Calling predator hunters

Jake Scott · January 25, 2015, 10:42:00 AM

I have wanted to hunt coyotes and such for a long time, since here in western NC I can do it year round. Yesterday I went out to one of my favorite small game spots. In the past I have consistently seen and taken squirrels, grouse and rabbits here. Yesterday, nothing!! Not a trace. No squirrels despite a banner mast crop, no grouse, and no rabbits. A light skiff of snow the night before showed me three different sets of coyote tracks and a ton of scat, all in what would amount to probably 50 acres of forest and field.

I know from seeing coyotes while deer hunting they have fantastic noses and you have to hunt the wind. Calling is where I have questions. What calls are most effective? What is the best resource to learn how, starting from no knowledge at all? What advice can you give on setups?

Help me Tradgang!!

Thanks guys,

Jake

bowfanatik · January 25, 2015, 11:47:00 AM

Rabbit disaster calling

trad_bowhunter1965 · January 25, 2015, 12:02:00 PM

i have hunted predators for a lot of years did all my calling with mouth call. But now that predator hunt is big business and everyone is doing it I have gone to and electronic call with 400 diffent sounds.

Jake Scott · January 25, 2015, 12:10:00 PM

Thanks guys, I think I'll stick with mouth calls, just to keep it simple.

Jake

monterey · January 25, 2015, 08:44:00 PM

Mouth calling is tough with a bow. You need to get them within bow range plus go through the motions of positioning and drawing all while the spot they are focused on is YOU!

I have called them into bow range but never gotten one with a bow. with an electronic caller set up 25 yards in front of me, one came in and went straight to the call and was about to pounce when I missed.

If your goal is to eliminate coyotes, give yourself every edge.

January 25, 2015, 08:45:00 PM

PM Thumper Dunker. He is the king of coyote killing with a stickbow!

Bisch

Lonehowl · January 25, 2015, 08:55:00 PM

Ecaller and a bow is a great setup. If you can use a diapragm call, they are great and are hands free.

Rabbit distress is standard sound, but there are tons of sounds that work. This time of year they are pairing up to mate, and pup distress works wonders. Its a simple sound that works year round, but right now thru spring and summer it's one of my favorites.I mix in a little howling with it, and that grabs thier attention for sure.

Overall though, this time of year is the toughest. All the easy ones have been called, and the ones that didnt get killed are wiser. September/October is best, with the young of the year with virgin ears eager to come to the call.

Predator Masters and You Tube are your friend in your learning process.

One of my California cats from this year(not with a bow)

006 by Lonehowl , on Flickr

Jake Scott · January 25, 2015, 09:27:00 PM

Thanks a lot guys.

Jake

Butch Speer · January 26, 2015, 04:06:00 PM

Thumper Dunker is the man. He's a coyote killing machine! Like Bisch said, pm him. He's a very helpful fella.

timbermoose · January 26, 2015, 04:23:00 PM

I've had best success with a rabbit distress and fawn distress(when does are dropping babes) they even bring in bear, wolves, bobcats, lynx, and cougars.

I ground hunt, with good background, call in right hand, can drop the call and grab string with minimum movement. I have yet to take a cougar with longbow. I've had more than a few chances, but I think gravity/wind/humidity had a hand in the arrow going over their back, EVERYTIME, no way it could have been nerves.

Note: buddy uses recordings of his chickens, stuffed a couple, and uses them as decoys. He figured, if it works for waterfowl, why not...... It works.

Manitoba Stickflinger · January 26, 2015, 04:28:00 PM

Thumper Dunker is the man to talk to...he'll pipe up! He's likely running an arrow through a predator as I type!!

Jake Scott · January 26, 2015, 06:05:00 PM

I'm hoping Thumper will chime in. The gang has already been great. A have gotten a ton of info and I am collecting calls as we speak and getting ready to put them to use. Thanks a lot guys.

Jake

sswv · January 26, 2015, 06:48:00 PM

If your area is that populated with coyote I'd suggest getting a couple dozen snares. Continue to hunt with your bow but let the snares hunt while you're not. Remember....you can NEVER kill enough yotes.

mbugland · January 26, 2015, 07:23:00 PM

I am all ears to this one.., I suckered a pup in right after sunset, sucking on my teeth for a lite squeak. I saw him at a distance and he doubled back on me. Thought I had a clear miss... Shooting a weird camber almost over my shoulder, trying not to spook him. I realized I shot into fresh snow, didn't think I was getting the arrow back, didn't hear a yelp, dint think I missed that bad, but the jump straight into the air as the arrow broke string had me convinced of a complete miss.
Fat forward, went out this weekend, while waiting I went to wipe off the little bit of mud from that broad head.... As I look for the first swipe, six nice course hairs stuck on the ferrel. Such an awesome feeling, to have been that close on such an odd shot. I am so excited about some predictor hunting.

Is there a better brand of calls? Mouth calls seem like the way to go, going to have to find the time to master these. Can't say I will practice at home, cause my chickens have taught me that I have coyotes near by, and don't want them in my yard with my birds.

Shinken · January 26, 2015, 11:03:00 PM

Thumper Dunker is the dude on this site for predators! They start to tremble when he moves out into the woods!

If you can't wait for him to show up, there is some information that can be filtered from the Predator Master forums and there are a few Trad Gangers that frequent that location...just sayin'....

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken