quote:

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I cold call most of the time and, (some places) it's a safe bet that there is a coyote out there that hears me.

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That's me too. I rarely do any locating at all. But also think it's unusual I make a stand that a coyote does not hear my sound. Actually, I think on many stands, there are coyotes in multiple directions that can hear me, and any or all might respond.

I'm always quite interested when the subject of locating comes up though. Mainly because, as I said, I'm not doing it now. So I have to wonder if I might not be missing out on a chance to improve my success. But, when I start reading about the way you guys go about it, I tend to think it wouldn't work well with my method of operation. I always get a sense that you guys are dealing with a tiny little piece of ground, and often targeting very specific coyotes as well. That's not me at all. A typical day of calling will see my last stand end up anywhere from 20 miles (of BAD road) to occasionally over 100 miles from my first stand. And I never care "which" coyotes I get, at all. It's public ground, fur season. My method is more like taking in a huge piece of country, some days literally a thousand square miles, and trying to move quickly through it, just skimming the cream, making the choicest stands, not hesitating to put my foot on the skinny pedal to motor over 30 miles of marginal ground to get to 1 mile of really productive ground for the next stand.

I guess what I'm saying is, that to locate my calling route ahead of time, would take literally all night. And in many cases, would be more than just impractical, but downright impossible. And I figure I'm in hearing range of coyotes on nearly every stand anyway.

- DAA
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on March 29, 2007, 11:58 AM:
 
"If its plowed fencerow to fencerow and the only cover after harvest for three miles is a big slough bottom and you here coyotes around it at midnite, pretty good chance they will be there at light."
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RR,
It is also true that the slough bottom will be a favorite daytime hidey hole for resident coyotes anyhoo.
 

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Posted by Az-Hunter (Member # 17) on March 29, 2007, 12:39 PM:
 
My method mirrors Daves' for the most part. I will say though, that in my own way, I am locating, just not with vocalizations or sirens or howls. Im looking at the ground, the road in front of me, trails off to my side or passenger side of my truck, visually locating, looking for tracks and scat.
I had a conversation with Higgins at the shindig last Nov, concerning some of this kind of stuff. I heard long ago on a fishing program, a big ole southern fella, whos' name I don't recall, but was a great TV fishing host, not a braggart or self righteous bastard, seemed to be a very knowledgable guy. Any way, his statement about fishing, paralels my take on coyote hunting. The quote goes something like this" 90% of the fish, are in 10% of the water", Thats how I view coyote country,and hunting them. I can look at lots and lots of country,and by either observing the ground for sign, or just going by instinct, know there just aren't any, or many coyotes to be called. Some of my hunting area, I'll make a stand every mile or so, other places I hunt, might be realy big country, but will see me, as Dave has to, drive 20 miles to the next stand.
So, a long answer, to a short question, no, I don't locate,in the usual sense of the term, I cold call most always, but use my eyes to locate sign.
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on March 29, 2007, 12:47 PM:
 
Az-Hunter,
I'm glad to see that this thread smoked you out. There is always good information in your words.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on March 29, 2007, 01:11 PM:
 
Rich this country had little cover for coyotes scattered tracts here and there, not a large population of coyotes all over just pockets here and there. He maybe in this slough today and never in it again. The real good ones produced off and on all winter at one time or another. Knowing which ones had coyotes around them by locating really increased your odds for success. Otherwise much of your time was wasted on the ones that looked good but didn't have coyotes in them. Like I stated earlier after I have some history in a place the locating is still used but not as much.

DAA with your experience in your vast area you may have the best stands available without locating or they may be a place with coyotes in it that you haven't a clue are there.Happened to me a time or two, like a light bulb coming on.

For the most part we do work specific coyotes in relative small areas and the locating gives you an idea and a direction to start, it may not solve it but any help in taking the closest most agressive coyotes solve allot of things.

I will say DAA don't be locked into the only night time locating is being discussed I locate all day ,at times,and all times of the year, with allot of success ,you'd be suprised!Always done it from my first howler to my first locator tape in old Johnny Stewart.
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on March 29, 2007, 02:01 PM:
 
RR: "Wiley what do you mean you don't have time? Get up earlier or go home later SLACKER!!!"

Hahaha! Listen to you. Aint you the tomcat?

I didn't say I didn't have the time Holmes. I guess "hooked on phonics" didn't work for you huh? LOL! Could I recommend the Oahe reading comprehension class for Iowegians?

I said "if I had the opportunity" meaning most times I just go and set up where I think they should be or where they were before and usually call them rather than making two trips.

Don't you have some fish to squeeze or something?

Iowegians....sheeesh!

When I'm calling country in a contest that I have never been to, I do a lot of locating as we did in Colorado. Most of the family groups we located in the evening were still in the same area the next morning particularly when calling individual sections. As you say, 90% of the coyotes USUALLY occupy only a small percentage of the available habitat.

If I am working a complaint at this time of year, I usually just go call them in and shoot them. I generally know where to expect them because it's generally the same pastures in relation to the calving area and I've worked most of these areas before. The closest undisturbed rough country nearest to the calving pasture. No great mystery. Art didn't teach you that? LOL!

In contrast, results from locating coyotes is a lot different during the prime fur season because you are dealing with hunting disturbance, less territorial behavior of adults, and transient pups looking for the local pub.

Answers to this question were bound to be mixed to account for different times of year, different hunting strategies, and different areas.

I'd guess locating coyotes in contest hunting makes the difference between killing coyotes on 50% of your stands vs. 1/3 of your stands.

I think locating coyotes is always beneficial if you have the time OR WANT TO TAKE THE TIME. So what if they moved in your direction last night. They'll do the same thing the next morning weather permitting and John Rancher doesn't drive over the hill yelling, "HEY, DIDN'T YOU SEE THAT COYOTE".

~SH~
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on March 29, 2007, 02:23 PM:
 
"90% of the coyotes USUALLY occupy only a small percentage of the available habitat."
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Very true, but here in western Iowa the coyotes are usually out hunting the more open area's during the night. The rising sun seems to draw them back to their "safe" zones, which are the more secluded and brushy area's.

I can tell that RR knows quite a lot about coyotes, and I find it strange that the coyotes in his part of Iowa seem to howl a lot more during mid-day than they do around here.
 

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Posted by nd coyote killer (Member # 40) on March 29, 2007, 03:12 PM:
 
I find myself always doing more and more locating. The only con i have ever seen is someone that gets right on top of them in the middle of the area instead of sticking to the roads and borders
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on March 29, 2007, 03:57 PM:
 
Rich I can't explain it either, I just know what I saw and heard over the years. My sons grew up going locating and had names for some of the wierd howlin coyotes they heard, Scratchy and Bob come to mind, many came to see without a sound and disappeared, who knows how many were eyeballin me in the one by one mile sections.I hunted this area hard and more times than not expected the howls before they came. I spent many many nights locating and I believe this enabled me to get more responces during daylight hours because I was sure something was going to respond and maybe give it that little extra effort timewise etc. This pinpointed them and increased my chances of killing them. Wouldn't doubt what you are saying about your area to be true with what you are doing to try and locate them.

