Calls aren’t the end all in bringing a coyote into rifle range. That’s probably not breaking news as I’m sure you, like me, have more sets than not that are as dry as day-old toast. I was reminded of that over the weekend. I hiked more than a mile into a large expanse of public land under the cover of darkness. At daybreak I initiated a series of calls to lure in a brazen coyote with its confidence boosted by the dimly lit conditions. There was one hitch in the setup. No coyotes arrived.
Hiking over another ridge to survey some new country brought a huge surprise. A pile of crows and magpies exploded from a ravine below. That was immediately followed by the head of a coyote popping up to see what the fuss was about. A few seconds later it disappeared to resume its Grim Reaper Happy Meal.
Seeing no need for my coyote dog Sage to join in the crawl, I made her stay by my backpack and then I slithered through the sagebrush for a sniper position. With a good overwatch achieved I waited a minute or two and the coyote popped up again to review the situation. My teammates, Bergara and Hornady, ended that coyote’s dining experience. It was the Last Supper at breakfast time.
First, even the best calls can be ignored if a coyote has other options. I shot that coyote less than 700 yards from my morning set. Without question it heard every sound I sent. Second, if you know the location of a carcass, mark it for a future rendezvous with a hungry coyote.
— Research and scout possible carcass opportunities. The best prospects for carcass locations are livestock owners and farmers. Ask them where they stash dead critters for your ambush planning. Query them if they know the location of a newly deceased herd member.
— As you hunt, mark the location of any carcasses, domestic or wild, you stumble across for a future setup. Use your GPS or a hunting app like ScoutLook Weather to quickly return to these sites, especially when it’s dark.
— While looking at carcass ambush possibilities review predominant winds and topography that could alter those winds such as steep slopes, or high riverbanks. Also note the best vantage points to view the carcass in a downwind position.
— After you have the stench located consider when is the best time to set up watch over a carcass. Depending on access, you may be better to arrive midafternoon and watch until dark, or arrive in the dark and watch until midday. Night optics could be appropriate depending on state regulations.
— Lastly, if your target carcass disappears consider adding in other meat to continue coyote visits. Add in leftovers from your meals, restaurant scraps or even butcher shop fodder to turn coyotes into repeat visitors.
As effective as electronic callers are in luring in coyotes from afar, you could be competing against something much more attractive. Locate any carcasses in the area for another option in coyote success.
