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Predator Hunting => Predator Hunting => Topic started by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:02:57 AM

Title: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:02:57 AM
It was a cloudy night, 5 mph winds, upper 20's, a little snow on the ground. The conditions were perfect for calling in critters. 7 sets and zero action. Why? There has to be a reason for the bad night. It seemed it would be a great night to hunt but the animals thought different. I don't know if there is an answer but if there is I would sure like to know. Ideas anyone?
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 10:15:14 AM
Pressured animals?
Ate a big meal at sundown and weren't hungry?
Busted you and you didn't know it?
Critters were not there the same time you were?
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:17:15 AM
I dunno. All 7 sets were a bust. You would seem to think that something would have shown up at at least one of them.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 10:21:21 AM
Its tough this time of year,
I've gone alot longer than 7 set ups without action.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Trophiesonly on February 15, 2009, 10:25:02 AM
If you fellows get results in 7 sets you are not hunting in a pressured area.
Many times this time of year a fur hunter will go ten to fifteen.
depending on the area.Call sounds,etc.Plus you have to remember as the season goes on the more fur is gone as trappers get many animals we never see.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:25:10 AM
We have had very good action on the nights when it warms up a little. Into the upper 30's. The colder nights seem to be slow for some reason. All the experts say the coyotes like it cold. I haven't seen that behavior in them.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:27:57 AM
TO. There is truth to what you're saying. I keep looking for the simple answer but I guess it is a combination of factors.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Trophiesonly on February 15, 2009, 10:28:28 AM
a frind got a yote last night.Just talked to him.I think they like the cold alot better.When the nights are cold the fox seem to be moving inthe afternoons in my area.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:29:55 AM
That makes alot of sense. Why didn't I think of that?
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Trophiesonly on February 15, 2009, 10:31:44 AM
Like LL said,i believe alot of times there just not there.And if there gonna come there gonna come.Just got to hit that right spot,right sound,etc,and have some luck along with it.The biggest fox we have killed over the years were right before dark.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Hern on February 15, 2009, 10:34:24 AM
I often wish I could sit down and talk with a Coyote and Fox for an hour or two.
I have struck out many times, hung my head and kicked the dirt as I walk back to the truck.
Sure gets a guy to think'n if the sign is there.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:35:23 AM
Your comment about the fox moving in the afternoon clarifies why it seemed slow. The colder nights we should concentrate on coyotes and forget the fox's.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:37:42 AM
You're right about that Hern The difference between me and you is you kicked the dirt and I kicked Foxpro51. He was doing the calling. LOL
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Trophiesonly on February 15, 2009, 10:39:21 AM
i have a article on a disc somewhere how a fox stands no chance against a pack of hungry yotes.First they stink terribly,so they cant even begin to outrun them.And coyotes are not picky when hungry,they will eat a skunk.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:46:08 AM
I know they stink bad. I wonder why they don't take a bath once in a while? A little shampoo and some cologne would help.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 10:49:57 AM
Are you trying territorial sounds or distress
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 10:52:34 AM
Just distress. It usually brings in something. We have not changed anything from what we do on a good night. That's why I was wondering what went wrong.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 10:58:24 AM
Only if they're hungry or maybe curious.
If they're not hungry, they could be territorial
If not territorial they could be wanting to mate
If not wanting to mate they could have a strong maternal instinct
and pup distress would work.
You see where I'm going
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 11:00:56 AM
Yep. We did use the pup distress too. It didn't work either. Maybe since it was Valentines day they were looking for love. I'll have to remember that for next year.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Trophiesonly on February 15, 2009, 11:05:45 AM
I often wish I could sit down and talk with a Coyote and Fox for an hour or two.


If you ever get to Hern,write a book.You will be makeing more money than foxpro.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 11:10:50 AM
Remember the story about the farmers boy yesterday?
That coyote heard me distress, interrogation howl and ki-yi
but didn't respond till he heard the boy howl 1/4 mile away,
only then did he start barking.
And why would he go upwind instead of downwind?
Did he want the other two coyotes to smell him instead of him smelling us?

