Coyote Hunting Resource

Best Cheap Night Vision Rifle Scope Reviews

2011-11-06T20:30:00.000-06:00

When it comes to night coyote hunting, one of the best tools a hunter can have is a night vision rifle scope. Any coyote hunter knows that coyotes move at night and having the advantage to be able to see them in their nocturnal element is an enormous advantage.

The next few paragraphs will take a look at some of the best cheap night vision rifle scopes available on the market today. One thing to keep in mind is that these are at the lowest end of night vision rifle scopes and are not the best that you can get. However, if you are shopping for a night vision scope on a budget, hopefully I can provide some direction and you can get the right scope for you.

ATN Aries MK 350 Night Vision Rifle Scope

I just want to say ATN makes excellent products and you can never go wrong when buying their night vision scopes. The Aries MK 350 goes for around $500 and while it is more expensive than some other brands, it is still a great buy.

The MK 350 is a first generation night vision scope with 2.5x magnification. It weighs in at 2.9 pounds and is 10.8 inches long. One neat feature of this scope is the red on green reticle which improves accuracy and makes it easy to line up your rifle on a coyote. This scope has an excellent battery life at 40 hours and, like most ATN night vision scopes, has a 2 year warranty just in case of a malfunction.

Overall I have to say this scope is a great product for the price. It is not going to give you great detail at long distances, but anything within about 100 yards should be descent clarity.

Yukon NVMT Laser

This night vision rifle scope is also first generation night vision technology, but with 3x magnification. It is compact, lightweight, and features a lifetime limited warranty. This is basically a monocular with a conversion kit to fit a rifle. It includes the mount to fit on a rifle and a laser pointer on the side to act as a red dot reticle.

The NVMT is another great short range night vision rifle scope at an affordable price. While it doesn’t quite match up to the ATN MK 350, it is about $100 cheaper and can still provide for great night time hunting. Like with many other cheaper night vision scopes, this one requires close range before the object can be seen with clarity.

Sightmark SM16012

Like the Yukon NVMT laser, the Sightmark is a first generation conversion kit for a night vision monocular. It has a 24 mm lens with a 2x magnification and also has a lifetime limited warranty. You can buy this scope for about the same price as the NVMT. The Sightmark has a mechanism that will automatically shut off in order to protect the intensifier tube when it senses light.

Once again, this is another great night vision scope for a great price. Like the other, you have to be in close range in order for this to be effective. Anything beyond about 100 yards is going to be difficult to make out.

Of the three night vision scopes above, the scope of choice for me for coyote hunting has to be the ATN. It has the best features and produces the image with the most clarity. If you don’t mind dishing out an extra 100 bucks or so, I recommend this product. However, the Yukon is an excellent product as well and can be purchased for quite a bit less.

Johnny Stewart and Other Electronic Predator Calls Reviews

2011-10-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

What to Look For in a Predator Call

Before I begin a review of some of the popular predator calls, let’s establish an understanding of what a hunter should desire in a game call. Most of these traits are universal for any game call no matter what you are hunting. A few of them, however, do specifically apply to predator calls.

1. In my opinion, realism is the most important trait in any call you buy no matter what kind of hunting you are going to use it for. If your call doesn’t sound natural, you are going to do nothing but scare away your game. The good thing about the Johnny Stewarts, Foxpros, Primos, and any other high dollar premium game calls is that you can bet they are going to have excellent realistic sounds.

2. Simplicity is a big factor for me. How user friendly is it to operate when I’m out in the field? I am not a fan of gadgets that are difficult do understand and don’t always behave the way you want them to. Give me something that is easy to operate and dependable.

3. How loud is it? I have used game calls in the past that you could barely hear past 100 yards. You want something that carries the sound several hundred yards away. It is also nice to have the ability to adjust the level of sound. If you know a coyote is very close, you don’t want to blast its eardrums with a rabbit in distress. I don’t know of many calls that don’t have a volume adjustment, but then again I haven’t used every call on the market.

4. The ability to use multiple sounds. Any experienced predator hunter knows that coyotes will eventually stop responding to your call if you don’t change it up. Many electronic predator calls give the option of using multiple sounds by switching the memory cards, probably the best feature when it comes to using electronic calls.

5. Customer Service. Electronic calls are reaching upwards of $500 these days. The last thing you want is to drop that kind of money and not get help from the company when you are having issues. I won’t be able to comment much in this area, as I have not had technical issues with any of the electronic calls I have used. It might be worth your time to ask around with other users if they have needed customer support and if it was beneficial.

Notice I didn’t comment on the price of the call. I believe that if you can find the right call with all the features you want, it is worth whatever price they are asking. Most of the calls have competitive prices anyways, so you are better off paying the price and being happy with your product. It may be that the right call for you is one that is cheaper priced, if so, more power to you.

Johnny Stewart Electronic Predator Calls Review

This brand has been around for a while and in my opinion is one of the best quality items you will get. These calls have a very realistic sound with excellent clarity, you will be amazed. I have used the Preymaster digital, and not only is it great quality, it was also an excellent price. I think I paid around a hundred bucks for it. Ok, so let’s compare to my desirable traits I mentioned above.

As I already stated, it is very realistic and the clarity is excellent. Let me clarify something I failed to mention about realism and clarity. When I say does it sound real I mean is the sound something that a real animal would make, does a rabbit in distress really sound like a rabbit? I have heard calls that were very poor imitations of animal sounds. Clarity just means is the sound crisp and clear, or does it sound like a vinyl record from 1974. Johnny Stewarts are both real sounding and clear.

As far as simplicity goes, these calls are once again right up there with the best. There is an on off button, a button for each of the four sounds, and volume up and down buttons. That is pretty simple in my opinion, not a lot of confusion to be had there.

