Stalker......
Yeah, that sounds like a plan.
Do to the infrequency of the coyote "take" around this area, I never have participated in any hunting contests. We're not that successful, or able to connect, on a regular basis to even entertain the thought of entering a contest with any reasonable chance at scoring. Not that we "never would", but it hasn't been a consideration really.
Sometimes, even the fox can give you a headache trying to call them in, let alone coyotes.
I'm sure that location has a lot to do with it, and our area, being very rural, gives the coyotes lots of room to call their own. Their individual territories are much larger, and in turn, they might not cross another's turf to get to our location.
Even though you try and get as close as possible, calling from a long distance, even with scouting, happens a lot. You can hear them one day, in one location, and go back there the next to call, and hear, or get nothing.
Locating decent coyote "packs" is the key, and based on hunting or food pressures, they will move.
Our success has been spotty in the past few years, and although I know our calling abilities may not be perfect, in relation to the tapes, video's and recordings I've seen and heard, we've been doing it "as good", or better in some cases, than most of it out there.
Not that we consciously strived to be as good or better than those professional coyote hunters on video's (being even close to "as good" would've been a major achievement), we had to "by necessity" just to pull those "hard sell" types out of the woods. In other words, we started from scratch (like most) with generic calls (good ol'e rabbit in distress, etc.) and expanded from there with what worked.
Speaking of that call, I don't even use them anymore...not the store bought one's anyway. The baby "wah-wah" stuff never really worked for me.
I'd love to see some of the big successful western coyote hunters try their skills up here. I'd bet they'd be humbled. We (northeastern hunters) have to develop a whole different style (I believe), and the guys that are successful up here, I think, would pull in large quantities if they were out west, without a doubt.
Not blowing my horn, but due to the "hot & cold" reactions we've had in the past few years, we've expanded the types of calls and styles to a larger variety than most use.
I use everything from worn out turkey calls, fawn bleats, and coon squallers, to pre-recorded e-callers. I'll buy new calls sometimes and after pulling them out of the package and not liking the sound, pull them apart and start changing, or trimming the reeds, etc.
I realized sometime ago, after watching and listening to video's and tapes, and then applying the same calls & sounds to attract fox & coyotes, that it might've been a good place to start, but it takes field practice and experimenting to see "what really works".
You find that a lot of those "calling company tapes" are really out there to "naturally" sell their wares. I know video's need sponsor's, but the pure hunting video's, with nothing to sell, are the one's I feel, are the best instructional video's.
Oh, I'm ranting.................
BHW.........ON THE BOARDS.......SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice job....nice shot, and very nice yote'. Most of our hunting is in the dawn & dusk times. We make a few nights out of it too, when time permits (or the full moon is up).
Again....good goin'
Take care,
Bob