Two years ago me and a partner called in a double with interogation howls.
These two were bedded up 300yds away and they heard fox distress rabbit distress and mouse squeaks
but only howled back and came in after the howls we did.
So I'd say these two(male and female) were territorial
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 11:14:34 AM
I often wish I could sit down and talk with a Coyote and Fox for an hour or two.


If you ever get to Hern,write a book.You will be makeing more money than foxpro.

I liked a book by Slim Pederson, Life Of A Coyote.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 11:20:14 AM
I'll have to look for that book. I'm still learning about the coyote. I'm not a slacker so I will master the art. I guess I'm obsessed with the stink dog.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Hern on February 15, 2009, 11:36:07 AM
double L says-
I liked a book by Slim Pederson, Life Of A Coyote.
Me too, but that was Slim's viewpoint.

double L says-
That coyote heard me distress, interrogation howl and ki-yi
but didn't respond till he heard the boy howl 1/4 mile away,
only then did he start barking.

The Coyote thought there were two new Coyotes in it's territory.
Here's a good example....
After a non-productive calling setup with a partner, I like to bark and yip then having my partner bark and yip back at me. What I am trying to create is two Coyotes square'n off.
We want to be aggressive and 'tell one another off'...bark'n and yip'n. If a Coyote is in earshot, he will come to check out the ruckus. Two seasons ago, a partner and I started our setup with this method and connected within minutes on 3 different setups.
I might add this method also works for den hunting livestock killers.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 11:38:47 AM
Hern, that's a great idea. Do you put some distance between you and your partner or are you close together?
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 11:46:26 AM
Good stuff Hern
I like splitting hairs
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Hern on February 15, 2009, 11:51:52 AM
Thank you muttbuster. It's not an idea, It's a proven method I worked on.
The distance between me and a partner is 30 to 100 yards, depending on setup and terrain.

I was hunting with CritterBuster, Tracker and Predator10X one weekend several years ago.
Before one setup, I ask CritterBuster when he was finished working his magic (if we didn't get any shot'n), to bark and yip. I would then bark back at him.
CritterBuster and Tracker called and sounded great making beauitful music, but no customers for 40 minutes. Then CritterBuster began to Bark then Yipped...my cue...I returned the Barks and mimmiced his responce. Within minutes 3 Coyotes appeared. No shots fired. But they surely heard the other 40 minutes of call'n, distress and such.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Hern on February 15, 2009, 12:13:36 PM
Here's a must have book....
Eastern Coyote
The Story of Its Success

by Gerry Parker


contact:
Nimbus Publishing Limited
P.O. Box 9301, Station A
Halifax, N.S. B3K 5N5
(902) 455-4286

this isn't a hunting book
It's an indepth book about Coyoteogly, facts, reseach and studies by boiolgist from the east.

Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 15, 2009, 12:14:07 PM
Thanks a lot Hern. I'm going to work on that for sure.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: foxpro51 on February 15, 2009, 12:31:37 PM
Some guys tell me they either hunt for fox or coyotes here in Pa. . Not both. In Texas and Wyoming both anilmals come to both distress calls. Same animals. I see not difference. Being there is a limited amount of coyotes in Pa.  i tend to hunt for fox and take coyote as bonus. If you call for Coyotes with a howler you just blew out every fox in the arera.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 01:11:02 PM
Not true Earl,
I've ran through the distress calls and fox distress then coyote vocalizations
and had fox come in after the coyote talk
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: foxpro51 on February 15, 2009, 02:17:43 PM
Leglifter. Never hasd that happen. You would think fox would avoid coyotes.
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: Leglifter on February 15, 2009, 03:06:33 PM
Yeah I thought that too, until it happened
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: ED HALL on February 17, 2009, 12:33:22 PM
ITS CALLED "HUNTING"  ITS HAPPENS TO ME MANY TIMES.  SOMETIMES CALLING FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITHOUT ANY ACTION.  THEY ARE EITHER NOT INTERESTED OR THEYRE NOT THERE.  STICK WITH IT YOULL GET THEM
Title: Re: Million dollar question
Post by: muttbuster on February 17, 2009, 04:17:23 PM
Thanks Buddy, I plan to do just that. That bad night made up for all the great nights I've had. You can't win them all but you can try. It's the greatest sport in the world.