Wiley, don't you have another CO ride along to take out!!!
 

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Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on March 29, 2007, 05:04 PM:
 
This is interesting reading for sure. I've never located. I've always cold called. I guess my excuse is two fold. One is that most of the country I call is 35 minute drive and further from home. A lot of it is much further from home. The second part of my excuse is much of the country I call doesn't have a road for miles, so to get into the calling area, I'd have to bounce through a pasture to do so and I don't think that would be too effective! I call almost all the same country from one season to the next, and it seems that I often find the coyotes in the same areas from one season to the next too. Once you've called an area for 20 years, you've about figured out where they will be and where they won't be on any given day.
I can see the validity of locating, especially if the area is completely foreign to the caller.
Interesting topic none the less! Carry on!!
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on March 29, 2007, 07:09 PM:
 
Randy Roede,
I believe you sir. Those coyotes really act differently from one location to another don't they?
 

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on March 31, 2007, 04:56 AM:
 
I sometimes go out early in the evening or morning darkness and howl to locate a general area that holds some coyotes. In snow it gives me a jump start on where to look and track . Will not be perfect but generally the coyotes are within a mile of that general location and usually will locate them glassing or by tracks within a couple of hours .Gives me a little advantage since I have not recently brought their ears up ,tend to be in somewhat of a stand-down mode.Once spotted I will move as far away as I can and still see them,the farther the better.Sometimes I find the coyotes have come to the location howl I made while I was elsewhere doing the same. That is why I do not howl very long. Just howl listen for a reponse and move on. Don't want them to come to the call while I am there.(Night hunting not allowed here.)thanks
 

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on March 31, 2007, 05:09 AM:
 
Hey Rich, I have never had any luck getting coyotes to howl back in daylight here in Iowa..... until this year. Surprised the heck out of me and killed a few of them.Mid morning and late afternoon a few times.May never hear it again if I killed all of them, but sure was interesting.thanks
 

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Posted by J_hun (Member # 872) on March 31, 2007, 06:12 AM:
 
Randy made a very good point as to when your locating coyotes and moving in on them right away. It is not a good idea to move in when you have just alerted them to your presence. All eyes and ears. Move in from a different direction then where you just howled from or pick another day. I have located coyotes and then came back a little later during the same day and shot them. Rich H. says he doesn't locate at certain times because the coyotes may just be moving through which is true, but if you know the area you can pretty well figure out where they are going to be later on. That brings up another another topic about patterning coyotes, but I'm staying away from that one. I do believe it is possible in certain situations.
 

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Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on March 31, 2007, 08:48 AM:
 
Actually we attempt to locate only in areas that we have never called before, that looks promising but we haven't investigated on foot.
I always try to set up on sign. If there are lots of tracks and scat in the general area we can make high confidence stands. We never attempt to locate in the areas we normally call because of the present dynamics that have resulted from a twelve year drought. We know what attracts coyotes in these areas, where they will hunt, feed and wander and where they are likely to spend the day. Locating by howling isn't neccessary and it becomes a liability under these conditions because we will put the coyotes on high alert, and they will be more apt to detect us as we setup and less inclined to reveal themselves when we call.
Joe Melton told me that when he called with Scott near Yuma that Scott would voice howl and the coyotes would answer. That impressed me because it is very difficult to get a vocal response from coyotes in most of Az. during daylight. They will seldom answer us if we are stationary. If we drive slowly toward their suspected location and group yip howl we have better than fair success.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 31, 2007, 09:36 AM:
 
It's the same old story, Rich. If howling to locate, you had better be ready to deal with a visiter....therefore it's mostly counterproductive, if you are just parked and listening for a reply. Also, I agree with your thinking, better to set up on recent sign than to alert the neighborhood. Additionally, as I have said many times, it is difficult to howl, most anywhere in Arizona, that a coyote will not hear you, so what's the point?

I find howling to locate to be much more effective in wide open places, such as Nevada, and they seem to be a lot more vocal because they are spread out more. My example, used many times, is consider a twenty mile valley. Howling can be very useful in determining general locations, at any given moment. Why cold call sixteen miles of nonproductive stands when they are all bunched up at the north end, as a for instance?

The downside is, for me, often times there is no road in the direction of the response? You don't leave the vehicle and head off in that trackless desert chasing a response to a lone howl. They would more than likely detect your presence long before you are able to setup an effective stand. Walking on gravel and rocks, not very quiet, no cover, to speak of; stunted sage. Know what I mean, Vern?

Good hunting. LB
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on March 31, 2007, 09:37 AM:
 
"it is very difficult to get a vocal response from coyotes in most of Az. during daylight."
--------------------------------
Rich H,
That is interesting. I had several vocal responses during mid-day while calling down around Wilcox that time. That caused me to believe that Arizona coyotes were more vocal than the ones around here.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on March 31, 2007, 12:24 PM:
 
Leonard Rich H. I agree with both of you when you state that when hunting in country you have had good success in over the years locating is not near as important.Rich H. ever have a ride along wonder why the hell ya just slammed on the brakes smacked their head on the dash and you are looking at scat and or tracks on the trail or road then panning the existing countryside like your looking for Waldo!Bet ya have or something similar.

I do have the advantage of being out in the area I hunt all year round and some of my so called sweet spots for fur season happen because of hunting pressure whether from the houndsmen or the bird and deer hunters, weather etc. driving them in. This doesn't happen at the same time every year and sometimes not at all.I have many opportunities to check certain areas for numbers etc. and when it all comes together hunt it. It just makes my hunting far more profitable.

I locate alot,i mean alot but not always when hunting coyotes,25000 or more miles a year in 2 millon acres, I'm checkin honeyholes and finding bonus groups I never knew existed in some of the wierdest places. I get asked many times from callers where would be a good place to go, close to town, public land etc. Many times you can let them in on a bunch tucked way back in somewhere.

I see we are starting to get into what sounds are being used, I thought this might be one of the first questions.

Secret sounds, wink wink ,right Wiley?
 

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Posted by J_hun (Member # 872) on March 31, 2007, 03:09 PM:
 
From what I'm reading , you guys down South don't don't howl to call call coyotes to the gun. Am I correct? Evidently you have soo many coyotes distress calls is all you need.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 31, 2007, 04:39 PM:
 
That's a fair statement. Not a hard and fast rule, but a man could do fine, not howling at all, some days.

Good hunting. LB
 

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Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on March 31, 2007, 10:29 PM:
 
I howl on every stand.
 

