Couple of Links for New Predator Hunters & Experienced Hunters as Well
- Thread starter hm1996
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hunt0168
Well-known member
I have been neurotically hunting the woods and fields of NY for over 40 years. I have successfully snuck up on numerous deer, crept in on feeding turkey, and managed to successfully put myself in positions to shoot a couple coyotes that I seen mousing in fields while deer hunting. In those 40+ years I have seen 1 bedded coyote here in NY. It was bedded along a drainage ditch with the wind at its back as Medic Joe consistently points out. However, contradictory to what Joe keeps saying, this coyote was facing a fairly steep uphill bank with trees and brush literally right in front of it, and just across the ditch. Probably a 20’ to 30’ rise up to another open cow pasture.
Guess it’s just another case of never say always or never? Sample size of 1, so in no way any kind of solid, analytical proof of anything. Just one coyote that probably didn’t read the rules? I was toting a 17hmr at the time. I took a 75 yard shot at the back of its head and missed. Winds were cranking and probably blew that 17 grain pill off target? It disappeared instantly into the thick brush and trees across that ditch in a flash.
But the bigger point here is the fact that most of the terrain features of my area are just not conducive to spotting coyotes and stalking them. That’s why I use calls. Many of Joe’s pics are from a vehicle, at great distances, of coyotes bedded in the wide open. I would say around me, I would have a better chance of seeing a Sasquatch riding a Unicorn.
Guess it’s just another case of never say always or never? Sample size of 1, so in no way any kind of solid, analytical proof of anything. Just one coyote that probably didn’t read the rules? I was toting a 17hmr at the time. I took a 75 yard shot at the back of its head and missed. Winds were cranking and probably blew that 17 grain pill off target? It disappeared instantly into the thick brush and trees across that ditch in a flash.
But the bigger point here is the fact that most of the terrain features of my area are just not conducive to spotting coyotes and stalking them. That’s why I use calls. Many of Joe’s pics are from a vehicle, at great distances, of coyotes bedded in the wide open. I would say around me, I would have a better chance of seeing a Sasquatch riding a Unicorn.
GC
Well-known member
Perzactly...
Spurchaser
Well-known member
Y’all’s timber and brush are different than ours, lol. When you can be 30ft up a tree in the open pines and still have deer slip up close enough for a bow shot before you even spot them, then there’s no way you’re spotting a coyote from the ground. That’s just the areas I hunt. Now head to the swamps and thickets and it gets worse. When our coyotes bed up or den up, it’s not in the open, they’re tucked in tight to cover.
All animals down here will lay with their backs to the wind and facing the direction they can’t hear. Unless it’s only coyotes and fox that do it out West. That’s something that was taught when we were kids learning to hunt.
All animals down here will lay with their backs to the wind and facing the direction they can’t hear. Unless it’s only coyotes and fox that do it out West. That’s something that was taught when we were kids learning to hunt.
hunt0168
Well-known member
My experience with woods calling is all daytime calling. And I’ll admit I don’t do it often. My success to effort ratio would get me fired if I was paid to do it! Lol…
In hilly, mountainous terrain like GC posted, I try to stay higher up on ridges, calling primarily into lower bowls and valleys. As for scouting, I look for places of heavy cover, around beaver ponds, creek bottoms etc where coyotes would be more apt to hunt mice and rodents. Coyotes utilize game trails just like everything else when in heavy cover. Hunt them using terrain features, thermals and wind direction in your favor. In winter take advantage of south facing slopes where they may bed down taking advantage of the sun. Often times a shotgun is better medicine, but rifles can be utilized in more open hardwoods. I’m generally a solo coyote hunter but I think a second person further downwind would be very beneficial in heavy cover to pick up circling coyotes.
I have seen a few successful night videos utilizing thermals in the woods, but not many. Pretty sure PA.Mick has pulled it off once or twice I think it’s a situation where you might get just inside the woodline to try and nab a stubborn coyote or two that are reluctant to break the edge of cover into the open. I don’t personally know anyone that goes deep at night.
