Coyote calling troubles

[Creedmoor shooter]

Hey all, i live in New Hampshire and i like to coyote hunt. Problem is, i can't seem to call any dogs in. I've only ever called in 2 dogs. I use a fox pro spit fire call. Am i doing something wrong or is the eastern coyote hard to call in? i would be grateful if someone could give me some pointers on what to do. Up to this point i've shot all my moon dogs off bait. Last winter took about 25-30 dogs off 1 bait station.

 

[dstark]

Coyotes can be frustrating, although it sounds like you've found a recipe that works! Give us some details about your typical calling setup, There's a ton of knowledge and experience on this site and I'm sure you could get some useful pointers.

A few tips that have helped me:
1- put some distance between you and your truck.
2- Stay on stand longer than you think you need to.
3- try to start off calling as close to where the dogs are at as possible, make it easy for them to come to the call. They'd rather not run a mile to check out a sound. (although sometimes they do) Maybe call somewhere close to your bait set.
4- Be persistent. In my experience, most sets are dry sets so keep trying cause they are out there.
5-if your area has a lot of hunting pressure try using sounds that other guys aren't using. The local dogs may be educated on cottontail distress.
6-Get there EARLY. I see the most coyotes out when it's just barely light enough to shoot.

You already have a real advantage in that you obviously know where they are located or at least areas they are frequenting. Good luck!

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Thanks for the pointers! My typical set up is on powerlines. In my area they cross the powerlines alot. I also set up around corn fields along the Connecticut River. Im right in the Connecticut river valley. My typical call that i use is a snowshoe hare in distress because thats the kind we have around here. There is little to no hunting pressure around here for coyotes. My typical stand set is about an hour. How much should i call? I've never really known how much to call. I usually call for about 3-5 min. then give it a 3-5 min break. Is this any where near correct? I appreciate any help!

 

[westcliffe01]

What time of day do you hunt ? Generally, unless it is freezing out and the coyotes are starving, you will not see them after 9am.

Coyotes will stay in cover. If you are expecting them to come out in the open, that is already a red flag to a coyote. Forget about seeing the stuff you see in the videos from out west, thats not going to happen in the eastern US where coyotes have closer contact to people and where they have a better food supply.

What I have found to work best is to go out more than an hour before dawn, when it is good and black, then pick a stand that you can approach from downwind very quietly, get in position then sit still while waiting for it ti get light. As soon as there is enough shooting light (sun still below the horizon), get to calling. If the rabbit sounds don;t work, try pup distress and if that doesn't work, try coyote vocalizations (barks, growls, howls etc). Right about that time, many coyotes are headed back to their dens and may bump into coyotes from other clans and thus it is not unusual to have some vocalizations at that time of the day. Not nearly the same as what you get at 11pm at night, but you still have it.

You will need a lot of patience and will need to be highly disciplined in your technique to succeed in the eastern US. Sound and scent will bust you every time. If you move they will see you. Do you wear something to cover most of your face and gloves on your hands? People tend to forget that hands can look like flags from 300ft away. When you move your head, do it slowly. Snapping your head left to right will have you busted in no time.

I was one sitting in a fence line with a camo net draped over myself. I was calling with a hand call. A coyote came out a thicket and spotted me from 400+ yards away. I could not see him, but I was already busted. The farmer was at his barn and could see both of us, and saw the coyote come out and sit down and watch me before it finally went back from where it came.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

What time of day do you hunt ? Generally, unless it is freezing out and the coyotes are starving, you will not see them after 9am.

Coyotes will stay in cover. If you are expecting them to come out in the open, that is already a red flag to a coyote. Forget about seeing the stuff you see in the videos from out west, thats not going to happen in the eastern US where coyotes have closer contact to people and where they have a better food supply.

What I have found to work best is to go out more than an hour before dawn, when it is good and black, then pick a stand that you can approach from downwind very quietly, get in position then sit still while waiting for it ti get light. As soon as there is enough shooting light (sun still below the horizon), get to calling. If the rabbit sounds don;t work, try pup distress and if that doesn't work, try coyote vocalizations (barks, growls, howls etc). Right about that time, many coyotes are headed back to their dens and may bump into coyotes from other clans and thus it is not unusual to have some vocalizations at that time of the day. Not nearly the same as what you get at 11pm at night, but you still have it.

You will need a lot of patience and will need to be highly disciplined in your technique to succeed in the eastern US. Sound and scent will bust you every time. If you move they will see you. Do you wear something to cover most of your face and gloves on your hands? People tend to forget that hands can look like flags from 300ft away. When you move your head, do it slowly. Snapping your head left to right will have you busted in no time.

I was one sitting in a fence line with a camo net draped over myself. I was calling with a hand call. A coyote came out a thicket and spotted me from 400+ yards away. I could not see him, but I was already busted. The farmer was at his barn and could see both of us, and saw the coyote come out and sit down and watch me before it finally went back from where it came.

I usually hunt early morning or late at night. And no i dont wear anything for my face but i do wear gloves. I went out tonight where i knew there was some coyotes in a hardwood/soft wood bottom but had no luck. I do try to stay downwind from where i think they will come and also stay downwind from my stand when a walk in. I'm gonna start hunting wooded areas instead of wide open and see if that doesn't turn the tables for me. What call works best for you? And will changing sounds screw me up?

 

[yote doctor]

My friend in ND has been out calling 7 times now this year with not one coyote called in yet. And not to fool you he is a very successful caller. Just one of those years so far. My point is you mite be doing most thing right but the dogs are just not responding the way you would expect them too.

Keep after them and like one guy said. Dont be afraid to change up sounds. And dont think you have to use animal sounds from your area or state. You can call them in many ways.

My first day calling is tomorrow. Day after a storm can be rewarding!

Hope it picks up for you and let us know how it turns out.

 

[westcliffe01]

Yep, if you wanted something easy, you picked the wrong hobby......

 

[matthfr]

During hunting season coyote callings gets tough, I have had a lot of success just howling start off with a serenade or greeting howl, a lot of people have fox pros so you might have luck with a different caller, I prefer the WT mighty atom, its expensive but its just downright a killer, stay on a set for at least 30 minutes or longer,most coyotes I get are after the 20 minute mark.also use a decoy, both a critter and a coyote, in my opinion its the biggest difference maker.