These particular calls also get the job done when it comes to volume intensity. In other words, they are plenty loud. I actually think the speaker is the only downfall to this call. The speaker for this model is actually quit big and awkward to carry in a backpack, which myself and a lot of other hunters carry in the field. I would prefer the speaker to be a little smaller, but then again, it might not be as loud. I guess you gotta sacrifice one for the other.

This call does in fact have the ability to use multiple sounds. When you want to change sounds, just slide out the memory card and slide the new one in. The memory cards hold four sounds each and run around 25 bucks. The nice thing about electronic calls is you only need one. You can buy enough memory cards with multiple sounds that you can use it for any kind of hunting.

One negative for this call is that it is not wireless. I am a big fan of wireless electronic calls. Then again, most of the wireless calls are 200 bucks or more and some are over $400. The $100 for this call makes not having wireless seem not so bad.

While I can’t comment on the customer service of Johnny Stewart, I can say that I have never had any technical issues with my call and I have had it for around four years now. It gets a lot of use and abuse and has not failed me yet.

Overall, I give my Johnny Stewart a 7 out of 10. It has great sounds, great clarity, and is very user friendly. If you are on a budget and not looking to drop 3 to 4 hundred bucks on a predator call, I highly recommend this one. The major drawbacks to this model have to be the cord and awkwardness of the shape and size, both are quite a nuisance. Other than that, it is a great product.

This post has become quite lengthy so I will save the other reviews for a later date.

Download Free Electronic Coyote Hunting Calls – A Good Alternative to Buying

2011-10-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

If you’re like me, you look to save money anyway you can and avoid buying expensive products whenever possible. Predator hunting is not a high cost hobby; however it does require some money spent. A great way to save a few dollars and keep your costs low is to make your own electronic coyote calls.

There are sources online where you can download free mp3 audio of predator call sounds, such as VarmintAls. I have tried the sounds from Varmint Als myself using nothing but some home audio equipment I had stored away and all I can say is they work.

I will tell you what was included in my setup and some other alternatives, but before I do, please keep in mind that I used equipment I already owned and did not buy anything. If you have to go buy a piece of equipment in order to use this method, don’t spend more than about $25, otherwise you can just go buy a cheap electronic call.

Here is a list of things you will need in order to make your own call. Hopefully, you already own most of this stuff and will not need to buy anything, hence the whole point of this post. You will need a computer, CD burner or mp3 player, stereo that plays the media you choose whether it is a CD or MP3.

If you choose to go the MP3 route, you will need a set of loud portable speakers (the louder the better) or a stereo with an auxiliary port and a cord to connect it with. If you go with the CD setup, you simply need a stereo that plays CDs.

Once you have chosen what mp3 audio you want to hunt with, you need to get it on the device whether it is CD or MP3. If you need help with this, just look up instructions online. Before you take the time to do this, listen to it all the way through to make sure there aren’t any crazy sounds on there! You don’t want any surprises while you are working in a coyote.

At this point you should have your sounds on your media of choice and equipment ready to hunt. I will say this about the stereo or speakers you use, get the loudest ones you can. One problem I found with some of the small portable radios I have around the house was that they just were not loud enough to carry the sound the distance it needs to go.

To be honest, some of the handheld electronic coyote calls I have used just were not loud enough and needed the attachment loud speaker. Funny how they give you almost everything you need, but that one important piece always cost extra.

The unfortunate thing about using a home stereo for calling coyotes is that they don’t usually make them in camouflage. Make sure you keep it well hidden before you turn it on, otherwise they will run away as fast as they came in. I wouldn’t try to bury down in the weeds, as that will muffle the sound. In the past, I have set my speakers on a stump and kept it hidden with branches or whatever I could find.

If you do this, make sure you can quickly turn it off if you need to without being spotted. I made the mistake of setting too far away from where I was sitting and was unable to turn it off in time.

Tips and Tricks for Eastern Coyote Hunting Day or Night

2011-10-07T20:11:00.000-05:00

Many people ask me what tips and tricks I have for hunting eastern coyotes and the best answer I can give is a varmint is a varmint, make them believe there is free food available and they will be on you like spiders on a web. That’s the big picture when hunting any varmint, and if you can keep your eye on the big picture, you should do just fine.

Of course there are a lot of things you can do to improve your chances, and I will talk about what kind of strategies I use in the next few paragraphs. Just keep in mind that all these things I talk about are always in the interest of deceiving a coyote into thinking there is a meal for the taking without letting him know you are there. If you can hone your skills and master that task, you will be successful at coyote hunting.

What Do I Need for Coyote Hunting?

Coyote hunting can be accomplished with very little gear and very little money spent. The most important thing you need to harvest a coyote is a place to hunt! A good hunting location is crucial if you want to be a successful hunter. You wouldn’t fish in a pond without fish, just like you wouldn’t hunt on land that has no coyotes.

Luckily for us hunters, coyotes are more abundant than lawyers in a phone book. If you know someone who has a few acres of uninhabited land, it will probably be a good place to hunt. Farm land is also a great place to try your luck. Most farmers will have no problem with you getting rid of a few predators from their cattle fields or chicken farms.

Another obvious item you will need is a rifle to hunt with. The best coyote hunting rifles are usually small caliber center fire or large rim fire. This is really a matter of preference, as some believe you need at least a .223, while others feel a .22 is plenty of fire power to bring down a coyote. I personally prefer a .223, they are small enough that you won’t lose half the hide on impact, but you can be sure the coyote won’t walk away.