Well here is whats up with 3 counties I hunt. There are numerous very large timber tracts of land. I do scan the outer portions from the roadway. Looking for walkers, but mostly bedded coyotes I can sneak up on. However, I have only walked into 1 large timber track with one of my brothers. A very large canine kicked up adjacent to me(To my up-wind area). I don't know whether it was a wolf or coyote hybrid. Because it was very large. Regardless I never got a shot of because he was flying though the timber. I focus on scanning the outer edges of timber. But mostly the open hills. I HAVE seen a number of coyotes bedded down on the outer edges of large timber tracks. Fact is MOST coyotes prefer a panoramic view. Such as, out on the open hills/meadows or whatever you want to call them. IF...heavy timber is all I had within my hunting range. I would scan the outer edges. Once all of the leaves have fallen. And of course, if the timber ground had snow. It would be much better for spotting them. IF...I spent most of my hunting time IN heavy timber. I would focus on calling adjacent to logging roads or 2 tracks that cut deep into heavy timber. One more point about hunting coyotes in timber. With blizzard type of days or heavy snow & high winds. MOST coyotes avoid open hill areas. They will stick to timber tracks. Timbered creek bottom & timbered river bottoms. I see that MOST every Winter. Another point I will make about coyotes & timber. "Once deer SHOTGUN season is in full force". MOST coyotes that often utilize timber to hunt & bed. JUST like deer. Will often be found on open hilly terrain adjacent to those timber tracts. However...If the wind is ripping, especially with blowing snow. They will seek timber to cut that wind off of their body. They will also bed down & spend the vast majority of their time on the down wind slopes.....Timber or open hills. They will still spend the vast majority of their time. On the down wind side/slopes of hilly terrain.
A still pic I captured from a video many yrs ago. Camera is facing directly into a 20mph +/- North West wind. This is a territorial pair of coyotes. I seen numerous times over continued Winters. When ever the wind was from the North West. I often seen them laying in almost the same exact spot, give or take so many feet radius. My point to all of my posted pictures of bedded canines is. They do the same exact thing in timbered areas. Their behavior is text book. When it comes to wind direction & bedding down. As I've stated numerous times prior. You could add ground cover OR timber. It would not change. That they prefer wind at their back side. I post my pictures to educate the less experienced coyote hunters. Because it is so important to know. In order to have a chance at a coyote. I also emphasize being as quiet as a stalking cat. While walking into an area. Where you know where a coyote is or may be. Stay hidden on the way in. Be stealthy quiet. And use the wind to your advantage.
hunt0168
Well-known member
Medic Joe, I am not in any way debating your findings or beliefs. Your information is useful, so please don’t take what I’m saying as argumentative. The bulk of your pictures are void of any of the terrain features that I encounter here in NY. It almost looks like you can’t grow a tree there! Lol.
The majority of my coyote calling is done in very diverse terrain. Pretty much every kind of terrain you can think of. Lots of smaller properties. Fields… hayfields, pasture land, row crops etc. Most are bordered by some form of timber or have woodlots within them that hold coyotes. We have rolling hills and valleys. Conifer swamps and hardwood ridges. Our largest agricultural croplands rarely hit a few hundred continuous acres. Coyotes around here are very rarely spotted out in the open during daylight hours, bedded or moving.
As has been mentioned, pretty much any animal that relies on scent to alert it of danger will bed with wind at their backs. When they do this within the timber it takes away that spotting and stalking element that you employ. That isn’t to say that you can’t use what you’re saying in calling situations.
The majority of my coyote calling is done in very diverse terrain. Pretty much every kind of terrain you can think of. Lots of smaller properties. Fields… hayfields, pasture land, row crops etc. Most are bordered by some form of timber or have woodlots within them that hold coyotes. We have rolling hills and valleys. Conifer swamps and hardwood ridges. Our largest agricultural croplands rarely hit a few hundred continuous acres. Coyotes around here are very rarely spotted out in the open during daylight hours, bedded or moving.
As has been mentioned, pretty much any animal that relies on scent to alert it of danger will bed with wind at their backs. When they do this within the timber it takes away that spotting and stalking element that you employ. That isn’t to say that you can’t use what you’re saying in calling situations.