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Posted by nd coyote killer (Member # 40) on April 03, 2007, 07:05 AM:
 
I can see the argument of hunting in texas or AZ because of the sheer numbers down there but i don't see how anyone can argue in the north and west about Locating. If for no other reason it makes the hunter as efficient as possible (less stands of no coyotes within hearing range)

Don't get me wrong i have had a FEW times coyotes bust me from locating but the coyotes locating has got me outweigh that number by a long shot.
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 03, 2007, 07:35 AM:
 
I like to look for sign more than locate vocally. They are usually relieving themselves in that location for a reason. Scat has meaning. Either that or I just ask around if anyone has been hearing or seeing them.
To me it would be counterproductive to use sounds to locate that I am trying to get them to respond to in a hunting situation.

[ April 03, 2007, 07:37 AM: Message edited by: smithers ]
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 03, 2007, 07:56 AM:
 
Smithers, locating to me is a tool to gather info on locations and number of coyotes along with visual signs of coyotes being present. I use locating more in new areas that I am goimg to hunt that day or the near future or check areas that not always have coyotes in them during fur season. It's not concrete it doesn't mean I won't hunt an area just because they don't answer this particular time.

If you are only going to be in an area for a time or two during fur season and in your area it's a no brainer where the coyotes will be it may not be the thing for you to do.

I have 10-20 square miles of rolling pastures with numerous drainages cutting through them. It gives me advantage on where and how to work the coyotes, wind etc.

I not only locate before light, but also at times all day long.Glassing and listening.

It can be counterproductive like any other sound in a coyote world at times. In this sport we love if it was black and white and easy to do would we continue to do it? I like being outsmarted every now and then it keeps my competitive drive going. If that fire ever dwindles I'll buy a lab and go bird huntin!!!!
 

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Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on April 03, 2007, 09:47 AM:
 
Like Leonard said about Nevada,and for me alot of Utah too,if I didn't howl to locate coyotes I would really be putting myself at a disadvantange as far as calling numbers of coyotes.Those areas of NV./UT. are HUGE and without the aid of a Siren/or Howler for locating it would be almost impossible to get the most out of your calling.Plus it also helps me to know how to approach my stand to put me at the advantage.There are some areas mostly farm areas that I won't howl because I usually have a pretty good idea where I want to call from,but again not always.I think for ME the pro's of locating usually always outweigh the con's.FWIW Good Hunting Chad
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on April 03, 2007, 11:40 AM:
 
I'm a little different, Chad. I scout and I base my efforts on places I have hunted before, but I don't do much "locating" per se, unless I'm drawing blanks? Then still, I run the risk of an approach that I was not prepared for. So, what I do is set up and make a stand and be ready for the silent approach. If I get a distant vocal response (not guaranteed, for sure) then, (and if there is a road heading in that direction)....I will head over that way and make a couple stands.

I also don't see much value in "locating" the night before day hunting, or in mid day "locating" prior to night hunting. This is because I believe there are (or could be) miles separating bedding areas and hunting grounds.

I'm thinking specifically of western Utah, Nevada situations.

Good hunting. LB

edit: I should also mention that I'm the last person to hear a distant reply, my hearing is so bad.

[ April 03, 2007, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 03, 2007, 01:52 PM:
 
Certainly, the fact that getting a vocal response out here is like pulling teeth on an alligator, is one of the MAIN reasons I don't locate much.
I do get a vocal response more reliably May thru the beginning of August when it does me no good.
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 03, 2007, 01:54 PM:
 
[Travel patterns] around here; Around 3-5 days apart generally. Sometimes a tad over a wk. Before the locals will work the same trail[fenceline, creek or draw].

Seen a nomad, sleep[restlessly, I might add] in almost the same exact spot repeatidly for a tad over a wk's time. this focal spot was around 200yrds or so away from the main bedding area of a local pack. Couldn't stalk very close to him, hearing like an owl.

As for scat. Could be a [nomad] with the #hits for all I know. Doesn't tell me anything, other than a coyote took a dump[s].

I look for coyote.
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 03, 2007, 02:06 PM:
 
You usually don't sit down next to a turd and call. I look for a concentration tracks and scat in an area before I call.

[ April 03, 2007, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: smithers ]
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 03, 2007, 02:15 PM:
 
Open rolling cropland, little cover; Come late Fall. Et after late January on. Most [ALL] of them are either in cover or on the fringe of cover. Virtually [NONE] are bedded out in the open area's away from cover.

When I do call, it's by cover. Most [ALL] will bed around the center[1/2 mile] of a 1-square mile section. I don't go any farther than a 1/4 mile in[max] when I do call. Odd's are their watching/listening regardless.

Even while sleeping[head tucked], I've watched them many times. Often I'll see "one" of their ears rotate to the faintest far away noise. Light sleepers.
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 03, 2007, 02:24 PM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by nd coyote killer (Member # 40) on April 03, 2007, 02:49 PM:
 

quote:

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I have learned that if i howl and get a response to the howl i can move in on him and set up to my advantage and hopefuly get him to come in. This willbe one of my maine goals for next season, Howl, locate and then take it to him.....

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quote:

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I have learned that if i howl and get a response to the howl i can move in on him and set up to my advantage and hopefuly get him to come in.

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Smithers how is this not locating?

I see your point of if you get a response when you're on stand YOU will move in but if you do a howl on stand or if you do a howl or hit the siren locating and then move in the same conclusion occurs so isn't it the same?
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 04, 2007, 03:48 AM:
 
Another thing about walking into a section. A coyote will "lay" with it's back towards a prevailing wind. Face/ears facing downwind. I've only "EVER" seen "one", laying facing a wind.

If their just "resting" not balled-up sleeping. Head raised...they'll be scanning 180 degrees downwind. Occasionally looking upwind over their shoulder.

Obviously they hear best up/down wind. Their hearing is reduced, crosswind.

[ April 04, 2007, 03:49 AM: Message edited by: 2dogs ]
 

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Posted by albert (Member # 98) on April 04, 2007, 05:53 AM:
 
My 2 cent's on locating. It works. I often hunt the same area every year. So I think I have fair idea were the coyotes may be. In these circumstances I seldom locate ahead of time. What I do is try and locate at the end of a stand. Especially if I have made a couple of quick stands first thing in the morning with no response. The earlier in the day the better. I am often able to plan my next couple of stands based on what responce I get. On a good day you keep on rollong with the information gathered in this fashion.

If this technique is working on a particular day you will kill a lot of coyotes.
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 04, 2007, 08:22 AM:
 
NDcoyote, the title of the thread is Locating Before You Hunt. Which is what I believe most people think of when they think of locating.

Howling and getting a response while in the midst of a hunt and moving in on them to me is, I suppose, technically locating but not what I think of right away. Pre-hunt calling and locating with no weapon so you can set up at a later time is what comes to mind first, for me. Maybe it should have been titled Scouting/ Locating or not before a hunt.
The pros and cons of locating before a hunt and methods used is the issue. It is just common sense that if you are armed and in the midst of a hunt you are really just Calling the animal. If you are out to locate them you want a vocal response so you can find their position in relation to yours. The cons of this are that they may show up and not respond vocally and you may have blown an opportunity.
If it is a situation like Leonard and UTcaller describe then maybe that is best or only way with the vast amount of country to be covered. But dollars to donuts they are armed at the time and I would assume they are ready to shoot if the opportunity arises.

