Lance and I do our best to bring you our coyote hunting experiences through our videos, and often times try to paint the real picture of how the actual coyote hunt went by mentioning that we hunted all day and only called in one, or that we hunted a couple of days with nothing before a coyote came in.
We believe that the reason most hunters shy away from predator hunting is because they see predator hunting videos and TV shows that portray an un-realistic expectation. Most videos or TV shows don’t show the hunter sitting at a stand for 20 minutes on ten or fifteen stands a day without a single coyote coming in. Let’s face it, that would be a pretty boring show.
Because of this most new predator hunters go to the field, call a few times, and think they do not have an area that contains coyotes that actually respond to a call. I used to watch Bill Dance on TV and think “I wonder how many days it took him to actually film that episode?” Well I can tell you from experience that the most knowledgeable Bass fisherman cannot force the fish to bite. They can however use their experience to help give their self a better chance at catching fish. Think about a Big Horn sheep hunting video, do we ever really see the many steps taken up and down steep hills? No, probably not. There is no way to bring that to us, but most good video makers do their best to bring us the hunt as best they can while keeping it entertaining.
My point is this; viewers would get absolutely bored to death watching someone fish or hunt with no success. Anyone who films would probably tell you it’s not as easy as it looks on film, and the key to having those successful moments on film is to keep at it. So with this being said, I would like to let any newcomers to the sport of coyote hunting know something I heard Lance say one time. “Do not get discouraged if you make multiple stands without results”. I consider this to be the most important thing for a beginning coyote hunter.
I look back at the end any season, and remember the fun times and successful hunts or fishing trips and tend to forget about all the hours actually spent to gain those memories. I only remember the good times and this is what motivates me to go again. Another thought to convey is this, look around while you are out on the hunt and enjoy being out there with the beauty of nature and with the critters, even if they are not running in to let you take a shot.
The main reason we hunt is because we enjoy hunting, shooting is just a bonus. One time Lance and I were out scouting some public ground in the mountains to coyote hunt. We spotted a bear about three quarters of a mile out. We grabbed the camera and took off. We were very happy to get about a hundred and fifty yards from it and film it just being a bear. As things worked out, it got about ten yards from us. It was one of those moments I will never forget. We would have never seen that bear had we stayed home that day. What cool things have you observed out in nature because the hunting was slow?
So remember to “Stay Hooked”… You never know when you will catch a little magic in the outdoors!
Uriah Wurst, Pro Staff
Bucking The Odds
This is a great article by Uriah. I have had a lot of people tell me they have tried calling in coyotes but never had any luck. Once you get a little background you find they usually only made 1-3 stands and gave up, thinking they were doing something wrong. The truth is that anything worth while you have to work at!
what are your thoughts on hunting in the heat. July in the 90′s. Obviously yotes are nocturnal but am I wasting my time hunting mid day??
We have had some luck doing it, but the heat can take the fun out of it. I am very careful not overdoing it, or doing it when it isn’t fun. I love to coyote hunt, so I want to keep it that way.
One impressive thing that these guys do is, they show it all! This in turn creates an educational video that all can learn from.
A philosopher once wrote “When we stop learning, we stop living.”
In our personal pursuit and watching the BuckingTheOdds videos of how to hunt coyotes, we are all going to be around a long time, because with both, another lesson is well taught and well learned.
Uh, in the picture, is this Uriah or the bear, they look so much alike it’s hard to tell? lol
Now that is funny!
Dont be mean to the bear….comparing uriah to the bear is not cool. If the bear knew you insulted him like that he might come pay you a visit
Better words of truth have never been spoken. Patients and perseverance are necessary to be successful in any endeavour. This is even more true in coyote hunting.
that is a great article and I like what you said ”The main reason we hunt is because we enjoy hunting, shooting is just a bonus” thanks U-man great read
Yea God gave us quite the place to explore and enjoy. Its quite something to be a Hunter, an outdoorsmen, a marksmen, and having a profound respect for the outdoors.
Thanks for all of the good comments! I hope I can think about this article myself next time I am coyote hunting and not having any luck!
Awesome Mr. Wurst! thumbs up. This made me think of our conversation and u told me the same thing, thanks buddy. this just made me wanna go out this weekend, maybe tonight!!
I told my kids many times after an unsuccessful deer hunting trip: “That’s why they call it hunting and not killing”. You do more of the former.
Well told Uriah…..
I’m looking forward to my first coyote hunt soon. At 25 years old I only recently began to have the urge to go hunting, and with a year round coyote season where I live I can easily fit a full day of hunting into my busy schedule. I look forward to filming some of my hunts and sharing them with you all. I hope my first hunt is a success, but either way, I’m going to stay hooked.
