Predator Wild Forum: How to learn about hunting predators - coyote, bobcat and fox - Predator Wild Forum

I thought it would be a good idea to start a topic for anyone wanting to get into predator hunting. We've got a ton of very experienced hunters here with a wealth of knowledge. Please add to the topic as you can and share that information.

---

As is the theme of any detective story, "Get to know your quarry". A little time spent learning about the habits and habitats of the predator you plan to target will save you hundreds of hours looking in places that do not support your predator. Learn about their movements, and their vulnerabilities. When you take the time to understand how they communicate, you can use that knowledge to your advantage. Learn to recognize their tracks and movement patterns. Learn how to distinguish their scat, and where to look for it. You will use this knowledge on most every predator hunt you go on, and the sooner you learn it the sooner you can incorporate it into your hunting routine. It will definitely help you become consistant and more successful.

OK, I seeded the pot. Who else has some pearls of wisdom to cast before the novice pred hunter?

Heck if we all just put one or two ideas down, it will really be helpful. So, with that in mind, I'll post a couple.

Never set up a stand where you are silhouetted. Be sure to sit where you are blending into the vegetation in some way. It will help to keep you "invisible." Along that same line, probably the most important thing to remember is DON'T MOVE. Sit still and don't fidget. Movement will give you away faster than most any other single thing.

Simple, and obvious, but take the first shot presented, because you may not get another.............Don't ask me how I know.

The more you hunt the better you will get!!!

Never order chili at a place called MOM"S! This is essential advice.

One theme I hear a lot is that some people have tried and tried and not ever called in a coyote. If you hunt in the east I can understand that but coyotes are all over the west. Some people are impatient and when they don't see instantaneous results they give up and start fidgeting. And some people just don't know how to sit still. I've had long dry spells but even on the worst days I begin a stand with complete confidence. About the time you've given up a coyote comes trotting in when you least expect it and then the opportunity is blown because you're caught off guard. I work every stand as if a dog will pop in at any moment.

Coyotes are smart. You may get that pup to trot right in during the first part of the season but as they get older they get more cautious. Just because you haven't seen the coyote doesn't mean he hasn't seen you. Or smelled you for that matter. I know it gets uncomfortable sitting on the hard ground with a bush sticking in your back making you miserable. You need to think about a number of things when you choose your calling location but comfort is essential. At my age my bones creak and the blood doesn't flow like it once did. Once you start calling you need to sit still. Look with your eyes not your entire head.

There's been some discussion about camo and one self appointed "expert" says it just isn't necessary. With an electronic remote caller moved away from you it may not be as critical but when you are using a mouth blown call it's uncanny how far away a coyote can pinpoint your location. Even with a remote caller sometimes you will be busted long before you've had a chance to see the coyote. Sitting still goes a long way to alleviate this but it never hurts to blend in to the background.

Last year I was having a bang up morning. I already had two coyotes down and was on my third stand and the sun had been up for less than 45 minutes. I had the caller set out about 40 yards from me and expected a coyote to approach it from the far side. I was kinda giddy from my success and started the stand without putting my head net on. Rather than make any movement I just sat still. A coyote came bounding in from the same direction I had walked in and he stopped in front of me to look around. It only took him a couple of seconds to see my bare face looking back at him. The fact that I wear glasses didn't help as I'm sure they sometimes glare in the bright sun. The coyote turned tail and started to run. Fortunately for me he had to run up hill and the ground was sparse. I put a bullet in him before he could get out of sight.

Stealth, patience and confidence. Try it, you'll like the results. Maybe I can add one more.......perseverance. Those call makers aren't lying. They really do work.

like most things,the more you do it the better you and will get and learn along the way

I would say spend the time to become proficient with your calling rifle and know where it hits at different distances. You could be the best caller in the world but if you can't shoot you won't put much fur on the ground. Practice shooting under field conditions. If you're going to hunt with a detached bi-pod then practice shooting with a detached bi-pod.

Thanks to Steve for catching my typo. Corrected!

Those tips on limiting movement, total camo and patience are a lot like archery hunting for deer. thanks....

Questions

1. If you are all settled on your stand at early shooting light, do you make your 1st calling series more quietly or blast away to reach out and pull the far ones in ?

2. What are the circumstances that help you decide how long you should stay on a stand and call for ?

Thanks !

