the Hunter's Lane
hunter's guide:
coyote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunting Coyote is an fun and productive way to keep the hunting fun going through the spring and summer months ahead of deer season. Predator hunting is not only helpful to local farmers, frustrated by losing chickens, but also to everyday residents of the area, as coyotes can be surprisingly dangerous and are known for attacking and preying on pets such as cats, small dogs and have even attacked unsuspecting people in their own driveways at home.  Coyote hunting also helps manage and support the deer population, as spring fawn are regularly targeted by coyote, being a favorite seasonal prey for the stealthy and opportunistic predators.

 

Where: Coyote hunting is available in nearly all 50 states with almost a full-year season and no-kill limit.

 

When: Year-round

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Preferred Habitat: 

Coyote prefer deserts, grasslands, and forests, but are incredibly adaptable to most habitats. For this reason, they often thrive in suburban residential areas and even in urban areas. Coyotes are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and other animals. Though their diet is relatively wide-ranging, they do prefer meat and hunt for small mammals like voles, mice, and rabbits, as well as birds, and even snakes.

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Active Times:

Coyotes can be spotted searching for prey throughout the day, but are generally most active after sunset and throughout the night hours. During mating season (January - March) you are more likely to spot them, as well as during the time of year when juvenile coyote are leaving their family groups (October - January) to begin their independent adult lives.

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Tracking:

As with tracking any other game, looking for signs of their presence in the area is key. Carefully looking for tracks and scat will be the fastest and surest way to pinpoint an area that is actively inhabited by coyotes. Fresh scat will appear moist and flies will be present. Old scat will appear dry and even greyish white. Coyotes have a well-earned reputation as cunning animals with sharp hearing and eyesight. Unless they've become accustomed to human interaction, they are likely to flee when they hear you coming. Once you have decided on a spot to sit for the hunt, remaining quiet and minimizing movement as much as possible is key. Periodically your binoculars, scan the horizon to spot an approaching coyote. Coyotes are often moving hastily along in a trotting or jog-like fashion, so always make sure you are prepared to take aim quickly if need be.

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Calling In A Coyote:

Using distressed prey animal calls is a popular, highly affective and sometimes, surprisingly quick way to draw a hungry, opportunistic coyote into view. Most coyotes will respond within 5-15 minutes of the call because of the urgency to get to the prey first. However, it is a good rule of thumb to give every stand a 20 to 30-minute time range to produce. Keep in mind that no matter how long you decide to sit tight, when you do get up to move, do so cautiously and be very aware of your surroundings; it will be likely that a coyote is still in progress of working their way to your calling. 

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Recommend Caliber for Hunting Coyote:

.243 Win

• Powerful round with low recoil

• Inexpensive and widely available ammunition

• Very versatile cartridge, great for predators and even deer.

 

Taking Aim:

Coyotes differ a little from some big game animals in how they are built. The heart sits further forward in the chest cavity in a coyote than it does in most big game animals. As a result, the best place for a clean kill shot on a coyote is right through the front shoulder, as indicated by the red target on the photo below.

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Recovery:

Most predator hunters would agree, it’s trying to track a wounded coyote. Even hurt, these elusive critters sometimes leave little to no sign of their path. Always allow a coyote at least 20 minutes to expire before approaching. Once you pull the trigger, you have duty to do everything you can to recover that coyote. A wounded coyote can be extremely dangerous and will defend itself violently if pressured. Always take your shot using the least amount of magnification required. The widest view of your target allows you to observe and track the coyote after you have fired. Knowing how it reacts and the direction it moves in will help you begin your track

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