[ April 04, 2007, 08:33 AM: Message edited by: smithers ]
 

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Posted by nd coyote killer (Member # 40) on April 04, 2007, 09:33 AM:
 
I would certainly think that locating would work to your advantage in MI due to the sound of the call not traveling as far. Wouldn't it make you more effecient to be able to pick apart the wood lot and get within earshot of the coyotes that call it home? I haven't ever hunted or even been to MI but would have to say with the vast amounts of woodlands out there locating would mean more coyotes shot.

I don't want this to sound like i'm picking on you personnaly smithers i'm just having a tough time with someone arguing that locating isn't a great tool no matter what context it is used.
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 04, 2007, 12:41 PM:
 
NDcoyote, the area of MI where I live is not really vast woodlands, it is more of a vast savannah of houses and strip malls. It's in a very populated area. The wood lots are tight and broken up. Sound travels surprisingly far. I like to use softer smaller calls most often because of the chance of a coyote being right around the corner, so to speak. But when I have to get the sound pushing I have calls for that as well.
A couple hours drive north of me it is pretty well wooded and a couple hours to the south is mainly agricultural. I don't get to hunt these areas often. I mainly hunt in area's where the coyotes are tight lipped and seldom seen.
I believe if I had a way to get them to respond vocally every time I called and had no risk of them coming in I would "locate" more often.
Once in a great while I will get a group to vocalize and that is when I move in on them.
Otherwise it is mostly cold calling or calling around areas that I have called before and had success.
 

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Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on April 04, 2007, 12:50 PM:
 
Leonard,

I to have usually pre-scouted the areas that I intend to hunt,and most areas are areas I have hunted before too.But I still like to try and locate coyotes before dawn so I know where the coyotes are before I go in an area to call.Not to say that I ALWAYS try to locate coyotes before I call on a stand,but most times I do.Am I getting busted by coyotes? I really can't say for sure since it's pre-dawn and I can't see them.But I have had very good success over the years doing it,so if I am losing a few coyotes here and there that have come in or been alerted to my presense when locating and I haven't seen them it doesn't seem to be effecting my numbers to much.

Hell,in some parts of Nevada,I don't even have to locate the damn coyotes,They keep me up half the night with there howling around the Wall tent.lol

Good Hunting Chad
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on April 04, 2007, 01:59 PM:
 
2 dogs: "I've watched a bedded coyote stare @ a distant stimuli for close to an hr. W/O turning it's head. Complete focus.

If that stimuli moves. Then they'll stare/look in that[stimuli's] direction for 10-20 minutes or so. Until, they believe it's moved on or doesn't pose a threat. From what I've seen."

I have watched literally hundreds of coyotes that spotted me and they generally don't stare at me without looking away occasionally.

If that stimuli was prey that they planned to hunt and kill, I think they might stare more but they are generally keeping track of their entire surroundings which requires looking in all directions occasionally.

Smithers,

Don't know how much time you have spent thinking about coyote sign but the best calling locations have coyote tracks of different sizes and different ages both coming and going. A single coyote track going a single direction could be a passing coyote. A location with tracks of different sizes and different ages going in both directions presents a much better chance of calling success if you are going by sign alone. FWIW!

You're welcome! LOL!

~SH~

[ April 04, 2007, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Wiley E ]
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 04, 2007, 02:07 PM:
 
WileyE, I will usually follow a track for a bit or fan out from the track some to see if they have a partner. Unless it is on a trail, because of deep snow, they usually don't follow single file?

[ April 04, 2007, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: smithers ]
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on April 04, 2007, 02:16 PM:
 
I wasn't talking about tracking a single coyote in the snow. I was talking about reading tracks on a location. Just forget it.

~SH~
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 04, 2007, 02:22 PM:
 
Wiley,

Can't say what that coyote was staring @. As I was 1/2 mile away, quartered to it's position. If it's head turned, I didn't catch it.

All the coyote's, I've ever seen "but" the one's I called[except a couple]. I've watched from a distance. Gotta like open rolling cropland for that.

Bro & I watched an old guy walk very slow & methodical, in on one that was bedded @ the 1/2 mile. Old guy slid his snowshoes, slowly & quietly through the snow. He was an old very experienced coyote hunter[over 40yrs of coyote hunting]. We watched the hunt from the gravel roadway angled a tad over a 1/2 mile to their SouEast.

That coyote knew the old guy was there, early on. Long before the old guy knew, what that coyote knew. Old guy never got a shot off. That coyote always kept 1-hill between them[cat/mouse].

[ April 04, 2007, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: 2dogs ]
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 04, 2007, 02:34 PM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by tlbradford (Member # 1232) on April 04, 2007, 02:54 PM:
 

quote:

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Now if you was a nice guy you could of parked the vehicle so the coyote had his eyes on you and not the approaching hunters direction. Its kinda like decoying, use the vehicle to distract the coyote..

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This is one of my favorite tricks when doing a push for muley's. We park the truck in an area we don't want the deer to move into.
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on April 04, 2007, 04:50 PM:
 
2 dogs,

Let me see if I got this right. You were 1/2 mile away from a coyote and watched him for 1 hour continuously to see that he didn't turn his head one time? Is that correct?

First, I can't see how you could see a coyote's direction of sight from that distance.

Second, I can't understand why anyone would watch a bedded coyote for an hour without figuring out how to sneak up on them and shoot them. YOU HAD AN HOUR!

Different strokes I guess.

~SH~
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 04, 2007, 05:37 PM:
 
Wiley,

Close to an hr. Perhaps 40 minutes or so. Some coyotes I spot. If I don't have permission on that land. I'll often just sit glassing them. If I haven't spotted one on permissioned land to go in on. Farmers are often not home around here.

As for that coyote turning it's head. I suppose that coyote could've slightly. But from my view spot & distance. It didn't look like it to me.

Actually, I've watched many coyotes for quite awhile from 1/2 mile away with my binocs or spotter scope. As long as they don't go into "flight mode". Then often they will fixate on a distant stimuli. Often it's me sitting in my truck watching them from the gravel roadway.

Other's will bolt hard or walk away when I view them, especially if I slow down or stop. While other coyotes will either sit & stare back @ me or continue on about their business[hunting/playing, whatever], occasionally looking @ me.

Depends on that coyote.

[ April 04, 2007, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: 2dogs ]
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 04, 2007, 06:29 PM:
 
You seemed a bit pissed that I didn't eat your pointer like candy, Wiley.
It kind of struck me as odd that you said, "you're welcome" at the end of it like you did me some kind of favor, though. I believe a 3rd grader could decipher the more and differing prints equals more coyotes equals core area or travel route equals good calling location puzzle. Thanks for the tip! I guess.

