Seven tips to calling more coyotes

1)  Most predators will take the path of least resistance, or take the quickest route, to approach any calling sound. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line most of the time. But remember that may not always hold true when a predator must consider the terrain when coming to your selected spot. As an example during daytime calling choose your stands to take advantage of some of these type characteristic. Set up to call at the intersections of trails, pipelines, power or phone lines, or if in a wooded area you might want to consider logging roads, over cuts etc.. This will permit you to see more than one approach route the animals might choose to come in on.

2)  Occasionally daytime calling can be more productive by first scouting the area in the pre-dawn hours and stopping to howl occasionally. When a coyote is located by his howling back or a barking response, mark the spot on a map or GPS and return at sun-up to call within one half mile or so that same spot.

3) Calling into the wind has several advantages when trying to bring in coyotes. Many times you can even approach an area undetected and set up within a short distance of their position if you use the wind right. Calling through an area by moving into the wind will also help you predict the general area they will be coming from. Always check the wind! Try and keep it in your face if possible.

4)  Use the predator's nose to his disadvantage. Many older, wiser coyotes will circle downwind to smell what he can’t see. Mr. Coyote always wants to hear what he can’t see too, so be as quiet as you possibly can. If at all possible try and use a natural opening for you shooting lane like a road or field that will expose the predator that’s determined to get downwind. Sometimes Coyotes will choose not to expose themselves in their attempt to get downwind of you. They may try and approach along a hillside, fence line or other coverage to get as close as possible without being detected. Keep your eyes open in all directions!

5) Placing a hunting partner in the downwind position out of shotgun range can be an effective way to land one of those "call smart" coyote. Sometimes they will simple circle but not fully approach you call. Focusing their attention on the sound that may be remote sometimes distracts them from detecting your presence or that of your second hunter. Once in a while your number two guy can then make that surprise shot.

6)  Switching sounds during a calling stand can on occasion entice a reluctant critter to continue his approach. Realistic combinations of sounds can evoke territorial behavior from a coyote that’s not necessarily bent on getting a meal, but could be determined not to let a competitor intrude on his stomping grounds. Combining the sounds of maybe a fox or weaker coyote with some type of food source sound can be a winning combination to lure that hesitant predator in. It just may even call in a different animal than you were expecting. As an example, I thought, I would call in a coyote but ended up with this very nice gray fox.


If you like using hand calls try some those made by and sold at RedHunter LLC. I use their calls quite often and have always had good success. Give them a try like their Dymondwood series.


7)  One of the most important facets of successful calling is having a good knowledge of the area you are calling in. If they don’t live there you’ll never call them no matter how hard you work. You should first search for coyote sign, look for the freshness of tracks and/or droppings. A set of straight-line tracks may be telling you that Mr. Coyote may be far from that area and was merely passing through. He may have simply been moving through the area with some other destination in mind. Meandering tracks on the other hand, may indicate a coyote searching for food. Now that guy could very possibly be still hanging around. He the one you’re looking for.  Coyote hunting is always challenging but fun!