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John's Journal... Entry 28 - Day 5

click to enlargeCoyote Hunting Secrets

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hunting coyotes, the latest year-round sport for hunters, has enthusiasts all across the nation. Many states have no seasons or limits on taking coyotes. This week, we'll learn more information from one of my good friends and favorite hunting buddies in the outdoors, Tad Brown, the product-development manager for Outland Sports in Neosho, Missouri, the makers of M.A.D. and Lohman's calls.

click to enlargeQUESTION: Tad, what are some little secrets to coyote hunting that most people don't know?

ANSWER: The most important thing in coyote hunting that people probably don't pay attention to is the wind. A coyote's nose is as good as any animal's, maybe better, perhaps even better than a whitetail's nose. A coyote can smell a piece of hide or a bone under a foot of snow. Always hunt with the wind in your face or at a crosswind when you're close to coyotes. If you can hunt with a partner, put him downwind of you 50 to 60 yards because coyotes usually circle downwind to catch your wind.

QUESTION: Does your buddy look toward the direction you call, or will he looking behind you?

ANSWER: He'll usually look in the direction from which we expect the coyote to come.

QUESTION: What's another secret for successful coyote hunting?

click to enlargeANSWER: Most guys will walk a half-mile to a mile from their vehicles. All you need to do is get out of sight of the vehicle. If you can park, walk 10 yards and be out of sight of your vehicle, that's far enough to call.

QUESTION: Do you think a lot of people walk past coyotes as they're trying to get out of sight of their vehicles?

ANSWER: They're not necessarily walking past them, but they're spending too much time walking when they can be calling.

QUESTION: How far do you go between calling sets?

ANSWER: It depends on wind and terrain conditions, but I don't move any farther than I have to go. I go where I think I've gotten out of the effective range from my last set of calls. I don't want to call, move 50 yards and call again because I'll be covering the same area. I want to go just far enough that I'm in fresh territory each time I call.

click to enlargeQUESTION: Do you think that's about a quarter-mile or a half-mile?

ANSWER: I'll move about a quarter-mile on windy days and maybe a little farther on calm days before I call.

SIDEBAR: For a copy of Tad Brown's "10 Secrets to Taking More Coyotes," write Tad Brown, 4500 Doniphan Drive, Neosho, MO 64850; attention Kim Thurman.

 
 

Check back each day this week for more about Hunting Coyotes, A Year-Round Sport...

Day 1 - How To Call Coyotes
Day 2 - How To Make A Coyote Setup
Day 3 - Timing And Changing Coyote Calls
Day 4 - Coyote-Hunting Equipment
Day 5 - Coyote Hunting Secrets

John's Journal