Will the next grandios nugget you pleasure me with be that coyotes love to bed in briars or on islands in the middle of agricultural fields on the south facing slope when the prevailing wind direction is out of the west. Or that many coyotes will travel north to south or vice versa when the prevailing wind direction is from the east or west. Because they know that prey animals will usually travel with the wind at their back or quartering?

P.S. I'm just bustin' your balls a bit.

[ April 04, 2007, 07:01 PM: Message edited by: smithers ]
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 04, 2007, 07:05 PM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 04, 2007, 08:46 PM:
 
TA, my post was mostly written tongue in cheek.

I am a firm believer that terrain features, cover and a feeling of safety have more to do with travel routes and bedding location than wind direction ever will. Those comments were made in jest. Do they use the wind? Sure, but not to the extent that I was asserting. You know from your experience in tracking coyotes that they travel with purpose for the most part, they don't dick around regardless of wind direction.
It is a pretty good bet that ALL animals, not just coyotes, will only bed where they feel safe.

Scat is my favorite sign to go by. If they are pooping at Point A there is a reason. I just have to figure out where Point B and C are.

Like I said it was just a bit of ball bustin'.
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 04, 2007, 10:14 PM:
 
ok
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on April 04, 2007, 11:21 PM:
 
Yeah, but why?
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 05, 2007, 05:13 AM:
 
If they are pooping at Point A there is a reason

Yep, when you gotta go, you gotta go.
 

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on April 05, 2007, 05:26 AM:
 
Sometimes I wonder if a coyote almost has the ability to turn the "gain" up on its hearing.Depending on what they are doing at the time. May just be associated with the level of caution or attention they are at a any particular time.I have seen them numerous times turn and come to a mouse squeaker with a 25 to 30 mph wind blowing in my face at almost a 1/2 mile.
I have often seen coyote trail single file in snow conditions that make it very difficult to tell there are 2 in the same tracks.They can nail each others foot prints very precisely and when there is no definition in the bottom of the track, your first indication of multiples is when the traiing coyote splits out.Then try to trail the downwind coyote although they seldom seperate by more than a few dozen yards.Thanks

[ April 05, 2007, 06:05 AM: Message edited by: 6mm284 ]
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 05, 2007, 05:42 AM:
 
6mm

That's one thing I've never seen.

Greenside
 

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Posted by nd coyote killer (Member # 40) on April 05, 2007, 05:42 AM:
 

quote:

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I have seen them numerous times turn and come to a mouse squeaker with a 25 to 30 mph wind blowing in my face at almost a 1/2 mile.

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I have seen them hear things that they shouldn't have been able to hear but c'mon now

[ April 05, 2007, 06:39 AM: Message edited by: nd coyote killer ]
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on April 05, 2007, 06:24 AM:
 
"I have often seen coyote trail single file in snow conditions that make it very difficult to tell there are 2 in the same tracks."
--------------------------
6mm284,
I think maybe this happens mostly when snow gets pretty deep. One old method of trapping coyotes in the snow was to bury a trap directly under a coyote track. It is amazing that a young feller like you would know about things like this.
 

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on April 05, 2007, 06:25 AM:
 
Just because a coyote is not moving his head, does not mean he is staring, or that his eyes are even open.No different than humans although coyotes most likely have acute peripheral vision.
Wiley,, I too must be a dumb ars, as I will watch coyotes for extended periods of time before making amove. It is waiting for the right timing.Here in midwest where calling is not involved , timing is part of the plan. Not uncommon to leave a coyote alone for several hours before returning to make my move. May be waiting for wind to come up or go down ,or for the coyotes level of caution to go down.Any number of factors that affect timing. Often there is no way to get in undetected if you immediately start in.Many coyotes at 1/2 mile or even more will not accept your presence.Sometimes another coyote will appear that you were not even aware was involved.thanks
(Disclaimer, This in no way defends or agrees with 2dogs)
 

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on April 05, 2007, 06:44 AM:
 
Hi Rich, Yeh, the snow deep enough and loose enough to fall in the tracks obscures what is going on in the bottom of them. It seems it is a narrow range of snow depth, Deep enough but not to deep. If it gets up towards the leg joint then the hole tends to get hogged out a little more and makes one a little more suspicious of how many coyotes are involved.As it then gets shallower and less snow falls in the track, it kind of starts to tell more. I am sure you have seen it all.
You know how much is to be seen and learned"in the tracks".Sometimes it is more a feeling than a knowing which track is good and which is not. I Learn alot when I spend an entire day behind a coyote that I never even see.Doesn't happen often but it does happen every year or two.I think you have lots of experience with the whole calling aspect of coyote hunting along with the whole midwest aspect of tracking etc. I can tell many of the very accomplished callers(lightyears ahead of me)have never really had the opportunity to try it "our way".I have learned alot about coyotes in calling different parts of the west that I can work into understanding behavoir here a little better, although it is quite different.I don't know how well it works going from hunting here to calling there and trying to blend the two.thanks PS Beware of the Terror of
Shelby County!!!!!!!!!1
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 05, 2007, 06:45 AM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by 6mm284 (Member # 1129) on April 05, 2007, 06:54 AM:
 
Ta17, It is interesting how much of what you relate is my same experience. Helps me to think either I am doing something right or someone else is doing something wrong just like me.Simliar environments shape similar hunting techniques.I can about tell someone's location by such, altough you are a little further north and east than I had guessed.Thanks
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 05, 2007, 07:13 AM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on April 05, 2007, 08:06 AM:
 
6mm284,
The "Terror of Shelby County"? That sounds like Myrtle B. Terror of Shelby county. Yep.
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on April 05, 2007, 08:57 AM:
 
Smithers: "You seemed a bit pissed that I didn't eat your pointer like candy, Wiley."

Why would I be pissed and how could you recognize pissed over a computer screen?

If you know enough about coyote sign to know that the best locations have tracks of different sizes and ages going different directions, sorry I bored you. Didn't realize you knew so much. Your vast knowledge is certainly not reflected in your coyote take.

Smithers: "It kind of struck me as odd that you said, "you're welcome" at the end of it like you did me some kind of favor, though."

Most guys don't read sign beyond a track or a turd to determine age, direction, and different coyotes. Sorry I mistook you for someone less experienced.

Smithers: "I believe a 3rd grader could decipher the more and differing prints equals more coyotes equals core area or travel route equals good calling location puzzle. Thanks for the tip! I guess."

Hahaha! ah.....ok?

Smithers: "Will the next grandios nugget you pleasure me with be that coyotes love to bed in briars or on islands in the middle of agricultural fields on the south facing slope when the prevailing wind direction is out of the west. Or that many coyotes will travel north to south or vice versa when the prevailing wind direction is from the east or west. Because they know that prey animals will usually travel with the wind at their back or quartering?"

