Coyote ??

[coyote28]

I have been hunting coyotes for 3yrs,and where I hunt is mostly all farm land.i have alot of yotes here,they have been very vocal until about 2months ago...all of the sudden they have hushed.and its not from hunting pressure.My brother owns this farm and was keeping me informed on what they was doing and their location.

I went yesterday for the 1st time this year,I went the late evening,but normally hunt at night...Had a perfect setup and stated with the cotton tail distress,and a few rabbit sqauls..after about 18 min,I had a red sided grey fox coming to the call,and decoy..so continueing to watch the fox really expecting a yote at any time..Fox just kept getting closer and dark is closing as well at 60 yds I decided to take the fox...I normally dont shoot the fox,but he was pretty and heathy, about 20lbs..

after coming home and a dry run on the yotes,I thought I would go back,and try to locate some..I have a coyote locator that i use and usually have success,but las night they were mute..I went to 3 of the 12 farms that i hunt and had good luck last year on,It was just like they have disapeared,not a peep..2 months before they were going crazy,last year I had this happen too but it was late Feb,and they were coming to the call just real shy...
This is the first calling attempt this season ,so I know its not from being call shy,Any answers,or suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Thanks

[Doghunter]

Typically, the coyotes are not as vocal in so far as their group rallies or howls after late summer as this is typically done by young coyotes born in March that are 6-7 months old by late summer/early fall. This is not to say that they won't ocassionally crank up at a siren or a fresh kill etc. Another issue is not calling pressure but the presence of deer dogs if you have that as a concern. Coyotes are nomadic in that they move around as their food source changes. In my area, they rotate amongst the dead holes of the local turkey farmers. Who ever is throwing birds in the holes has some dogs around.

Another thing to watch is to make sure someone isn't trapping them out and selling them to a fox pen. Typically, January and February are the best times around here to call as it is the breeding season and males and females are on the move.

I do have a question for you. What type of equipment are you using and how are you hunting them at night?

[coyote28]

I have a preymaster e-call,and a johnny stewart small remote call.. use both in different seqeuces to try to mimic a real situation such as a fresh kill on a rabbit,cat or goat...these seem to be productive..later i the breeding season i us more coyote vocals,howls challege barks and estrus chirps.

I am the only one hunting the coyotes,not legal to dog deer here..and noone trapping close to these areas...
I use a night vision scope for spotting and then use a 2mil power spotlight w/red lens for the shot,since i hunt by myself most of the time ,this is easy for me and the spotlight battery last longer so I can make several setups....
I have a 17hmr rifle w/ a 3x9 scope that I use ,and have shotgun I use..I hunt alot of farms for depredation due to the calves being killed..The night hunts I have to use rimfire,or shotgun #4 and above,nothing center fire in rifles..
I have tried to use the night vision and just to hard,its heavy and have to change it out for the day hunts,so just use it to spot...seems to be effective and not make them as lightshy..

[Doghunter]

Where are you from Coyote?

[coyote28]

speaking of the foxpens ,my father was a foxhunter and we went to the pens all around N.C,and the ones in GA..
Thats the reason for not taking the fox,daddy would roll over in his grave...all the hunting I do now is coyote hunting...Im gonna have the fox mounted i killed,to go in my trophy room..

I race cars,so dont really do any other hunting..the schedules are conflicting..I hunt coyotes in the racing off season which is perfect coyote season...

Thanks for all the info..

I Live in a small town called Six Mile,it is in the upstate S.C...in pickens county..

[coyote28]

Where are you from Coyote?


Six Mile S.C,located in Pickens co..about 25 miles from N.C,and about 25 miles from GA...
I live between Keowee lake,and lake Hartwell,about 5 miles from each..

[Doghunter]

Cool..How did you hear about the forum?

[coyote28]

I joined last year,I think you recruited me from predator masters,I like this one better closer to home and people are not,trying to dispute everything that is said...Hunting tactics around here differ from the plains and flat lands of other states...But both are informative..

[Doghunter]

Well, I know what you mean about some of the other forums. No one on here is an expert at anything that I know of! I'm sort of a no nonsense type person. I don't tpically mince my words and people know where they stand with me. Some folks don't like that but I mean no harm by being matter of fact about things. I do my own loading and am not into exotic calibers etc. as I cannot afford the specialty items required to handle some of the wildcat rounds. .204,.223,.243 etc. have long been proven to do the job for what I need.

I stick with the basics and what I know has worked for me. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and that's what makes the world what it is!

Glad to have you and please invite some of your friends!

Regards

Doghunter!

[coyote28]

glad to be on board...I dont know of anyone else that hunts...But if i run into some i will turn them this way..

Dog have you ever been though,or heard of where I am from?
alot of fishermen know exactly where it is.just wondering,Six Mile is 8 miles above Clemson..

[Doghunter]

I am familiar with your area. Just passed thru a few times.

[TreeStump]

my ma grew up in clemson