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Post by Jason Cox on Nov 25, 2006 11:35:14 GMT -6
I know this has been on here before but do you callers set up in a small patch of woods with a Field then a big patch of woods on the back side or just set up in the woods. Also how important is it to play the wind
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Post by Steve Gappa on Nov 26, 2006 8:34:22 GMT -6
you guys have seen enough pics of our country here- open fields bordered by wood strips, then big ravines and bigger woods.
any specifics in setting up such locations? Do you expect to be more successful in the broken up areas- fields, strips, etc...or the bigger woods?
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Post by lb on Nov 26, 2006 10:39:49 GMT -6
This is such a big question, no pat answers. Ideally, you want to set up on sign, so it's hard to tell someone on the ground where to try it, especially during certain periods, dispersal, denning, etc.
Depending on pressure, they may be uncallable for the novice? I have seen areas where a coyote runs the other way when he hears a distress call, and when he sees a parked truck.
I have heard accounts from Minnesota hunters that have better luck with the spot and stalk. Best thing is to find another local coyote hunter and pick his brain....or travel to places where there are a lot of animals.
One thing for sure; "Also how important is it to play the wind" that is a point of major disagreement, hunt upwind or downwind.
Good luck, LB
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Post by Steve Gappa on Nov 26, 2006 11:49:41 GMT -6
I know the wind is an issue- I remember it was you and Wiley that had some good ones on the subject? In any case- I would tihnk- from a pure novice point of view- that the wind issue is twofold-
1) wind carries sound so upwind would reach farther
2) wind also carries scent
so the solution would be to hunt quartering winds? Or be able to see them before they smell you?
Our country here is small farms, scattered woodlots, set asides (combo of small trees, thick grasses) into wooded ravines.
so you have really 3 options- disreagarding wind- more o nthat later.
1) hunt with a vantage spot to call across the mixed fields and toward set sides
2) hunt the tops (or bottoms of the wooded ravines
3) hunt with a vantage point in the set aside calling towards the woods and ravines.
Or a mixture of all depending on wind?
Or is much of it like anything else- WHERE you stop depends on how many shooting lanes, etc.
Bottom line- if you were starting out all over- with good coyote knowledge but zero calling knowledge- how would you start out- trying to hunt this?
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Post by Jason Cox on Nov 26, 2006 14:47:39 GMT -6
I don't think we have alot of callers in our area just people driving around see a coyote and step off the road and shoot.The areas I will be hunting I know their are coyotes and you are correct on one thing when the hear me call the will run the other way.But it is a good challenge I need to try. So what info I get off here I will try and get rid of what doesn't work. Thanks Jason
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richc
Demoman...
Posts: 243
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Post by richc on Nov 26, 2006 18:40:17 GMT -6
Calling pressured coyotes in daytime means getting inside their comfort zone for one thing. This means getting back in the thick stuff, and the further from a public road you can get, the better your chances will be. Coyotes feel safe back in the thick stuff, and they tend to come real quick if they are gonna come. A good electronic caller will help you kill more of the coyotes that you call. If you can afford a good electronic caller with a remote control, you will soon have your friends wondering why you call and kill coyotes when nobody else around there can do it. For those coyotes that have heard the screaming rabbit blues too many times without getting dead, have learned to run when they hear it. (Run the other way, that is) Forget about the rabbit screams. Place your caller 50 yards or more cross-wind and play puppy squeals. Throw in a lonesome coyote howl or two. Need hurt pup or a couple of coyote vocals for your electronic caller? E mail cronkcalls@aol.com I send em via E mail for free when I have time. I am healing up from gall bladder surgery now, and won't be very far from home for another week or two.
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Post by lb on Nov 26, 2006 23:39:19 GMT -6
Well, yes. Scott knows his area and locates animals, then hunts them UPWIND.
In my areas, you always need to have a good shooting lane directly downwind because you cannot always see every animal approaching the stand, but you know where they will end up....downwind. Of course, I like to mist scent downwind, which holds them long enough for a shot. Actually, I sit crosswind with a good view downwind, but I also cold call most of the time. If you are locating, do it while actively hunting, not the night before. A coyote can move miles between locations, where his bedroom might be, and his hunting grounds. Other times, other places, that's not the case, they might be locked into a specific territory and won't cross boundaries.
