Roid Rage: Hunting the Coyote Rut

This is the Golden Age for predator hunters who wish to use the latest and greatest sounds to lure in coyotes, as companies release avant-garde sounds that are uber-effective and fun to use. But the question arises: Are these sounds worthy of the hype that surrounds them? I can boldly say, “Yes!” After a few seasons of purposely using select sounds at designated times of the year, I have found “go-to” sounds and sequences that are too good not to share. All the sequences are developed around what is going on in the coyote’s life cycle at a particular time of year. While there is never a bad time to call in coyotes, perhaps the most exciting time, from a calling sequence perspective, is February — during the coyote mating season.

The Coyote Rut

If you are a deer hunter, you are familiar with the buzz that surrounds the whitetail rut. It is that magical time of year when monster bucks let down their guard as they seek out receptive does. Well, coyote hunters, too, can feel the magic of the rut — by pursuing these canines in February.

The main event in the life cycle of coyotes in February is mating. Although male coyotes can enter the breeding season in January and remain so until mid-March, females come into heat only for a two- to five-day period during the middle of February. The magical date to identify as the peak of the coyote rut is February 14th. That should be easy for hunters to remember — Valentine’s Day! While some females breed during their first winter, most are bred as two-year-olds. The alpha pair will mate several times while the female is in heat and the act of coupling can take from five minutes to 30 minutes. Coyotes that are not mating go about life as coyotes do.

How can a hunter take advantage of lovestruck coyotes? The answer is to speak seductively to them! For this to happen, they need to concentrate on using coyote breeding sounds, which can be complex and, in many cases, hard to decipher. However, hunters who do their homework can gain an understanding of what the many sounds mean. A good starting point is to visit call company websites and listen to the sound previews. In many instances, the sounds are explained there.

Mating Season Sequences

With a firm understanding of the February coyote life cycle, we can use the information to be productive while attempting to call in coyotes. Calling sequences are fun to use because they contain a variety of sounds that trigger coyotes to respond at any moment. Even though I’ve labeled February 14 as the peak of the rut, any of the mating sounds can be effective for weeks before and after this magical date. While I have created several of my sequences, I do not take credit for all the sequences detailed in this text. I have noted the origin of the sequences in the discussion. And while I have included sequences that include sounds from several popular call companies, hunters who use different e-caller brands, or hand/mouth calls, can substitute similar sounds as they perform the sequences.

Sequence No. 1: The Original Breeding Sequence

Here is a breeding sequence that has been effective for several seasons. It consists mainly of Foxpro sounds and concludes with Tony Tebbe’s original Breeding Coyotes sound. The first sound is Foxpro’s MM Passive Howl (named after a recording from Pro Staff member Matt McHugh). This hidden sound gem lends itself nicely to start this sequence. Play one or two series of this short sound file before moving on to Foxpro’s Female Submissive Howl. This sound, with its wavering howls, sets the scene for a male and female coming together.

Next up is a coyote pair/duet sound. Insert your favorite here. I have a few on my caller and use them interchangeably. Foxpro’s Coyote Whimpers sound is next in line. This sound includes the chirps and whimpers of a female in the act of breeding. Finish the sequence with Tony Tebbe’s original Breeding Coyote sound. This sound includes more intensity than the previously played whimpers and adds realism to the scene.

Sequence No. 2: The Lil B

This sequence, originated by MFK’s Torry Cook, is simple and fun to use. Knowing that coyotes might be on the prowl for a mate means using coyote vocalizations to speed up the process. A lone howl can be productive in this situation. More precisely, use an invitation howl. Hunters might question what is the difference between a lone howl and an invitation howl. Cook explains that, “Invitation howls are a series of lone howls that are grouped together. These howls are strung out as the coyote calls out for another coyote.”

This ultra-productive calling sequence involves invitation howls followed by a fight sound. For me, it has been effective from January through early February. I play each of the MFK Lil B sound files consecutively. Sometimes, I allow for a brief dose of silence in-between the sound files, but not much. The silence ranges from five seconds to 20 seconds. After the howls, play MFK’s Girl Fight for up to four to five minutes as a finisher.

Sequence No. 3: Prey to Breed

I mentioned that these February sequences are fun to use. This is because they include a variety of sounds that trigger coyotes. This next sequence starts with prey distress. Remember, not all coyotes are interested in breeding and might be lured in due to hunger. Heck, even breeding coyotes need to eat, so a dose of prey distress is not out of line.

After the prey distress segment is over, let out a lone howl series. This announces to coyotes that another coyote is in the area. Coyotes may respond by howling back or by appearing to check out the “intruder.”  Here is where things get interesting. At any point, in any of the sequences presented in this article, the hunter might have to make a “game-time decision” and go “off the script.” For example, if a coyote responds vocally to lone howls, do not automatically proceed to the next prescribed sound, which might be a pair howl. Depending on how far away the coyote seems to be, use another sound to coax it in.

If you can see the coyote, try using a coaxing sound such as Foxpro’s Field Mouse Distress or Vole Squeaks. In this situation, the lone howl has performed its task because it has made the coyote respond. Now, you must choose wisely to finish the job. It is not always a prey distress sound to accomplish this task. In February, when a coyote has howled back and is close enough to approach, try playing a mating sound such as MFK’s Cornered Hottie. This is a fresh and new sound in its library that brings coyotes in on a string. I hope you get the point that certain situations call for abandoning the sequence. For now, let us get back to detailing our mating season Sequence No. 3.

