101stCurrahee
Well-Known Member
I imagine if a coyote pops his head out downwind from you looking you straight in the eyes that's probably the only chance you're going to get isn't it? I won't make that mistake again. Haha
Texas in the early 60's one rancher tied a stick of dynamite to one lit the fuse and let it loose it hid under his truck no more truck or coyote
I've moved away from electronics. I use it only hand calls. 3 to be exact. Electronics are nice but not necessary. I haven't used electronics for 20 years. Maybe I'm missing something as they've improved over the years. It's just alot less gear when walking miles into my set ups. I don't hunt coyotes this time of year. Too many other activities this time of year but around September thru April, I'm at it. Too much calling is only bad if your set up is bad. Bad wind kills more hunts than over calling. Bad set ups gets hunter busted more than over calling.A local competitive coyote hunter uses the same hand Cole over and over. Makes me wonder why I spent over $500 on a fox pro they are scared of lol.
Would you still use a decoy with a hand call? I'd assume they'd look at where the noise is coming from more than the decoy.Have not seen anyone mention a decoy; that helps a ton. I use bird distress calls almost exclusively, mostly the starling and woodpecker. Coyote pup distress is good too.
If you aren't bringing in birds of prey, you care doing something wrong. You mentioned glassing; not sure how much you are moving, but I don't even bring binos when coyote hunting - when coyote is moving, he is pretty easy to see.
One thing you may want to try is setting up in a super thick area where you can't see 30 yards and use a shotgun.
This particular one only presented his head. I was using a 3.5x acog and he was at 120 yards. Fairly easy shot....when you're not shaking like a leaf hahaha.Generally they are gone once they smell you but there are no absolute rules in calling coyotes. The coyote you saw 10 minutes later may been the same one or a different one. I've seen coyotes run off and then come back in. I've also had some bad buck fever when coyotes come in. I really enjoy watching them come into calls.
Even if the wind is good, I generally take the first good shot opportunity when they are 200 yards or less. I'm 99% confident I'll kill a none moving coyote that is 200 yards or less. I've hesitated too many times and ended up not getting a good shot opportunity when I had an easy shot at 150 or 200 yards. I've had coyotes smell me and spook as far as 600 yards, so if the wind is headed their direction, I'll shoot them at 300, 400 or any distance I feel confident that I'm unlikely to miss.
No usually if they get a nose full of human they're gone. When you setup always watch your downwind side.Has anyone ever had a coyote get downwind of you smell you disappear and then come back? This one clearly knew I was there. After he winded me I gave it about another 10 minutes before standing up and leaving. But once I did about 200 yards away I saw a coyote freak out and run. Just curious if it might've been the same one giving me another shot, or if there's no way once they smell you it's over.