Well were starting to get yotes in our area
I've seen 1 last fall my wife seen 1 last
summer....I think I lost a 4 week old coon hound pup to one....and we have alot of
turkeys and rabbits in our area....
1. will they work on the turkeys, they already
have the rabbits
2. what would be a good call to start with?
E call, mouth call, do I hunt day or night?.
I don't want to spend alot of money,($100) I don't mind doing the work nessary to get rid
of 'em.
3 when do they breed? I hope I can get started
before they do, if you know what I mean.

My area is mostly wooded with some small fields 40 acres max in the mountains....
Any help pointing me in the right direction
I would surly be thankfull.......

Sorry I soulda added, I'm located in southern Va.

Out here coyotes are raising pup right now.

Coyotes will eat anything birds, small game and fawns.

In your area I don't know which calls will work but I would start with a mouth call like the cottontail distress call if they are numerous in your area. Search on the internet and you can find sites that will actually play the sounds for you to copy.

A Coyote locator/challenge howler call is also good for locating coyotes that are near.

The Knight and Hale calls have a good reputation and you can look at them here. Check out the calls that come with the instructional CD's also.

A coyote pup in distress call could be devastating right now. Most calls will give you some success, it boils down to how "call smart" the 'yotes in your area are. If not a lot of guys are calling and shooting at them to educate them, you may get them in pretty easy. If they've been "educated", that's when you have to change up and throw something at them that they haven't heard before. 'Yotes are naturally curious, especially when it can end in them getting a meal (they think!).

When your local deer start dropping fawns, a fawn-in-distress call is dynamite.

They are gonna hit your turkey and rabbit populations pretty hard. Also pets and smaller livestock like chickens, sheep and goats, especially if they ('yotes) are "new" to the area.

Night calling can be productive IF it's legal in your area. My state doesn't allow it for 'yotes. Better check your state game laws first.

Thanks guys, It's wide open here, I guess I'd better get to work, If I don't I might not
have any turkeys to hunt......oh yeah I lost
13 chickens last year I keep 'em up now., and the at least 10 wild rabbits...I know a hawk got some of 'em,
Darn I hope I can get um, thanks again.....

Slowpoke are you headed to the Antelope eaters in Seligman this weekend?

jo-timer,

While the coyotes undoubtedly have their effect on turkey, rabbit, fox and deer populations, the bulk of their diet im many places is voles and mice. Unless you live on an island it is unlikely that you could possibly wipe out the coyote population by hunting. I seem to remember that it would take three years of at least 70% take to dent the numbers long term. Coyote hunting can be extremely challenging and a lot of fun. That being said, the most effective means of taking a quantity of coyotes is undoubtedly by a good trapper - traps work 24/7.

One site (besides here) that has a lot of great information is PredatorMasters . Keep in mind that hunting coyotes in the eastern US has many differences from the western US hunting that many post about. Some techniques are the same, some not. There is no more important aspect to coyote hunting than scent control, and the best scent control is to always try to position yourself downwind of where you expect to have the critter appear.

During the breeding season I prefer the female invitation call over all others. You will not need a fancy electronic caller to bring them in, but you will need to practice with any mouth calls. Everyone has their opinions, but I call coyotes much like turkeys - less is better when using the mating calls. Make them come and vocalize to find you. Good luck.

Bucko,

No, I won't be in Seligman. I have too many obligations going on for a few weeks. Plus, I just came back to work after a weeks vacation, so I'm slammed.

If you're going, have a few for me.

We have the same trouble 3 weeks ago I lost 30 chickens. Last year in my county alone 255 coyotes were taken while only 25 turkeys, and the rabbits are about gone. 100 years ago there was a bounty of $2. now a large coyote will only bring $8. Good thing we don't do it for a living. make sure you try the cottentail destress.

Thanks again guys, I'll check out that Preadator
Masters site Thanks!.....Yeah I'm gonna get busy
this week end get things lined up, we still got
snow on the ground, I ain't got no snow camo,
but it should be gone in 3 or 4 days.........
If they hurt my turkeys ( I know they got to eat
to ) I hold a grudge a very very long time....
I kept up with one local gang last year, they
only lost 1 from june when 10 of them were just
chicks untill about the last of nov........and
today I seen turkey tracks in the snow........
don't you just love it....a couple of them bad
boys are mine.... those yotes can eat rocks
or sticks or whatever just leave them turkeys alone....can I get a Amen!!!!
anyhow Thanks again guys, wish me luck....

Use the snowwhile you have it!! look along evey road for tracks then start walking it's the best way we have found to locate the den. get out early we took 2 this year while deer hunting in the morning.

I did miss the snow, it was gone before I got a call mouth jack rabbit, not very loud BTW.
Well I went out and set up a few times,, so far
nothing, could they have moved on,and be scarse?
I did call in some birds crows and hawks I guess
I only heard 'em....also here's something I may
have a problem with....my 25-06 had a scope on
it and when I pulled the gun up to check out my
shooting lanes I couldn't see crap, well I mean
my long shot would've been 60 yrds, most others
were around 25 to 40 yrds, so I took the scope off in the field and fliped up the rear sight.
I might try it a few more times, but Turkey
season is just a couple weeks away.......If I
had a shot with a shotgun what shot would I need? Of coruse I would pattern it. How many
hits of what shot would be an ethical shot?
I know some of you guys have the experiance.
I just know If set up for turkeys and a yote came with 25 yrds I'd let him have it.......
also what about all these night lights, infared
or such are those high $$ or is it just a red
lense over a spotlight? sorry for so many ????
Thanks guys for all the help.......