No, I won't bore you with any more tips since you have it all figured out. Suprisingly, I can't understand why your vast knowledge is not reflected in your take.

~SH~

[ April 05, 2007, 09:00 AM: Message edited by: Wiley E ]
 

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Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on April 05, 2007, 09:18 AM:
 

quote:

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I should also mention that I'm the last person to hear a distant reply, my hearing is so bad.

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quote:

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In fact, now that you mention it Leonard, I really wonder just how much utility I could possibly get out of locating, considering that I can't hear them unless they are practically on top of me? Certainly, I can't hear them from any further away than what I would expect them to at least be possible to bring in.

- DAA

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Exactly!
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 05, 2007, 09:37 AM:
 
Catchin up here fellas!!!

Wiley remember these Iowa coyotes are a breed you have no experience with, a higher educated critter only harvested by the top 10 percent of the nations callers!LOL Remember some places have four landowners per single section, like workin east river.

I am just kidding, I was an Iowa caller get your hackles down!!

2 dogs I know exactly what you are talking about, belly crawled on many a coyote or red fox for many years with eyes and ears focused almost nonstop in the same direction.for long periods of time.2 dogs are you in the flat 1 by 1 mile Iowa country or the rougher part, rollin hills woods etc.

TA you have me confused, not uncommon for me, but at first you state the presence of them watching gave the hunter away and then you want them to show a presence to distract them from approaching danger?I don't want a coyote to have any idea I'm there or anybody else if I'm callin or stalking it may help on rare occasions but it will hurt you more than help ya.

I do agree that at certain times a coyotes senses seem to be at a higher level than others. I think at times especially hearing they do try to shut it down somewhat due to wind noise or what ever existing noise around them to sleep relax whatever. Imagime the amped hearing they have and yourself trying to sleep hearing every little squeak sound etc.I think they close or restrictng the amount of sound into the ear canal accordingly. A squeaker at a half mile on a fairly calm day you bet. Litle tougher with a bedded coyote but that may be because he just wants to stay sleepin, an up and movin coyote sure.

Smithers I would assume wind direction, location of the coyotes and permission would be a real issue for you too. With limited open cover to call them out into. Finding bedding areas with open cover nearby to work them would be crucial. The sign Wiley referred to would indicate one should be nearby.

The one thing I notice that will reduce much of my locating sucess is WIND, not a gail force, even a 5-10 mph. Any time of the year.Calm quiet nights here are rare but your responces go up a ton!Not earthshattering stuff to anyone,but I think it is because the locating sound travels farther envoking more vocal reponces in coyotes farhter away that normally wouldn't hear it and respond to it and this in turn winds up the closer groups that may otherwise be more willing to respond visually.My spin on it.

Same goes for no moon nights, I get more vocal responces at this time. Once again more vocal to visual because of low light.I guess a calm quiet no moonlight night will give you a good handle on the numbers in your area.Yes many of these coyotes are far from where they will be come first light. Some not. It's information on numbers in the area and you still are going to have to relate this to the country. If you have hunted it before you know where you will work them from come daybreak, if it is new country some additional locating may be benefical.

These two examples would be when I am checking country for numbers not only for hunting that next morning, just numbers in a given area to then plan a hunt on in the near future.I have areas that hold coyotes all the time and some that fill up, and clear out off due to weather, houndsman, hunting seasons etc.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 05, 2007, 09:47 AM:
 
Leonard-aw wait a minute phone ringin- no its just the ringin in my left ear!!!!

I've got to turn the TV volume higher or lower to what ear is not buried in the pillow!!!
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 05, 2007, 10:13 AM:
 
The one thing I notice that will reduce much of my locating sucess is WIND, not a gail force, even a 5-10 mph. Any time of the year.Calm quiet nights here are rare but your responces go up a ton!Not earthshattering stuff to anyone,but I think it is because the locating sound travels farther envoking more vocal reponces in coyotes farhter away that normally wouldn't hear it and respond to it and this in turn winds up the closer groups that may otherwise be more willing to respond visually.My spin on it

RR, but you might have to take into account that you would only be hearing the upwind coyotes on the windy nights.
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 05, 2007, 10:22 AM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 05, 2007, 10:27 AM:
 
Randy R,

West-central 1/2 of Marshall County, Iowa. All rolling cropland hills[very little cover]. Mostly 1-square mile sections. Occasional, 1x2 or 2x2-square mile sections.
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on April 05, 2007, 10:27 AM:
 
Smithers: "Scat is my favorite sign to go by. If they are pooping at Point A there is a reason. I just have to figure out where Point B and C are."

How can you know so much about tracks yet are unable to determine Point B and Point C from the tracks and scat at point A? If you need any help, let me know. Certainly wouldn't want to tell you anything you already didn't know.

Oh, silly me, you were just "ball bustin" weren't you? Almost forgot!

Smithers: "Like I said it was just a bit of ball bustin'."

You call that "ball bustin'"? I equated it more with being run over by a baby buggy.

~SH~
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 05, 2007, 10:45 AM:
 
Coyote hearing; A balled-up coyote facing downwind, that is laying on a hillside. Wind ripping hard onto & over the coyote's backside.

You look @ that coyote's head. It's even or below it's back, which the wind is baring down on. The wind is not going into the coyotes ears. Even more so, when their laying tucked in on a draw or waterway.

The "front" of their ear's, are protected from the wind directly blowing into them. IMO, this reduce's perpheral sound distortion or any distortion period. Of any sound they may hear.

Not hard to understand even on windy days they hear so well.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 05, 2007, 11:26 AM:
 
Greenside, exactly not only what the coyotes don't hear but me also.

With wind my locating is heard by coyotes closer to me who tend to respond visually more than vocally, I think the coyotes further away on a calm night trigger a vocal responce on these same coyotes.

2 dogs- I understand he doesn't shut down his hearing totally just enough to make his world quiet enough to rest or whatever. He has the ability to focus his ears towards a sound or not to improve or not the amount of sound entering the canal. Very rarely you will see one on a really windy day turn facing into the strong wind for an extended period of time, I think its because of the fact its uncomfortable noisy etc.If he picks up something on the wind yea but even then you'll see the ears turn away from the wind as he goes.

2 dogs sounds like the same Iowa i came from, I'll bet your callin takes it in the shorts once you get a little snow and the local horse and pony show starts huntin.

TA still not sure about your tactics but whatever floats your boat.

Greenside how'd you get a budweiser.com address?I'm jealous!!!
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 05, 2007, 11:42 AM:
 
Randy R,

Callin isn't real productive in my area[when I do call in my area] it's close to cover[timber patch's]. But over East in Tama County it's much better, alot more cover, larger sections & more coyotes.
 

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Posted by nd coyote killer (Member # 40) on April 05, 2007, 11:47 AM:
 
2dogs

quote:

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Callin isn't real productive in my area[when I do call in my area] it's close to cover[timber patch's

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What makes you say that calling is "unproductive" in your area? I'm just tring to get a feel for the area that you're hunting
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 05, 2007, 12:21 PM:
 
RR

Just go to budweiser.com and get yourself a free e-mail address. Sounds better than hotmail and it keeps the spam off my business and personal e-mail accounts.

