Can you make any stand (forget the wind)

I don’t often see Al Morris hunting in areas remotely close to what we have in the Northeast. I have to pay attention to the wind. Beyond that, I have to know how the terrain features impact the wind beyond where I’m setting up. Wide open spaces can free up some of the challenges of wind direction for coyote hunters. Shrink that effective range down a bunch and wind direction becomes a very critical point of concern!
 
For me, one of the surest things ive seen coyotes do is depend on their nose the more the wind is blowing. On windy nights the coyotes are going to travel further down wind and be more sure to come from downwind. Im in thicker areas, on real calm nights they can come from anywhere, especially if you sneak in and they are near, if its a steady 12+mph wind they are going to be circling at least 100 yards down wind.

Every stand, sitting location and call location can change by wind. I hunt plenty with the wind to my back, if the wind is coming from 6oclock you can set the call at 12oclock and have open land to your 12 and hopefully coyotes ether your 3 or 9 oclock, Ive had plenty of luck with that and once they break cover they use their eyes more than nose and hopefully visible before downwind. If you can get your call far away you can have better luck with facing into the wind, too many times coyotes get behind me.
 
Down here unless the wind at night is at least 3mph, preferably 5mph, you can bet your yearly salary it will change on you.
Even with a 5+mph wind just because it might say East, the area you go to it may be South. The slightest tree line or dip in the landscape can change it. I’ve checked it after stepping out at the truck and get to where I’m wanting to be and it be a completely different wind. Get back to the truck and it seems perfect, lol. The joys of the South.
 
Spurchaser said:
Down here unless the wind at night is at least 3mph, preferably 5mph, you can bet your yearly salary it will change on you.
Even with a 5+mph wind just because it might say East, the area you go to it may be South. The slightest tree line or dip in the landscape can change it. I’ve checked it after stepping out at the truck and get to where I’m wanting to be and it be a completely different wind. Get back to the truck and it seems perfect, lol. The joys of the South.
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It’s not just the south Mark. Same thing applies here in the northeast. It’s what I meant by wide open terrain freeing up the challenges a bit. And those very calm nights with a light breeze are extra tough. Breeze might be coming out of the west, but when it stops blowing, the thermals can pull your scent in the complete opposite direction.

To what Big Al morris said… my guess is that it is completely situational. A guy that has been killing piles of coyotes for years flat out knows what a coyote's nose is capable of. Al isn’t going to setup stupidly when it really matters.
 
The wind often switches anyways during the stand, For me its mainly just a factor in how I approach the stand walking in and of course calling direction. Some stands the wind just sucks to make them. Other times you not sure how the stand is actually going to be till you walk out there. in which case you're there and might as well take what is given to you.

when its spot and shoot time. its impossible to worry too much about the wind. The wind will dictate, if you aren't ready to shoot before they get there. They can also be winding the caller or the truck which sometimes isnt thought about. Other times I have felt a decent stiff breeze blowing right at a coyote. it turns out the wind isn't blowing in that direction exactly where the coyote is despite you thinking it is. There are times to worry about wind and it should always be a factor
 
steve garrett said:
Other times I have felt a decent stiff breeze blowing right at a coyote. it turns out the wind isn't blowing in that direction exactly where the coyote is despite you thinking it is. There are times to worry about wind and it should always be a factor
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Yes, just because the wind is from one direction where you are doesn't mean it is blowing same downrange. Shooting matches I have seen wind flags blowing three different directions a pits, 600 yard line and 1000 yd. firing line. I'm sure that is the case at hunting ranges, you just don't have wind flags to measure speed or determine directions when hunting.
 
old cat said:
I always want the wind in my face. Don't always work because of shifting wind. Usually here you can't see behind you & if coyotes are educated you can bet they will come in behind you. No wind they come straight in usually. Wind here is your enemy you never know when it will circle.
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I would like to figure this out, and I need to change things up, the coyotes at my place know me better than I do by now.

Im confused with having the wind in your face and not being able to see behind you. What sort of terrain and how far do you usually have the call out?
 
