BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[redrider]

Whats the best time of day to call for yotes?

[AustinCo]

Rider

All I can relate to you is my experience but my best times have been about 1-2 hours after sunrise and 2 hrs before sunset. I think when a yote beds down in the day it doesn't really tune into it's enviroment like it would when it's on the hunt. I've walked up on yotes in their beds durning midday hours and shot them before they had a chance to get to full stride.

Almost more important than time of day is wind condition. If it is blowing pretty hard then the calling doesn't seem to work well. I think they don't want to expend energy looking for a noise that may have traveled from far off or one that they don't think they can locate easily.

My observations only in CO and not many other states. I have hunted them durning a full moon and had good success but it's a little spooky if your alone.

[redrider]

Thanks for your input and Welcome to BGH :D

[h_talbot]

Time of day doesn't seem to be a big deal. The wind is the big issue. Coyotes are more active at dawn and dusk because they are more nocturnal, but they will come to a call any time if they're interested. They bed during the day but will come to a call if they're hungry. I've got 11 in the last 2 weeks and most have been on calm days in the afternoon or late morning. If there's even a stiff breeze it will get very difficult.
Hank

[thenail]

I was wondering the same question that redrider asked and now we know . I'm going to give it shot this year for the first time .All the info i can gather the better .. Thank U kindly

[redrider]

Thats my plan also, giver a try this fall!
I was thinking about trying this out to get started
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas.....hasJS=true
or
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas.....hasJS=true
Any thoughts if they are worth it for a beginner or not worth it?

[thenail]

I wouldn't mind seeing the video .I think the rabbit squeall would be good to start .According to the guys on the fourm that have been calling coyotes the rabbit distress call works fine so i think I'll put my money on that one for now and if I can't master that then I 'll try something else . Might be able to rent a video

[BigCallin]

redrider wrote:
Any thoughts if they are worth it for a beginner or not worth it?

The open reed calls are harder to use, & easier to screw up than a closed reed call. That being said, they are way more versatile, & more productive IMHO. The way I look at it, you will never get good at using open reed calls by blowing closed reed calls, so go for it. That Hot Dog is my howler, and I love it. VERY LOUD, and very versatile. I like watching Randy Anderson, too. He is a good caller, and you can learn alot. The Ki-Yi doesnt get alot of use in my calling, but I have it too. Very good call, just never use it much. If you were to purchase either one of those packages, and pick a good rabbit squealer (Sceery is my favorite, but there are many good ones) you will have everyting you need to get'em in close. Buying the video is also a necessity, in my mind. Renting one is great, but you cant work a job, pay enough attention to the Wife/Kids & watch it enough in three or four days to remember everything. I hear something new everytime I watch my "Truth" video, and I have had it for a year. Buy one of the packages, pay close attention & watch them a bunch, and get ready to skin some dogs. Just stay out of my hunting area, so I can have some fun too. :laugh:

[thenail]

B C , That's good sound advice and I'll certainly give it a try . Last weekend my son and i were out on a hunt and just at dark the coyotes started yelping and going on in 2 different areas one bunch on either side of us .Both bunches were fairly close .If it wasn't so dark i would have got the call going .I think that would be a good place to start my first attempt at calling .

[BigCallin]

Only one more piece of advice, use the howler sparingly. you can locate dogs with it at any time of day, and if you use a higher pitched howl, signaling a young dog, you may only have to blow one or two series of howls. The responding dogs WILL respond to the first howl, and may or may not respond to the second, but beyond, in my experience, they start to catch on and get wary. Now, I am no expert, and I think that after howling a bunch of times, the dogs find something about my vocalizations they dont like. How you work your calling beyond that is obviously your choice, but try not to talk to them too much. Leave them wondering curiously, that is what will get em coming. Over doing it with any dog vocalization, really, has been my downfall many times. Even if they are not talking to you, they may be coming. Good luck, and post your coyote hunt results.

[thenail]

B C thanks for another good piece of advice . I'm taking this all in and will try it . I have a question . Could one make a minature moose call from birch bark to use for the howling call . I think that would deepen the sound and probbably carry farther . One late afternoon my son and I were on a hunt and sitting , when we herad a coyote give a couple yelps . I decided to have some fun and made a howiling call with my hands . did that ever stir things up for a few mins

[redrider]

Great Advice I'll be giving it a try also. Glad to know that pack is worth while!

[Don Fischer]

I've got that "Truth" video an I like it. But it is a lot to absorb and needs to be listened to several times. Haven't called in much yet tho. Couple local cats. the neighbors dog and while out hunting had a magpie sit down nxt to me. Was blowing an open reed and a closed reed call, must have though I was a dieing rabbit, or maybe just sick! I also got an electronic call and it's fun ti start up when I get salesmen on the phone and my granddaughter likes it and I can get deer up with the fawn distress call. The rabbit calls and the coyote howl sound nothing like I hear on "Truth". I'd sell it but it annoys the hell out of phone solisators! :D

[hunter777]

"I also got an electronic call and it's fun ti start up when I get salesmen on the phone"
What a great idea! :evil:

[knapp717]

I've got only 4 Coyotes to come in so far so I'm no expert. The last 4 times out I got a dog to come in 3 times so I’m getting lucky or better. What I have found is that they only come to me when the wind is very light. Also some one said to call softly at first and I find that to be very good advice. Only got one to come in during a morning hunt, the others with in a few hours of dark. I bought a cheap electronic call at Sportsman’s Warehouse thinking I'd use it to practice and it sure did help in playing the sounds as I was trying to make them. I’ve found that it is great in hunting also. I thought it wouldn’t be loud enough but it is. The last 2 yotes that came in were after the 1st call session. I also agree that the video with Randy is very helpful. Just the part about stopping the dog was something that I hadn’t thought of and really makes the difference. I took a buddy out Friday that has been hunting but has yet to shoot any living thing. Well I got one to come right in and he whistled to get it to stop at about 70 yards and then he missed. The yote started running but not at full speed so I just started yelling and it stopped again. I couldn’t believe it. I shot it. Lesson learned for me. Make lots of noise after the shot if it’s a miss. I wonder it that will work on a double? Any one have experience with that?

I have also had yotes come from down wind. I use a mixture of rabbit sent and water in a spray bottle that I spray in the air every 5 minutes or so. Not sure if it really works but I believe in it and will continue to do it.

Now I just have to get better at skinning and caring for the hide.

On calls I have a cheap rabbit call that is a closed reed and is very easy to use. I have a few open reed calls that I’m starting to build my confidence in. The electronic call I think is a “Cass Creak” or something similar. Has Jack Rabbit, Cotton Tail, Coyote Howl, Pup yipps and Fawn Distress.

One time when we were out I called in a heard of Antelope with the cotton tail closed reed call. They came close enough to hear them breathing. It was pretty cool.