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Author
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Topic: walk in: pros and cons
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted July 05, 2003 10:20 AM
Recent post by Greenside caused me to ask.
Okay, you walk in fifteen minutes, and you make a fifteen minute stand, and you walk out for another fifteen minutes, dragging coyote. Total elapsed time, 45 minutes; minimum.
Okay. Weigh the benefits, against the possible harm of disturbing the habitat as you progress. What's necessary? What is the rewards of walking further. How far from the vehicle can you get in 15 minutes? Close to a mile, perhaps?
You walk a quarter mile from the vehicle, all day long; you get X animals.
Next day you walk a mile from the vehicle and you get X animals?
Let's say, for the sake of argument that we don't count the fact that you can make twice as many stands. Instead, a hypethetical dozen stands per day.
This is going to shake out "regionally", I'm sure. So, be sure to note your location.
Good hunting. LB
How far will you walk to ensure success?
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31509 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted July 05, 2003 11:23 AM
In short, one-half mile.
In Kansas, there ain't nothin' more'n a half-mile from one road or another. The state is gridded with miles roads in checkerboard fashion. If I were to walk a mile, I'd be on the next roadway. So, to deal with our road weary coyotes, I'll often make my approach, depending upon wind, from the far side of the section to the half-mile line and call toward the other side. In other words, if I think the coyote is in the west half of a section, I hike in from the east and call them toward the center of the section. They seem much more agreeable to going away from their closest road for food, rather than running toward it. But , then again, I get paid to walk fifteen miles a day, so walking a ways ain't nothin' but a thing.
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5438 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted July 05, 2003 12:42 PM
It mostly depends on who I'm calling with. It drives couple of friends of mine completely nuts to call less than a quarter of a mile from the truck. It's nothing to walk a half a mile or more when hunting with them.
If I'm by myself, I rarely walk a quarter of a mile. Usually a couple of hundred yards, often less.
I call just as many coyotes close to a vehicle, as I do when walking a long ways. I'd rather let the coyote do the traveling.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Curt2u
Knows what it's all about
Member # 74
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posted July 05, 2003 01:26 PM
I live where the terrain varies quite a bit. Some places are thick woods but most of the time I call in wide open country with draws, gullies and small to large canyons. Around here if a coyote dares show himself in the daylight there is a good chance someone is going to throw some lead his way. They can get pretty spooky.
Over the last few years I've been walking in further at quite a few stands. Often it has paid off. The extra effort at being a little more stealthy seems to help sometimes. Sometimes not. Mostly in areas that have seen pressure. I've had too many stands where it was obvious that taking the time to walk in made a difference, to write it off as coincidence. Especially in spots that have seen quite a bit of calling or the coyotes have received other forms of pressure.
I still use the standby method of parking behind a knoll and walking a short distance too. This certainly allows a guy to make more stands. I've never been a numbers guy though, so making a ton of stands trying to increase my odds has never been my way. In fact on a normal day I just call till I have a successful stand and usually call it a day. Unless the first stand pans out of course. LOL
It's rare that I can even commit an entire day to calling the last couple years so I try to just choose stands where the odds are going to be pretty good for success. I know that is kind of a dumb statement because nobody goes out seeking stands they won't be successful at. What I mean is, when calling familiar areas, instead of going along and stopping at regular intervals and attempting to "carpet-call" the area, I prefer to skip some places I consider low percentage spots and concentrate on other places that have shown a high potential for success. Don't know if that makes any sense. I'm sure I've mistakenly passed on some stands that may have been good.
In places I don't know well, carpet calling may be the best option. All this is just babble on my part of course. Not saying it's the right way. What the heck do I know. Heck, I'm dumb enough to howl with a Critr-Call Standard sometimes. LOL..... ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Take care, Curt
Posts: 236 | From: NW | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rich
2,000th post PAKMAN
Member # 112
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posted July 05, 2003 06:05 PM
I have called here in Iowa, Kansas, nebraska, wyoming, north texas and south dakota. It is rare to find me walking more than 1/4 mile from my truck. More often than not, my stand is within 100 yards of my calling stand. In hill country I like to drive the 4x4 Nissan almost to top of a hill, where I park it and walk over to call other side of said hill. Works for me. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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If you call the coyotes in close, you won't NEED a high dollar range finder.
