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Coyote Tricks Of A Spot And Stalk Guy |
Coyote Tricks Of A Spot And Stalk GuyBy Michael Johnson
©Copyright 2009, The Varmint Hunters Association, Inc.
Thought it time I write again for TVHM. It’s been a number of years. First of all I’ve hunted coyotes for 38 years now in western Montana after a few years learning how to hunt fox in Indiana with a couple of old timers. Throughout my many years here and 2,300-plus critters, I’ve learned a few little tricks as a result of a ton of days and years of being in the field with them. Happy to share a few tricks with the readers of this fine publication.
I have always thought that for every smart fox, there’s a dumb one, but not so with coyotes. Coyotes seem to be always more on the alert, more suspicious and focused at greater distances. Another advantage is that their eyes are located a few more inches above the ground.
I’m a spot and stalk kinda guy, calling a little but walking and glassing a lot. Probably 2,000 of the coyotes taken have been in this manner. When I came out here from Indiana in 1969 all I knew back then was how to go out and look for fox, and then coyotes later. Actually tried calling a few times in those first couple of years with no luck, so just forgot the idea.
One thing I learned many years ago was that while driving back roads (or even a highway) and seeing what I thought was a distant or sleeping coyote was to not slow down, but to keep driving at the same engine speed. I would just tap the horn lightly and watch. If it was a critter, its head would come up or I’d see movement. Over the years I don’t believe I’ve ever had a coyote get up and leave in this situation. I‘d just drive up the road a little farther and out of sight and sound, then sneak back for the kill.
I’ve learned when I’m spotted by an out-of-range curious coyote to not stop and/or give it a frontal position, but to keep walking looking out of the corners of my eyes. I walk over the nearest hill, then attempt to sneak back just out of sight. I’ve also walked in a slightly inward spiral getting closer until the distance seems right. Near that point while still walking I’d put down the legs on the bipod, then stop, get down, and find the critter in my scope. Getting down seems to really grab its attention. Once I’m down I need only two to three seconds to aim and fire.
I have been given away by many, many deer over the years of hunting the open country. To avoid deer seeing me while heading toward a sleeping or mousing coyote, I walk out of my way to maintain concealment from the deer as well as the coyote. But if I’m detected by the deer, the critter takes notice and runs in nearly the same direction as the deer. Even deer with their heads up looking in my direction will get a coyote’s attention.
But by the same token deer often alert me to the presence of a coyote or coyotes in the area, either by fleeing or standing with eyes affixed, ears up and pointed forward. Whitetails will often flag.
I know that many critter hunters will give a “bark,” or something that resembles a bark, to stop a coyote for a shot. I’ve always used just a sharp “hey.” Always seems to work for me on an unsuspecting coyote. But possibly a bark may work better if the coyote is running from what it thinks to be danger. And a coyote when heading the other way will always turn and stop with a broadside profile when it wants to look in the direction of trouble … count on it! I’ve had many times when I’ve jumped a coyote or blown a sneak. I’ll always quickly get down on my trusty bipod and get ready for a shot when it stops. If I’m not quite ready I’ll just wait until it stops again. Very seldom do I shoot, or need to shoot, at a running coyote.
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