Members vs Visitors

[hunt0168]

Having experienced trying to learn hunting at this time, I have a perspective on what these new hunters are going thru and where they are going to try get their information. Just trying to share that perspective so it may help this forum, the people who have been there for me when I had nobody who was willing to share and teach me, that’s all.

Having mentors is great Newpond. And helpful. I was fortunate to have a father that was very passionate about hunting and the outdoors. He set the stage. Lit the fire so to speak for both, myself and my younger brother. The thing is, for all of my dad’s passion, he was never a very good hunter. My brother and I learned this very early on, and took it upon ourselves to figure things out and excel at becoming successful hunters. To the point where we would regularly, and proudly set our dad up for success.

This has more to do with becoming good at this game than all the mentoring in the world. If you don’t have it in you, and simply try to shortcut things by riding the coattails of those that took the time to figure it out, you’re destined for failure. Help of others is good. Pushing yourself to help yourself is where the real success comes from. Those folks that hang it up in a couple years… Probably never had what it takes anyway. Just the hard truth.

 

[limbhanger10]

Little different here in many aspects- both geologically and seasons. -
Waayyyyyyy back before all the phone apps... there was a thing called terraserver..... b&w satellite imagery. Add in some usgs topos... a printer and you had yourself something great for your hunting areas...and low and behold- a 24 hour channel that had nothing but WEATHER ( sure beat my noaa weather radio) .
So what I'm getting at, is use many of the internet mapping resources out there, and use them to your advantage.
Get an overview of your hunting spots and save them to a drive...you can edit anything on them.
You hear coyotes in a certain area frequently. Pull up your map to see what terrain features may be keeping them there. Do scouting trip- many of mine are during crappy weather - I look for sign but most importantly, I look for setup locations- areas that give me the best vantage with the best wind. Here, coyotes circle 100 and more yards downwind of the call. So I need to locate the call 100 or more yards upwind of were I intended to kill the coyotes.
I have spots that have coyotes out in East winds 75% of my hunting window ..but getting into those areas are almost impossible during that time frame due to them detecting me. I have to adapt to making that east wind work to kill them. So I may get there 3 hours before they generally are there, and at the 2nd hour I may give 3 howls and shut up and wait.....and wait...I have all night to wait - because #1: I know there's coyotes there and #2: I know I currently have the opportunity to kill them.
I don't dwell on why a certain scenario worked( coyotes killed)- the mind can process that immediately and store it.
But when a stand doesn't work with all your preparations, the "correct" wind etc....why didn't it? They answered but didn't commit. It could be something as simple as where you set the call.
Coyotes know , from over 3/4 of a mile, exactly where that call is- numerous times I've had landowners text me or hunting partner about hearing coyotes close, and it being a mile away and 5 minutes later here comes coyotes with their mouth gapped and tongue hanging out and get 50 yards from the call and it hasn't played for over 4 minutes.
There is a lot of trials and errors in coyote hunting- it's how you better yourself to correct those errors.

 

[crapshoot]

Unfortunately there are no Hard rules as in "always or never" so it's hard to spell it out.
About the only "never" I can think of is you can never fool a coyotes nose. And even that could probably be disputed to some degree.
The best that can be done is give the basics, and that has been done in spades. Everything else comes with time spent in the field. Learn from your mistakes.
The best advice I've ever heard is "Call where the coyotes are".
Where exactly is that? Again, time in the field will teach you this. Back to the basics, water/food/shelter or cover.

And as always, there is more than 1 way to skin a cat.

 

[DoubleUp]

There is simply no substitute or shortcut to TOT, Time On Task. When I started calling, I knew nothing. Now the more I learn, seems like the less I'm sure about coyotes. It is trial and error very often. I'd say #1 is you have to be where there are coyotes. Building a foundation of calling places takes time, years in fact. #2 is learn something and log it every time out, good or bad. When they beat you and they will, think it through. #3 You have to believe coyotes are there and be totally ready before starting to call.

Finally, I'd say if you stay with it, at some point it just clicks on. It reminds me of many years gone by (in fact about 64 to be exact) and I was trying to learn how to lead doves and kill them consistently. At 14, I would get maybe 2 or 3 out of a box of shells (25). Then one day, it just clicked in my brain and I could calculate how much lead each dove required. So still at age 14 I went from 2 or 3 per box of shells to consistently killing over 20 out of a box. That carried over to all the ducks, geese, and quail I successfully killed back in my wing shooting days. But it didn't stop there, when I took up coyote hunting with a rifle, my brain was still trained to be able to hit coyotes running pretty consistently. I guess what I'm trying to say is stick with it, and once you learn it, you'll have it for a lifetime.

 

[xphunter]

Social media has the masses and that is the current trend. Guys in their 30s and under grew up with phones and social media and are exposed to it on a daily basis versus forums. As long as the operating bills are paid i think we will be around for awhile. We do have our squabbles and difference from time to time but there is a heck of a lot of knowledge in this forum and there's generous people willing to share.

Quality members contributions is what will keep us alive, not quantity.

This...

 

[xphunter]

You want "drama", cruise over to 24HR Campfire. LOL, they thrive on it there. Great site if you can put up with the insults and nasty comments. I think the A-holes of the world gather there.

But here, Predator Masters, has always been a pretty good place for helpful people and information even if your not "hardcore". You can ask questions and generally get a good answer even if they have been asked several times in the past. Sometimes conversation gets a little heated but that's not very often. makes for good reading when it does. LOL!! I've been known to stir the pot on occasion.

Well said about the Fire. The Hide used to be the same way as well.
Typically, I only post on one area on the Fire. I intentionally leave certain people alone, and they do the same with me.
I will confront outright lies, but I don't try to be mean about it.
Many times, I am responding more for the lurkers, than the people who are active in a thread.