Finding coyote bedding areas

There are different ways people would go about hunting that. Personally, after looking at this map, I would disregard the idea of trying to locate their bedding areas and instead assume they are there. It's challenging to gauge the size of the area I'm looking at. The scale bar in the lower right indicates 300 meters, but the width of the highline right-of-way and the terrain features make the area appear much larger. If this area is approximately 2 miles across, that would be over 3,200 meters, which doesn't align with the scale bar.

I would not hunt coyote locations, I would hunt locations to call coyotes into. My attention keeps being drawn to these terrain breaks with a south wind, where I would setup to call them out of or to the edge of the woodline.

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I would also consider the highline right of way. If it is a mile long, I would identify two or three spots to set up stands with a southerly wind, positioning myself on the northern edge.

These points also catch my eyes as potential spots to setup;

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Using satellite imagery for scouting is just a starting point. I prefer to actually see the area from ground level to evaluate vegetation height and to identify points of elevation that offer a good vantage. As Dave mentioned, this would be a tough place to hunt. I would leave feeling as though I called in more coyotes that I didn’t see than those I actually spotted. I would start with the imagery, then venture out to locate stand setups and drop pins. After that, I’d return when the wind conditions are favorable, make my stands, and then set that whole area aside for a few months or for natural changes in the coyote life cycle before going back. I would put more effort into finding fresh ground, rather than hammer the same spot.
 
Newpond0 said:
Thank you Dave. I always find scats, but tracks without snow are tough to find as it’s either rocky, moss, or wet bog. This year I’m gonna incorporate some early AM/late PM howls to double check after scouting to see if I’m on the right track or if they’re in totally different places than I thought.
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It occurs to me reading this. If tracks are hard to find, beds are going to be even harder to find. If you can't see track, and I believe you that you can't in that terrain, I think you could probably sit down to take a rest right in a coyote bed and not recognize it.

I really relate with what Jeremy just posted. I don't think of calling coyotes as me going to them, I think of it as me calling them to me, where I choose. Of course they have to be within earshot, and they also need to be "callable", but that's what I'm trying to do. Jeremy's point about not hitting the same hammered area over and over goes to that "callable" point and it's a very important point.

- DAA
 
Infidel 762 said:
There are different ways people would go about hunting that. Personally, after looking at this map, I would disregard the idea of trying to locate their bedding areas and instead assume they are there. It's challenging to gauge the size of the area I'm looking at. The scale bar in the lower right indicates 300 meters, but the width of the highline right-of-way and the terrain features make the area appear much larger. If this area is approximately 2 miles across, that would be over 3,200 meters, which doesn't align with the scale bar.

I would not hunt coyote locations, I would hunt locations to call coyotes into. My attention keeps being drawn to these terrain breaks with a south wind, where I would setup to call them out of or to the edge of the woodline.

View attachment 12697

I would also consider the highline right of way. If it is a mile long, I would identify two or three spots to set up stands with a southerly wind, positioning myself on the northern edge.

These points also catch my eyes as potential spots to setup;

View attachment 12698
Using satellite imagery for scouting is just a starting point. I prefer to actually see the area from ground level to evaluate vegetation height and to identify points of elevation that offer a good vantage. As Dave mentioned, this would be a tough place to hunt. I would leave feeling as though I called in more coyotes that I didn’t see than those I actually spotted. I would start with the imagery, then venture out to locate stand setups and drop pins. After that, I’d return when the wind conditions are favorable, make my stands, and then set that whole area aside for a few months or for natural changes in the coyote life cycle before going back. I would put more effort into finding fresh ground, rather than hammer the same spot.
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Thank you Jeremy! This area is actually just behind my house and from home (just out of picture to the right of the trail) to the cabins (just out of the picture on the trail to the left) and back showed up around 9km on my gps, that was why I thought that number. I’m off tomorrow and gonna scout again, especially the 2nd set of pictures and probably walk that power line that may be my access to both especially if I can find a trail thru the thick to those spots from it

In the first picture you posted, those arrows are pointing to that well used trail I mentioned.

And speaking of the power line around 2 months ago I heard a rabbit distress coming from around where the power line crosses the main trail around 4:00 am when going to my truck to go to work. And last week I was out for a smoke at night and heard coyote pup distress or fighting sounds from the power lines just out of the picture to the southeast.
 
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DAA said:
It occurs to me reading this. If tracks are hard to find, beds are going to be even harder to find. If you can't see track, and I believe you that you can't in that terrain, I think you could probably sit down to take a rest right in a coyote bed and not recognize it.

I really relate with what Jeremy just posted. I don't think of calling coyotes as me going to them, I think of it as me calling them to me, where I choose. Of course they have to be within earshot, and they also need to be "callable", but that's what I'm trying to do. Jeremy's point about not hitting the same hammered area over and over goes to that "callable" point and it's a very important point.

