After finally getting home from college for spring break, the first thing I did was grab my bow and head out back to do a little stump shooting. Well while out there, there was coyote scat everywhere (along with a half eaten button buck that didn't make it through the winter).
I plan on taking my bow out to try and shoot one of these critters and am wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks they can share. Thanks guys.
Jack
My favorite calling setup is this: Total camoflage, preferably in a blind so you can draw your bow without being busted. Set up on the edge of a thicket or woods with your face towards a rather large open area and with wind coming from behind you. That way, when a coyote responds to your rabbit distress call, you will see him when he circles downwind from you in the open field, or you will here him when he comes in from behind you because of the leaves in the woods/thicket will rustle. This way you won't have to keep turning your head around looking all the time, which will give you away, as coyotes are very alert to movement. Hopefully you can get a shot off before he gets directly downwind of you as he circles you from that direction. I have found that they often do like to circle from downwind of animal distress calls. It'll be hard to do with a bow, but everything's hard to do with a bow!
Best advice I know is, draw your bow before you see them coming and hold it till you get a shot. Just kidding! but, they are the keenest animal I know of.
Only by chance have I shot at (at!) a yote with a bow. That was from a tree and it still knew something was up before I shot.
Tough hunting with a bow, but not impossible! People do it! I'm sure.....
Bait would be good if legal.
FYI - Yotes are about ready to den up for pup rearing!
Awesome, thanks for all the info. Have you ever tried hunting from a tree stand? I want to try it because I will be up in the air and not eye level with them, plus it will help with the scent, this is just my idea ...
Same as above. If you are allowed to bait and not against it, set up above that button buck and use a rabbit distress call or some such thing to boot. Movement and smell are critical as they are hyper-alert. In my mind, they rank right up there with bobcats. I've never tried to take a bobcat, but I've also never seen one when it didn't see me. Coyotes are similar. A lot of fun to hunt though. Good luck.
Another thing is a decoy of some sort. I've used an old arrow with a turkey feather tied to it with light weight fishing line so that the feather can flop in the breeze, works well while using a distress call! The Coyote will key in on this movement and hopefully give you a chance to draw on him undetected! Sure is fun calling in predators!
Wow I wasn't expecting to get this much info, thanks guys for all the advice. If I have time I will head out tonight but I don't think I will. When is the best time to head out? I was planning on heading out in the morning and and night.
Down here we use our truck bumpers works dang good at 70mph.
Jack the yotes are getting very territorial right now, so any vocalizations will work along with some distress calls.
a calling partner setting behind and off to the side will help you the shooter, as yotes tend to circle downwind trying to catch your scent.
I predator hunt with a partner quite regularly so if you can come towards St. Johns/Lansing your welcome to hunt with us.
I have yet to connect with my bow, but have come close!
I am totally new to hunting them so what kind of calls should I go out and buy? Also, I am trying to find out some info on other sites but am having some trouble, how do you do your calling sequences?
Well I just gt back from my first attempt ... and didn't any coyotes. Saw four deer and a few squirrels. It was nice to be sitting out in the woods doing some hunting. I will be heading back out in the morning.
Jack good luck it is a lot of fun to get them yotes coming in. I have had yotes and fox's within feet, what a rush!!!
I like a rabbit distress, and a mouse squeeker, I also howl and bark at them and they will come.
Don't worry so much about a sequence, but remember that small animals have small lungs keep the yells short, Go get 'em
Blueline
Good advice, just make it sound like something is getting its insides ripped out! They will come, not every sit but they show up! I give each sit 35-45 minutes that change spots! Most times they show up in the middle of the first or second call!
I also find it interesting to the Does reaction to fawn in distress calls, it brings them right in!
I might just be a little more impatient, as I only give'em about 20 minutes, 25 max. I like calling in the morning the best. Just like deer hunting, I go out and set up before daylight and let everything settle down a bit, then go at it with a long range rabbit distress. I like your idea of getting in a tree and calling. I will have to give that a try. Never killed one with a bow but have killed a couple with a rifle from calling.
I am not sure about other states but in Ohio it is illegal to predator hunt out of a tree stand. Might be worth checking out.
Thanks for letting me know Ryan I'll check it out. But I will keep you guys updated, since I am on spring break this week, I will be hunting them as much as possible. Thanks for all your suggestions and tips guys, it has really helped!!! Thanks again.
Jack
Jack, pm sent.
Well I finally got to go back out tonight. We haven't been having the best weather in Michigan. I didn't see anything but a few squirrels and the neighbors cat.
While out I thought of another question, what kind of calling should I be doing? I have been doing mostly rabbit squeals. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks guys.
Jack
You need a buddy with a Johnny stewart tape so you can hear what you are supposed to mimic. Is their any where you can rent a predator callin movie like Randy Andersons callin all coyotes. Hell PM me with your address and I will see if I can find my stewart cassete tape to send you I just use mouth calls anymore. I seen Randy on his videos call in coyotes howlin but I just call with a rabbit distress call and if that don't work a pup distress call if that don't work I go somewhere else cuzz them coyotes are to smart for me. Depending on the time of year I will call one in for every 5 sets and sometimes you call in 5 coyotes in 4 sets just never know. Usually late season it is slower for me and I give them 20-25 minutes and then I move on. Good luck broseph.