What did I do wrong? (Coyote Calling)

T

Treillw

New member
Beginner caller here. Went out for the first time this year. Don't have a ton of experience besides going a handful of random times.

I have a foxpro fusion that I lucked out and was able to purchase locally on closeout.

Sat down, about 40 minutes before dark, figured I'd do a couple of barks and howls to see if I could locate a coyote.

I did the "Coyote Locator" sound for about 15 seconds and then switches to the female howls. Very much to my surprise, a coyote started barking its head off about 300 yards away. I didn't really know what to do and how to speak coyote, so I just did a couple more female sounds - yodel howl, barks, and then I saw the one titled "Fem Coy Chall". Great, I thought - it will be like elk hunting. I'll challenge him and it will come running over here. I played that one (assuming chall does mean challange??) and I heard it barking one more time probably 400 or 500 yards away as it ran off.

What should I have done?

Do you typically do howls to try to locate them before doing distress sounds?

More random questions:
What are the best batteries to put in your remote for when it's zero outside?

What is the best load to use for coyotes in a 12 gauge with a 3.5" chamber?

Thanks!
 
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It sounds to me like you were busted. 300 yards is not very far, if it was there all along it probably saw you set up and wouldn't have come in no matter what you did. If that's the case about all you can do is try to spot it and shoot it where it is.

The other sound they can make with a lot of barks is a challenge, listen to one on your fusion to see what it sounds like. Some like to challenge back, but I have had luck going to a fight sound.

I do howl first, maybe half the time, and usually on the first stand in an area.

I use rechargeables now, and change every outing, but lithiums work the best and seem to last the longest in remotes.

No idea on the shotgun, it's all about the rifle for me in the wide open.

Opinions vary on all this stuff, there's no one right answer. The fact you had a coyote respond on your first stand is encouraging and means at least you have a good area possibly.
 
Do you think it would have made any noise at all if it saw me?

How far do they usually come in from?

I'm pretty sure that it was challenge barking - when I played the challenge on my foxpro, I thought that sounds like what the yote is doing. I was surprised when I heard it farther away then - I wouldn't have expected it to run away from being challenged if that is what it was thinking. What is the appropriate call response to a coyote challenging you?
 
I too am guessing it was a tattle bark(busted) and that it either saw you or smelled you.
Learn more about setups, playing the wind for approach and direction to face. Keep movement to a minimum.
I always recommend learning with hancalls first.
Watch some good coyote hunting videos.
 
Possibly young of the year coyote may have not been up to the challenge. If they see,smell you most times game over even before the first call goes out. I always setup further away then what I think my walking sounds carry, can be a real problem with crunchy snow and no wind.
 
I agree with the others, it was either a non dominate coyote that wouldn't want to confront another coyote or it busted you.
 
Originally Posted By: CoyotejunkiQuote:What is the best load to use for coyotes in a 12 gauge with a 3.5" chamber?

I use #4 buck

And 3" is plenty. No need for 3.5" imho.

Also, don't speak coyote till you better understand the language.
 
Pattern that shotgun! All you need is a cardboard box, butcher/freezer paper, staples or tape, and a sharpie to draw an aiming point on the paper taped to the box. Get back about 20-30 yards and shoot at the mark. You may find the gun shoots over or under your aiming point. Also try a couple different chokes. Tighter chokes may not tighten the pattern. One of my shotguns needs to be aimed at the top of the coyote’s back to center him. The other shoots at point of aim.
 
What would be the appropriate call response to "speak coyote" in my circumstance?

Any suggestions for a good learning resource?

Thanks!
 
First off, i wouldn't start a stand with Barks and Howls. If i were going to start a stand with howls, it would be a long single howl with a rise in pitch at the beginning and tapering off at the end. (Non-agressive).

That and pup distress at the end of a stand or after a shot is about all i do. I am not learned in coyote speak.
 


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