Posts: 2854 | From: Iowa | Registered: Feb 2003
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Ernest Sandoval
Knows what it's all about
Member # 156
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posted July 05, 2003 07:31 PM
I hunt dense arroyos, and mesquite flats, so I make my stand, when I can't see my jeep, that can be 50yds., or 1000yds., do a 15min., stand, and then drive down the road 1/2 mile, and set up again, and only carry, mouth dia. call and a howler, knive and rifle, light and quick., oops forgot, butt pad.
[ July 06, 2003, 04:44 AM: Message edited by: Ernest Sandoval ]
Posts: 18 | From: Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA | Registered: Mar 2003
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onecoyote
Knows what it's all about
Member # 129
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posted July 06, 2003 10:16 AM
Walking all day and night is for young guys, I have a better way lol. When I did walk, it was not to far. The animals still responded and I never walked more then a 100 yards or so, but that was years ago, maybe the critters got smarter? Leonard, how do you keep coming up with this stuff, another good one. Good Hunting.
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Great minds discuss ideas.....Average minds discuss events.....Small minds discuss people.....Eleanor Roosevelt.
Posts: 893 | From: Walker Lake Nevada. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Terry Hunter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 58
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posted July 06, 2003 11:29 AM
The closer I can set up to the truck is almost always better.Why spend time walking when it is not necessary.If my truck cannot be seen from 50 yards away thats where I call from.
Posts: 132 | From: N. Middle Tennessee | Registered: Jan 2003
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted July 06, 2003 12:50 PM
Most of my calling area's in IA have the same layout as Lance's. Square mile sections with a mixture of row crops,CRP,timber and some hay and pasture. Depending on the terrain and the wind most sections(sq\mile) have one or two stands or setups that will have the maximun potential for success.
Sometime it's just a matter of jumping the fence and setting up, other times it might be walking in a quarter or a half mile. Most of the walking occurs because very few farmers want me driving through their crops in order to save me time in getting to where I think will be the best setup.
Why not do the setup right in the first place. It only takes a little extra time and leg work and from my experience pays off.
Dennis
Posts: 719 | From: IA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Lonny
PANTS ON THE GROUND
Member # 19
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posted July 06, 2003 01:27 PM
I probably average a 10 minute walk to get to most of my calling stands. Sometimes it takes me that much just to get out of sight of the vehicle and get to a quality calling location. The best habitat and calling locations aren't usually found within 100 yards of the road here.
I usually plan a route that will give me several locations to call from and a 10-15 minute walk between each stand. Coyotes around here are shot at 365 days a year and they want nothing to do with people,vehicles,ATV's,houses,etc. I don't mind walking and it seems to pay off by getting away from human activity.
Posts: 1209 | From: Lewiston, Idaho USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rob
Knows what it's all about
Member # 75
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posted July 06, 2003 02:54 PM
A local rancher here only allows hunting by foot or horseback no motorized vehicles even for game retrieval. It's one of my favorite places to call coyotes.
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"Where did all these #$%^&* Indians come from?" Gen. George Armstrong Custer
Posts: 224 | From: Clancy Montana | Registered: Feb 2003
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Az-Hunter
Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here
Member # 17
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posted July 06, 2003 03:35 PM
My own philosphy has always been, Im calling the coyotes, they aren't calling me. I generally walk just out of sight of my truck; that could be 50 yards, or it could be a 1/4 mile. Like Tim, Ive hunted with guys who just have to trudge a 1/4 mile or more to feel safe from coyotes being spooked by the sight of a truck. More often than I like, that procedure has you stepping on coyotes that would have come to your stand if you hadn't moved to deeply into their cover.
