Coyote Hunting Archives - Page 3 of 4

How to Attract Coyote: Predator Hunt Like a Pro

Coyote are wily animals, despite their smaller size they can be much harder to find and kill than more popular game animals. If you’re looking for a one-stop guide on how to attract coyote, then you’re in the right place and we’re going to show you exactly how to make sure you can call them in and add a couple of pelts to your collection next year.

How to Attract Coyote

Step 1: Minimize Noise and Scent

Coyote are extremely intelligent animals with sharp senses. Unlike when you’re hunting less intelligent animals it will pay off if you’re quiet from the time you exit your vehicle until the first shot.

Make sure everyone in your group speaks only in whispers, don’t slam car doors, and avoid any kind of scents which might set them off. You’ll still give off some human scent no matter how you go about things.

Move slowly and quietly to the area you’re planning on hunting. Silence is pretty much imperative and make sure that you know how to stay upwind from the area you’re planning on attracting your prey to.

This will greatly increase your chances of not setting the animals into a defensive mode where they’ll be more wary than usual.

Step 2: Utilize Calls

As with any animal that can be manipulated with calls, coyote are particularly vulnerable to this tactic. You’ll essentially have to learn to “speak their language” if you’re using a mouth call. This means learning the difference between distress calls, challenges, and many of the other vocalizations they make. This is many hunters’ favored method of calling them in.

Once you’ve mastered it and found the right mouth calls which work for you, your ability to virtually communicate with these animals can be pretty impressive. Remember to keep human noise to a minimum, however, and stay upwind in order to avoid their powerful sense of smell.

Not everyone relies on making coyote calls in order to attract coyote, however. One of the more successful variants that is used is to make the distress call of a smaller animal, particularly rabbits. Nothing will draw in a coyote faster than a wounded rabbit, cottontails and the like are one of their favored prey.

Related:How Fast Can A Coyote Run?

You can also take advantage of modern technology by using one of the different electronic calls available on the market. Many of these devices can allow you to set up an ideal shooting lane no matter how the wind is blowing since you can activate them remotely in order to draw the coyote in.

These often come with a wide variety of vocalizations, and the remote placement offers quite a few advantages. They are a bit more expensive, however, and many hunters prefer to stick with more traditional methods.

Step 3: Using Lures

In areas with a lot of hunting pressure on coyote, particularly around agricultural land where ranchers will often shoot them or even place a bounty on them, calls might not be as effective as they are in less disturbed regions.

Coyote are adaptable animals, and while an expert caller can generally lure in even the most wary of coyote other methods can be much more effective. The first thing to try if you can’t get what you’re going for with calls are scent lures.

Scent lures are used to provoke interest in the animal. As always, be wary of the wind to avoid the animal smelling you as well.

You’ll have to experiment with this one. Coyote’s intelligence means that each will respond differently to different lures. Some will make the animal come in search of food, others might attract coyote looking to mate. Do a little bit of research, pick a few brands, and try them out on different occasions.

By experimenting and keeping track of which works best, you can figure out what works in your favored hunting grounds. They’re primarily used for trapping coyote, but they can make a great aid for those who are hunting them as well.

Step 4: Using Bait

This is where things get a bit trickier. The thing about baiting coyote is that the bait doesn’t matter as much as you’d think. Some people have had success with fish parts, dog food, or even just throwing food scraps into a large freezer bag and chucking it out into a field to thaw.

While they’re very cunning, coyote will eat almost anything. They’re also wary while in the open, which is undoubtedly where you’ll be luring them, and that means that your technique is much more important than the bait you use.

There’s a few different ways to do this.

Using what’s known as “confidence strips” is one of the best ways to get a coyote to come out into the open. When you’re scattering your bait scatter small pieces of it in a radius of fifty to a hundred meters around the main bait pile. Place these pieces of bait in cover and ever closer to the bait in the open.

Eventually the coyote will gain the nerve to go for the mother lode, opening them up to a shot from the hunter.

