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First, Michigan is the purgatory of coyote calling. I cut my predator calling teeth in this state over 20 years ago, mostly targeting red fox. Over the years the coyot population in this state has EXPLODED resulting in fewer and much more wary (fear of becoming lunch) red's.
I've called in six states and believe me, there is no comparison in success rates out west vs Michigan. Here you can expect to work your tail off for opportunities that are taken for granted in other places. In fact, the first time elk hunting in remote areas of Colorado I say and heard coyotes all over the place. Believe it or not, I called a coyote with nothing more than a blade of grass between my thumbs like the indians used to do. Now, I never go hunting west of the Mississippi without a tally-ho and Crit'R call in my pocket.
In michigan coyotes are much less vocal and would have to be severely retarded to die of starvation. That is a better part of the problem because unlike out west where a meal may mean the difference between life or death, here a rodent filled field, road kill, garbage can or dog food on someones porch isn't more than a short travel away from just about anywhere. This is why they appear to be smarter here, but are not. It's just that they can afford be a lot more cautious about approaching potential danger.
To consitently kill coyotes in Michigan you must do EVERYTHING right. Number one is approaching your calling stand undetected. Easier said than done......
The other is "silence is golden." For some reason the human speicies can't stand silence. The typical hunter can't sit quiet and motionless for any time at all before he is blowing on the call again or worse, continuously blasting away with an electronic unit. Here you've got to make a coyote's curiosity work against them. If they howl or bark at your food call 95% of the time the hunter has been made and they are simply mocking and laughing at you. But, if you will discipline yourself to shut up the minute they howl or bark at a food call....the results may surprise you. Just sit silent and wait, resisting the powerful urge to bring them in to a dying rabbit (or whatever sound you are using). Trust me, they know your location and fairly often they end up with the short end of the stick in the waiting game.
In this situation, just before I leave I give a few squeaks on a mouse bulb after a long period of silence. When you do this have your gun in position and be ready to shoot. Because when they respond in this situation they will be ON YOUR LAP.....and then GONE before you can blink!
BTW, I use a 10 ga shotgun for most of my predator calling. It's another story out west where you can see them coming from a loooooooong ways away. Here your best chances will be close in cover and the moment of opportunity will be mighty short.
