TAG TEAM CALLING |
SPOT & STALK |
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Tag team coyote hunting is one of the most popular coyote hunting setups . Two hunters setup with one doing the shooting and the second hunter doing the calling . This is often done with both hunters in close proximity to each other . Coyotes that have previously been called into a hunters set up that were shot at and missed or busted the hunters by sight or smell are instantly educated to being hunted and become very suspicious to calling . Coyotes have very good eyesight and are constantly scanning any areas they move through looking for danger , food , or even other coyotes . When being distress called , they are also scanning |
the area looking for the noise location as they believe it ’ s their next meal . With the population of coyotes on the rise , it ’ s more common that two or more coyotes are travelling together . That means more eyes on the lookout . If two hunters are in close proximity it ’ s easier for the coyote or multiple coyotes to see them and leave the area while they still can . Coyotes often see the hunters well before the hunters ever sees them .
I have greatly increased my tag-team coyote hunting successes by splitting up and both hunters doing the calling and both ready to shoot . Keeping the wind direction in mind , if the wind is blowing out of the east and you
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anticipate the coyote coming out of the south , one hunter sets up at the north end of the field calling and ready to shoot , while the other hunter is calling and ready to shoot from the west end of the field . With both hunters away from each other , there ’ s less chance of a coyote seeing two hunters grouped together and more of a chance of a coyote crossing in front of one of the two hunters . However , be mindful of coyotes coming from behind you . On many occasions , we ’ ve had coyotes approach from behind us and busted our setup . However , by splitting up we are consistently putting more coyotes on the ground . |
On several occasions , I ’ ve had coyotes in the area that would not come into my calls . Coyotes sometimes have a keen sense and know how to stay just out of a hunter ’ s range . I believe these coyotes are extremely call shy and have been tricked by a hunter ’ s setup on more than one occasion and were shot at and missed . They are now educated and you will have to go after them . Just like big game hunting , coyote hunters must be mindful of the wind direction when spotting and stalking coyotes . |
If a coyote is in the area but won ’ t come into your setup it will rarely leave the area . It hears the calls or sees the decoy and is looking for its next meal but knows something is up . Often times , the coyote will move into cover or lay in wait just on the other side of a hill . Using the lay of the land or whatever is available to me , I will leave the electric call going so it covers any noise I make as I move in on the coyote ’ s location . When spot and stalking a coyote , don ’ t try to get too close . Get to within your comfortable shooting range and |
when you have a clear shot , shoot . This is much harder to do on multiple coyotes but if you can gain the vantage point you may be able to take more than one coyote . Ideally , a high vantage point works in the hunter ’ s favour . When I have multiple coyotes coming into any setup or spot and stalk situation , I like to shoot the furthest coyote first and the closest coyote second . The second shot the coyote will be running from the noise of the first shot , but your second shot on the moving coyote is your closest shot . |
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GOOSE CALL THEM |
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Another one of my favourite times of the year to hunt coyotes is during the waterfowl season or right after the season ends . Coyotes are experts at picking up lost or crippled waterfowl . In some of the areas I hunt waterfowl , I hunt coyotes using a goose decoy and my goose call . I cut out a fake goose wing out of a black plastic garbage bag and tape it to the side of a goose decoy . I set up the goose decoy about 100 yards from my hidden location and begin what I call , a goose in distress call with |
my goose call . With the plastic wing blowing in the wind I call every two minutes with each calling sequence lasting 30-seconds . Once a coyote locates what it thinks is a wounded goose , it usually comes in running as it ’ s accustom to an easy meal . Duck decoys work equally as well and the duck decoy has even brought in the odd red fox . With either decoy , it ’ s a natural prey that coyotes are accustom to seeing during the waterfowl season or shortly after the season ends . |