Close up coyote

[HarryO45]

Long time ago i hunted coyote in AZ in the high desert. I used a boom box tape recording of jack rabbit distress. It was pretty easy and a lot of fun.

Fast forward to today, I would like to kill some daytime coyote on my deer lease, mostly just for fun. We have a lot of them. Normally each year i kill two just sitting in a climber waiting for deer. This year i saw two but no shot (all the ones i have killed on the lease have been moving at a decent pace - lucky shots). I have a friend who has a high speed electronic caller with a visual attractor that he is going to let me borrow. He has never used it and has no practical advice.

My lease is mostly young planted clearcuts (various stages) the pines are now all taller than me and very thick. (I cannot cut any tress down…So creating shooting lanes is not possible). Most of my shots are limited to 100 yards in rolling hills with narrow hardwood bottoms. Creek beds. In my past experience when i see coyote (without a call) by the time i get my sights on them my shots are about 60 yards.

This morning while deer hunting (AL) i heard a bunch of coyote howling / yippin

Is a electronic call going to work in this terrain?

If so what are some strategies i should try?

Is it OK to ask what kinda calls work well this time of year. I think it has a bunch of settings for calls?

What rifle would you use? AR in 223, AR in 300BO, 30-30 lever, 308 bolt all can be suppressed (does that give me any advantage).

Thank you

 

[Railroader]

Once in a while when bored in a deer stand, I'll sound off with an electric call I have. Rabbit distress, young coyote distress, mouse, several different ones on the call.

I've killed a few that way, but its always a quick situation.

I just use whatever rifle I'm hunting with..lol

 

[furtaker]

If you think they're laying up in the thick pines, set up fairly close to the edge of them with the wind in your face or a crosswind. Sounds like a good place for a shotgun.

 

[Pig Predator]

This time of year with as thick as your property is; I would combine deer hunting and turkey/rabbit hunting if it's daytime. Use the tightest pattern shotgun you have and use turkey calls in the morning and rabbit calls in the evening. I wouldn't get any farther up than 12 feet in a climber as you're gonna need to move around a little to cover the property depending on how big it is. I'd try to stay on higher ground the best I could. That's what I'd do anyway.

 

[WOODIE13]

Definitely use a shotgun, #4 buck to 00, only takes one pellet.

For calls, we used a rabbit in distress paired with fighing crows, called in some coyotes but no shot, killed a bobcat

 

[Hillbilly stalker]

I bout always carry a worn out mouth call ( turkey) in my haversack or pocket. I’ve killed coyote, fox and bobcat with it. You won’t get the volume of an electronic, but it’s handy and quick. I’ve called in hawks with one.

 

[HarryO45]

Once in a while when bored in a deer stand, I'll sound off with an electric call I have. Rabbit distress, young coyote distress, mouse, several different ones on the call.

I've killed a few that way, but its always a quick situation.

I just use whatever rifle I'm hunting with..lol

Do i throw leaves over the call in an attempt to camouflage?

This time of year with as thick as your property is; I would combine deer hunting and turkey/rabbit hunting if it's daytime. Use the tightest pattern shotgun you have and use turkey calls in the morning and rabbit calls in the evening. I wouldn't get any farther up than 12 feet in a climber as you're gonna need to move around a little to cover the property depending on how big it is. I'd try to stay on higher ground the best I could. That's what I'd do anyway.

This is pretty typical of a bottom in the area i want to hunt. In the picture you can see a hill on the left. It gets a lot higher as you move more left. Actually that coyote i posted in the other thread was killed coming off that hill when he met his demise.

That whole area is surrounded by short pines so thick they cant be hunted. Bed

I assume i use wind like deer… i got that area pretty dial in with thermal currents and three different stand locations for almost all wind. Three different entry points and trails to get in to different stands.

In that area i can see pretty far 100-120 yards but shots are most likley gonna have to wait because of cover low to the ground. I am expecting 60 yard clear shots with reasonable success

I am mostly concerned where i put the call in relation to the stand? Obviously i get up the tree where i can see best, put the out call closer to me and off my shooting shoulder? Or do i put it further out with the thought that the yote will come in slow and right up and investigate the call? Perhaps they circle the call? When they see the call will the freak? These coyotes have never seen a call before. Should i camophloge the call under leaves with just the attractor visable?

 

[HarryO45]

If you think they're laying up in the thick pines, set up fairly close to the edge of them with the wind in your face or a crosswind. Sounds like a good place for a shotgun.