Camouflage is also very important if you want any chance at all at even seeing a coyote. These animals will spook very easily and will most definitely see you if you’re not well hidden. When I say camo, I mean everything but you feet should blend in. Legs, upper body, face and head should all be covered.

It also never hurts to try and use natural cover when you get into your spot. Use leaves, bushes, or whatever you can find in the woods to help keep yourself concealed. The hardest part of not being busted is sitting still. Any movement can spook a coyote and send him running for the woods. The better you can hide yourself, the better your chances will be.

Last but not least, you need an attractant, something to make them come to you. I highly recommend a coyote call, preferably an electronic one with a remote control. The reason I prefer the remote is because you can position it several feet away from you so that they coyote will not be looking in your direction as he approaches. This is just another trick to keep from being spotted by the enemy.

Rabbit in distress is probably the most popular of all coyote calls. I personally have had the most luck with this type. If you prefer not to dish out a few hundred dollars for an electronic model, there are sever affordable mouth calls that will get the job done.

Tips for Coyote Hunting at Night

Night coyote hunting requires equipment I did not mention above, a spotlight or night vision goggles. Obviously, if you are going to hunt at night you need to be able to see and either one of these pieces of equipment allows for exactly that.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend night vision. Good night vision equipment will allow you to see everything around you at all times, therefore significantly reducing the chances of a coyote sneaking up on you.

When using a spotlight, you basically have to turn it on when you think the coyotes are near. The strategy is to call for a few minutes and then check the area with the spotlight to see if your calling has been effective. The obvious downside to this is that you might spook the coyotes before they get close, or you might not turn the light on soon enough and miss your chance.

The important thing with coyote hunting, like any other hunting, is to get out there and try things out for yourself. You will never learn what works and what doesn’t if you don’t experiment and learn from doing. So, the best advice I can give is to get out there and hunt!

For more information on what equipment to use for when coyote hunting, see my post The 10 Essentials for Coyote Hunting.

Coyote Hunting Techniques

2010-05-01T12:00:00.009-05:00

When I set out on a coyote hunt, there are a number of things I do as preparation for each hunt that will be of value to anyone who is a coyote hunter. These coyote hunting techniques are basic strategies that can be incorporated into any hunt anywhere and anyone can do. For me, these preparations are something I do routinely for every hunt. I think of them as a necessary foundation to a successful outing. Information such as calling tactics or coyote sounds can be found in other posts.

Coyote hunting is not much different than deer hunting or hog hunting. I start off by figuring out where I want to hunt. This usually comes a few days ahead of time and is what makes me want to hunt in the first place. I usually hear someone talking about coyote sightings or will hear some howling one day and decide I want to hunt that area.

Knowing of a new area I haven’t hunted yet with a descent coyote population is what gets me excited about hunting. These factors will increase you chances of killing a coyote because they have not been pressured and there is a larger population. If I know I have a good chance of killing one, I usually get an itch to go and find out. Of course I make sure I have permission to hunt any area before going out there. No reason to get into trouble over some coyotes.

A good time to get permission is when you go out on a pre-hunt scout. Scouting is important because you need to figure out where you are going to sit while you hunt. Never wait until the morning of the hunt to do this, you will find yourself scrambling around looking for a spot before it gets light out. This can end up in a failed hunt.

The morning before the hunt, I pick one of my coyote hunting rifles and get all of my hunting gear ready to go for the next morning. I like to do this the night before because I want to be ready when it is time to leave the house. Too many times have I waited until the morning of the hunt to get my things together and arrived in the field too late.

If you are hunting with a friend, it is even more important to be on time because there is nothing that pisses me off more than when I am forced to be in a rush because I had to wait on an unprepared hunting buddy. So don’t do this to your friends. Anyways, I always put my clothes and equipment out and ready for me to put on and go.

My equipment includes binoculars, predator call, scent killer, bug spray, bullets, knife, and my gun. I carry everything in a camo back pack except for my gun. My clothing includes, pants, long sleeve shirt, hat, waterproof boots, and a facemask, all camouflage of course.

With all this stuff to keep up with, things can easily become lost. This is the reason for getting things together the night before. This will give you ample time to find things if they become misplaced, or think of a backup plan. This is certainly better than showing up late and ruining your hunt, or going without an important piece of equipment.

On the morning of the hunt, I always like to be out in the field about the time light is starting to show itself. This means I need to give myself plenty of time to wake up, get ready, and drive to the hunting location. I believe it is important to eat a good breakfast before hunting because you will need the energy to walk long distances while carrying your equipment, so give yourself plenty of time for this. If there is ice on the roads, be prepared for that as well.

Up to this point, I have found a hunting location, picked out a spot to sit, prepared my gear for the hunt, and I’m in the field right on time. Now is the time to get into that spot I picked out. Make sure you get into a comfortable position because once you start calling, you need to move as little as possible. This is one of the most important coyote hunting techniques I can give you.

Coyotes will be looking right in your direction when you are calling, so it is important that you don’t move. It is not a bad idea to try and cover yourself with limbs and leaves if you can manage it. Its not necessary, but it will only help your success.

Now that you are comfortable, get out your gear and have it where you can easily access it. You don’t want to be fumbling through your backpack looking for something when a coyote is standing in the field. When it is light enough to visibly see for a long distance, you can begin calling. You don’t want to call if it is not completely light out because coyotes will often respond very quickly to a call and if it is not light out, you won’t see it.

While you are calling, it is important to remain as still as possible. Always have skin completely covered, including your face. Your scent is important too, which I forgot to mention earlier. As soon as you get to your hunting location, before you walk to the spot you are going to sit, make sure you spray down with scent killer. Coyotes have a very keen scent and your human smell could end up ruining a hunt.