Make sure you shear your hunt with us on Bucking The Odds!
my father inlaw always tells me “never give up, never give in, you gotta outlast, if you’re gonna win!”
I’ve found myself repeating that many days driving home with no yotes. Luckily I have a support group. My dad and my brother that are both avid varmint hunters. Makes ya feel a little better when your not the only one that struck out that day! Someone usually gets something so we get to celebrate together. The hard thing is when they send pix when you’re working….talk about loosin motivation!!!! (for work that is).
Well I just read the posts and has kept my attention all the way to the end. I just started hunting for coyotes this past winter and even though I have only havested one with my bow and one with my shotgun its always nice to get out. I wish that I knew more hunters in my area where I could hunt round year, well except during turkey & deer season
the public parks around here pretty much finish the season the end of Feb. can’t wait till August when they open up again for yotes.
Finding a good buddy to hunt with is a challenge. Hunting by yourself is better than not going.
hey guys , Iam in ohio .I have been watching coyotes & hunting themlast 3 months . I have made no kills I bought a trail camera& have as many as 5 yotes in the pics eating deer carcaus down 2 the borns , I have a primos digital caller & mouth call , I must be doing something wrong as many a times i been out on the farms that I know have coyotes on them without a kill .discussed& cold
Easier said than done, but hang in there. It’s like deer hunting, I went through this last season and only harvested 1. Couple seasons ago I harvested 5.
Hi, Larry–I hunt in Ohio, too & I’ve come to find that most of my successful hunts(by that I mean actually spotting a dog, not necessarily getting a shot LOL) have been night hunts.
I like to watch the videos of a daytime hunt in the wide open spaces with dogs coming in from a mile off. But we live in Ohio….different terrain, different dogs & different tactics..Breeding season is about the only time that I will hit it hard during the day. Usually, most of my daytime kills are when I’m hunting something other than dogs & a stupid coyote will wander in. ( I can only shoot stupid coyotes, the smart ones bust me every time!!! ) Don’t give up, buddy–it’ll happen when u least expect it & then you’ll be hooked!!! I know there’s guys here in the Buckeye that that bust dogs on a regular basis in daylight hours, I’m just not one of those guys–but I keep trying different tactics. Maybe I’ll stumble onto “The Magic Formula” , maybe not…. I’m havin’ a blast just getting out there…
I am another southern Ohio yote hunter, been hunting them for two or three years, and started getting real serious this year. I as well am finding it hard to hunt them in the daylight hours unless by accident. I have had the best luck in full moon night time hours. I keep spending money and by far have more money invested in this hobby than kills to make it worth it, but it is well worth the time and thrill along with the comradery I share with my hunting partners. I am begining to be hooked on yote hunting more than deer hunting. Keep your head up and eyes sharpe, persistance will pay off.
is winter or when its cold better to hunt? Ive mostly only hunted in the winter and once in the summer. in the winter it usually -10 to 20 when i hunt. What I’m trying to ask is there a better temp or weather to hunt in?
I think the colder weather can make the coyotes more desperate and respond to the call, but have done well on warmer days. I just hunt when I can.
this is so true i just started coyote hunting 4 trips ago and about 50 stands haha and the only thing ive called in is the voltures and as i walked in the door exhaused and hungry i told my parents its totally worth it. i love being outside there is nothing else like it and just get out and watch and listen. i hope soon i do at least call in one but im having fun non the less
Having fun is what it is about!
Being outdoors really centers me and helps me let go of all the junk that clouds my mind…a While back my Pastor did a series on the way we experience and connect to God…Through nature was my top one. Some of my unsuccessful hunting and fishing trips were the best for my soul…..This series also helped my Wife understand why it is good for me to get out and hunt or fish….
I am new to calling coyotes. I have taken a couple coyotes and a bobcat this year. I live in the Texas Panhandle where there is mostly flat wide open farm land with very little cover to blend in with or hide a pickup. Does anyone have any tips on how to hunt this type of terrain? The two coyotes that I have taken have been on ranch land. I am seeing lots of coyotes on farm land but I can’t get close enough to get a shot.
We use a 4-wheeler (ATV). We have the same problem. It is hard to hide a truck where we hunt, and you pass by good stand locations, because you don’t have a place to hide the truck. The 4-wheeler is much smaller and easier to hide.
I hate to ask the same gerenal question. and i understand to hunt more and make more stands and i plan too. i live and work on a ranch. i hear coyotes about every night and everyother night for sure and see there tracks all the time on the same route but rarely see them. i have tried to hunt them about a few times and still no seeing them. i am not really looking for hunting tip more of coyote tips. I would just like to know more about where they go. do they go to dens in the day time or sleep in draws out of the wind. do they hunt mostly in mornings. do they hang out together most of the time.