Just try to think like a rabbit that has just been grabed by a coyote it won't scream softly in the early morn. or anytime so call loud and taper it down as you call and listen to the other advise it all helps...

I agree with Cranky Farmer totally, learn to shoot. I always went to the range alot during the off season as did many of the better contest hunters of the day. Believe me it payed off out in the field.

The next thing is to learn where the animals are. As stated many times, it's hard to kill what's not there.

Learn how to make stands that give you the best adventage in the terrain you are hunting in. When hunting coyotes, remember the wind. That should be part of making a stand.

A million other things to learn, but that all comes with experience. Or come to my predator calling school.

We ALWAYS set out a target to make sure the rifles were sighted in before we started to hunt... If you can not hit then your just educating them

Old Timer, alot of that goes on nowadays. Don't mean some of them can't shoot, some can. It's the other 100,000,000 that can't.

Yes sir and even the few that can shoot will blow it if the weapon is not sighted in!!!!

My best advice - read these.

Predator Calling with Gerry Blair 2d Edition
Varmint hunter's digest: the how-to book for varminters by Jim Dougherty
Hunting predators: Proven tactics that work (Hunting wisdom library) by Gordy Krahn
Coyote Hunting by Phil Simonski

About twenty others, but those are a good start.

onecoyote, on Oct 15 2008, 12:14 PM, said:

right on!

Gary in Calif, I've read all those books, they all got published after I learned to predator hunt lol. That's good advice though. I believe new predator hunters can get even more information off the internet if they learn to tell the truth from the BS.

Come on Danny I have seen new guys that did not know which end of the call to use and still called in coyotes Heck when I started I had no idea what a rabbit sounded like in fact I didn't know they could make a noise Back then most of the advise you got was false anyhow

great info guys, glad to see so much experience in these forums.

I could never hunt with you because I'd have to shoot ya for being a know it all. Can't be two know it alls in the same truck. Besides that, you have no respect for your elders.

ur right cause I don't have many elders

Lol, don't worry, I wasn't talking at you.

Here in the midwest, the best place to look for daytime coyotes will be in those little pockets of cover where the rabbits and game birds hole up. Try to find a hillside where you can sit and look down on that patch of cover. Sit with your back against a tree or a bush that will break up your human outline. Have a cushion of some sort to set your butt down on, because you plan on sitting there real still for 15-20 minutes. If you have no camo, wear drab colored clothing. Be sure to wear a head net. Anybody can afford a head net, and your shiny face will be sure to give you away if you don't cover it. Wear drab colored gloves on your hands, as they too are shiny. Here in Iowa, I used to always try to have the wind in my face while calling,and it worked quite well. Not anymore it don't. A cross-wind is much better. The coyotes will almost always try to get down-wind of the screams, so keep a close eye in that direction. If you are using hand calls, it is wise to blow a few seconds of screams and then pause for a couple of minutes before repeating the screams. This will often confuse the coyote just enough that you cancatch him when he comes in to look for source of the screams. Recently, I have been seriously thinking of using a decoy of some sort. A decoy placed cross-wind of your location would give the coyote something to lock his eyes on as he makes his approach. I have an electric powered decoy from Foxpro now. It looks like a coon tail with eyes. I haven't used it much yet,but I think it will make the difference out in an open field.

Rich, was the grass insanely tall there this year? When I was back in MO I couldn't believe how green and tall everything was in late October. With all the rain they had there the grass went wild. I only made it out hunting (predators) twice.

I really just got started in predator hunting i have a little electronic call that has a wireless remote is this ok for coyotes???!!!

Try it if it calls them in it ok but you should have a couple of hand call also

Cranky Farmer, on Sep 6 2008, 02:56 PM, said:

Hello I am new to all of this and would like to know where to hunt coyote, ground squirrel. I live in whittier, ca.

Tunaslayer, I lived right down the street from you in El Monte but that was a long long time ago. Nobody is going to tell you any good or even semi good places to go, to many people out there nowadays.
What you could do is get some good maps of the deserts. As far as ground squirrels go, all the places I use to go belong to the Condors now.
Your best bet for information is to join a predator hunting club. Not only well you find places to go, you'll also learn alot and be around others that think like you think......Good luck

just come and hunt with me and maby we can learn together