~Az-Hunter~
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" It's not how far you go,it's where you go"
Posts: 1634 | From: 5 miles west of Tim | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted July 06, 2003 07:11 PM
Well, I cold call just about everything, and don't even pull over and stop until it looks decent. At that point, all I want is a good setup, and the sooner the better. I don't care if the vehicle is visible, 50/100 yards; seems to work.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31509 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted July 07, 2003 08:14 AM
Leonard
Man I wish I didn't have to worry about hiding the truck!
Most of the coyotes shot in my area are by the pickup jockeys. Usually 10-15 trucks sorround a section and then they send in a couple of trucks into the CRP and along the brushy creeks to kick up the coyotes. Once they get them running the hunters communicate with each other on CB's the location and direction of travel of the coyote(s). It's just a matter of shooting them when they try to cross the road to the next section.
Needless to say, coyotes in my area are not real fond of pickups! And in doesn't matter if it's moving or just setting along the road.
That's one of the major factors causing me on occasion having to walk farther than I like to make a stand. Coyotes hearing corn stubble clacking on the axles or bean stubble popping under the tires will get a coyote up and running in seconds flat. He'll be in the next section before you even get a chance to set up.
Dennis
Posts: 719 | From: IA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rich
2,000th post PAKMAN
Member # 112
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posted July 07, 2003 09:45 AM
Greenside,
I know some of those idiots that you are talking about. I blame the Iowa DNR and the Iowa state legislatior for that problem. Our all knowing lawmakers made it legal, now the REAL hunters are getting a bad name because of those pickup jockeys.
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If you call the coyotes in close, you won't NEED a high dollar range finder.
Posts: 2854 | From: Iowa | Registered: Feb 2003
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WhiteMtnCur
Knows what it's all about
Member # 5
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posted July 07, 2003 12:44 PM
I tend to fall into both categories depending on what time of year I'm calling and what my goals are.
For the majority of my calling when I'm interested in maximum numbers of dead coyotes, I don't walk far from the truck. I've only recently been doing more hunting from an ATV and it is much quieter and easier to hide. Therefore most of my stands are 50-100 yards from where the ATV is parked.
I like to do the same with the truck but it's harder to hide and stands have a tendency to be farther out.
Posts: 97 | From: Nevada | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted July 07, 2003 04:29 PM
I only walk as far as I have to, but I do walk as far as I have to. That is to say that I absolutely hide the truck, but due to natural boundaries such as roads or canals and mesquite lines that is sometimes as little as 10 to 20 yards depending on wind direction. Same token, in high heat or a high wind I may have to walk in some distance and set up on top of them, which I am also willing to do. In flatter more open terrain I may have to walk a couple of hundred yards or even more to hide the truck adequately. It doesn't make that much difference with a gun, it does with a camera.
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted July 07, 2003 06:11 PM
I have said, several times, that I don't worry about the truck, but will get away from it, if it doesn't involve a lot of walking.
I really feel that the animals are there when I decide to pull over, so I don't like to traipse around too much. As Rich said, I will walk, if I have to, just to position myself a little better.
We have lots of jeep trails, varying in degree, but actually getting off the road is a loser. I can't imagine driving through some guy's field?
If I have some time, I do like to hike in and make stands for an hour or two. But.
Reminds me of an old golf joke....hit the ball; drag coyote. Hit the ball, drag both coyotes. That gets old in a hurry.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31509 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted July 07, 2003 07:36 PM
One exception I have to hiding my truck.
Coyotes can't seem to count.
If there is an abandon car or piece of machinery, I'll park right next to it. Then walk how ever far I feel comfortable, many times still in sight of the truck and start calling.
They get used to seeing that old rusted up piece of junk and can't seem to tell it from the rusted out piece of junk I drive.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted July 07, 2003 09:20 PM
Tim, sometimes hiding in plain sight is good camoflauge. I park my white Bronco next to farm equipment or storage tanks and feel confident that it won't catch their attention. Parking it by itself in the coyotes living room is what I try to avoid.
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Jay Nistetter
Legalize Weed, Free the Dixie Chicks
Member # 140
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posted July 08, 2003 02:25 PM
I've actually had to keep my buddy from popping a coyote that was peeking around my truck tire. Wouldn't have been a problem if I trusted his shooting.