It's never wrong to set up on sign, any kind of sign, tracks, scat, vocalizations, etc. I think a decoy might be an advantage to a new caller, but set it close to the far side of a clearing, not in the middle; let him work around the perimeter where you are likely to see him approach your decoy, and, you might try to be downwind from the decoy.
Good hunting. LB
PS I think Scott knows why I hunt downwind and I know why he hunts upwind.
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Nov 27, 2006 16:31:43 GMT -6
Wind and sun I take into account when setting up for coyotes. I want the coyotes looking into any sun on approach and want the wind in my favor. With an ecaller you can set it up and use terrain and wind to your advanatage, set up for those that do circle and have them right in your lap.
Approch is key if the coyotes see you then the wind or sun doesn't much matter. I would locate coyotes or knwo where they like to hunt or bed up and plan your entery into the area without being visualy seen. Another aspect to e callers is increased volume where I can be back some futher if terrain at that time or wind won't allow the best approach in close.
I have noticed with distress cries and coyotes that have been called a few times, if a guy can get into what I call there "comfort range", they will come on a string many times. This tatic is what really works well durring denning as well. I had an old female the other day teeth wron to the gum line, I called for no more than 45 seconds and out of a dry wash she came around the knob downwind of the sound, her only problem was I was another 50 yrds down wind of her D, I wss about 100 yrds from the caller. A great advantage of an e caller,a mouth call I would not have seen her due to terrain in the area and her circling out of line of site, with the ecaller I can set it up for my full advantages.
I can get by with less cover and laying prone on a higher elevation than the rest as well with an e caller. I like to keep the sound hidden from straight line of site and make them work the terrain to find the sound, while they maintain the wind advantage.
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Post by Dhat on Nov 27, 2006 20:31:15 GMT -6
one of the biggest tips i could advise is to know where your coyotes are at before you call. as lb mentioned someone doing i almost always locate my coyotes and then get in downwind of where they are at. i like it pretty open downwind but concentrate more on the area between me and them if you can get in pretty close to them without spooking them you get some pretty fast action sometimes. i shoot more coyotes upwind than downwing but it has alot to do with how i set up also. good post tc37
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Post by Ridgerunner on Dec 3, 2006 11:25:10 GMT -6
Dhat, and all, I know this is subjective, but can you expound some on "pretty close"?
I am in the East with highly broken terrain ... ie: old abandoned strip mines, with open woods and thickets, both above and below the mined area. I use topo maps and find spots that are least disturbed by highways, etc. My access to these areas is usually following the old strip roads via 4WD or ATV. Most of these spots can be approached from two or three directions, so wind is usually not a problem.
1. Assuming I am out of sight, how close do I dare take the vehicle to what has been determined to be a coyote core area/comfort zone?
2. In general, what would be a good distance from the core area to start the call?
I use an Ecaller with wireless remote. It is equiped with coyote vocalizations and prey distress.
3. Roughly how far from the gun should I place the caller? (I can comfortably shoot out to 250 yds, and maybe 300 in pristine conditions.)
Any and all input appreciated.
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Post by Dhat on Dec 3, 2006 12:23:34 GMT -6
ridge like you say highly subjective depends alot on your terrain. when i say i like to get close i should have said i like to get as close as the terrain will allow withough being noticed by the coyotes. i can usually get with 400 yards or so of where they are although if i dont like the setup i dont hesistate to be a good bit further. alot of times after locating them i will ease off and come back later thta day ive seen them start coming toward the siren and alot of times they will get on a vantage to try and see what the noise was all about if you went right in after they answered youll get busted some. as far as vehicle noise depends on the area alot as well im in a pretty populated area with lots of roads so the pickup doesnt seem to bother them as much however i do like to park it to where it cant be seen from an approaching coyote like in a low spot or thicket. when using ecaller i put it out upwind of me 40 or so yards usually but like i said most of my coyotes are shot before trying to circle because i know where they are coming from. that dont mean some dont come in from downwind though lol.
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Post by Ridgerunner on Dec 3, 2006 17:23:01 GMT -6
Thanks Dhat, that's what I was looking for. I like the Idea of 400 yards, when doable, but like you, I often set up furthur away to avoid detection. When I feel like I have done the set up properly, my confidence in the call goes way up.
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Post by romans117 on Dec 5, 2006 9:52:55 GMT -6
Excellent thread.
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