Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Calling coyotes in the brush

Run ovr one in my ghost van a few weeks ago lol

Thanks. That's a gracious reply. You have killed a lot more coyotes than I have. I'd like to go with you on one of those open country hunts sometime.

A lot of this depends on how open or brushy do we mean. Sagebrush? Junipers? Open timber? Golf course? Blackberry thicket? PNW reprod? Oakbrush? Tall salal etc. etc. If there are islands of brush and patches of open, that unfolds a lot more options and by all means use them.

Another tidbit: when on one of these close-in brush calling stands, don't just lean your rifle or shotgun on something within reach but if possible have it in hand and pointing downwind. Maybe lay it on a stump or something with it pointing straight downwind or straight at the most likely lane for the coyote to enter. The idea is to have minimal movement to get the sights on the coyote, with most of the motion to get on target done before the critter arrives. One time (only once) my rifle laid upright on a stump already had the coyote in the scope when I leaned into the rifle. 11 yards.

If I am hunting my bow or gun is already in hand other than when taking a whiz.

Not hanging from a hook, laying on the ground or leaned against something. If your gonna kill the gun must be at the ready all of the time.

I have had too many instances where it was less than 2-3 seconds from spotting the critter until it had a hole in it.

Part if why I quit using a sling or take it off once in stand, had them hang up at inopportune times.

https://www.tlshunt.com/


Considering where you live in western Missouri, you might check out the videos featuring Kansas hunts here. They're GOOD at calling coyotes in all kinds of terrain, but the Kansas coyote hunting is similar to where I hunt in Chariton County, and it's likely what you're used to, as well. These guys can SHOOT, too.

Even more fun to watch, are the raccoon hunts there in Kansas, but that's another story. The Arizona hunts are pretty good, too, VERY close range stuff. Fun stuff to watch in dreary weather.

do what works. ive put the sun in my face before hunting known educated coyotes and that's supposedly a no no. gives em a shadow to creep around in. you still gotta shoot 300 yds cause they just nervously hang out to see what's going on. ball cap is a must. in brush they seem to be not as concerned with circling until the last minute. its always amazed me how they know exactly where the sound Is coming from. I suggest a shotgun and low volume to start. don't be scared to blast a call after you've been there awhile if you're willing to set 45 min. if they are close and not educated they'll be there quick. sub 3 minutes at times. YMMV good luck.

Yeah... I'm not willing to make a 45min stand.

But if I were willing to do so, I wouldn't blast a caller. I'd keep it low to medium volume and long pauses of silence.

Just in my opinion, volume is overrated. Coyotes can hear and pinpoint a sound at low volume at pretty extreme distances. I watched a coyote come in from close to a mile away to a sound I was playing on my e-caller that couldn't even hear 30 yards away from me. Shot it within feet of the caller.

Shotgun will incrase your odds in the thick stuff. Still have to pay close attention to the wind...
And Barry is right, they hear real well LOL

Night time is the right time......

After one or two come in and you kill them (or not) keep calling for awhile, don't get up or move around, others may be coming in.

I use shooting sticks when calling coyotes and a swivel chair.

Most people cringe at the thought of carrying a climbing tree-stand.
I've located coyotes by howling then sneak in to 300-400 yards from them and climb a tree on the edge of the thick stuff.
The elevation quadruples your chance at getting a good shot on them.
One that comes to mind , I commented to a lady that my Grandmother had a micro-Pomeranian dog just like the one she was carrying. 3lb. black furball.
She told me about her previous one being killed by a coyote and also her mother in laws cocker spaniel pup killed on her front porch. Family members were trying to kill the coyotes - had got a caller and tried etc. . Shot at them with a 22lr. -no kills.
They all lived on a couple hundred farm. I mentioned that I had hunted them for years she invited me to try to get them.
The place was mostly open and a one shot deal near the thick hollow that was their bedroom. Located them - put up a crow decoy in a tree then connected my homemade decoy plastic Crappie Reel with a squirrel fur connected and Foxpro under it. Then up the tree and let things settle down. Played distressed kitten low volume for 15 seconds then off for a couple of minutes. Did it a second time and saw a big coyote about 80 yards out in the thickest part. It slowly worked its way into 60ish yards and got a 52gr. amax from my CZ 221FB to the base of its neck.
Stands like that -that I know they're there I'll play numerous sounds at low volume. I'll stay over an hour. I got 3 or 4 more coyotes there and other neighbors places.
This works even better for bobcats. <- I sit here shaking my head thinking about the numerous times a bobcat sneaked in and somehow I didn't see it. Not much pisses me off more than to call it quits on a stand and a bobcat sprints away. ArrrGgggghh

Over ..........

How far upwind do you prefer to place the call ?

One thing coyotes are only going to give you one chance you miss or have a bad set-up there not going to give you a second chance at the same location or calls.....

THIS ^^^^^
I was calling off of a rimrock, and watched a coyote come up a draw bottom ~ 1/2 mile out.
When it got to about a quarter mile, it hung up - I lip squeaked, it looked directly at me, and came on in.
Their hearing is phenomenal!
BTW - it was in a mild wind - 10-15 mph.

Ditto to how phenomenal a coyote's hearing is. I lip squeeked four coyotes to me from a measured quarter mile away when I didn't have a call one time. I was hunkered in a weedy fence line and they were past the quarter section fence line across the field when they started. Another time had a pair come from waaay out there, zig zagging rough terrain, circle to get on an easier access lane to my hill -- and still come to the exact bush where I was sitting! They are a fun, smart critter to hunt!

Seems over the last few years the Coyote are showing well past the 20 minute mark use to make stands 12-15 minute those days are gone in these parts.

Savage 24 223/12ga best of both worlds 😉

I am pretty much on private ranches when working coyotes so public pressure isn’t much of a factor. I used to, 20 years ago and more, figure about a 9 minute average to when coyotes showed up. The last few years I’ve kept track and it’s an 11 minute average. (The electronic callers make tracking team easy) I stay put nearly 20 minutes at a stand, longer if I get that catty feeling

Wind out here in the west has a pretty big bearing on the volume needed. For all those noting the remarks above about the incredible hearing coyotes have, it’s most important being careful in getting in and getting set up unheard.

Osky

Looking into some gear.