Judd Cooney Articles

I didn’t stumble into trapping. I backed into it with a sack of dead gophers and a dollar bill that felt like a fortune.

That first winter, I caught 20 bobcats with hounds, called in a half dozen red and cross foxes, and took only six coyotes.

"When I thought I had eliminated the coyote problem on one of my best Iowa food plots, I was obviously in error, as a deer-hunting client mumbled how he HATED those damn coyotes as he climbed into my pickup." - Judd Cooney

"predators are the biggest detriment to wildlife during the winter months."

By using decoys, you not only appeal to a predator’s sense of hearing but also to its discerning eyesight.

The good, the bad — and the ugly — whitetail clients who occupy a permanent spot in one longtime outfitter’s memory.

“Over the course of the winter we shot just shy of 200 red foxes and six coyotes, covering much of the East River area of South Dakota in our forays.”

A look back at the good old days — when fur was in high demand.

Sometimes it takes an unconventional approach to get the job done on educated coyotes.

A trip to the fur buyer doesn’t always go as planned.

A highway mishap literally turns Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado into a zoo.

Intermittent or constant calling — which is better?

Making the most of every situation.

Receiving top dollar for your fur begins in the field immediately after a successful hunt.

If you’re looking for a true bucket-list adventure, call a houndsman and give bowhunting mountain lions a go.

It's simple math: More wolves means less big game for Western hunters.

Good public relations are reason enough to hunt predators during the off-season, when they are more prone to domestic critter depredation. And it’s also a good reason to learn the art of trapping and snaring — which make these endeavors even more effective because these animal control tools work 24 hours a day and can be utilized where shooting isn’t possible.

The largest bobcat the author ever called up was taken in Colorado a few days after the big-game season was over when he spotted ravens and magpies flitting around a brushy section of creek-bottom a half-mile off a main road. Here's how to cash in on late-season predators.

Does a 150-grain load of muzzleloader powder really offer enough extra knockdown power to justify the shoulder beating?

Increase your odds for success — and prime pelts — by hunting these secretive felines during the winter months.

Your gun is only as good as the scope you put on it, and that goes double for muzzleloaders.

Next time you see or hear of a unique predator where it shouldn’t be, give some thought as to just where it might have come from. If it happens to be a jaguar, don’t call me, been there and done that!

Are factory loads good enough for you? Should you be hand-loading, tweaking and seeking one-hole results?

Don't overlook the batteries in your calls, lights and gear. When you need these things the most, you don't want them to fail.

Over the years, I have called in many coyotes, fox and bobcats from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That’s proof positive that Mother Nature has a soft spot for midday predator callers!

Your chances of adding a trophy-sized mountain lion to your den have never been better, so don’t procrastinate.