Describe a normal call scenario....

[Captn C]

I would like a little info on how you guys do it.

You know...

How long before you give up on a spot?

Do you change calls while still in the same location?

How long between calling secquences?

OMT- To those who use a howler...describe a calling scenario using it.

Thanks guys!

 

[Rymart]

Normal for me...

OK, normal for me is the following:

-Find a nice looking area.
-walk in quietly and find a good place to sit.
-Usually an area with a good overlook/view.
-Usually with the wind either in my face or at least not at my back, but have tried that too.
-Set up the shooting sticks and get the rifle ready.
-Glass around and look for any rouge Yotes.
-range a few prominent landmarks and get a mental map/plan in place for potential shots.
-Let the area settle down a little.
-Start off with some howls, but have never had a dog answer...
-Then proceed to the distress calls in 1-3 minute sessions. with 3-5 minutes of silence between calls.
-Try to move as little as possible.
-Call and look around for 30 minutes.
-Get frustrated and leave.
-Repeat for several more stands.
-Go home swearing that I am going to give up Yote hunting for good this time!!!

*Repeat the sequence again on the following weekend... Seriously.

Yesterday I had a friend along and we started everything as described above, but we each chose a zone that we would watch to limit movement. Then on my first two howls the reed hung up on me cutting off the sound. I used a few descriptive words to express my displeasure with the reed, then switched to a distress call. About 30 seconds into the call sequence I was startled by what could only be described as a shootout scene in a Rambo movie coming from my friends direction. I spun around in time to see a yote dive into a gully about thirty yards away and my buddy cussing his jammed AR-15 (thats after getting 10 shots off!). When the yote left the gully at 300 yards on a dead run I tried to stop it by barking, to no avail, and then emptied my heavy varmint rifle (338 LM, not my normal rig) at it. I may have caused some shrapnal damage on one of the 3 shots, but otherwise it was unharmed.

Seriously though, yesterday was the exception and what was described above is pretty much normal for me. Ocassionally I do get a dog to come in, but not many. Guess I have a lot to learn.

 

[Rymart]

How long before you give up on a spot?

Do you change calls while still in the same location?

How long between calling secquences?

20 -30 minutes, less if the wind is blowing hard.

Didn't used to change calls during a sequence, but have been doing so a lot lately (mostly out of desperation). I've even been trying some chicken calls, racoon calls, pup yelps, fawn distress calls, anything.

Lately I've been shortening the calls (20 seconds to 2 minutes) and lengthening the wait between calls (2 - 5 minutes). I have a friend that calls continuously for 30 minutes straight, his eyes are watering at the end of most sessions. He gets more dogs than I do, FWIW.

Hope that helps...

 

[speedbump]

I set up pretty similar to Rymart. I also try to find an area that offers some clear shooting lanes downwind since 'yotes will try and circle you more often than not. When they do, you can catch them sneaking around your backside. It won't hurt to occasionally put your partner downwind of the call/ caller a bit to catch them at it.

Another thing that helps is to hunt harder when the ground has been frozen for several days. They are REALLY hungry then, since they have trouble digging mice out of the dirt and are much more mobile. It's better to let a promising spot wait for the right time, then hunt HARD all day, than to blow it and have the dogs become call shy. Also, I don't hunt 'yotes til well after deer season - they have PLENTY to eat from gut shot deer.

Since this is an LR forum, I'll share a technique that I recently heard of which sounds promising: dig a shallow hole and set 2-3 old straw bales around it. Periodically put some cracked corn in the hole and cover it lightly with dirt and loose straw. The dawgs will get accustomed to jumping the mice in the hole and wait on top of the bales peering over the lip of the hole ... as you sneak in with a partner several hundred yards away in an already ranged hide >>>>>>> BAM !

As for calls, one of the best from a recorder is "Tomcat In Distress," particularly in areas where house and barn cats roam. They make up a significant portion of 'yotes' diet in late winter. Be ready for a shot as soon as you turn it on. Other than that, use calls that others in your area are NOT. Yotes are smart, they get call shy very quickly. I recently started howling and have had moderate success at having them answer back. My theory on calling is different than most - get them interested then shut up for a while! If they're interested / hungry, they'll come looking.

 

[Captn C]

Thanks

I guess I have been calling too much. The ones I called in before came in very quickly..

Do you guys use the howler for locating? Like owl hooting when turkey hunting?

I know I'm not doing something right. We hear them every night and I have tried to call them in the areas where we hear them...and nothing shows up. Another possible problem I maybe creating is I totally disreguard of a coyotes down wind approach. Most of my set ups my down wind side is total brush.

Any more tips are welcome!

 

[zach93]

Coyote hunting is my favorite sport Everything said above is exactly right the only thing I do is have a guy on the down wind side.
And try to have a decoy.
Three weeks ago I had a coyote come in to the caller on a cow trail in a big canyon and as soon as the dog saw that decoy he was locked on dead sprint had to yell at him to stop when he stoped he was 3 feet from the decoy and locked on stairing at it the 22-250 dumped him.
A fether on a string can work or a battery operated decoy.
To locate coyotes you can use a siren get them howling and stalk in and use the distress call.
Have fun and pile them up.

Zach

 

[Bobcat]

Here is a link to an article on how to call coyotes from KSU. It is a bit dated, but not that much has changed.........

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/wldlf2/c400.pdf

Next, find a calling partner/mentor. You will flatten the learning curve much faster, call more, and have more fun.

Good Hunting,

Bob

 

[Captn C]

Thanks Bobcat! That was the kind of info I needed.The message is clear now seeing how everyone has stated the same thing....

I can see now that I was just lucky those first few times. I have been calling non stop for way too long. I call about half a 30 minute tape per setup...no breaks, just straight calling the whole time.

New questions....

Is about all the rabbit calls the same from one manufacturer to the next?

How many different calls do you really need?

So far I think a couple rabbits (cottontail and jack) and a howler....should I get more?