Two topics I'd like covered....

[Steve Gappa]

1) Time at location. While I know as i neverything it varies, you read that 15 minutes is more than enough, another says 1/2 hour is the time. WHAT is the average time spent calling- and in what circumstances do you call longer? Windy days, prime habitat, heavily hunted areas?

2) cold calling vs locating day, calling day. How important is it to locate coyotes one day, and call them the next...... vs just going out ot prime habitat.

I guess one more- is a calling dog valuable in ANY type of situation- heavy cover, open, bottoms, etc?

[Wiley]

GONG!

Too many questions Gappa Twappa! LOL!

Pick the one you want to discuss the most and we'll tackle it in the next day or so. I gotta run for now.

I tackled the dog issue tonight, I'll tackle the "what sounds and when" post when I get back and the one question you want answered the most. Hehehe! How do you like them apples?


~SH~

[trappnman]

welll then...........time at location.

[Wiley]

Time at the stand.............

First let's start out with the variables to consider, then I'll give you a generic answer.

1. Whether you expect bobcats or not. Cats "USUALLY" (no always) take longer to show up.

2. How far sound is traveling.

Obviously if the wind is blowing and sound is not traveling very far, you wouldn't have to stay on a stand very long.

If you can hear vehicle and livestock noises from a long ways away, you may want to put more time in.

3. If you had coyotes answer you from quite a ways off.

4. If you are simply using rabbit calls or combining howling. Howling carries further.

5. The quality of the "rabbitat" (coyote habitat) you are calling?

Could coyotes come from any distance or is the best coyote "rabbitat" within 1/2 mile?

6. How far can you visibly see coyotes approaching? If you can glass everything up to a mile, you probably don't have to stay very long.

7. Whether you are in a calling contest and want to get the most stands in you can or whether you have walked a long ways to a "cherry" stand and know that there is coyotes in the area and the sound is carrying a long ways.

A good excercise is to take a partner out with a portable two way radio and try the different sounds on a windy day and again on a calm day. Use different sounds facing your partner, sideways, and away from him at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, mile, etc. Try it from a straightline view and try it hidden down in a valley. This will teach you how far you can expect coyotes to hear you. Also test coyotes at different ranges in the off season. Start with soft sounds and work your way up until the coyote hears you. This will teach you what they can hear.

Now after all that, I will give you the short answer to adjust to your circumstances.

I stay 15 - 20 minutes depending on these variables on most stands. If I'm in cat country using cat sounds, I'll stay 25 minutes to 30 minutes.


~SH~

[Wiley]

T'man,

Please archive this under "time at the stand" after it dies down. Thanks!


~SH~

[blakcoyote]

For me it seems in the fall my response time is alot sooner than winter.Early in the season,I'm pretty confident if nothing shows in 15 min. nobody is coming.Usually during the early period most come in under 5 min.I'm talking coyotes,I've only called 1 cat so cant say much about them,the one that did show took 40 min. and the season was closed in Jan.Which brings me to winter,that cat came when I was talking to some coyotes that were a ways away.And thats usually how long I'll stay on stand in the winter,but usually 30 min tops,if I dont see or hear anything.I've found in the winter most coyotes here are coming in about the 15-20 min. mark and a few at the 25-30,even if they can run on top of the snow,it still takes that long.

As far as locating,I hunt areas I know they like to frequent or lay up which for me are fields that border river and creek corridors or woods that contain 3 year old clear cuts or older.In winter it gets narrowed down to these areas as well if they contain wintering deer,and cedar swaps and tamarack swamps that border potholes or frozen rivers or creeks.I find the frozen lakes or ponds and rivers that are linked to the tamarack and cedar swamps produce best around here in the dead of winter because of the food sources.And the frozen rivers with thick cover really shine during the breeding season,it seems the coyotes use them as highways this time of year,kinda like the beaver.I'm rambling now.

[SteveCraig]

The hand rule for calling bobcats is to stay on stand for 30 minutes.
But.....let me state that this is only a "hand rule". If you are calling in heavy timber, thick brush, high wind,etc. You are far better off staying on stand for not more than 10 to 12 minutes, then moving a much shorter distance and do it all over a gain. Your sound is just not traveling that far, and your success rates will skyrocket if you spend less time on stand, move shorter distance, and get more stands in , in a calling day. Percentages...........this is the name of the game! Again, I am talking bobcats. In more open type country where the sound is carrying real good, then give him more time to get to you.
Bobcats "hunt" their way to you. so do lions.
Also, you are far better off calling "constantly" than you are intermittent ly. Bobcats do get distracted, and can lose interest unless you keep the sound going. It is my belief that an e-caller is far better than handcals for bobcats. Plus many other advantages too numerous to mention here. A subject for another time.
Steve