Southeast TN Mountain Coyote Tactics

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TNDeerHunter270

New member
Hey guys!
I am new to this site and have been reading a lot since I joined. I am an avid deer hunter and have taken up predator hunting this season. I live outside Chattanooga, TN in a mountainous area. Hunting of all kinds is difficult due to the terrain. There are plenty of coyotes around here. I have some game camera photos I will upload. I hear them howling all the time and there is scat all over the woods where I can hunt.

I am having trouble figuring out how to setup in these woods. It is a challenge to get into the woods without making a ton of noise (dry oak leaves). I have a Foxpro Hellfire and various hand calls. The terrain consists of many ridges and draws with some flat land in between. I have access to some power lines also. Just wondering if anyone has coyote hunting experience in this area or has any general tips.

Thanks in advance,
Madison


Cdy00014 by tndeerhunter270, on Flickr

Cdy00001 by tndeerhunter270, on Flickr

Cdy00037 by tndeerhunter270, on Flickr
 
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Welcome to PM TNDeerHunter! Most anything under the sun (related to hunting predators) you can think up can be found by using the PM search engine. I spend a lot of time using the search engine thumbing through the archives on this site. So much helpful information shared so freely...it's awesome! That being said, I'm sure there are some folks from your area that will chime in with some suggestions.

Those are some great trail cam pictures. Would love to see you harvest that black coyote!
 
Thanks wolfey! I will continue to use the search engine as it is indeed a helpful tool to find specific info. The black coyote is on the top of my hit list for sure. Apparently, there are a large number of black coyotes in my area. My neighbor has numerous photos of black coyotes. Apparently, there are black bobcats around too. It is a condition called 'melanism' i believe.
 
I have been hunting East TN mountains for around 50 years. The only thing I can tell you that is of any benefit is watch temp changes and the air currents the change causes. A morning set up wont work at dark. As I bet you know from deer hunting,in the mountains game will take advantage of those currents and bust you on a regular basis. Getting in earlier on an evening set helps some. Lots different that hunting flat land. Don't expect to sneak in,you just have to try and get to a place you think they will be later. Ridge tops,just down on the side with the best air is about as good as it gets.
 
Drop down off the top a little on the down wind side so the air is in your face. When evening is coming the air is a lot of times warmer in the lower area and currents will be moving up. Any wind will be in your face less chance of being winded. It always seemed to me that in the mountains being winded get you busted before sight even gets close. Because you cant see far, being winded is what I work on most. You don't get many shots out of wind range. Most game travels just down off the top also so you have to watch for them to pop over for a look. The outside ridge in a series of ridges ,if the wind is right, lets you call into the rest of the ridges. Try experimenting with a dust bottle or smoke and sometimes it will surprise you how the air is really moving when it seems like there is no wind. These are some things I have come to believe. You may find something different in your woods.
 
I hunt around the Chattanooga area, and for some reason I have better luck calling yotes in with mouth calls versus an electronic caller. I only use the electronic caller for bobcat, and had success with blue jay distress and a couple other bird sounds. The mouth call I've had the most luck with is a verminator tweety. Here in Tennessee it's illegal to use an electronic caller for fox, and with the game wardens I've spoken with, it's better to not have a caller on you or in your vehicle when you take a Fox, cause they don't know if you used it to harvest the fox or not. So when I call in a Fox, when using my caller or have the caller with me, I just pass on it. You can text me at 4235845567, and I'll try to help you as much as I can, I'm no expert, but I'll try steer you in the right direction.
 
Welcome, and good luck to you. I recommend you read, and re-read, the thread on calling tactics and sounds at the top of the page. There is some excellent info in there. GC has shared some great info on hunting this type of terrain.
I hunt the timber here in WV, I'm sure it's similar country. One thing for sure, you'll get different opinions on the matter. Not saying any are right or wrong, just different. I find I get more consistent wind when the wind is striking a ridgeline at 90 degrees. I have different saddles or points that are natural crossings that I call when the wind is right. West wind, I pick one of my sites with ridge running north-south. I use remote electronic call so I can set up in position to fire downwind of my call. I am no expert either, but I do ok. Hope I can help a bit. Good luck
 
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Hey guys, thanks for the helpful replies. I was actually unaware of it being illegal to hunt Fox with the help of an electronic caller. Thanks for the info. I have found a few new areas to hunt including some farmland that is a bit flatter. I think my best bet is going to be trial and error for a few years to see what works and what doesn't. In the meantime, the info found on this forum is very helpful.
 
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