If you are wondering why I said walk to your spot, is because that is exactly what you are going to do. If you thought you could drive your truck or four wheeler right up to your hunting spot, guess again. You should be parked as least 200 yards from where your sitting, and your vehicle should be hidden if possible.

If you haven’t noticed from reading, being prepared is half the battle. Having your things together and a game plan will make things go a lot smoother and will greatly improve your coyote hunting techniques.

Coyote Hunting

2010-04-24T16:39:00.001-05:00

Coyote hunting is one of my favorite types of hunting and is the reason I created this site. My goal here was to share with you some of my experiences in coyote hunting and share what has worked for me. I have experimented with hunting techniques and discovered things that work, and others that don’t. Throughout this site, I have shared these tips and techniques, and I hope, if you took the time to actually read what I wrote, it was of some use to you. I do not claim to be a hunting expert, nor do I feel like I am an authority in the sport. What I have suggested in other post may not work for you, I just know that I have had success in the past and can get lucky more often than not.

Whether or not you read my advice and actually try it for yourself is completely your choice. I simply wrte this stuff because it is something I enjoy doing and enjoy writing about. I figured with all the time I have put into coyote hunting and the things I have discovered, I would share with the rest of the world. I know that it would have been nice to have someone tell me all these things when I first started this hobby of mine (although experimenting was half the fun). If you are a beginner hunter, you will probably find some useful information on this site. If you are already somewhat experienced, this site may be a waste of your time.

Although predator hunting is not the most popular sport and the group of us on the net is probably small, I do know there are those of you out there who enjoy the sport just as much as I do. Chances are, you could show me, and the rest of the world a thing or two about coyote hunting. So, if you have stumbled across my little site and feel you could add to what I have already written, please don’t hesitate to comment and let us in on what experiences you have had and what has worked for you. One of my favorite things is chatting with my hunting buddies and finding out what tricks they use to make them successful hunters. I would love nothing more than to have a group of people on here who regularly share ideas on hunting.

If there is anything you should take away from my site, it is to get out in the field and try things out for yourself. I didn’t become the hunter I am by reading other peoples tips all day and never trying anything for myself. You have to experiment. Doing things by the book won’t always produce a successful hunt. I’m not saying researching isn’t important, you should definitely do it. Researching can give you a good foundation and teach you the basics. However, if you really want to rise above the rest, you have to experiment and learn those tricks that nobody else knows. If you put in the time and experiment, I promise you will be successful in coyote hunting.

Coyote Hunting Videos

2010-04-04T21:37:00.000-05:00

If you want to spice up your hunting experience and create some entertainment for after the hunt, coyote hunting videos can really do the trick. There is nothing more fun than you and a friend recording a hunting video together and making your own hunting show. It gives you something to show your friends and provides hours of entertainment for those days you're stuck in the house. You can also use the videos to find errors in your hunting and ways to improve.
If you don't already have a good video camera, go ahead and get yourself one. You will also need a partner for the hunt, one to do the hunting, and one to shoot. Now that you have everything you need, you are ready to shoot the video. To shoot a coyote hunting video, you will obviously need to do some hunting, so get out in the field and start rolling.

The person holding the camera should always sit behind the person hunting, and at an angle you can get a good shot of the kill. In order to do this, you will need to figure out the most likely spot for a coyote to come out, and hope that he does. Once you have this figured out, sit so the hunter is between you and the spot you picked out. This will give you the best chance of getting the perfect shot. You don't always have to be rolling throughout the entire hunt, there is going to be a lot of boring moments in there you probably don't care to watch. Just get a good couple of shots of the hunting area and the person who is hunting.

It is also important that the person who is hunting narrates what is going on. Be sure to announce the time, weather conditions, and what kind of action has been seen so far. When a coyote comes out, you obviously need to be quiet, so narration will not be possible at this point. Make sure you get good shots of the coyote and where he is in relation to your location. When it is time for the kill, have your camera zoomed in on the predator. It is important that the two of you communicate so you know when each is ready for the kill.

The film after the kill is just as important as before. You don't have to stop rolling just because the shot has been made. If the hunter missed the coyote, you obviously don't have much to shoot. It there is a kill, keep rolling while you walk up to the coyote. This is the point when adrenaline is rushing and you can be sure the footage will be good. Make sure the hunter holds the coyote up so that the viewers can get a good look. Its also important that he tells what happened as the kill was made. As I said earlier, you can't narrate while the coyote is in the field, so this is a good opportunity to fill the viewers in on the details. The direction he came from, the direction he was moving, how far he was when the shot was made, etc.

Making coyote hunting videos is a lot of fun and they will provide you with hours of entertainment. Don't be discouraged at first if the video doesn't come out like you had hoped. You will get better as you make them. Understanding how it will look on TV while you are shooting takes practice. Once you master this, you will be on your way to becoming the next hunting team for the outdoor channel....well maybe not, but you will have a lot of fun doing it. Remember, you don't have to stop at coyote hunting videos, you can shoot any type of hunting. Use these videos to your advantage and improve your hunting techniques.

Night Coyote Hunting

2010-03-21T16:07:00.003-05:00

Night coyote hunting is something that is very fun to do, and a good way to harvest coyotes. Coyotes are primarily nocturnal, so at night is the best time to spot one. Night hunting does require extra gear than day hunting, so be prepared to drop some money. There are a few extra tips as well that will be important to your success.

Night hunting does require some gear that you probably won't already have. While some of the equipment is not necessary, it can make your experience a lot better. Besides, who doesn't love an excuse to go buy $3,000 worth of hunting equipment? One thing that is essential to night hunting is a high power spotlight. I'm talking 1,000,000 candle power minimum. High candle power is important because you will need a light to spot a coyote at least 100 yards away and be able to see it through a scope. Another piece of equipment that is not necessary but can really help you, is night vision goggles. Who doesn't want some night vision goggles? These can be quite expensive but can allow you to see what is going on.