If there is no response to the lone howls (MFK’s Juice Lonely Howls is prescribed here), go ahead and send out a pair howl. This sequence calls for MFK’s Sidekick Pair. For whatever reason, pair howls can elicit a response when lone howls fail to do so. I am not sure why it happens, but it does. Perhaps the perception that there are two coyotes present is enough to make a resident coyote jealous of the situation and investigate. After all, that would be a surefire invasion of turf!

Now, we get “February-specific” and play sounds that involve actual mating behaviors. The next sound to play is MFK’s Greeting Whines. This sound, made by both males and females, essentially says “Come here” to other coyotes. Play this in two-minute spurts with brief silence mixed in.

After the Greeting Whines, it will be time for the fourth and final sound in this sequence. That is MFK’s Cornered Hottie. This sound includes the estrous chirps of a female coyote as a male tries to engage her. This sound can be played for up to five minutes with silence sprinkled in.

Sequence No. 4: Last Call Breeding Sequence

This fourth sequence comes from Geoff Nemnich, host of the popular “The Last Call” hunting channel on YouTube.com. Geoff’s sounds come from the Lucky Duck Game Calls sound library, as recorded by Rick Paillet. Geoff has a unique take on calling to coyotes during February and views the breeding season differently from most hunters. Geoff explains: “I key on specific coyotes instead of sounds. I want to call in the aggressive, mature coyotes that are still roaming around during the late season.”

To accomplish this, he abandons the typical prey distress sounds and dips into coyote-based sounds, such as pup distress and fight sounds. “Because the coyotes I call in respond and approach so quickly, I make shorter stands at about eight to 10 minutes long.” He adds, “I like to call non-stop, playing each sound for two to three minutes each. By keeping my stands relatively short, I can cover more ground to find those aggressive coyotes.”

Even though Geoff targets the older, aggressive coyotes, he does not object to young coyotes coming to his call. This sometimes happens when he incorporates an increasing aggression/intensity principle into his sequences. This means he plays the less aggressive-sounding sounds before playing more intense sounds. This is done to reduce the likelihood of scaring less dominant coyotes early in the set.

Geoff also often uses coyote howls differently. Instead of starting a sequence with any type of howl, he uses howls at the end of his stand to locate distant coyotes. Then, he moves closer to them and begins a new stand. Here, in table form, is an example of Nemnich’s typical mid-February sequence. It starts with pup sounds to act upon the territorial nature of the coyotes. Then, he progresses to breeding and fight sounds to end the sequence.

Sequence No. 5: The Humpty Bumpty

Here is another mating season sequence from Torry Cook. It will be important to have several such sequences ready to use because coyotes can be finicky and you want to have a variety of sounds and sound combinations to lure them in.

This sequence starts with a pair howl, instead of the traditional lone howls. Play one or two series of the pair howls and wait for a response. The second sound, MFK’s Lover’s Quarrel, is a pair of coyotes trying to get together for mating. Instead, they get into a fight. The third sound in the sequence is right up there with Cornered Hottie for effectiveness. It is called Stanky Leg and it is a female coyote that has come into heat and she is showing that she is ready for breeding. The fourth sound is MFK’s Humpty Bumpty. This sound, which clocks in at four minutes long, contains many change-ups along the way. It is the sound of a breeding pair attempting to go about their business while other coyotes circle, trying to get in on the action. Play this sound all the way through!

Sequence No. 6: Piggyback Trio

A trend in coyote hunting is to construct sequences that increase in intensity as time moves along. Hunters who wish to increase the intensity of the sounds or sequences during a stand can piggyback the next sequence right from a prior sequence. This sequence consists of female coyotes that are in heat and squaring off. The sounds are listed in order of increasing intensity. Each of the sounds includes aggressive and submissive growls, whimpers and chirps.

This simple sequence is perfect to follow any of the sequences we have discussed thus far. The sounds represent the fighting that can occur before or after mating. If nothing shows up to the sequences previously presented, do not hesitate to play these three sounds in succession.

Conclusion

Readers might notice that call volume was never mentioned in the text. It is difficult to precisely state how loud to play the sounds. There are simply too many factors and variables that affect volume selection.

For starters, hunters use a variety of brands and models of electronic callers, or perhaps use mouth calls, and the volumes will be inherently different. To name a specific sound level would not be accurate for all hunters. Furthermore, appropriate volume selection is dependent upon factors such as weather conditions and setup location. For example, calm conditions might require less volume than windy conditions.

Terrain also affects volume. When setting up in close quarters, high volume levels might not be required as they are when calling vast areas. For folks who are wondering if they are using too much volume, here is a general guideline: If your sound is echoing loudly off trees, farm buildings or other features in the landscape, it is probably too loud. One thing is certain, when proper volume is applied to these realistic breeding sequences, hunters will fall in love with using them. It will be a special kind of love that takes place around Valentine’s Day — the peak of the coyote rut!

Sound Sources

You do not have to look far to obtain the sounds discussed in this article. All sounds can be found online, purchased and downloaded right to your electronic caller. It is just that easy!

Foxpro Game Calls — www.gofoxpro.com

Lucky Duck Game Calls — www.luckyduck.com

MFK Game Calls — www.mfkgamecalls.com

Tony Tebbe Sounds — www.predatoruniversity.com