Hey Guys, Last night was our 5th hunt and second night calling here in NJ. NJ this year has allowed for the first time a supplemental night season. We scouted this area a few days before and set up on small knoll overlooking a field. I started the sequence with a rodent in disstres ran it for a few minutes and nothing, switched to an immature rabbit in distress and all HELL broke loose. They started howling to rally the troops and they came from at least a mile or so off, yippin and barking as they came, it made the hairs stand up on the back of our necks. Our first pass of the red light showed there were 5 or 6 one bolted left the other went right but 2 sat down, they got within 60 yds and hung up, (NJ only allows shotgun hunting with #2 or#4 lead shot only) I would believe these coyotes have never been hunted before at night and maybe never period. They are in an area that is closed to hunting most of the year and there is no deer to say in the area and to populate the area they have to swim to the island the coyotes are becoming anuisance harrassing the do gooders pets, We don't want to hunt this area in they day time for fear of being harrased by animal rights freaks, we acan hunt it at night and no one knows whats going on. back to the hunt. We spot lighted them a couple of times more and they wouldn't come closer.I think one mistake I made was I think I used the howler when they were to close I also think they winded us we didn't pay enough attehtion to the wind or we should not have used this stand. but i would have thought they would have bolted when they winded us but they just hung out of range. we snuck out of there and they were still there we didn't want to spook them by pushing the issue. we then moved to another stand a mile or 2 away and called but had no response. Now I ask you guys what should I do differently, We are going to try again tonight but a different stand in the area, someone in another post suggested cover scent what kind should we use, Thanks for any input, Tim

Use a rodent squeaker when they are in close like that and hanging up. If it is a young dog it will run right up on you, the old ones will usually stay hung up or turn and run.

One other thing: even with the filter, hitting a coyote directly with the light (if it's a strong spotlight to begin with) can and will cause them to hang up. Keep the beam pointed towards the horizon so that just the fringe illuminates the eyes. Don't hit them directly with the light until you are absolutely ready to shoot.

Try using some scent and maybe a decoy as well. If they think a fox is closing on the bunny they can see thrashing in the dark, their greed might just outweigh their smarts.

Deke.

Howl back with younger coyote sounds. Acting like an alpha can put young ones off. There are plenty of instructional DVDs, Randy Anderson is pretty good.

Use a dim light. A million cp light is just too much. I use 100,000 cp with a red lens. Using a shotgun with 2's will mean getting them within 40 yards. (4 buck is my favorite and good to 60 yards) Shoot them in the head. Body shots won't work and remember that you won't have a blood trail to follow with all their hair to soak it up.

Part of predator hunting success is persistance. Keep on making one stand after another. You will get them

Good huntin'!

Always check your wind, coyotes will try and circle to get down wind you before coming end. My experence is when they hang up and continue to yelp and howl, they have winded you. This is not a problem when rifle hunting, but will usually keep them out of shotgun range. Try to think of coyote hunting as you would deer hunting in regards to them using their keen sense of smell and your chances will greatly increase.

Tim,
Your are correct, should not of used the "howler" when they were that close.

1) Watch the wind
2) Be very quite when calling - don't make any noises besides the calling.
3) The light - keep it dim.
4) When the animal is within 70 yrds - tone down the call, make it softer. If they hang up use a different call, but keep low.
5) Always keep the light on, never turn it off once you see them, without the light, they will see you.

I have had some pretty exciting moments at night and have had to yell at them to make them stop, they will run you over if your not carefull.

Take your time think everything through well and you will be successful.
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Coyote Control

I have only hunted Coyotes for two seasons now, but must admit I am somewhat hooked. A couple days ago I called one in with a howel (it never howled) after 10min w/no luck using a distress call. This one was crafty, he circled downwind like the others, but allways positioning brush between him and me when he stopped (I was stopping him by kissing the back of my hand) and I could not get a shot until he was directly behind me and I was sighting into the sun. Well he winded me and started trotting off, I thought it was now a makeable shot @ about 125yrds, but missed with the first making him hit the afterburners, then missed two more times while he made off like a meteor. I recomended scent and a decoy in a previous post, but failed to heed my own advice. Do you think the scent and decoy would have made a difference? A buddy of mine says that if they are just trotting off like that (not running) they will usually stop and give you one last look, what do you think? Also, I know the plains Coyotes are starting to rub/shed, how about the mountain coyotes, are their furs good through March?

Deke.