Night hunting is similar to day hunting, except you can't see when the coyotes walk out. This is where having night vision can really be an advantage, because you CAN see when they walk out. Without them, it adds a little guess work to your routine. While you are calling, you periodically have to scan the area with your spotlight to see if a coyote has walked out. I have had good results with scanning the area after about 5 minutes of calling. Remember that the coyotes will probably come in sooner than during the day because they are more active at night.

If you have not taken the opportunity to enjoy some night coyote hunting, I highly recommend that you do. It is a really fun experience and adds a new twist to your normal coyote hunting routine.

Coyote Hunting Rifles

2010-03-21T15:30:00.006-05:00

There are several different rifles that make good coyote hunting rifles. Everyone has their preference as to what kind they use. It doesn't take a lot of power to knock down a coyote, therefore there are a lot of guns we can choose from to hunt with. Rimfire and centerfire both are capable of killing a coyote.

Rimfire rifles are named for the way the firing pin strikes the edge of the rim when it is fired. These rifles are smaller and don't produce the knockdown like the more modern centerfire. The most popular rimfire rifle is the .22LR. Most of you have probably heard of this and might even have one. They are good for killing small game like rabbits and squirrels, but are capable of killing a coyote. Larger rimfire rifles were made, but have mostly been replaced by centerfire rifles. A rimfire would be great for a youngster who is new to guns and hunting.

Centerfire rifles are much more popular for hunting than rimfire, because of their accuracy, bullet size, and becauase they make great long range rifles. The best deer rifle is usually a centerfire. These guns come in a wide range of caliber sizes, so you can find one to kill just about anything. I use a .243 win with a 55 grain ballistic tip bullet to do my predator hunting, because of their accuracy and smaller size. However, don't underestimate these rifles, I use this same gun for deer hunting, just a different grain size. Anything bigger than this is probably going to be overkill for any kind of predator hunting. Another similar size is a 22-250, which is another accurate, flat shooting gun that is great for small game.

There are plenty of coyote hunting rifles to choose from, this is completely up to you. If you have a bigger budget, you might even consider semi-auto mp or SKS. Many people enjoy these because they add a little fun to coyote hunting. Just be aware of the laws in your area and know what is allowed.

Predator Hunting Safety

2010-03-21T08:50:00.001-05:00

Although hunting has one of the lowest accident rates of any sport, this doesn’t give us a reason to be careless when we are out predator hunting. There are a couple of things you can do to help keep yourself safe while in the field.

The most important thing is to treat every gun as if it is loaded. People should be taught this at a young age, but sometimes they are not. It really bugs me when I am around friends who do not practice this rule and pay little attention to where the end of their gun is pointing. Treating every gun as if it were loaded will eventually become a habit and you will find yourself practicing good gun safety before you know it. Of course, drinking alcohol and handling guns is never a good idea either.

Always hunt with a buddy. The buddy system is your number one lifeline while you are deep in the woods where nobody can hear you call for help. In case of an emergency, there is someone there who hopefully will be able to get help if needed. If you must go hunting by yourself, let someone know you where you are going and when you plan to be home. This will let the person know when to expect you back so they know when something might be wrong. Always carry some kind of communication device, preferably a cell phone, and make sure you can easily access it.

You also might consider wearing hunter orange. The downside to this of course is making you more visible to the predators you are hunting. Is usually best practice to always take off the orange before you start calling for predators. For me, it would depend on where I am hunting as to whether or not I would wear orange. If I am going to public hunting land, you better believe I will have it on when I am walking around. When I am on my own property, I don’t usually wear it. This of course is all up to you. Just remember; never sacrifice your own safety for the sake of predator hunting.

Coyote Bait

2010-03-20T15:49:00.002-05:00

Using coyote bait is a technique that can be utilized to attract coyotes. It is not necessarily a technique that I use often, but it can be effective. Personally, I prefer to use calls to bring them in, but everyone has their own preference and goals. Coyote baiting is simply putting out some type of food to attract the coyotes into your hunting area. I have used anything from a dead carcass to spoiled meat.

I wanted to address this topic because there are some who like to do this method. However, there is not a lot to say about it. It’s pretty simple really, just put out something that is attractive to a coyote and wait. I think coyote baiting is a more of a technique that is utilized by people trying to rid their property of coyotes and are not necessarily hunters. I have seen farmers use bait to kill coyotes because it was easier for them than buying coyote calls and learning how to use them. However, for a true coyote hunter, this method seems a little unpractical compared to calling.

When it comes to using coyote bait, you want to place the bait upwind of where you think the coyotes are. If you have some animal carcasses or spoiled meat, it can work quite well. The idea is to have something with a lot of scent that is going to catch the attention of their noses. A freshly killed carcass can work very well also. I killed a deer one afternoon several years ago, and I had to field dress it in the dark. The spot where I dressed it was about 30 yards from a patch of woods, and I had the coyotes in those woods howling about 10 minutes after I opened up that deer. I left the guts lying and I’m sure they were devoured minutes after I left.

As I said in the story above, it was at night when the coyotes were howling at me, which should tell you that baiting is going to work best at night. Coyotes do most of their hunting and scavenging at night, and this is when you are going to have the most success. One thing to keep in mind is that coyote baiting and night hunting is illegal in a lot of areas, so be aware of the laws and always do the right thing.

Coyote Hunting Tips for Success

2010-03-19T22:18:00.007-05:00

When it comes to coyote hunting tips, there are several that can help improve your chances of harvesting a coyote. This blog covers most of those tips in one post or another. However, there are three tips that I believe stand out above the rest.

