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Don_P

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I figure it’s about time I joined, I’ve been eavesdropping (and picking up some tips and information) for a month or so. I’m retired and located in the Hudson Valley region of NY. Got into coyote hunting last year. Trapped for many many years when fur prices were worth it, but this is only my second year of actually pursuing them with a rifle.

Haven’t tried calling yet, so far just a road kill bait pile “hunter sniper”. I “hunt” from a small out building which has a window view to my bait pile 153 yards away on the opposite side of a lake. I’ve been hanging a road kill deer carcass or two from a lakeside hemlock tree (otherwise they drag them off) and I’ll sit in the “house” and wait.

Since January I’ve gotten 6 after a dozen or so outings. Sometimes they just don’t show up like they’re supposed to. This morning I got trail camera pictures of 3 all at once visiting my bait at 11am, go figure. I’ve got 2 cell trail cameras watching the bait pile so I can keep tabs on when they are visiting.

My rifle of choice is my AR platform 204Ruger, (my own hand loads), optic is an AGM Spectrum 4k LRF, (awesome scope from Outdoor Legacy, who are some awesome people). I shoot from a BOG Death Grip tripod and use Sniper Hog Light IR lights. I also use an AGM Taipan 384 V2 hand held as a scanner as some coyotes are IR light shy and the thermal is much easier than swinging the rifle around..

I’ll share some pics and videos soon. I definitely welcome any tips or insight you guys can provide, especially regarding how to call them to me so I don’t have to wait, sometimes all night, for them to show up, which, more often than not just doesn’t happen, or they show up when I’m in bed. Don
 
Howdy Don. I believe you'll fit right in lol! As a matter of fact, there's been recent discussion on the forum about baiting. Looking forward to some pics!
 
Occasionally, especially after shooting a couple off a bait, the other coyote that have been hitting the bait will visit very late. That's when I will use a challenge howl. If I have shot a couple females, I will use female bark/howls. These will of course only work if the coyote are staying within hearing range of the bait. Remember the coyote will be able to pin point the call location if you repeat the vocalizations and may approach the caller first instead of the bait(possibly an hour or more after calling). Wind direction is also very important and you don't want coyote to pattern your use of the blind. A fresh beaver carcass(or pail of frozen muskrat carcass) can make coyote more aggressively visit a bait site. I also keep fresh frozen deer blood in the freezer as a change up at bait stations, if you put some up off the ground they can smell it from a long distance. There can be a very recognizable difference in body language of coyote when they approach, following scent of fresh deer blood. Shoot and kill singles as efficiently as possible, groups are easily educated when you kill or miss one when they are together. If a pair come in and I kill one clean I stay put for at least 2 hrs, the second may return. Especially if I hear howls or barks.
 
Welcome Don!

When I was running digital NV I had coyotes spooking occasionally to the IR. I don’t think it is the beam so much as the red glow of the 850NM led module in the light itself. I could see it glowing like a floating ball from a distance. I ran a Sniper Hog Light with a 940 NM led and it reduced detection/runoffs dramatically. I went with their “Turbo” module. Worked fine in the 50mm and 66mm head sizes easily out to 200 yards.
 
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spotstalkshoot said:
Occasionally, especially after shooting a couple off a bait, the other coyote that have been hitting the bait will visit very late. That's when I will use a challenge howl. If I have shot a couple females, I will use female bark/howls. These will of course only work if the coyote are staying within hearing range of the bait. Remember the coyote will be able to pin point the call location if you repeat the vocalizations and may approach the caller first instead of the bait(possibly an hour or more after calling). Wind direction is also very important and you don't want coyote to pattern your use of the blind. A fresh beaver carcass(or pail of frozen muskrat carcass) can make coyote more aggressively visit a bait site. I also keep fresh frozen deer blood in the freezer as a change up at bait stations, if you put some up off the ground they can smell it from a long distance. There can be a very recognizable difference in body language of coyote when they approach, following scent of fresh deer blood. Shoot and kill singles as efficiently as possible, groups are easily educated when you kill or miss one when they are together. If a pair come in and I kill one clean I stay put for at least 2 hrs, the second may return. Especially if I hear howls or barks.
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Thanks for the info. Very helpful. I have an electronic caller, a Fox Pro, but I’ve been reluctant to use it. My sit and wait tactic is working fairly reliably but…… My thinking is if I use the wrong vocal, or in the wrong way, all I’ll be doing is educating them. So until I have enough confidence in my ability I’ll keep reading and listening to those that know before I try it.

I always try and stay aware of wind direction their sense of smell is incredible, learned that quick from trapping them. They have been coming pretty regularly to the road kill bait, they just vary the time they arrive. The bait is hung up off the ground so they have to work a little to get a meal. Beaver is still open, maybe I’ll trap one and add it to the buffet see if they’d like a change in diet.

I think they are denning fairly close to where I hunt, within a mile or two. More often than not as soon as it gets dark they will fire up and begin barking and howling, getting everyone together I guess. Sometime they show up, sometimes they don’t. Usually just one, sometimes two. Where are the others? One night I killed an older female and the group, I don’t know how many, maybe 3 or 4, and which I never saw, immediately started howling their heads off just out of sight maybe 250 – 300 yards deeper in the woods. They kept that up for maybe 10 minutes. Very cool, but also very eerie sounding. They knew somehow she was dead.

I’ve experienced your last couple of tips first hand. Sage advice for sure. Thanks again!
 
hunt0168 said:
Welcome Don!

When I was running digital NV I had coyotes spooking occasionally to the IR. I don’t think it is the beam so much as the red glow of the 850NM led module in the light itself. I could see it glowing like a floating ball from a distance. I ran a Sniper Hog Light with a 940 NM led and it reduced detection/runoffs dramatically. I went with their “Turbo” module. Worked fine in the 50mm and 66mm head sized easily out to 200 yards.
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I was using SHL’s Hyperion 66 850nm and just recently bought the 940 lamp and a size 40 head, the difference from the 66 / 850 is very noticeable. The 40 works fine for my setup. Lights up 150+ yds no problem. I’ll post a video of a coyotes reaction to the IR light from one of my trail cams. Very enlightening. Thanks for your tips, I’m always willing to listen.
 
Pup coyote distress can be effective when coyote fire up after shooting one on a bait, or a regular calling set. When they are close as you described and I have experienced. The pup sounds don't need to be very loud, play for 20-30 seconds and mute it. Especially if the pack goes silent, it seems to be a coin flip if they will come in. I would wait 2 hrs for sure sitting on a bait site. Calling coyote I keep the pup sound running until ready to leave. Usually sit quietly for 10-15 minutes. Snow depth and temp/winds and the moon phase also are part of bait activity/visit times.
 
spotstalkshoot said:
Pup coyote distress can be effective when coyote fire up after shooting one on a bait, or a regular calling set. When they are close as you described and I have experienced. The pup sounds don't need to be very loud, play for 20-30 seconds and mute it. Especially if the pack goes silent, it seems to be a coin flip if they will come in. I would wait 2 hrs for sure sitting on a bait site. Calling coyote I keep the pup sound running until ready to leave. Usually sit quietly for 10-15 minutes. Snow depth and temp/winds and the moon phase also are part of bait activity/visit times.
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I'm going to give it a try this week. Put the caller near the bait or should I move it elsewhere?
 
When he looks to his right, that’s the trail camera flash. The bright light in the background is the IR light on my gun. He wasn’t too fond of that one either. The trail cam captured my light when it took the coyotes picture. That's what that tiny little red IR light looks like to something that can see infrared. Makes you wonder just how much IR they can see.
 
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