I didn't think you were debating me. My last few posts. Were aimed at "new coyote hunters mainly". Maybe some older hunters? I can't say. The older hunters are on their own. As to how they hunt. As for coyote or Red Fox behaviors. I want to make it clear to young hunters. It doesn't matter much as to ground cover or timber or whatever. Both canines prefer to be out of the wind, ie; Be in ground covered areas. IMO 90% of the time any given day time. They seek or will be in cover areas. However, never say never as that saying goes. I've seen both canines out on the open hills. On brutally cold winter days -30 WC days. Both bedded down & on the move or milling around. I've been on 2 hunts. Where I shot at 1 bedded coyote(out of 2). Whereas 3 other coyotes were within 50-60 yrds or so of those 2 exposed coyotes. The 3 other coyotes. Were completely buried UNDER hard pack blizzard driven snow. When I shot at one of the exposed coyotes. The 3 buried coyotes busted up out of the hard pack snow. All of the runners formed a tight string as they hauled a** North bound. One other hunt the next day after a blizzard. I parked on a high hill top. Stood by my truck & glassed 360. As I panned to my East. In a draw 1/4 mile away. Up through the hard pack snow. Popped a coyote's head. While still buried except for it's head. It panned around. Then finally climbed up & out of that snow drift. I wished I had that on video. Because it shown. How hardened a coyote can be. Bedding down out on an open hillside during & after a harsh blizzard.
Spurchaser
Well-known member
About the only time I could “possibly” spot a coyote is during burn season. That’s also the best time and places to set traps and thermal hunt for visibility.
If I ever head West this thread will be read and reread. But that’s what makes this site so valuable. Coyotes will be coyotes, it’s just that what works in some areas won’t work in others. The concept is there and solid, just no way down here to “prove” it. It doesn’t get cold enough here for critters/predatos to seek shelter from the wind and cold. It still doesn’t trump natural instincts of animals to bed with their backs to the wind..
Now our “wooded” areas which we call drains/bottoms/swamps are where everything hangs out to get cool during the Summer months and they’re warmer during the Winter months. We don’t have a lot of “big” fields where I get to hunt/trap. And where we do, I only pick areas to call when they border or at least in close proximity to those thicker areas. Now all that goes out the window when we burn because EVERYTHING loves a burn. Seeds are exposed for the prey and prey that didn’t survive the fire are easy meals for the predators. Plus the fact the prey are there as well. Heck, I’ve seen snakes leave the brush to head into a burn while it’s still burning.
Are coyotes seen during daylight here? Yes, but only on cameras or if you happen to be in the right spot at the right time. Heck, that’s how we pick some calling locations. If we spot a coyote crossing a rod right after sunup or before sundown we can sorta figure where he’s heading or coming from and be within close proximity when deciding to call at night. I’ve got one now that’s coming from what appears to be off the property. Don’t know if he’s making a big loop and I’m catching him heading home or if he is just out looking for a potential home or mate. Again, even if I didn’t want to kill him, there’s no setting up and spotting him from a distance in our landscape. These jokers are hard enough spitting with a thermal, much less the naked eye or even the use of optics.
If I ever head West this thread will be read and reread. But that’s what makes this site so valuable. Coyotes will be coyotes, it’s just that what works in some areas won’t work in others. The concept is there and solid, just no way down here to “prove” it. It doesn’t get cold enough here for critters/predatos to seek shelter from the wind and cold. It still doesn’t trump natural instincts of animals to bed with their backs to the wind..
Now our “wooded” areas which we call drains/bottoms/swamps are where everything hangs out to get cool during the Summer months and they’re warmer during the Winter months. We don’t have a lot of “big” fields where I get to hunt/trap. And where we do, I only pick areas to call when they border or at least in close proximity to those thicker areas. Now all that goes out the window when we burn because EVERYTHING loves a burn. Seeds are exposed for the prey and prey that didn’t survive the fire are easy meals for the predators. Plus the fact the prey are there as well. Heck, I’ve seen snakes leave the brush to head into a burn while it’s still burning.
Are coyotes seen during daylight here? Yes, but only on cameras or if you happen to be in the right spot at the right time. Heck, that’s how we pick some calling locations. If we spot a coyote crossing a rod right after sunup or before sundown we can sorta figure where he’s heading or coming from and be within close proximity when deciding to call at night. I’ve got one now that’s coming from what appears to be off the property. Don’t know if he’s making a big loop and I’m catching him heading home or if he is just out looking for a potential home or mate. Again, even if I didn’t want to kill him, there’s no setting up and spotting him from a distance in our landscape. These jokers are hard enough spitting with a thermal, much less the naked eye or even the use of optics.
Spurchaser
Well-known member
Here’s a video from 30ft up in a climber…you’re not seeing anything from the deck. The “trail” you see the deer on is what’s called blocking. We block to give the quail hunters areas to walk when the dogs go on point.
GC
Well-known member
Go over to the Calling in the East sub-forum. There are some consistently good callers over there that hunt this terrain exclusively and know what they're talking about.