Alesoccer
I am new to it this season but was on an organized in Wiekiup Az. The guys running the hunt were long time coyote hunters. I mentioned I had used a siren call the night before the hunt scouting. I told them about an area where the coyotes where on both sides of the road resounding to the siren. I went back the next morning and called with no luck. As I walked the ravines and washes I found fresh tracks because it had rained that night and two dens. But nobody home. The hunters told me they use the dens when they are giving birth and rearing the young. The rest of the time out and about.
Every time I go out I learn a great deal. One of the folks living in Wiekiup asked me to hunt behind the town because the coyotes come in every night and eat their cats. I went out the next morning and found tracks in the washes leading down into town just as they said. I am finding coyotes are lazy which means they are smart. You can watch a mule dear and they are like a tank going any and everywhere in the journey. The coyote will take the path of least resistance like a sanding wash or road. I found most of the tracks that first morning coming out of ravines sheltered from the wind. To be honest I think they were all around me I just was not able to see them before they saw me.
Sorry for the long story but it peiced together what the experienced hunters has said.
The dens I found were dug into the side wall of the wash from the wash so the dirt would fall down hill. Remember lazy/smart. This is the easy way to dig a hole and from above you will never see it. I keep a log of every trip out and the things I learn each time.
Last note, the coyotes I had respond the night scouting, showed up in front of the hunt check-in area that morning about 4am. I guess they looking for me. The successful hunters that weekend bagged them by a river running through the area. A 20 year veteran told me look for water shelter and food and you will find coyotes.
I hunt in NE Fl. Have not had any luck. They’ll talk to me; but will not come in… Any suggestions ?
I am new to this forum but have quit a few years calling. When I hunt really open country like eastern Wa. I get a shot about every 3 sets. more brushy places like northIdaho or West Wa where i live now it drops to about one in 10. m sure because they can circle down wind of you with out being seen. I try to set up where I can catch them at it but Its still much harder th the open terain, When they bark at you they know somethings up and you seldom get a shot. Some times if its a challenge you can get them with a challenge back.If its a warning bark you just as well try another stand. They sound similer but a warning has more of a booger bark wolble in it.
Amen to all of the comments posted , I’ve hunted whitetail, mule deer and elk but coyote seems to be the toughest to hunt of them all .Seeing these post will help me to keep trying , hopefully i can afford the gas to go find em…
I HAVE HUNTED FOR YEARS ,BUT JUST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE STARTED HUNTING PRAETORS . I HAVE SET FOR HOURS ON DIFFERENT STANDS WITHOUT CALLING ANYTHING BUTS HAWKS IN. AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE SET FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. AND CALLED AND BINGO ONE CAME IN. I LOVE THIS SPORT ! RON…
went on an evening hunt near my home,walked in and set up my call and decoy on a small trail. set in front of a small tree and turned on the call. almost as soon as i turned on the call a gray fox ran in , it took me by surprise, i pulled the trigger but still had the safety on ! the fox ran back in the bushes ,i said to my self , you blew that.but it ran out again to the decoy and this time i dropped it ! be ready as you never know what is near by. it was a male ,weighed 12#.
a bad day hunting is better than a good day working!
had a great hunt yesterday 5-10-12.first stand( am.)set up in a bush set call and decoy about 15yds. away.i made a couple of calls with my mouth call and turned on my call. as i sat there i realized i could not see good to my right,should have re-set as a coyote ran passed me at 8ft. it saw me as i moved my shotgun. i stopped it at about 50yds.took a shot but missed ! learned a good lesson.i moved about 2 miles to another spot.it was now about 7am.walked about 200yds. from my truck and set up on the top of a gully. i put my call and decoy in the gully at about 20yds. made a couple of calls with the mouth call and turned on the call. about 10min.two crows came and started diving,i thought it was my decoy,but i saw it was a big bobcat setting at about 30yds looking at the decoy ( bobcat season is closed ) i took a few pictures as it came to about 6 or 8 feet of the decoy. the call was still running,i put the camera down and picked up my gun. at that same time ,in the gully came two coyotes on a dead run to the call. i shot the first one and turned to the other one dropped them both at 20yds. my first double ! called for a few more minutes,i saw something move about a 1/4 mile in front of me,first thought,more dogs. but when i looked through my glasses i saw it was a doe and her fawn.at least the fawn will not have to worry about these two coyotes..my best hunt ever ! Ron…