PPHA Forums
Predator Hunting => Predator Hunting => Topic started by: wiseguy on February 24, 2009, 04:07:39 PM
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4 of us went hunting this past weekend. It was all of our first times coyote hunting. 2 of the guys had shot one during other seasons, but this was our first strictly coyote hunt. We had several sets with nothing seen. On our third set we were able to call a a pair in to about 50 yards. ALthough we never saw them, I heard them after they busted us, and we saw their tracks as we were leaving. The pair walked on our tracks for a good 15 yards. We also spotted a third set of tracks within 100 yards of where we were spread.
My question is, should I consider this a successful hunt to build on? We were able to get animals within shooting distance, even though we were not able to shoot them. I am pretty close to being hooked on predator hunting.
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I would say your off to a good start. Watch the wind, they will smell you a long way off. You might try splitting up and posting a guy a little down wind from you. Just don't shoot each other. I wouldn't hunt the same dogs for at least a month. Try another spot. Good luck!
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Did you hunt during the day or at night?
At least you had action, and you know where to find them.
I'd say it was a very good start
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We were hunting during the day, that particular set was around 1:30 or so. We were hunting on the mountain above Hillsgrove. We are going back in a few weeks to try a few spots where we saw plenty of sign last year, but we did not hunt this trip. Should be fun.
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If you have enough guys,
try to post them where they can see every possible approach.
Down wind
Upwind
Pine forest edge
any natural travelway.
If the coyotes came at 50yds and you couldn't see them,
I'm guessing you had laurel on the mountain
Maybe have a guy in a tree stand
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If the coyotes came at 50yds and you couldn't see them,
I'm guessing you had laurel on the mountain
Maybe have a guy in a tree stand
Yes, this was the case. They were on the far side of a laurel thicket. A someone in a stand would have been able to pick them up, I think.
It definately was fun, and we plan to go back in about 5 weeks. I am not sure if we will hunt this hollow or not, there are definately some other area up there I would like to try.
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Good luck and keep us posted
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Too many hunters and toooo much scent.Go yourself,set up on a revene.Or a right of way.In the daytime i use a 223 im good for 250 yards max,i set my call between where i think the yote is coming from.Way less sent to get busted,and a varmint rifle will reach out enough to be up wind 80 yards and if the yote comes downwind 100 you have a 180 yard shot.I kill more that way,but im up in a crosswind also.At night with 4 guys,you dont have much a choice.3 is the most i hunt with but we post sometimes 300 yards apart,and hunt open fields that are hollows.One guy at the mouth,2 splitting both ridge tops.The Call down at the mouth of the hollow,calling upwind into the hollow.These setups work well with 3 to 4 hunters.Take 2 vehicles,park 1 on top,1 at the bottom.No uphill walking,so you dont waste alot of time and tire yourself.And walking downhill creates less sweat.Less stench,on the next setup.Try 2,or even hunt yourself some,and turn the call down,and sit back.Coyotes need water,they can go without some food,but water is there anti-freeze.Creek revenes,near crop farms are good,set up high and watch the narrow funnel areas of the revenes.
Got one this morning,shot from one hill across the other.Took about a hour and 10 minutes to come in.I give them this long on nice mornings,as they have heard it all and it takes them sometimes that long.Morning hunts i hunt 1 spot,and thats it.But i try to do it right.
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Trophies, When he said seasoned, he didn't mean old. Go back under your rock old timer.
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Trophiesonly,Great information,I agree they seem to hang close to a water source this time of year not sure if for anti freeze or for convience for themselves and their young when there born.I'm pretty sure there den sites are established by now.Hunting alone is also a great idea not that I don't enjoy a companion it's just that the more people you have the bigger the scent fan.If the nose doesn't find you the eyes will.Very challenging but very fun.
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I heard a whole pack the other night after using a horn to call the. I have never seen one or heard of one taken in my are yet. GHOST DOGS
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Earl,
we'll come down next season and change that
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There easy for me to call out west but here there a problem. Called in 30 in Wyoming and 1 here. Figure that? Perhaps i am calling more for fox here than coyotes. That is probably what the difference is.
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Western and easern coyote are two totally different subspecies.
Less competition here between coyotes
Bigger home ranges here
Less population here
Constantly changing wind direction here
Different terrain here(coyotes could be over the hill behind you and the wind would still swirl your scent to them)
More calling pressure here.
More posted property here( more places for them to be)
A few western hunters of fame tried to disolve the elusive PA coyote theories and went home with their hats in their hands
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Leglifter, Its not unusual for me to drive through my Wyoming hunting areas and see 5 to 10 coyotes crossing the road in the mornings and evenings. I have never seen it here YET.
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Its rare here Earl,
I may have seen 8 or 10, driving prime country here, in 10 or 12 years
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These Pennsylvania coyotes are starting to piss me off. Im going after that group behind my house.
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I have never seen one yet in the Pa woods or crossing the road. I called in my first Pa. coyote this year and missed the darn thing.
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You always miss your first
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I would say that is something to build on as a successful first hunt. 4 guys is alot for coyote hunting
though. To much scent and bodies/movement to try to hide from them. Try hunting them in pairs
instead. Keep at it, that's the best way to learn!
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We are headed back out in 3 weeks. I am looking forward to it.
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Follow link you'll see how my first coyote hunt went.
http://ppha.us/smf/index.php?topic=1787.0
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Trophys is correct.....to many hunters...... at most two and those two best know what each is doing or let see????????it over!!
What happened was the 2nd , 3rd , 4th or maybe the 1st hunter did something wrong... Thats all it takes one little thing and it's over...
It's like how an unranked football team beats a top ranked team....Everyone on the team has to do everything perfect.
So as soon you start taking each additonal person the odds are in the coyotes favor....
There are so many things you have to consider....Terrain, wind direction, sound selection, approach, people personalities......
You have to start thinking like an athlete...You just can't get 4 people who are new to calling to have a perfect game.....
If your going to use a mouth call...One person doing the calling is up wind 100 yards of the shooter. The shooter is 100 yards down wind but set up 30 yards cross wind of the caller.. The coyotes will come into the wind... they will get in direct line with the caller. Hopefully they will not smell him until after he has passed the shooter position. When th coyote comes into the call they come into the wind and pass the shooter. That is when the shot is made... I have called in many coyotes for people. Sometimes I only hear the shot but never see the coyote coming in. The shooter see that....Many times they miss them... Sometimes they just look at the them with their mouth open, Sometimes they do not listen to me and they move and would have had a shot, Sometime the coyote bust them.
Now hunting alone you need to use a good electronic caller with a remote and post where the shooter would be to activate the caller 100 yards up wind of your position..
I consider myself as a fox hunter...24 years now.. It has only been in the last 3 years that I have finally started to break some of the codes on how to get shots at coyotes here in Pa. IT did not happen when I hunted with groups of hunters.......
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Thank you all for the information. We will be heading up to Sullivan County again this weekend. This time there will only be two of us. Uncle Buck, we will take the suggestion of the 100 yard split.
I do agree with having too many hunters. I am quite confident that the yotes that came in to us saw the hunter in the middle of the group. The reason I say that is the yotes were still slightly above me and to my left about 40 yards. They were in the process of coming around into the wind. I was sitting down in a pile of brush, teh hunter in the middle was standing beside a tree in plain view. (lesson learned)
I will post early next week and let everyone know how it went.
Thanks again.
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Good luck!!