The first tip is to use the proper call sequence. There are many different beliefs on how to do this. For a rabbit in distress call, I like to begin my calling sequence very loud and lasting about 30 seconds. You probably will find many people that believe calling loud at first is a mistake because you can scare away any coyotes that are close. My thoughts on this are if you have just began to call, it means you just got settled into your spot and probably made some noise in doing so. If that didn't scare any close ones away, a hurt rabbit certainly isn't going to. I have had coyotes walk to about 30 yards of me within 20 seconds of calling, and I was calling loud. After your initial calling, wait for two or three minutes before calling again. You can even wait up to ten minutes if you want. Do this over and over for about 30 minutes and if nothing comes, try a new spot. Make sure you stop calling the second you spot a coyote.

The second of the three tips is your cover. You should always wear camouflage that matches your surroundings when coyote hunting. Coyotes are very timid and they will not show their face if they can see you. Camo is good, but camo with good cover is better. If you can position yourself behind some leaves or brush, your chances will improve greatly. Deer stands are also great place do coyote hunting from. This is especially important if you are using a mouth call because this directs the attention of the coyote right at you. A face mask is never a bad idea as well. Remember, the coyote will be scanning the area to find the source of the sound, so try to be as still as possible. You certainly don't want him seeing you by mistake.

The last coyote hunting tip in my top three is to always be aware of your scent. Pick an open location where you can visualize the coyote coming out, and hunt downwind of that area. This will blow your human scent away from it. This goes hand in hand with good cover. Just like seeing you, they can smell you just as easily. This will send off an alarm in the coyotes head and he will be gone faster than you can blink. I always use some kind of scent to help keep my scent covered. You can use scent killer to mask your human scent, or some kind of attracting scent, to make it think you are a potential meal. Don't forget about your hunting rifle either, it will have a scent as well. As I said, hunting downwind will keep the coyotes that come out where you planned from smelling you, but sometimes they come from behind. Always use a cover scent just in case.

Switch Up Your Coyote Calling Methods

2010-03-15T21:16:00.001-05:00

Have you ever called in a coyote and almost got a shot off before he spooked and ran away? Chances are that coyote will never respond to that call again. Or maybe you have over hunted an area and coyotes seem to be more scarce. Chances are, the call you are using is no longer effective due to overuse. Its time for a change.

Most coyote hunters use the rabbit in distress call, and for good reason. This call is easily the most effective call on the market for predator hunting. On more than one occasion, I have witnessed coyotes respond to this call in under 20 seconds. However, coyotes can become numb to the same sound, and it would be in your best interest to try something new. I recommend a doe bleat call, or fawn call. Coyotes often snack on baby dear, so if you can create the sound of a fawn in distress, you will awaken those coyotes that have been hiding from your old rabbit call. One thing to keep in mind is the time of year you are hunting. If it is that time of the year for baby dear, this call should be even more effective. Of course you could try the coyote baiting method, but what is the fun in that?

If you are hunting on public land that is hunted often, a fawn call could also be effective. As I said earlier, most hunters use the rabbit in distress, and this includes all those people who hunt on the same public land as you. Being creative and thinking smart can help you harvest those coyotes that everyone else is missing. If it is a time of year for a different animal that is a popular main course for coyotes, get a call for that animal and see what happens. Before your next coyote hunt, go grab a fawn call and throw it in your hunting bag. It certainly never hurts to have more hunting equipment, that's my belief.

Use Scents When Coyote Hunting

2010-03-15T12:06:00.000-05:00

Coyotes just like any other mammals have an excellent sense of smell. You can use this to your advantage when you are coyote hunting. However, it could also ruin your hunt if the coyote gets a scent of something he doesn't like. There are two important concepts here, attracting scent and cover scent.

There are a couple of things you can do to keep the coyotes from getting a whiff of your body scent, and trust me, you don't want this. The most important thing is to always position yourself downwind of the coyotes. This is the best defense over any scent killer. The hard part is deciding where the coyotes will come from. It has been my experience that they usually come from the opposite side of human activity. If you are hunting near a road, put the road at your back. If there are houses nearby, the coyotes will probably come from the opposite direction of the houses. If you're out in the middle of nowhere away from anything resembling civilization, find a field and sit downwind in that field. At least you will know that any coyotes coming into the field will not get your scent.

Cover scents should also be used. You can find scent killer at any outdoor store, and Walmart usually carries it as well. To put it bluntly, scent killer products make you smell like dirt. They have an earth like smell to it and it does a pretty good job of covering your smell, given that you don't just reek of something abnormal. There are also scent killing soaps and laundry detergents if you are really paranoid about your scent. Theoretically, if you take a shower with scent killing soap, wash your clothes with scent killing detergent, and use the spray before you get in the field, your should be good to go. Personally I don't go this far with it, I just use the scent killer spray and position myself downwind of where I think the coyotes will be.

Using scents to attract coyotes is also an excellent way to improve your coyote hunting results. Some scents you can use for this is the urine of bobcats, fox, and rabbits. You can find all kinds of people out there who believe in one over the other, probably because they had a good or bad experience at one time or another with a particular scent and now bash it. My recommendation for you is to use all of them and see what works best for you.

There are a couple of ways to use the scent. You can buy scent releasing products that will release the scent for you. An example of this is scent bombs. Just spray the scent on the scent bomb and hang it from a tree limb. Another way that is popular is to apply some scent in a few places around your hunting spot. It is urine, so make it as if the animal was marking their spot. Just try different methods and remember the one that works the best.

