There are many reasons why a hunter would want to hunt a coyote, and protecting livestock, controlling the population, and helping farmers or ranchers are some of the top reasons to do so.
And if you’re only getting into coyote hunting, it’s important to take some time to learn how to hunt for coyotes so you know what to expect and how to prepare yourself right from the start.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to get started as a hunter who’s after coyotes, but you’ll also find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions, so keep on reading!
How to Hunt for Coyotes
Coyotes are smart predators so it’s definitely important to know how to position yourself, how to stay stealthy, and how to hunt for coyotes in the best possible way and that’s exactly what you’ll learn below!
1. Study the Location
It’s important that you study the location you’ll be hunting at to find out where is the best possible place to position yourself to hunt for coyotes, but also to find out where coyotes roam around.
If possible, it would be best to get permission from a farmer to hunt directly on a farm as coyotes are preying on farm animals since they’re an easy meal and yet you’ll also be doing the farmer a favor at the same time, so this could be a great way to secure your location.
2. Be Aware of the Wind
Coyotes have a strong smell sense and they will be able to smell you from miles away if you don’t cover your scent.
While camo helps, it’s far more important to cover your scent and be aware of the wind, because even if you do your best to cover your scent and yet you’re positioned along the wind, coyotes might still get a sense of you and get suspicious.
3. Take Advantage of Calls and Decoys
Calls and decoys are super important when hunting coyotes because they allow you to position yourself wherever you choose and yet attract them to you.
Combining calls and decoys and setting them anywhere between 20 to 50 feet away from the position you’ll hunt from is the best way to do it.
You can use animal calls for decoys and besides decoys, there are even secretions that can be set to attract coyotes to you.
4. Practice Your Aim
Coyotes are quick and while they might stop for a couple of seconds, they’re constantly on the move. Therefore, your aim should be top-notch if you’re looking to score a coyote.
Practice your aim at the range and if you can practice at moving targets, that’s even better then. The great thing about coyote hunting is that it’s an all-year opportunity and you can hunt it with any type of rifle.
Therefore, choose your preferred type of rifle and start practicing your aim at a smaller distance, and then at a larger distance. Oftentimes, you will find the decoys and traps to be in the middle of you and coyotes that will be farther away from you, so being good at shooting them down at a much larger distance is the key.
How to Hunt for Coyotes at Night
For a successful hunt for coyotes at night, you’ll need a quality beam which you’ll use the half bottom of it while covering the rest of it.
This will give you enough light to notice coyotes’ eyes at night and be able to track them. When you’re ready to take the shot, you can uncover the beam (for full beam use) and take the shot.
However, if you go hunting with a full beam on, you won’t get much luck because coyotes might get spooked from too much light.
What is the Best Time to Hunt Coyotes
You can hunt coyotes throughout the year as it’s the type of hunt that you can do a whole year round. However, the best time to hunt for coyotes would be somewhere in December or January.
And when it comes down to the time, it’s best to go out for a hunt at dawn or dusk since that’s when most coyotes go out to look for food.
But even the nighttime is a good choice because that’s also a great time when most coyotes tend to be the most active.
What is the Best Caliber for Coyote Hunting
Coyote hunting is pretty versatile so you can use any caliber for hunting, but the most preferred caliber types include .223.
However, other popular options include .204, .243, .224, and others. However, if you’re going to hunt for coyotes in a pretty dense area, using a shotgun is a wise idea.
You could even hunt with a bow if that’s what you’d like!
How to Use a Coyote Call & How to Call in Coyotes
Coyote calls are one of the most efficient ways to call in coyotes, but how do you take full advantage of them?
The best way to use a coyote call is to play coyote howls at first. Preferably male coyote howls would be ideal.
After a couple of minutes, you can start playing distress sounds. Rabbit calls are one of the most used calls since hunters have had a lot of success with them from any other distress calls.
However, any type of distress calls from different animals (especially the farm animals if you’re hunting on the farm) can work.
Conclusion
Anyone can get into hunting coyotes and if you’ve started your hunting journey by hunting squirrels and small game, switching up to coyotes is a great choice.
It’s an all-year-round thing and it can be done with any type of rifle of your choice. Therefore, it’s a great thing to do while you’re waiting for deer or turkey season to open.
Checking out the terrain, positioning yourself correctly, and equipping yourself with coyote calls and decoys is the best way to go. Of course, you shouldn’t forget to mask your smell and remove your scent and check for the wind before your hunt as it can give you away in a heartbeat.
Lastly, practice your aim and you’ll be ready to go for your first coyote hunt!
What is your favorite thing about hunting for coyotes and why?