Just a few thoughts,,a low powered scope is great for the shot ranges you mention, 3 to 5 power is good if you can turn it down.
The other thing is that you don't need a lot of volume in your calling, most people over blow their calls anyway, coyotes have probably at least eight times the hearing that we have so just remember that when calling.
Also as for your shotgun choice, about any full choke 3 inch magnum will work with preferably # four buck.
Copper coated lead BB will work also but not quite as well.
Your shot limit is about 50 yards on the outside, I have killed coyotes farther with the buck loads but I usually only knock them down with the first shot and it requires a couple finishers to seal the deal at that range.
Nota big deal, just don't shoot them once with a shotgun , or even a rifle for that matter and think that it is over.
If they are still struggling at all put another in them.
There has been more coyotes than you could ever imagine that looked like they were toast only to jump up and make tracks out of there, and it only takes a few seconds in the brush for them to get away completely unless you have a tracking dog.
I can't help you much with the night time calling as it is not legal out here where I live.
I have done it some in other states though and we just used a red lens over a spotlight that was removable.
We would call a shile and then shine a while and keep our beam up higher so that only the lower edge of the light illuminated their eyes.
Too direct a beam in their face even with the red lens can cause them to leave.
When we would see eyes, we would get our guns ready and then flip the red lens down and usually had time to identify and shoot.

Oh and the last thing is you are going to want a good set of shooting sticks, a couple of hardwood dowels with a hole drilled through them about four inches from one end and a small bolt through them is what I use.
Stay away from bipods, they are klunky and awkward and don't work worth a flip especially on uneven ground or if you have to move to shoot at a circling coyote.
Keep at it, it takes a while but soon you will learn the tricks of the trade and start racking up a score.

Thanks that was very helpfull, I will try that
a few more times before turkey season....
I'm gonna move out a bit more in hopes to find
one to whack......I do need to work on my set
up more. I'm putting a old arrow out there about
25 yrds with two rooster feathers tied to it with
fishing line, they move around quite abit....
I do have a nice set of shooting sticks
I built my self using two pieces of alu rod, about
40" long with a hole like you said drilled through
the two.....That scope is a 3 x9, but I don't feel
I can pick up on it fast enough if one shows, I do
feel more confortable with open sights out to 75 to
80 yrds I'll see what I can do. I might just bring
out the Ithaca M51 with # 4 buck like you said, and
see what it will do....if I get a shot.....
Thanks again....I'll post if I can whack one....

jo-timer all you have just read is good stuff. I would use your turkey gun. Take some #4 buck shells with you when you turkey hunt if legal. Don't shoot them through your super full choke. Sounds like your open sights may work for you in your terrain. Around here you can shoot them anytime with landowners permission. All my friends that deer hunt are seeing yotes when in their stands. I'm just starting to pred. hunt as my main thing. Watch your wind and your movement, camo like you're turkey hunting. I've spent alot of money on callers and STUFFFF! Remember you get what you pay for and if you plan on getting rid of them Ha Ha you will be at it the rest of your life. They are smart most all of the time. Best chance may be getting them while they are young. Try calling them about half hour before dark. You will probably be more successful at night. You'll need a partner if you want to use a handheld spotlight. I saw a 3million 3 colored lens for $40 today at Walmart. Pretty big&powerful for me??? I'm saving for a Lightforce. You CAN sell the pelts. Good Luck! YOU WILL BE HOOKED! Is that Ithaca M51 that little 10 guage. TAKE THAT!

jo-

I'll add to the good info -

Between now and your turkey season you may find the coyote calls much more effective than critter in distress calls, as they are more interested in breeding. They are interested in food, too, but it's likely starting to be much easier to find after whatever kind of winter you had.

If you do a lot of turkey hunting then you are most likely to run into a coyote while turkey hunting. Make sure you know how your gun is patterned using your turkey loads (#5, #6 shot). Virginia law states "No restrictions on shot size except for spring gobbler season when it is unlawful to have any shot in possession larger than number 2 fine shot while hunting.", so you can't carry #4 buck (#4 BUCKSHOT is not the same as #4 shot.) I have found that my shotgun shoots it great using my turkey super full choke, but each gun is different and you owe it to yourself to shoot a few at 30 and 40 yards to know where it's hitting. If you got a shot at a coyote using your turkey loads then I'd limit it to 30 yards max. You MUST think before shooting about where you are going to shoot a coyote, as they just don't roll over and die like a rabbit - they can be tough. If you see one while turkey hunting and haven't spooked it then try using your turkey calls or even a mouse squeaker to get it in range. Remember that your best shot is at a stopped animal, so you can often get the animal to stop or stutter if you make the "kissing sound" with your lips.

I hunt a lot at night and highly recommend getting the hang of dawn and dusk coyote hunting before making the leap to night hunting. You may see more coyotes, but the number of mistakes and problems you can make at night is much greater.

Good luck - be sure to take a camera along and show us your first coyote cull.