Dennis

[ April 05, 2007, 12:22 PM: Message edited by: Greenside ]
 

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Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on April 05, 2007, 12:29 PM:
 
"No, I won't bore you with any more tips since you have it all figured out. Suprisingly, I can't understand why your vast knowledge is not reflected in your take."

1)I never claimed to have VAST knowledge of coyotes. I learn more every day and every time out. I have been predator hunting for 7 seasons. Not too vast or as vast as some others.
2)My coyote take has a lot more to do with limited time to hunt, apparent low coyote population and daily coyote movement.
We have, in my area, a mediocre coyote poulation at best. Their movement is limited, for the most part, to the middle of the night.
99.9% of the land that I hunt is Public Land. Calling them from their safe havens on private land is my best shot.

"Many possible reasons, Scott. He might be taking pictures, like Higgins? Maybe he's not a world class sharpshooter, like our other "worth knowing" member, Dan Cary? Maybe he's not truthful? I get the feeling that he enjoys the ball busting reparte'. Could be, like that bear joke we have all heard........ he ain't here for the huntin'?"

Not taking pictures, definitely not a sharp shooter, good bow shot though out to 70 yards. Always truthful. If I was not truthful I would have told you I took 48 coyotes instead of the one I took this year. I called in 18 or so and shot 1. Some called in without a weapon. Ball busting livens things up for me. I am here for the hunting and to see how the other half lives.

I wouldn't say if the coyote population were higher that I would put up giant numbers but I might. I have called places in MI where they should have been easy pickings and fallen on my face. The cards fall in my favor some years and others they don't.

[Edited for spelling] I proofread after I post or after lunch!

[ April 05, 2007, 12:58 PM: Message edited by: smithers ]
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 05, 2007, 01:04 PM:
 
nd coyote killer,

Rolling hills. Hills are mostly[80%]or so corn. The rest bean fields. A few CRP patch's or Hayfields. Some thinly lined timber patch's/strips in the draws or on a hillside or along a creek.

The creeks are grassy/weeded mostly, so are most of the field draws/waterways. When I sit on a high hill. Generally I can see a couple miles on the horizen.

Coyotes in my area, are VERY reluctant to step out into the open. Ony one came in close on an open hayfield. It was very harsh out -28WC. I'm thinking he was pretty hungry.

A few others responded in the open, but swung wide or hung-up way out there. Otherwise were indifferent.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 05, 2007, 01:30 PM:
 
2 Dogs do you notice certain cornfields when the bean harvest is about over and the corn harvest starts the coyotes like. Do you ever have any sucess calling them out onto the open bean stubble. Once all the corn is out and the pheasant season and deer season roll along with the pickup merry go round they sure will get rearranged and timid.

I always gave it heck to get them around the cornfields once the beans came out. I knew it would be short lived though.
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 05, 2007, 04:19 PM:
 
Randy R,

What I notice, is "when" their laying out. The locals pick corn. I stalked in on a large light gray nomad this last Fall & Winter. That coyote bedded in a bean field. Coyote bedded in almost the exact same spot, over & over.

Bean fields were loud last Fall. Played heck getting close. I watched where I planted each foot on the slow stalk in. As well as listened to each of my foot steps for noise, before planting my foot firmly.

I slowly crawled my last hill. As I peeked over. Coyote was eyeing me from afar, every time, but once. I creased his shoulder & spun him that day.

Each of these stalks was in a high quartering wind.
-------------
A territorial pair, will often bed in the same focal area, when their laying out in the open.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 06, 2007, 07:43 AM:
 
2dogs, I'm not trying to go Huber on ya, but when you see these bedded coyotes isn't there a place nearby you could call them to you vs. you going to them in less than ideal conditions.

I grew up there sneakin on red fox with either a 22 or a shotgun after glassin and finding them, then I started calling them ,the ones I had found the same way and it was much easier. From time to time especially reds may not come but then you had the option of a sneak attack!
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 06, 2007, 09:06 AM:
 
RR

There seems to be a general consensus on these boards that coyotes can't be called in country like this.


 

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Posted by scruffy (Member # 725) on April 06, 2007, 09:12 AM:
 
RR and 2dogs, thanks for sharing, it's been very informative. Edit - greenside, a thanks to you also. Been using with a fawn decoy (featherflex brand) myself, modifying it some, hoping to get similar results to yours. :

I know when I spot/stalk, coming from a calling background, I can't leave my calls alone. Old habbits I guess. Long time caller, short time spot/stalker. 2dogs has the opposite background.

I picked up a circe P6 yesterday, the classic green plastic closed reed circe body but with a rodent squeaker voice inside. The P6 call has more volume than the squeeze type squeakers or the squeaker voices installed in the side of some calls (according to tests on the deck and noting the echos from the p6 off the timber starting 100 yards away, the other squeakers didn't have enough volume to echo). I bought it for spot/stalking/calling coyotes, coyotes I spot while sneaking into a calling spot, coyotes that hang up beyond lip squeak range, and also to start and end calling stands. I can see me using this call alot, more than any other call, but we'll see. I've often wanted a louder lip squeek, especially the few times I've spot/stalked a coyote down here, hopefully this new call will fill that nitch.

later,
scruffy

[ April 06, 2007, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 06, 2007, 01:14 PM:
 
Greenside I had to drive 30-40 miles to get to cover that good.

I'm posting a picture from 1998 with a 100 percent sure this calling thing ain't going to work good friend of mine.All this happen in Iowa.Sibley,George area,maybe it's familar to you?

I went out early on a Sunday morning and found these coyote after light. They were in a creek bottom surrounded by open row crop fields. I called him and asked him if he wanted to drive over and see them come in.He gets there I show him where they are and where we should call from and he's" OK, but if this doesn't work we'll just roust them!" He was and still is one of the biggest coyote pickup hunters known to man!! He had a hangover, hates to walk,and skeptical as hell!We walk out to a fenceline about a quarter mile from the coyotes. This is Feb. timeframe, I howl and in less than five minutes and 5-10 rounds out of his AR he was a believer. This was as old of a female coyote as there is teeth almost gone with a YOY.

I will admit he tried many many times after that to call in others and he never did and really never gave it a real chance to happen. He just doesn't want it that bad. That Iowa country doesn't have the numbers like here but it does have coyotes and you can call them. You won't have the sucess like here but you can kill coyotes. If you were to have made 10 stands in the country described above I doubt at that time of the year any other stands would have produced in that immediate area.Low numbers that time of the year.

I have a nephew there who will call in 10-20-a year another kid just out of college in the same town taking 10 plus and not traveling very far from home. They both don't really go out all that much. It just takes a little confidence and someone to show you it can work to get a person started.

