Riflescopes and Scope Accessories

The popularity of coyote hunting started out in the in the wide open spaces of the western United States and along with the coyotes has quickly moved eastward. Often times an eastern coyote hunter will find themselves calling in the thick woods or heavy brush. This limited viewing requires using some different tricks and tactics for coyote hunting success.

You should always check with your state and local hunting laws before you try any of the tips below.

Here are 10 tips for calling coyotes in the thick stuff.

Tip #1 - Use an electronic caller. Place your caller 30 to 50 yards behind you. A coyote is not going to come from where you just walked in. For some reason coyotes always seem to have a margin of safety built in when they are approaching the call. Granted, some coyotes will just come charging in but, more times than not they will stay some distance away until they confirm what their ears are hearing. Sometimes in these conditions, even a few yards can make the difference.

Tip #2 - Try hunting from an elevated stand. Make use of the same tree stand that you used for deer hunting. You can use a predator ladder. A predator ladder can be constructed by using a 4 or 6 foot wooden step ladder. Attach a bucket swivel seat to the top and throw on some camouflage paint and you have a portable hunting platform. A ladder works great in the early season with the tall grass and brush. A ladder will greatly improve your sight distance.

Tip #3 - Don’t set up in the field. Set up in the woods. A lot of eastern coyote hunters set up to call across an open field in an effort to call the coyotes from out of the woods into the open area. This is not always the easiest thing to do. Coyotes don’t like to expose themselves when they have protective cover. Remember, what’s usually to your advantage is to the disadvantage of the coyote. Often times they will sit back 20 to 30 yards into the cover and never expose themselves at the wood line. Instead, set up just inside the tree line.

Tip #4 - Be patient. If you’re hunting wide open spaces you can see coyotes coming in from far away. You can’t do that in the thick stuff. You have difficulty seeing and so do the coyotes. Thick cover coyotes are slower to approach and proceed with more caution. Remember, they are trying to confirm with their nose and eyes what their ears are telling them. Short, fifteen minute stands might work out west but, when hunting in thick cover you should plan to sit at least 30 minutes or longer. You will be surprised how many coyote come in after the 30 minute mark.

Tip #5 - Use a combination of an electronic call and hand calls. Sometimes different sounds coming from two different locations just seem to confuse coyotes enough where they throw caution to the wind and come charging in.

Tip #6 - Get territorial. Coyotes in thick cover can be very territorial. They tend to have smaller home ranges and territories. If you happen to be invading their home turf they will take action to protect their food sources. Use coyote vocalizations to provoke a response. Once you get a response ratchet up the aggressiveness especially during mating season.

Tip #7 - Use game trails and easy access routes. Like most animals, coyotes will usually prefer the path of least resistance. Position your calling to allow the coyote easy access to your shooting lanes. If you’re using an electronic call place it near a game trail or lane.

Tip #8 - Hunt with a partner. Have your partner positioned to cover the downwind side.” Coyotes will often circle just out of view as they work their way downwind of the sound. Position your partner to cover the downwind side. It’s best if they sit behind and to the right or left depending on the wind direction. For the sake of safety make sure everyone knows the exact position of each hunter. Define the shooting parameters of each hunter.

Tip #9 - Turn up the volume. It’s alright to start out calling with a low volume. Coyotes can be close in the thick stuff and you don’t want to spook them with some unexpected ear shattering noise. The volume can be turned up if nothing happens in the first 15 minutes. Sound really does not travel that far in thick woods as compared to wide open areas. This is especially true with a little wind and leaves on the trees. Sound travels much less in heavy cover.

Tip #10 - Be ready to bark. It can happen in a flash. A coyote suddenly appears and it’s on the move. You have a limited shooting opportunity. A few more steps and the coyote will disappear never to be seen again. The most important tip is to be ready to stop a coyote in the thick cover. A loud bark will usually do the trick.

Successfully hunting coyotes in areas of thick woods and heavy cover offers unique challenges. Using these 10 simple tips will increase your chance of coyote hunting success.

Filed under: Rifles and Shotguns on May 13th, 2009