Coyote Calling Tips and Tactics

     I wanted to put together a summary what I have learned over the years of calling coyotes both night and daytime for the last 20 plus years.  I do not claim to be an expert and know there is lots of people that know a lot more than I do.  However, calling coyotes is my passion and I do feel that I can give some beginners some tips that might help them along.  

Equipment

     I personally started out using a Hand Calls and learned a lot from watching any coyote hunting DVD that I could get my hands on.  Randy Anderson at that time was really rolling with his DVD's and that was really what got me started.  I since have moved to mostly using an E Caller.  There is lots of options on the market and I have used most of the brands.  I currently switch between a Lucky Duck Revolution which is one of their older models and also use the new FoxPro X24.  I find that the selection of sounds running an E Call is handy but it's also very satisfying to get one called in using hand calls.  Bottom line it comes down to what you can afford and what you want to start with. 

     There is tons of great info on the internet and YouTube.  Torry Cook with MFK Game Calls, Geoff Nemnich with The Last Stand, Les Johnson, the list goes on and on.  These guys are excellent sources of information and are putting out new content regularly.  To understand how to call coyotes you need to learn a bit about coyote behavior and what they are doing during certain times of the year.  Alot can be learned from videos and podcasts, etc. but some things can only come from time in the field and learning from your mistakes.

     I'm not going to get into gun selection as it's a wide topic, however, would say look for a flat shooting rifle for those in the big open country and in tight country a shotgun may be your best bet.  

Land, Land, Land

     Obviously, you need equipment to call coyotes, but I would say the next most important thing is land access.  No matter what level hunter you are you will need access to land.  Coyote hunting is usually fairly easy to get permission from local farmers and ranchers who need predator control.  Public land depending on your location is also a great option.  Calling coyotes requires land where coyotes will be and they are not always where you think they would be as they usually have a rather large home area.  OnX and Google Maps are a great resource to help you narrow down what areas you might want to look. 

Stand Location/Wind Direction

     I now mainly nighttime hunt which is not the same as calling in the daytime, so from here forward I will basically explain how we do our nighttime stands. We live in an area that is mostly flat land crop ground with grass waterways and some CRP and timber along the rivers.  Wind Direction should be your number one priority as you will never beat a coyote's nose.  We always try to do our stand so that the wind is not blowing directly to where we think they will come from unless it allows enough distance and time to shoot them before they get a nose full.  We usually tend to put the caller out front and up wind just a bit pointing towards the area you think the coyotes would be.  They will tend to try to circle downwind of the caller.  This is not a constant but seems to be especially true with a constant wind.  

     We try to find stands that allow us to see far enough to be able to locate them before they can get around us.  Most areas we hunt we try to get within 300-500 yards of the cover.  In tight cover this is not possible and in our area that is not an issue.  When we do hunt tight cover, we try very hard to watch the downwind side and make sure to be ready for a shot.  

     Wind speed that we like is around 8-10 mph but we will go in 20 mph vs sitting on the couch if we have some spots that we can tuck out of the wind somewhat.  It really depends on how bad you want to shoot a coyote and if you want to go or not when the weather is tough.  They live in it all the time so most days they are going to move at some point.  

     Caller volume level would be another area that I have learned over the years you are usually not going to be too loud for them within reason.  Coyotes howling is loud and if they don't hear your calling they aren't coming.  

     There is always something to be learned every time you go hunting.  Coyotes are a very smart animal that survives by it nose, ears and eyes.  Increasing your success rate comes from learning as much as you can any chance you get.  Don't get discouraged and keep trying.  Even the best in the game have days with no luck.  

Nathan Owen

Life is Now Outdoors- Live it