10 Essentials for Coyote Hunting

2010-03-08T13:09:00.004-06:00

1. Camouflage – If you're going to do any kind of hunting, you need to blend in with your surroundings. Coyote hunting is no exception. If they spot you, they will not come out from cover, or they will. Remember to wear the proper camouflage for your surroundings. If it is snowing, wear white.

2. Location – In a good location, you want open fields, seclusion, and lots of coyotes. If you can't find a place to hunt, ask local farmers, go to public hunting land. Most people will be glad to let you on their property if you are going to get rid of their coyotes.

3. Wind – Your scent can make or break your hunt. Aside from wearing scent cover, you want to be downwind of where you think the coyotes will come out. So if you're are in a large field, make sure you sit on the side that is downwind.

4. Population – A high population is a blessing for calling coyotes. Whenever you look for a location, make sure it has a high population before you take the time to hunt it. Land owners will usually know if they have coyotes or not, because they will have spotted them or heard them howling at night. Public hunting land is usually pretty secluded, so it should have coyotes as well.

5. Call – The call is probably the most important thing when calling coyotes. If you want to dish out the money, you can get an electronic remote caller. These can get quite expensive so you can always go for the $15 rabbit distress call. Just make sure you know what you are doing when using mouth calls. If you are unsure you can go here: Rabbit Distress Coyote Call.

6. Call Sequence – The call sequence will either make the coyote think there is a wounded rabbit nearby, or he will wonder what in the world that noise is. If he don't think its real, he won't come. Your call sequence is automatic if you have an electronic call, However, if you don't go to the link above on rabbit distress calls to find out how to call.

7. Time – The time of your hunt is not the most important thing, but it can increase your chances if you go at certain times. I believe the best time to go is at night, and I'm sure most will agree with me on this. Hunting at night does require you to have certain expensive equipment like spotlights and night vision goggles. I myself am more of an economical hunter, so I go during the day. I believe early morning is the best time to hunt in during the day. So, get out there at about daylight, and you should improve your chances.

8. Gun – This is not as important, but you do need one if you are going to kill something. I believe the best gun is a smaller caliber center fire rifle like a.243 or 22-250. I use a .243 with 55 grain bullets. Be aware of the laws when you are hunting on public land. Some places where I live require hunters to use a rim fire.

9. Binoculars – I am a fan of binoculars because I don't believe in putting my scope on something to find out what it is. If you are unsure of what is standing out in the field, use your binoculars to find out, not your gun. This might save someones life!

10. View – Finally, the view you have is essential to calling coyotes. Make sure you can see your surroundings very clearly. You don't want to get caught calling by a coyote you couldn't see coming. If you are setting on the ground, take a chair to get yourself up above an tall grass that is around. If you can, hunt out of a deer stand.

Coyote Hunting – The Best Call

2010-03-08T08:50:00.002-06:00

This post is devoted to what I believe is the best call on the market today for coyote hunting. This is not a product review because I am not going to talk about any specific brand, although I might recommend a few. I will save product reviews for another post. This is about what I think is hands down the kind of coyote call that will give you the best results, other than just using coyote bait.

The call I'm talking about is the electronic remote predator call. These calls are the best for a couple of reasons: they don't require you to do anything but press a button, and they can be placed away from you and controlled with a remote.

The fact that all it requires is for you to press a button is good because it doesn't require that you control the sound or the calling sequence. The device comes preset with the proper sound and proper calling sequences. This means that a we can't screw it up for ourselves by making unrealistic sounds. Plus, I like the fact that I don't have to sit there and blow into it. I guess I'm just lazy :).

The fact that it can be placed away from you and remote controlled is equally as beneficial. One of the worst things about mouth calls is that the sound is coming directly from you. This means, when the coyotes are headed your way, they will be looking directly at you. Anyone who has ever been spotted by a coyote while calling knows they don't hang around long when they figure out you are there. With a remote caller, you can place the sound source several yards away from you and control it with a remote. In my opinion, this is invaluable. I enjoy getting in deer stands and placing these at the base of the stand. This way can see them coming from a long ways away, and minimize you chance of getting busted.

There are many brands out there that make these calls at different price ranges. It is best to find the price range that fits you. One brand I am particularly fond of is Foxpro, they make excellent predator calls. However, they are kind of pricy for equipment that is just used for coyote hunting.

Coyote Hunting - Importance of Location

2010-03-07T20:20:00.001-06:00

Coyote Hunting – Importance of Location

Location is something I have talked about before, but I want to devote an entire post to this because, basically, it can make or break your hunt. There are two different kinds of location that apply to coyote hunting: the geographical location you choose to do your hunt, and the spot you choose to sit in.

The geographical location is important because you don't want to hunt on property that is not inhabited by coyotes. This sounds pretty obvious, but you would be surprised in the people who hunt locations that are exactly that. There are several ways to find places to perform your hunt. If you know of places that have coyotes, then you have it pretty easy. Just go to that place.

If you need land to hunt on, you can ask local farmers in your area, they will usually be glad to have the coyotes thinned out. The good thing about coyotes, there are more places with them than without them. Coyotes have even been known to live in urban areas. Local farmers will usually know if there are coyotes and where they are more likely to be, so be sure to pick them for any information they have. There are many public hunting lands located throughout the country, any of these places would be great places to hunt. The only downside is that it may be hit or miss on finding coyotes.

Once you find your location to hunt, you have to decide where you are going to sit. One thing you want to look for when choosing your calling location is an open field that you can lure the coyotes into. If you have a deer stand to or blind to get into, that would be ideal. If not, you have to pick a spot to sit. You definitely don't want to sit out in the open if you can help it. If they spot you, then your hunt is over. If you're going to sit on the edge of a field, and can't decide which side to sit on, consider what human activity is close to that field. If there is a road, house, or something related to where people might be, sit on that side. It seems that in most of my hunts, coyotes come from the opposite side of any signs of people.

