I don't have to make noise digging for things I cannot find. The list goes on, but I do everything possible to be quiet.
It feels comfortable to hunt the same location time and time again. Don't. If a location doesn't produce why hunt it several more times and waste time? If a spot does produce, don't wear it out by coming back too often.
 
what Stub2 said.^^^^

Originally Posted By: ClintKY..Mostly just thickets that were logged and hardwoods...
Sounds like what I hunt locally, here in North Georgia.
Most here are strictly nocturnal, as seen on trail cams.
Yotes here are bashful to come out of cover into openings, and when they do they're moving pretty good.
Consider 12 ga shotgun if in thick cover, and always play the wind. Good luck & keep after em.
 
Originally Posted By: ClintKYNope unfortunately. Mostly just thickets that were logged and hardwoods. I'm hoping to get permission to hunt some farm areas though.

Just a recommendation but try setting up in the thickets so that you can watch the edges of the tree lines. I get a lot of them peeking out of the edges where they like to travel. I would also look for water, fence lines and power lines. All are good travel routes and increase your odds of success.

Good luck and good hunting.
 
We look somewhat like eastern KY but possibly with a bit more open ground as far as pasture and ag fields go. However, once you step out of those openings it can be a jungle.

I hunt edges of open fields and strip mines....in the Shawnee NF area. Yea we are blessed (sick) with strip and open pit reclaimed mine property. No blowing off of mountain tops here but the reclaimed strip stuff can be quite nasty as I am sure you know.

Hunt the edges. I have had good luck daytime hunting those areas during the fall and winter especially during breeding season. I do not do fur so to me a blown up coyote is a good coyote. The cattle guys around here just want them dead and so do the few bird hunters (I am still one sort of) and rabbit guys left here.

Good luck
 
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Hit the hollow fills and/or autumn olive thickets on these strip jobs. That's where I usually have most of my luck anyway.
Oh yeah, welcome
 
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