Getting started coyote hunting...?

[ursusmajor]

I've been a hunter for a while but only of the "usual suspects" of game in my area (deer, rabbit, pheasant, turkey,etc...). I've read about yotes and am interested in trying to hunt for them but don't really know where to start. Obviously, I've searched the internet and other sources for how to start but I'd like to hear from other members about their experience getting started and how it's evolved for them over the years.

In southwestern OH, coyotes are considered a significant problem for local farmers. I know some people who would probably let me hunt their farms but I'd want to make sure I know what I'm doing out there. If they thought I was helping them but my inexperience proved to be ineffective, I would not feel justified in using their land.

Like so many others, my father taught me to hunt and I was able to leverage his experience. It would be great to get out with some experienced yote hunters. There are guided hunts in the vicinity but sometimes these hunts can be too "guided" and turn to shooting, not hunting. If valuable skills were taught on one of these guided hunts, I'd still consider it. Has anyone here tried a guided yote hunt? If so, how involved is the guide? Did they do everything for you or were they more hands-off? This would vary guide to guide of course but I'd love to hear about the experience.

[J-Dub]

Can you hunt at night? We could in Texas but not here in Wyoming.

Basically I would find a buddy to go with you, buy a foxpro (or something like it), and go hunting. If you can hunt at night having two guys helps so one can work the caller and spot light and one guy shoots.

Read up on calling techniques, ect. Coyote hunting can require lots and lots of land. Most guys move setups if they dont have any action within the first 20mins.

There is a dude on here from OK that piles up the dogs, Im sure he'll be along shortly with more info. I've dabbled in predator hunting, but never really got "into" it.

[jmnielsen]

Don't drop cash on an electronic call. But a $10 mouth call and get good with it. That's what I did. Once I knew I enjoyed it and got good at coyote hunting I bought a $500 foxpro. But i used mouth calls for 3 years before that.

Lots of land is the truth. I don't sit over 20 minutes unless Im somewhere I may call a kitty in, then ill go to 30-35. Also, Don't be afraid to take a long walk from the car. Some people don't venture far enough from their vehicles. And don't get discourage. It took me a while to call in my first yote.

[J-Dub]

The mouth call is true. I have a Burnham Brothers mini blaster that cost me all of 10 or 12 bucks, and it works well.

[ursusmajor]

Can you hunt at night? We could in Texas but not here in Wyoming.

Yes, we can night hunt them and that's part of the reason it's such a draw for me. I *might* be able to borrow a foxpro as I know a guy who has one but doesn't live near me anymore.

It's interesting about the shortness of wait time after calling...I'm used to spending a considerable amount of time in one place but I've never tried predator hunting and it sounds more active than most other types.

I appreciate the replies so far guys.

[GunBugBit]

My friends and I have been hunting yotes in unit 44a in western AZ. No luck there. Next up will be an area south of the White Tank mountains where the guy with the black AK and his other buddies regularly shoot coyotes, and then I hope we can all go up to central AZ near Camp Verde and into the Bradshaw mountain area.

Even though one of us has had good luck getting yotes with a black rifle, we have camo-wrapped our rifles and keep pursuing the finer points of using an electronic call. I run the call since I own it and I think I overdo it.

Here is a pic of my buddies and me on our first coyote hunt. That's me second from the left. I didn't ask the other guys if they wanted their faces shown so I blacked them out.



Incidentally, we all recently learned of AZ HB 2640 that eliminates restrictions on magazine capacity for hunting. We still stick with 5-rounders and carry 30-rounders in our packs.

[420ollie]

You need plenty of patience. You can use a electronic call or a manual call. Pay attention to the winds and surrounding area. They are smart and will use the wind and may pick up on your scent. So a scent blocker would help.

[jmnielsen]

Even though one of us has had good luck getting yotes with a black rifle, we have camo-wrapped our rifles and keep pursuing the finer points of using an electronic call. I run the call since I own it and I think I overdo it.

That's quite possible. I have a buddy that likes to not shut it off for the entire stand. Me personally, I've found that doing 30sec- 1min periods of calling with 2-3 minutes off works great.

[GunBugBit]

That's quite possible. I have a buddy that likes to not shut it off for the entire stand. Me personally, I've found that doing 30sec- 1min periods of calling with 2-3 minutes off works great.

That's a similar pattern to what I tried last time out based on advice of successful yote hunters. A real wounded rabbit, or especially one being killed by a predator, doesn't holler for 20 minutes straight! If coyotes are in the area, it doesn't take much to get their ears perked up and they will avoid a sound that doesn't seem right, is the thinking, and it makes a lot of sense to me.

Paying attention to the wind/smell situation is also critical.

[GcHinOH]

Where in SW Ohio are you? I'm about as far south and west as you can get and am also looking at starting to go for them this year as my son is starting to shoot bigger guns competently and he wants to give it a try.
Curious to hear details on how it goes for you.