Your experiences my give you different results than mine. I just know what I have seen in the field. The important thing is that you have to get out there and see what works for you.

Coyote Calls - Rabbit Distress

2010-03-06T23:10:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite, inexpensive coyote calls is the classic rabbit distress mouth call. This call is essential to any coyote hunters arsenal and one shouldn't leave home without it. The great thing about this call is that it is small, lightweight, and very effective.

What this call does is make the sound of a rabbit that is in serious pain. You can control the intensity by how hard you blow. You can give a waaaa like sound by how you move your hand over the end of the call when you blow. There is a call out by Knight and Hale that can be reversed as a coyote howler. You simply take the mouthpiece from the endpiece and voila. I'm not sure how well it works, but it sounds impressive to me and I will be purchasing this toy very soon. The downside to these coyote calls is that if you don't use it properly, you won't get results. Therefore, you must know how to use the caller and the correct sequence to call.

When using a rabbit distress call, you are trying to imitate a rabbit being attacked. So you start out with a loud, high pitched cry, and slowly work the intensity down. Your initial calling sequence should be about a minute long. After the first minute, pause for no more than about two minutes. The next sequence of calling should be about a minute long and similar sounding to the first, except with a little less intensity. By this time the rabbit is getting tired and possibly closer to death, so it doesn't have the strength to cry as it did before. After this, hold off on calling for about 5 minutes, then resume with the same sequence over again. Remember that you are directing the attention of the coyotes directly toward you, so your movement has to be kept to a minimum.

Remember that location is always important. I have said this before and I will say it again. Set yourself in a spot where your eyes can cover a large area. You want to see the coyote coming. If you are in a field and not sure where to sit, go to the side closest to any human involvement, like a road or house. It is my experience that coyotes always come from locations farthest from where people are. Well that is enough for now. Remember, if you ever have any questions, just ask :).

Call Coyotes

2010-03-05T12:06:00.001-06:00

If you are looking to jump into the sport and call coyotes right away, here are some things to consider for a quick and easy start. Think about your location first. Are there coyotes there? If you know of a place where howling is often heard, I would recommend hitting up that spot if you have access to it. If not, its always good to get as far away from urban and residential areas as you can. If you know of some bottom land close to a water source, this is probably your best bet.

Second, make sure you go at the right time. Now, some will say there is no right time to go because I'm sure coyotes have been called in at just about any time of the day or night. But there certainly are times when you are more likely to call one in. I recommend going early in the morning or at night. Going at night will require some equipment like a spot light, or even night vision goggles. If you don't have these don't worry, I don't either ha. If only I had more money. Anyways, I would recommend going early in the morning, about an hour after the sun has come up. You can hunt as long as you want, but I have spotted more coyotes within about three hours after daylight. From my experience, the best time to call coyotes is about 7:00 to 8:00 am.

Finally you need a good call. This is to be debated on what call is the best. But, if you are just starting out, go with the call you can perform the best. This is probably going to be an electronic call because you are not actually doing the calling. One thing to remember is to try and put the call away from you so that when the coyote is looking for the animal it hears, it won't be looking at you! If you are using a mouth call, try to practice it first. I would recommend downloading some distress audio files and trying to mimic those. Try to practice these tips and I think you will have some luck when you begin to call coyotes.

Predator Calling

2010-03-04T18:26:00.002-06:00

Predator calling in general was how I got started in coyote hunting. Originally my goal was to call in a bobcat. I had read articles on bobcat callinga and found out that I need a rabbit in distress call. This was an all around basic tool used for predator calling. I read that this simple call will call in just about any type of predator if they are in hearing range of it. I put it to the test and sure enough, in came a predator. To my surprise, however, I called in an owl! I had heard that bobcats come out at night so I decided thats when I would try it out. I called for about half an our, then I became discouraged and left. When I stood up from the base of the tree where I was sitting, an owl flew off a branch right above my head. Scared me to death!

This was my first experience with this type of call. Today, I still use this same one and it goes with me whenever I go hunting. As a matter of fact, I take an assortment of calls with me whenver I hunt. You never know when you might get the chance to call in an animal. Once you get this thrill, you will love it.

I will talk more about the rabbit in distress hand call in future post. But my main point is that calling coyote isn't just limited to coyote. You can pretty much call in any predator with the right calls. However, there are some calls that are specific to coyotes, and I will discuss them at a later time.

Welcome to The Coyote Hunting Blog

2010-03-03T17:10:00.006-06:00

Welcome to my site on coyote hunting and calling coyotes. Over the years I have developed a love for hunting and especially coyote hunting. I have started this blog to share with you some of my experiences and what I have learned from each one. I have done a lot of experimenting with different ways of calling animals, and I hope to let you in on some secrets I have learned. Maybe this will save you from the failures I have experienced.

I love to hunt coyotes for several reasons. One, I can pretty much hunt them all year long. One thing I hate is having to wait all year long for the other hunting seasons to come along. With coyotes, I can do it anytime. Another thing I love is being able to shoot as many as I want. This is probably the best part because I love guns and I love to shoot them at things, especially live animals! Another thing I love about hunting those varmits is exactly what this site is about, hunting coyotes! I love trying new equipment in field and tinkering with gadgets, and I get to do this with calls.

I also enjoy spending time at the outdoor store and wishing I owned everything in it. I swear if I was a millionaire I wouldn't have enough space to fit all of my hunting equipment. Waiting for the new coyote calls to come out each year is like waiting for christmas for me. So stay tuned and hopefully I can share some helpful experiences with you.