Rock Knocker said:
Im confused with having the wind in your face and not being able to see behind you. What sort of terrain and how far do you usually have the call out?
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When I set up facing the wind, I prefer to have the call as far out as terrain allows, limited by remote range.....about 100 yards max. Probably average 40 yards. I hate to have to go back and move the call when no connectivity! This gives the coyote room to try and circle downwind of the call, hopefully exposing himself between me and the call, but I prefer setting up with wind across my shoulder as illustrated below.

The areas I hunt are relatively flat, heavy brush (green) w/roller chopped openings (brown) which are usually covered w/regrowth of varying height or in wet years, up to knee high grass. This particular satellite picture was the first coyote hunt with my M1 Garand.

Drive up the east fence, hide jeep in brush between the two adjacent senderos, partner positions himself to watch north sendero (D) and I cover the south (M) after walking out 40-50 yards to place call.
Star represents the first coyote for the M1. Prevailing winds SE>NW or NW>SE.
1738943823755.jpeg

Variation of same setup, drive in from the south, stop at intersection, lean out of jeep and set call (C) on the way in, this leaves no scent trail setting up call to cobble things up. After dropping off the call (which is 100 yards from my intended position) let my partner out north of the call (D), head back to outer fence where I hide the jeep (J) and walk in (x). Critters usually come from the north from heavier brush (arrow & lightning bolt), but partner has shot them approaching call from the south on roadway from this setup when wind out of the NW.

1738940865318.jpeg
 
Lots of great advice and experiences on this thread.

For me, hunting Colorado, I always watch the wind. Always.

For example, I used to have a 710 acre, private duck hunting club that let me coyote hunt on it, and I hunted it for over 20-25 years. After a few years of hunting it, I saw a pattern of where the coyotes usually came from, and I figured those areas were most likely denning/loafing areas.

By the way, this 710 acres always had 3 pairs of coyotes on it. When I killed 2-3 of them, within a couple of weeks, the vacancies were filled.

So, knowing the lay of the land and where the coyotes spent most of the daylight hours, I would only hunt that property when the wind was right which was a N to S wind.

If you hunt the same properties, like I do, keep notes on each hunt, especially wind direction, and hopefully you can see a pattern of wind direction vs. coyote sightings.

I only hunt daytime. I like to get out in the field by the crack of 9am. I used to like to get into my first stand of the day in the dark, and then noticed that my first stand before dawn was not usually productive. I suspect that while I was walking in the dark, coyotes would see me and not come to the call.

Now, by arriving well after sun up, the coyotes have had a chance to find a spot to sleep for the day, and are less likely to see me get into position.
 
Rock Knocker said:
I would like to figure this out, and I need to change things up, the coyotes at my place know me better than I do by now.

Im confused with having the wind in your face and not being able to see behind you. What sort of terrain and how far do you usually have the call out?
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Most places here are not very large, usually must set with your back to the woods. Some places you can see behind, but not many. Alot of the places are only 60 or so yards wide, but several hundred yards long. 60 yards or so for the call. You cannot count on the wind staying steady here, it does a lot of swirling.
 
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The only thing I would leave you with is to study thermals. Wherever you set up, if the wind is in your face, just a short distance away it will be blowing in the opposite direction. Just watch the weather on TV. Thermals have the same properties as a hurricane. I used to fly RC gliders. The best RC and full size glider pilots could read the wind (thermals) to catch the lift on the wings. You might miss a coyote downwind, but you always can work the upwind and the left and right side coyotes
 
I hate hunting coyotes on days that the wind is swirling or changing directions. I like getting coyotes to 150 yards away or less. Around here the coyotes do not circle around to the down wind side very often at all.

I like shooting coyotes at less than 40 yards away with my shotgun way more than I like to shoot coyotes at over 200 yards away with a rifle.

I don't call coyotes if the wind is at my back. In the country I call coyotes in, it makes no sense to me, to intentionally call coyotes in on the downwind side where I know they can smell me or my e-caller.
 
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