Another, even sneakier, tactic which you can use include scattering some corn around the area where the bait is. While the coyote may not be big fans of it themselves… birds are. If you’ve ever been in the wilds for an extended period you’ll have noticed that unless you’re extremely quiet or still most animals quit making noise.

By drawing in birds to make noise and keeping yourself upwind, you’ll convince the coyote that all is well and make them feel better about the whole situation. Until you take the shot of course.

There are a lot of different ways bait can be used, and once you’ve mastered a few you’ll find your success rate soaring. Just make sure that it’s legal in your area.

FURTHER READING➜ 5 Top Coyote Hunting Dogs That Are Proven To Be Tremendous Hunters➜ 5 Of The Absolute Best Coyote Baits➜ The Best Coon Hunting Lights Out There

Conclusion

Hunting predators is a rewarding experience, and coyote are among the most cunning. The thrill of hunting them can hardly be matched, but knowing how to attract coyote is the hardest part of the whole affair. Once you have that down you can bring your skins home, confident that you’ve outsmarted one of the most intelligent animals in the Americas.

Any more questions for us? Comments? Drop us a line in the comments.

Coyote Trapping – Best Coyote Trap: A Guide to the 4 Best Varieties of Coyote Traps

There are a number of different traps to choose from, and the debate rages heavily as trappers try to decide which of them deserve the title of the best coyote traps. We’ve put together a short listing of the different types of traps available to the modern hunter and compared them, so that you can figure out which works best for you.

Top 4 Best Coyote Trap

1.) Foothold Traps

Source: http://one-eyedhillbilly.blogspot.com

Foothold traps have long been the gold standard for those who are hunting any furbearing mammal. Their mechanical design lends them to a wide variety of different configurations and sets, each of them with their own advantage.

In general, a #2 size is considered to be the best for coyote. Different hunters will recommend different brands, tactics, and modifications that work for them but if you opt to use them yourself you’ll have to figure out which works best for you.

They’re also rather expensive and heavy, which makes hauling them out a lot of work. Even worse, you really will need some mechanical abilities to make sure they work well. They’re not quite as easy to work with as Saturday morning cartoons make them look. Many people have had a lot of success with them however.

There are also a lot of restrictions on their usage in place, and many will find they don’t even have the option to use them locally. Be sure to double check regulations in your area before you decide to use them, as the fines and penalties can be quite costly.

Pros

Good holding power
Variety of sets
Most easily disguised
Customizable

Cons

Require mechanical aptitude
Subject to a lot of regulation

2.) Conibear Traps

Source: http://trappingsupplies.blogspot.com

In places where they’re legal, Conibear traps can be used for coyote and some trappers report back that they’ve had great success with them. They’re a variation of the mechanical trap which is intended to close over the neck of the coyote which triggers it with sufficient force to kill it instantly.

In general, they’re only usable in some specific areas and even then they should be used with caution. Trappers use a 330 sized trap for coyote and bobcats, and they definitely have sufficient force to kill a dog or cat.

When used properly, they’re highly effective and those who can use them safely and efficiently definitely like them but they should be avoided by anyone who happens to live in an area where there may be domestic animals present.

In most of the United States their usage is heavily restricted, even more-so than leg-hold traps. This makes them an unattractive option for most trappers and only those who are confident that they can avoid harming pets and know how to set them properly should use them.

Pros

Instant kill when set properly
Not as hard to disguise as box traps
Most sets are fairly easy

Cons

Kill indiscriminately
Highly illegal in most areas
Expensive

3.) Snare Traps

Snares are less regulated than many types of traps, which makes them ideal for a lot of trappers on a budget. They can vary from spring-loaded snares which will strangle the animal to simpler affairs which will restrain the coyote until you come back to check on them.

They’ve been used for centuries by people around the globe, and their ease of use and cheap costs makes them favorable for a lot of trappers. In addition to that, they’re usually quite light and you’ll be able to hike out with a lot more of them to set up your traps than with any other type.

There are usually some restrictions on their usage, depending on where you’re currently residing. These can range from an outright ban to having to use specific sets to make sure you don’t target animals outside of what you’re looking for. In some places there have to be stops, be sure to look at the legality in your area before you decide on them.