So is it ok for the call to be close to me? Could i be closer to the pines and set the call behind me hoping they pass me and give me shots while focus on call beyond me?

i assume i could put it in a creek bed sand bar and i gotta couple places i can see pretty good down the creek. I just thought of that. Any tricks around creeks?

Also i have a friend who might wanna hunt with me. We would be in separate stands, are there any techniques to consider when hunting a single call from two different locations (besides safety)?

 

[HarryO45]

Definitely use a shotgun, #4 buck to 00, only takes one pellet.

For calls, we used a rabbit in distress paired with fighing crows, called in some coyotes but no shot, killed a bobcat

I got plenty of of buckshot

 

[sleepr71]

I’d put the call about 30-40 yds UPWIND of your stand & start off with a low volume. Call for 10 seconds..then silence for 1-2 minutes. If nothing comes in..repeat at a slightly higher volume & little longer. Wait,Watch,Listen. They usually try to sneak in & get downwind…but sometimes they come in WIDE OPEN…and more than one! If he has a decoy..use it. It’ll help keep their attention & allow you to move to get in position. IF you are going to call in daylight…FULL CAMO is a must . As far as weapon…I’d use a full choked,semi auto shotgun…with BB,or #4 Buck shot. Have fun. Once you call in a pair,or 3…other types of hunting will seem BORING

 

[HarryO45]

Once in a while when bored in a deer stand, I'll sound off with an electric call I have. Rabbit distress, young coyote distress, mouse, several different ones on the call.

I've killed a few that way, but its always a quick situation.

I just use whatever rifle I'm hunting with..lol

So, you have the call with you in the tree???

 

[Railroader]

So, you have the call with you in the tree???

Yeah, its a little handheld pistol grip thingie...Pretty Loud, though.

I keep it in my bag for entertainment. I've played the rabbit in distress 25 yards from deer in the plot, and after lookin' around, they pay it no mind.

 

[HarryO45]

Last question i assume that early morning or evening is best? Is this true or does time of day really matter?

Also when you make a set, how long do you let the woods settle before you turn on the call? Or is it kinda assumed that anything that saw or heard a human is not going to come in? No matter what

 

[HarryO45]

Yeah, its a little handheld pistol grip thingie...Pretty Loud, though.

I keep it in my bag for entertainment. I've played the rabbit in distress 25 yards from deer in the plot, and after lookin' around, they pay it no mind.

Ok - that’s what it sounded like. Kinda helps me in that knowing that it works from your position

 

[Railroader]

It's like anything else Harry, you never know.

My yote huntin' serious buddys will roll up, set up, run the call and give it about 15-20 minutes.

If nothing comes, they move on. A run and gun thing, if you will...

 

[Silver Britches]

Do y'all have a a place on your lease where you take your carcasses? That would be a great place for you to set up on. If not, place you a gut pile near the edge of those thick pines and set up on it. We had a gut pile on the land we leased years ago, and the coyotes would gobble everything up in less than 24hrs. We had a huge population of coyotes. You'd be surprised at how many of those things you have around. As far as calling, I'd first sit quietly and just watch over the gut pile. No action after a day or so, try calling. Chances are, if you have plenty of coyotes around, they'll hit the gut pile within 24hrs. It may be after dark when they hit it, but they'll certainly find it.

 

[Mark R]

Calling and shotgunning coyotes in the woods is funnnn to me . I been after em on public land . I dont know about shot size regs on wma land but i aint been checked yet .

 

[chase870]

Calling and shotgunning coyotes in the woods is funnnn to me . I been after em on public land . I dont know about shot size regs on wma land but i aint been checked yet .

Well non toxic water fowl loads in T shot, heavy shot, tungsten, bismuth, etc. are the work around

 

[chase870]

Harry, I use the calls and sounds that mimic the yotes natural world. Spring I use pup distress baby birds etc, dead of winter I use adult cotton tail, fawn distress when fawns are dropping. If you look through the coyote hunt threads there are several years' worth, the guys post date, time, calls used etc. in the thread. I have killed more than one yote by using the sounds the other guys are killing with

 

[HarryO45]

Today is the last day of Alabama Deer Season 2025. I think i am ready to try some close up coyote hunting. My gun is running 100% with all buck shot and patterned. I pulled out my ammo and have what you guys recommended.

I have in my possession the electronic caller and have used it and familiar with it. I have about 12 places (sets) on property picked out that should be good with certain winds. It is a plan.

Now i will work on execution of the hunt starting in two days. Thanks for all the tips. I will keep you posted.