I'm sure a few of you have called in a coyote or two while leaning against the truck fender.
The trick for me is to get out, get down and start calling as quickly as possible. The more time I spend wandering around looking for the perfect bush to hide behind, the more I get busted.
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Understanding the coyote is not as important as knowing where they are.
I usually let the fur prime up before I leave 'em lay.
Posts: 1006 | From: Arizona | Registered: Feb 2003
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UTcaller
NEVADA NIGHT FIGHTER
Member # 8
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posted July 09, 2003 11:48 AM
I'm with WMC.ATV is the only way to go.I generally get to an area I intend to call in, shut off the truck unload the ATV and off I go.You can cover alot of ground this way,road or no road,and get in to some pretty inaccessable areas.Plus you don't waste alot of time walking.I normally get about 100 yards away from the ATV when calling,plus they are alot easier to hide than a truck.And you can still carry a few dead coyotes when traveling from stand to stand. GOOD HUNTING CO
[ July 09, 2003, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: UTcaller ]
Posts: 1635 | From: Utah | Registered: Jan 2003
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Q-Wagoner
FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP
Member # 33
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posted July 09, 2003 07:43 PM
At night I can call closer to my pickup but during the day you could probably count on one hand how many times I call within a couple hundred yards of my pickup. Most days I will walk 6 to 8 miles while hunting coyotes. If I am within a mile of the pickup I will carry the coyote back but for the ones way out there I will just drop them off at a two track or a fence line or windmill and retrieve them later in the day.
When you are driving through good coyote country around here you ARE going to blow out coyotes. Some you see and some you don’t. When you do that you are cheating yourself out of a lot of coyotes. Generally speaking the closer you are to the coyotes the quicker and more likely they are to respond. I blow plenty of stands by bumping coyotes out on foot so I can’t imagine how many I would screw up if I were to drive to every stand.
In the winter a hell of a lot of people shoot at coyotes from vehicles so when they see a pickup cursing through their territory they may not bug out immediately but they will be on guard and you can about bank on it that they will not respond towards the last place they seen the pickup. Been there done that. Sure some will respond but it is a small percentage.
You are better off walking in most instances. I have had numerous stocks and stands ruined because the coyotes see or hear a vehicle.
I can make at least 15 stands a day and sometimes 20 or more depending on what kind of structure I am working. With me being on foot it increases my chances of incidentals by several fold.
There are some areas that I drive into that I can only make a couple of stands and then I am on my way but all and all I prefer walking. You wouldn’t believe how many coyotes I have shot between stands. One time I made a call and walked less than 400 yards to another hill and spotted 4 coyotes bedded down on it. I shot 3 of them. Had I jumped back in the pickup and headed to another stand I would have been for sure 3 coyotes shy for the day. People never figure in the percentage of coyotes that are not interested in the call. I stretch a LOT of them. Some areas don’t allow for stalking but in my area you can so I walk. That’s half the fun.
Q,
[ July 09, 2003, 07:47 PM: Message edited by: Q-Wagoner ]
Posts: 617 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rob
Knows what it's all about
Member # 75
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posted July 09, 2003 08:04 PM
Q-man I agree with walking being half the fun.
I always get a kick out of the young guys who go to the golf course and then rent a cart.
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"Where did all these #$%^&* Indians come from?" Gen. George Armstrong Custer
Posts: 224 | From: Clancy Montana | Registered: Feb 2003
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Barry
Knows what it's all about
Member # 34
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posted July 09, 2003 08:56 PM
I live in a highly coyote populated area.I cant tell you how many times a flushed up one less than 100yds from the truck.I usually prefer to go over a hill and call the opposite side or get 2 or 3 hundred yards away from the truck.I have often wondered if I should go 50 yards and soft-call for 5-minutes before proceding.If only there was a way to know where they are at beforehand,yea right.I also hate to expose myself in the open while traveling,try to stay down in the arroyos out of site.
Posts: 133 | From: Trinidad CO. | Registered: Jan 2003
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