They’re one of the two methods currently favored by most trappers, however, and there’s definitely some advantages to using them in the field. You’ll also want to make sure there are no pets in the area, but that should be a precaution you take with nearly any kind of trap.

Pros

Simple to use
Cheap and effective
Very light
Can be setup for hold or kill

Cons

Regulated in most areas
Killing snares can target indiscriminately

4.) Box and Cage Traps

Cage traps are the only option that many people will be allowed to use, after all traps are unsupervised and have a tendency to catch other animals than the one you’re targeting.

The truth is, coyote can be hard to catch in cage and box traps, however, and that dissuades many hunters from using this method. It can definitely be done, however, but it’s a tedious and time consuming process.

The best way to set them up is to hide the trap as much as possible and use a lure. The coyote should be in the trap before they realize the cage is there. It can definitely be done, but it requires a different skill set than many other types of trap.

The best thing about them is that you don’t have to worry about killing someone’s hunting dog or cat if they happen to get caught in the trap, you can just let them go free. This makes them ideal if there is any chance of a domestic animal passing by.

If you take the time to learn they can be effective, but the truth is that a lot of coyote are going to avoid them.

Pros

Captures the animal without harming them
Least regulated type of trap
Most humane

Cons

Bulky
Hard to use
Not as effective as many types of trap

Conclusion

It really can be hard to figure out which are the best coyote traps for you. Due to regulations and the inherent nature of traps it will vary from area to area, but all of the above are certainly viable methods for those who are seeking to collect some fur in the next season.

Did we leave out your favorite trap? Have any questions? Let us know below!

Get That Pelt! How to Skin a Coyote

When it comes to predator hunting, a lot of us have one thing on our minds: the skin. While most hunters will find themselves skinning and saving hides, there’s few trophies held in higher esteem than the pelts of predatory mammals.

Learning how to skin coyote and preserve the hide is as much of an art as learning to hunt the canines ourselves, and making sure that you do it properly is one of the most fulfilling experiences a hunter can have.

How to Skin a Coyote

1.) Act Quickly

If you’re planning on stripping the hide off a coyote, the best time to do it is right after you’ve made the kill. The membrane between the skin and muscle is much easier to break while the body is still warm and it’ll make the whole process a lot easier on you.

This means that you want to be prepared when you go out. If you’re hunting from a stand, for instance, you want to have an area nearby where you can skin the animal. This generally means either a low hanging tree branch or a sturdy fence post to tie off on.

These instructions are for taking the pelt quickly, not for taxidermy and mounting purposes which is a specialized art in and of itself, so keep that in mind. You can also drag them back to your vehicle and then move them back for freezing, but a coyote that’s still warm makes the task a lot easier.

FURTHER READING➜ Learn About When Coyotes Are Most Active And More!➜ The Important Things to Know in Understanding Why Coyotes Howl➜ How to Attract Coyote: Predator Hunt Like a Pro

For selling hides, the feet are basically useless. Instead of bothering with them, many hunters will cut the front and back legs off below the knee to make things easier.

Make sure to do this on a hard surface with a sharp tool in order to get a clean and quick cut. A log is usually your best bet, but most people will be able to find something in the field which they can work with.

If you don’t have a hatchet or a heavy machete then you can still proceed. Taking a sharp knife ring the limbs, being careful not to cut into the meat or tendon beneath the hide as that will complicate matters considerably and risks getting a lot of blood on your pelt.

Either way, you’re going to want to use paracord or something similar to hang the carcass now and get to the actual skinning.

3.) Skinning the Legs

At this point it’s time to get cutting so you can remove the majority of the skin from the animal. You’ll make a cut along both legs and pass over the anus first. Depending on your preferred method you might want to rip the connective tissue out with your hands or probe ahead with your knife to cut it.

You should definitely be wearing gloves at this point, and be careful not to cut yourself. As scavengers coyote can carry some pretty nasty diseases and you do not want to make blood-to-blood contact with the animal.

