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The_Mountaineer
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| Joined: | 4 February 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 715 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle |
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Posted: 10 January 2007 02:03 PM |
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With the close of deer season and nothing else in, I decided to try my luck at coyote hunting again.
It's something I tend to focus on when there isn't any deer or turkey season open in my home state.
Thanks to a good friend from the Lone Star State, I was able to acquire a good electronic call to use as I knew very little about Mr. Wiley much less hunting him. I still have yet to kill one though I've been several times.
I'm still learning a lot. Been through a few seminars and learned that I was underestimating Mr. Wiley's capabilities. Also picked up a few strategies along the way.
So, last Friday found me following the advice I had been given - locating coyotes the evening before the day of hunting by calling and listening. I drove the truck up to a high point of our property and listened. About 45 minutes before dark, without me even hitting the electronic call, I heard a 'yote calling. I got excited but let it do it's thing then hit the electronic call. Boy! That really got it going! It would not shut up! It just kept howling and howling. I was sorely tempted to go after it and though I had my trusty Remington 700 VLS in 22-250 topped with a Leupold Vari-X III 6.5-20X, I wasn't in camo nor had a good setup planned. So, I backed off. Later I heard as many as 3 coyotes and decided the next evening, I'd try and get in the center of the activity and call.
A buddy came to join me and he brought a decoy - nothing more than a de-scented stuffed rabbit toy that you can pick up anywhere. I was told and believe that though the moving decoys are great, as long as you get the decoy visible it will work. A fellow by the name of Tom Bechdel (sort of an eastern coyote celebrity who's killed almost 1000 (yep one thousand) yotes in his time) said that most anything realistic would work and has even stuck them on the end of broom sticks 4 feet off the ground in fields to have coyotes come in as small contours in the land can obscure the decoy from the coyote. So, with this we decided to place it on top of a hay bail. We started about 2 hours before dark and after a bit of quiet time, probably 30 minutes, we started calling. Throughout the hunt, we heard movement and were convinced that there was something was coming in, we just couldn't see it. I don't think we ever spooked anything but it was sort of unnerving knowing that a potential target skirted by unscathed.
Here in WV, we don't have the population density of coyotes so often found out in the Western States so it's a bit tough. The coyotes here are often larger in size and fewer in number so just getting setup on them can be tough.
I'm always up for some more information on this subject as well as advice as the coyote is just a newcomer to these parts with no seasoned vets to guide the rest of us. Alas, most of it has to be earned first-hand or through other outlets (books, videos, seminars, etc.) and that's better than nothing. Still, after a couple years of trying, I still think I should've killed one by now. More often than not, coyotes killed here are by chance meetings while hunting other game than on purpose.
That Tom Bechdel guy I mentioned seems to really know his stuff about eastern coyotes and there's a video seminar that is available on DVD if anyone's interested. Most of the stuff I find about coyotes is taken from out west or in the southwest so I found his information especially helpful for our situation. Granted, I don't know too much about coyote hunting but this guy knows his stuff, is down to earth, and isn't some salesman for hunting crap. If anyone is interested, you can get his video by checking out this link:
http://www.tombechdel.com/index.php/1
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Montani Semper Liber - Mountaineers are always free
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Timberghozt
Board Founder
| Joined: | 11 February 2005 |
| Location: | Plaza De Los Armas, Mexico |
| Posts: | 5285 |
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Posted: 11 January 2007 12:17 PM |
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Brad,good write bro..Do not get discouraged because you are not seeing anything.When I first started I bet you I hunted 40 or so times before I took my first dog.After that it seemed like I was killing all the time.I still have runs of 5,6,7 times and may not score.Wiley is the ultimate adversary for a hunter to match wits and incstinct with..
I consider myself a decent hunter and have been given the nananaboobooo MANY TIMES.
I once called a dog in from behind me and it got within fifteen feet of me as I sat uo in a big rock pile facing forward expecting a 300-400 yard shot in front of me.I heard a gravel grunch spun and opened up on the dog with my 300 Win Mag..Twice..I missed.
I think the dog was a surprised as I was..
But it was a good lesson and a confidence builder that I had pulled that dog in so close and it never knew I was there..till I missed..lol
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"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
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The_Mountaineer
Administrator
| Joined: | 4 February 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 715 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle |
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Posted: 11 January 2007 01:21 PM |
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Thanks Gene,
I know it's all about a matter of paying my dues and that I'll eventually connect. That's why it's called hunting right?!
Anywhoo, I'll keep studying up on this adversary and keep after him. Good way to pass the winter days before something else opens up!
Take care,
Brad
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Montani Semper Liber - Mountaineers are always free
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Gunrunner
Administrator
| Joined: | 3 February 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1469 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | none |
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Posted: 11 January 2007 05:27 PM |
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The last two coyotes I got were while hunting deer. Just happened upon them by chance. Recently I went yote hunting and all I found was a yote someone had already shot. 
You'll get one before long.
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"Get off your computer and go load some ammo"
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