Originally Posted By: newfielanderSnowmanMo,I can defend the reason why I said that very first statement you have in red but it won't help me kill more coyotes, just like the comment that was said to me prior to me saying what I said, didn't help me kill any coyotes. I was looking for advice, not criticism. But it can be frustrating for a newbie when just after I made this post the first 2 guys reply were, "Never have the wind at your back." then the next guy says, "I almost always have the wind at my back" now don't you see how that can cause any newbie to be like what is going on here, do these guys know what they are talking about?
I have come to the conclusion like another guy mentioned there are so many variables in every set up it's hard for guys who are not there to see each other's opinion as being the right or wrong way of doing things. I think that's a fair comment to make.
I am adding a google earth picture to explain a little more of the set up this post was started about and please don't feel like I'm defending my way of doing things, I'm just explaining in a little more detail so you can get a better picture.
With all the variables I have included in the pictures the only hope I felt of me seeing a coyote before dark was if it came out on the shoreline, I felt the best thing to do would be sitting near the edge of the shoreline so I can see to my left and to my right and straight ahead of me. With the light breeze blowing straight out across the lake, there was no way a coyote would be able to smell me if it came to the shoreline on either side of the lake other then at the opposite end, which would be too far for a comfortable shot for me. So given these details where did I go wrong?
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Also SlickerThanSnot, it's all good,
I'm enjoying every post made. This is for your enjoyment and anyone else, here you go my friends. This is a link to part of a website I'm slowly building,
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I think that it's fair to wonder about the qualifications about someone on the other side of the screen on any forum/website. I just want you to get the kinds of advice/responses that are going to help you. Take what you want from the advice, but if you're going to try to argue and defend your position, guys are going to call you on it.
That being said, you have gotten some great advice. Now, will it result in a pile of dead coyotes right away? Probably not. But you're going to start dialing in on them and your successes will increase.
I get a lot of folks, as I am sure you do being a guide, that think that just because they have hunted with you that they can magically reproduce your results. A lot of guys don't get to see all the hard work that goes into being successful at what you are doing. The same goes for the guys here on the forum. There are a LOT of REALLY good callers on here and I am honored to be able to call many of them friends and I am humble that they are willing to share their tactics and tips with me.
So I want to pass that along.
Thanks for the pics. The problem is that with the area that you circled, there's just too much area there that the coyote "might" have been in to really dial in on what happened. Personally, I think it caught your wind, since you were in such thick cover. We know that winds can do weird things in the forest.
Again, usually if they are howling/barking like that, they busted you, and I agree with your statement that if it had come onto the lake, you would have seen it.
From what I have seen, coyotes use their hearing first to close the gap to the call. Once they get within a certain range, they shift gears, and the commonly try to take a sniff. For that reason, I say set up with the wind across one shoulder or the other. Now, do I do that ALL the time? Nope. Does that mean I don't know what I'm talking about because I don't do that every time? Nope. There are any number of reasons that I might break my own "rules" if you will. Terrain is a big one. Sometimes I use the terrain to my advantage. I know that they like to take a whiff, so sometimes the terrain can force them into a better shooting position, specifically if I break my own rules. For example, if the brush is THICK...but there's a nice defined edge, I may set up with the wind to my back, but I know that I am going to have to be ready to take a quick shot since they will wind me pretty quick.
But if I can, I put the wind on one shoulder or the other, put my call out 75-100 yards if I have a rifle, 25-50 if I am running a shotgun. During the cold times, when they are trying to get calories to stay warm, I use prey calls. This time of year, I run howls, and wait without making another sound until they howl back. Then I respond with the same howl. Then I may give them a squeaker to focus in on. When the pups are down, pup distress time.
But I guarantee that you are calling more coyotes than you are seeing. It's tough, especially given where you are calling, because of the cover. I personally don't watch the wide open areas unless there is a tree line or brushline on the other side of the clearing. Even when I call the open high desert, I don't watch the wide open areas, since I've found them not so willing to come out across there. Give them cover and that helps them to feel more safe and secure. You can also try some confidence calls such as crows or magpies, maybe a blue jay. They are usually found around carrion and that can boost a coyote's confidence.
Stay at it..I once had a game and fish biologist I worked with tell me that predators are successful once in every 5 attempts...I think that applies to us as well.