- DAA
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👍 also I’ve never called this spot before and know for a fact nobody else does either, it’s the trail behind my house. All my calling has been out of town targeting bears and no bear hunting allowed in the zone where I live. It’s pretty much virgin calling territory with big scats and scared neighbors. That’s ones of the reasons I made this thread first was to not screw it up right away and keep using it to practice and learn.

I’m gonna give up the deer bed style idea then but once the snow starts will get in and start following those tracks but like Jeremy said don’t go in there disturbing it too much either
 
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When you do howl, don't forget, just because they do not respond doesn't mean they are not there. The ranches I hunt, I would say most of the time, coyotes are not very vocal.
 
hm1996 said:
When you do howl, don't forget, just because they do not respond doesn't mean they are not there. The ranches I hunt, I would say most of the time, coyotes are not very vocal.
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I guess it probably better for me to howl while setup and hunting than just walking in and howling to hunt later in case they don’t answer and just come in and realize somethings not right after.
 
You might find this interesting. I was dogging this coyote for half a mile. I stopped, sat down, got my camera, and called a few toots and up he popped. This is on top of the highest point in the area. Up there, they don't see you as a hunter because you are non-threatening. The video is basically self-explanatory. BTW, I had called him up about an hour earlier.

https://youtu.be/gakdpudYeG0
 
jwv2024 said:
You might find this interesting. I was dogging this coyote for half a mile. I stopped, sat down, got my camera, and called a few toots and up he popped. This is on top of the highest point in the area. Up there, they don't see you as a hunter because you are non-threatening. The video is basically self-explanatory. BTW, I had called him up about an hour earlier.

https://youtu.be/gakdpudYeG0
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I enjoyed that, thank you John! 👍
 
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Spot 2 southern part that connects to larger northern part . Looking up hill, wind was consistently blowing downhill from the north.
 
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Found a few little openings that allowed some sun in, and noticed the grass would be all pushed down. I couldn't find any hairs but wonder if something was laying down here during sunny days. They were bumpy with dryer high spots and wet lower spots
 
I live in row crop country and I run NOAA/Onx app on my phone for satellite images/wind direction and speed. I just assumed everyone used similar imagery for scouting/hunting, planning routes and setups. Than slight adjustments to the plan based on MY ability to see a coyote. Being able to SEE and SHOOT the coyote is the end game.
 
That's some good looking terrain. Play the wind and watch the treelines. Down here, that one pond would be an attraction most of the year, especially in hot summer months. Not sure of the size of the V in #2, but given the right wind direction, I'd sure be tempted to set up in the bottom of the V w/my call across the clearing at the point of brush. You could see down both legs of the v. I'd be watching the brushlines for any movement.
 
spotstalkshoot said:
I live in row crop country and I run NOAA/Onx app on my phone for satellite images/wind direction and speed. I just assumed everyone used similar imagery for scouting/hunting, planning routes and setups. Than slight adjustments to the plan based on MY ability to see a coyote. Being able to SEE and SHOOT the coyote is the end game.
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I'll look into onyx and NOAA, thank you. I haven't invested much time or anything into online scouting aside from finding roads in my hunting area that go way deep into the woods which I can see free on Google earth.

But the seeing and shooting the coyote part...it seems obvious but maybe maybe I'm missing something here? You talking about getting up high with better visibility? Looking deeper into the treeline? Setting up with the caller to force them to come out where u can better see and shoot them? Thermals?
 
hm1996 said:
That's some good looking terrain. Play the wind and watch the treelines. Down here, that one pond would be an attraction most of the year, especially in hot summer months. Not sure of the size of the V in #2, but given the right wind direction, I'd sure be tempted to set up in the bottom of the V w/my call across the clearing at the point of brush. You could see down both legs of the v. I'd be watching the brushlines for any movement.
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Thank you 👍. On the V you can't see both fully, the southern part is down a hill. But I could set up how you say and if they come up to the top of that then I can see. If the wind is right that's what I'll do!

My access will have to be from the south which is the bottom of the hill. it's just too thick to get thru from any other direction. The wind was coming down that hill pretty good, I was thinking it's better to stay at the southern tip to not spread my scent around and call them to me if the wind is always like that when I hunt. Or should I wait for a cross wind only and do the V tactic? What would you do?
 
NOAA is free. Being able to see, cover the coyote is in where you intend or believe a shooting opportunity will happen must be short enough to see and shoot. Calling coyote out of brush/trees into thigh high grass will not work if you are on the ground(generally). You don't need to be able to see the feet on a coyote, but belly to top of head is nice.
 
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