Where do coyotes sleep during the day?
- Thread starter BJJ223
- Start date
Agreed. One of my best hunts was for the mule deer pictured below. We spotted these bucks from over a mile away as they settled into bed in the rabbit brush in the background. Wade a big loop to get the wind and stalked within 100 yards. I shot mine while he slept, and my buddy killed his immediately after when it stood up from his bed.
I hunt north central plains region. Which includes observing a few thousand + plus coyotes in my time. There is a lot to consider/know about where & when a coyote(s) choose to bed down in a given area. For starters it. It isn't always about whether it is Sunny or overcast. The Sun may play a part on some given days(However, it is is always about wind direction). A Sunny day may/will give a false notion. As to when, where a coyote may choose an area to bed down.
For starters, territorial coyotes DO have preferred bedding areas outside of (hard shelter, such as; an old den hole, brush pile, culvert tube, ect). When they bed outside in the elements. That is based solely on wind direction & a favorite hillside they've used numerous times. That is far from a roadway & also offers them a panoramic view. Most often all coyotes will be at least 1/4 mile off the roadway as a (minimum distance). Most often they prefer to be around 1/2 mile +/- from a roadway to bed down.
99.9% of the time. They choose to bed down on the down wind slopes of any & all hills. Regardless of when they bed down out on the open. They will face a down wind direction. The higher the wind speed flowing over them. The more in alignment, their snout will face directly to their down wind. You should know/understand. If you walk into a hilly area with the "Wind in your face". You stand a very good chance of being seen. By a long distance coyote up ahead. Because it will when bedded down. Be facing your direction.
Trespasser or transient coyotes. May bed down anywhere on a territorial pair of coyotes land. They know they are trespassing. So when they are bedded down. They will not rest easy & often have their head up. Being most wary as they scan the area around them.
During blizzards, rain storms & other harsh weather. Coyotes will sometimes choose hard shelter. Such as a culvert tube, old out building, an old abandoned den hole, brush pile...ect. However, some will still bed out in the open in a wind brake area. Such as the down wind side of hills/ridge lines.
By the way. Do yourself a favor & read info on a coyote vision ability. They have a much wider field of view than does a human. Something around 250 degree arc. Degree's varies depending on the org/scientist/experts who tests canine vision. A human's vision is around 180 degree arc. I believe it is actually wider. More like 200 degree peripheral arc for some humans.
It has been my opinion for many yrs. If I can see just the outer edge of a coyote's eye. Then it can detect my movement.
22magnum22
Well-known member
This is all good info and should be on the mind of any who pursue "Wily Coyote". Thanks for the reminders Medic Joe.
Your welcome
This being the case, how do you choose to walk to your stand? Wind in your face or wind at your back?
Thanks.
GC
Well-known member
Waiting ...
Makes sense!
10:00 or 2:00 angle. So I'm up & cross wind from a coyote. The coyote being the center of a clock dial. Wind is coming from the 12:00 direction.
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
How and where coyote bed for the day is a big part of day calling. In my area if they see,smell you game over calling. If they hear you walking or vehicle noises, most likely not heading your direction during your set. I have seen tracks from a visit much later on(usually after dark). I try and use terrain (even in flat farm country) to get into position, wind blowing from where I know the coyote is, across in front of me. If using an ecaller, it is pointed into the wind(toward coyote). If you try coming from 10 or 2 o'clock, make sure you can see a coyote coming before it can get downwind of you and the ecaller/decoy(because your fresh scent is on and around them).
IF... the wind stays a constant direction ie; 12:00. They will not see or scent you. From the 10:00 or 2:00 angle. Because they are over the hillside. The only thing a hunter will need to overcome is. The coyote's hearing ability. Which is top notch.
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
My area is pretty flat, in many places I can stand on a section road and see the next section road(1 mile away for those that don't know what a section road is). Here the coyote check(look) 360 around occasionally. Fox lift their head, often, but rarely turn around. Fox the head coming up and eyes opening you can time, so you kneel down to avoid being seen.
Flat land, I would still slink in from the 10:00 or 2:00 angle wind coming from the 12:00. Thing is in wind. The higher the wind speed. The more a coyotes face will be pointed to it's downwind. Like most domestic dogs they do not like any amount of wind on their face or into the front of their ears. One day I seen a pair traveling cross wind on the down wind side of a hill The wind was blowing hard 20 mph+ & constant. The coyotes were around 250 yards away from me as I was parked along side of the highway glassing them. Both coyotes had their ears laid far back on their heads. Both coyotes had their eyes squinted. The smaller of the two(female?). Was the lead coyote. I've watched many hundreds of pairs of coyotes out on the open hills. Almost (always) the smaller of the two. Was the lead coyote as they traveled. The male may take the lead for a short while. But the female will soon take over as the lead coyote most of the time. Where the female goes, the male follows. By the way. I've also hunted coyotes on flat land. I've slowly slinked in as close as I dared. Then belly crawled a long way, numerous times to get a shot off.
Appreciate your insight, Keith. Don't get to observe them in the brush country like you do up there. Of course, they can't see us as far as your coyotes do, either, but they don't have any problems smellin' or hearing us. Can't remember ever spotting and stalking a coyote down here, have done quite a lot of stalking, especially on exotics. No crawling on yer belly down here though, everything down here either sticks or bites. 
North central plains region; Coyotes will bed down most of the daylight hrs. Up until right around Sunset. Unless other wise pressured from an external force. Most remain hunting/traveling after that. The next early morning as the Sun is rising. Some will be already bedded down for the day. When it is still dark out, prior to Sunrise. Other coyotes, will remain on the move hunting/traveling until around 9-10am. The left over stragglers will be on the move up around around 11am. Very few coyotes will be on the move after 11am. I base this info on what I've have personally seen. It is my opinion, once a coyote is bedded down. It will be reluctant to get up & respond to any type of calling sound. It is also my opinion once a coyote is bedded down. It is not that hungry. Because hunger will make a predator on the move until that hunger is satisfied. Of course....there are other factors. That will make that coyote get up onto it's feet to respond to a call sound. A few other factors being territorial issues & during breeding season. Speaking of dispersal/breeding season. I believe the scattering/dispersal of the yearlings. Is soley based on when the alpha female comes into heat.
I had this idea in my head that although the animals are bedding down during the day, if they heard the call they would take advantage of the opportunity and get up and grab a quick snack. Maybe thats a big part of my failures, calling at the wrong time of day. Thank you Joe
My experiences/opinions are not all inclusive to all coyotes at any given time. Bear that in mind. Because no one can state for a fact in all cases. When & why a coyote may respond or not respond to a stimulus it sees, hears or scents. However, as I've stated before. IMO, a coyote that is on its feet. Is more prone to respond to a stimulus. Versus one that is bedded down.
Last edited:
thank you again
. I also to get out and test these things myself and come to my own conclusions with the coyotes here but your posts are giving me a lot of new ideas and perspectives that I like