Early fall till first snow was great, gets rough when the pickup boys are rollin, then dennin before the row crops got to tall was great again.I went back this spring to visit family and my youngest son and I took a little ride after dark to see if coyotes were still in the old spots we had four dens located in about 2 hours of locating, had a person wanted to take them he sure could have. The planting had been late and the crops were still short enough to work them when I was there.

How do ya like the long hair?

Greenside is there much calling pressure?You know your country I don't. If in your part of Iowa you can't get them to come in I believe ya!

Wiley you up for a trip to the tall corn state about first week in May,bring the dogs,only problem is the ole pickup boys will want our you know whats for their aerials!


 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 06, 2007, 01:56 PM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by scruffy (Member # 725) on April 06, 2007, 02:16 PM:
 
Randy, good job on the Iowa coyotes!

"Early fall till first snow was great, gets rough when the pickup boys are rollin, then dennin before the row crops got to tall was great again."

Your experience mirror mine, but we don't have alot of truck groups in my area, but notice a sharp drop off in responses as soon as the december gun seasons occur. But I like the challenge. I'm lucky if I make 1 stand a week most weeks. But managed to get a coyotes in the scope Nov, Dec, Jan, and Mar. A mix of called and spotted and called. November was the best month, called/killed 2, spotted/called/killed 1, spotted/missed 1 (couldn't call him, he was one the way out, rushed shot, didn't adjust for wind, coyote ran right at me, gun jammed, etc, gun is fixed now, new extractor, what a time to fail...). I'm hoping for similar April and May, however, I'll be lucky if I get out two more times this month and May isn't looking much better... Oh well, I'm not overcalling anywhere, LOL!

Fortunately my area isn't like TA's, south central Iowa has flat areas but more areas are rolling with lots of cover (which is where I concentrate my calling). I like calling it. Sneak in 1/4 mile into the section, be sure I'm not visible and the area I hope for a shot is not visible from the road, use the wind to my advantage, etc etc etc and start working the calls.

later,
scruffy

[ April 06, 2007, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: scruffy ]
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 06, 2007, 05:06 PM:
 
RR

Sibley? Toad Smith(Otis) was probably before your time?

Although it's not, the picture looks abit like the Big Sioux River bluffs, NW of Fairview SD?

Greenside
 

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Posted by Wiley E (Member # 108) on April 06, 2007, 06:35 PM:
 
TA: "I would like to see a coyote called in from my area. Can they be called in? I don't think so ,but hey it could happen."

TA, try that strategy I described to you. Make it easy for them. Let me know how it works.

~SH~
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on April 06, 2007, 06:53 PM:
 


[ March 28, 2010, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 06, 2007, 08:09 PM:
 
Greenside- new Toad very well, before he got the in fisherman fame, doug stange of in fisherman was my 7th grade basketball coach, science teacher, also from sibley. Toad was a deputy before he got the outdoorsman fame, I know his two sons Elliot and John along with his wife Sue, I can't remember his daughters name? That little weezee laugh he had with his tougue out between his front teeth. Puttin wigglers in his eggs at a restaurant and callin back the waitress to complain. He was a HOOT. Toads Bait and Tackle right on highway 60!Good memories!!
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on April 06, 2007, 08:44 PM:
 
I suppose must be the same historical figure? Sibley House was a sort of museum in a log cabin type of building, in Minneapolis, when I was a kid. I used to ice skake at Sibley Field and in Junior High school they held dances at that park. Never would have remembered the name if I had not just read it, above.

Good hunting. LB
 

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Posted by 2dogs (Member # 649) on April 07, 2007, 06:14 AM:
 
Randy R,

Yes. There are plenty of hills to set-up on a coyote after spotting it. These coyotes are reluctant to move in close on a call. Plenty of prey critters for them. Et this open rolling terrain, offer's them good hearing & a view.

Two Winter snowflys ago WC around -20 or colder. Wind rippin hard out of the NorWest. I went out spotting. I stopped on a gravel hill, scanning to my SouWest.
I seen two coyotes around the 1/2 mile. One bedded in a CRP patch[staring hard, to it's NorWest]. The other coyote was neandering Northbound along a hill fenceline to the bedded coyote's SouWest. I watched for awhile.

I slowly crept down the roadway another couple hundred yards, making my stalk plan[triangulating] their position. Took another quick view of the coyotes. Drove down the road another couple hundred yards & paused. Both coyotes seen me, but were indifferent. I move on down the road to cut around to their SouWest to go in on them. Soon, I see a Red 4x4 truck parked up ahead.

I knew it was a friend of mine out in the same section, I seen his tracks[he's a caller].

A minute or so later, he came trudging back towards his truck[beat, Red cold], I pulled-up by him. I asked, "see any". Reply, "Nope, none in there" . I said, really! "your wrong, there's two in there" .
We went back up the road, et I shown them to him.

Around here in my main hunt area. Coyotes, have never "charged" in[close, less than a couple hundred yards away]. Over in Tama County, I've had two come in running/loping. More cover, more coyotes.

[ April 07, 2007, 06:20 AM: Message edited by: 2dogs ]
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 07, 2007, 06:55 AM:
 
Hey 2 dogs and greenside, on the cover of your Iowa hunting reg. book do you have a pic.of a youngman out hunting waterfowl?
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 07, 2007, 07:06 AM:
 
Look familar?

ar?
 

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Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on April 07, 2007, 08:05 AM:
 
RR

The same shit eating grin! He's on the cover of the Migratory Bird regulations and not the hunting regulations manual. In our youth, Doug and I were next door neighbors, and on occasion we still get together to hunt or fish. I know he had a real hard time when it came to spreading Toads' ashes on top of that big mound by Ocheyedan. Toad was probably the only man ever to have caught a catfish with a piece of his own heart!

LB, Sibley was the first govenor of MN.

Back on topic: I don't do much locating anymore, since most of my stands have a history. If I go somewhere new or if I'm trying to pull some out of standing corn in the summer I definitely still do locate because on those cornfield coyote you have to get really tight. I'm probably the same as most of you in that I'm always looking out for that "Coyote Shit Road"

Edit: In the early 90's, I was in my recreational howling stage. Never went any where without a howler. Went out a couple of evenings a week all year long and howled coyotes. That's when I really got a good handle on preferred cover and also seasonal movement. Another thing I'd do was disconnect my trucks rear left speaker and splice in a female speaker jack. Then plug in one of those big JS Style speakers and play a Sunrise Serenade tape at full blast, with the truck tape player set on rear left fade. That would make alot of noise. Lot's of howl backs

[ April 07, 2007, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Greenside ]
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on April 07, 2007, 08:32 AM:
 
His dad, Ken Lonneman, is married to my niece.They came out a couple summers ago and we hunted.

Coach Stange got your but in shape and was one of the best teachers, mentors I ever had.All the respect in the world for Doug and Toad!!The legacy of Toad Smith lives on in Sibley!
 

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