I always go in and check out the area before I call. I may go in and scout and call at the same time, but I try to pick prime stands. I also make myself a map of the area and keep very good records on them, were I see the sign were I called from, future set ups, wind, weather, all that stuff. Then when I do go back I got all the info I need.
I do alot of my scouting in the off season. I locate with a howler in the spring and summer when they are raising pups, and keep all of my respnces marked on a map. Then I go in and do my scouting in the early fall in these areas. Its alot of work but come time to call it pays off. Sometimes it takes several calling and scouting trips to figure out an area, I have one area that I hunted this year, that I still havent figured out. I know they are there but just cant put all the pieces to the puzzle togeather. I will though, its just a matter of time.
They seem to have big home ranges here, and with all the small farms it is tough to get there patterns down. And they may not be staying on the farm your hunting. There has to be coyotes there to call them, and sometimes there somewere else in there teritory. Its just like a puzzle, once you get all the pieces they fall togeather.
Brent