After you’ve made the cut you’ll want to remove the skin down to the tail.

4.) Removing the Tail

Removing the tail isn’t quite as tricky as many people seem to think it is, but you’ll need some specialized tools in order to pull it off.

Before you get much further you’re going to also need to finish cutting around the anus of the animal in order to make things easier.

The oldest method is to grab it between two pieces of metal rod after making an incision and removing the first couple of inches of fur. One person holds the rod and the other will yank out the tail bone out.

You can also do it by hand, but it’ll require a whole lot more effort than a lot of people are willing to put into it.

There are also specialty tools which can be used to remove the fur from the tail by a single person. For the most part, these will clinch up and allow you to yank the tail bone while you’re holding it shut.

Either way it’ll require a bit of grunt work, but once it’s done you’ll be able to keep the tail with the pelt which makes for a much better finished product. Remember to cut all the way along the tile in order to preserve it better during the final steps.

5.) Removing the Rest of the Hide

From here you’ll simply need to separate the rest of the skin from the torso. If you’ve already prepped the lower limbs it’s a fairly simple process, mostly involving yanking the skin downwards as you go until you hit the limits of the connective tissue then separating it again.

Some people, once again, will use a knife while others will just work their hands in. This will compromise the bulk of your time during the skinning process for the most part, but it’s a simple process and most hunters will pick it up in no time.

Then shoulder blades/arm pit area often prove to be quite problematic for people who aren’t used to skinning canines but there’s a neat little trick you can utilize to make the whole process smoother.

Once you get the hide pulled over this area a little bit you can take a wooden rod or a screwdriver and pass it between the arm and the still-attached hide. Push downwards on it and you’ll find it comes off easily enough.

Depending on how you prepared the forearm you may need to cut it some more to get the hide down around the neck, but you’re almost there!

6.) Removing the Facial Fur

It’ll totally ruin the effect of the hide if you were to decapitate the animal at this point, and if you’re selling them you’ll also want to make sure you remove the face for the maximum value to be gained from the fur.

There’s a large amount of membrane connecting the face to the fur and at this point a razor sharp knife and patience are your friend.

Once you’ve pulled the fur down to the ears you’ll see a couple of bumps. This is the underlying cartridge of the ear and you’ll want to cut through it as close to the top of the fur as possible without damaging it.

The eyes can be found by probing with your fingers, and then you’ll make a cut over them in order to free up the skin. Done properly you’ll even be able to get the lashes, but don’t kick yourself if it takes a few coyote to get the process down.

Cut across the very back of the jaw once you have the hide pulled down far enough. You’ll probably need to probe with your fingers again in order to find the right spot. You can remove the upper lip by bringing your knife along the top of the jaw carefully, following the bone on the upper portion of the jaw.

Remember to only cut in while you’re doing this, rather than downwards. Cutting downwards will damage the hide which isn’t what we’re going for.

The lower lip has pretty much no value, and most hunters will simply remove it. Cut inwards just a bit below where the teeth are showing then come back up and leave the lower lip attached to the carcass for the easiest method to get it out of the way.

Afterwards, simply cut and pull along until you’ve reached the nose cartilage and you can quickly cut the cartilage out which will leave the nose intact on the fur. By preserving the facial features you’re also preserving the most valuable parts of the hide

You’ll also have successfully removed the fur at this point. Don’t be surprised if it takes quite a while the first couple of times.

Now the hide just needs to be cooled down, after which you’ll either need to freeze it or begin the fleshing process immediately.

FURTHER READING➜ What Does Coyote Poop Look Like: How To Identify Scat➜ 5 Top Coyote Hunting Dogs That Are Proven To Be Tremendous Hunters➜ 5 Of The Absolute Best Coyote Baits

Conclusion

Taking fur bearing predators is one of the most rewarding activities possible for many hunters. Coyote are particularly tricky prey, both in life and death, and require some special attention. Once you’ve learned how to skin a coyote, however, you’re sure to have some impressive trophies to hang even if you opt to keep them, and if you’re good at it then you can make back most of the money spent on your trip.