New coyote calling tactics

Back when I first tried calling wild fur bearers, the process was a simple one. I bought a wooden, hand-held rabbit squeal and with my double barrel loaded with No. 2 mags headed for tall timber. It was a definite learning experience. I quickly discovered that not just anyplace would work, and top spots were always brushy areas, swamps, weedy fields, etc., in short places where rabbits, mice and other small critters lived because that's where predators would hunt them. It took some practice to imitate that desperate scream of a mortally wounded cottontail too, but when I finally managed it, I found that grey foxes would come at a gallop hoping for an easy meal. Greys aren't very smart animals, and I talked to a number of callers in those days who had taken 60, even 70 animals in a winters hunting. Which might be why they're so scarce in Ohio now, especially in the northern half of the state. Red foxes aren't dumb though, and more than once I had reds come to the call and hang up 60-70 yards out, trotting back and forth, then circling until they picked up my scent. At that point they disappeared like smoke on a windy day, and I quickly learned to trade the shotgun for a flat shooting little rifle. When coyotes appeared on the scene in Ohio, and became numerous, the early arrivals also responded easily to a rabbit squeal, but as time passed the old timers became cautious, and most of those responding to a hand call were young and hungry ones. And so the sport evolved to the point where many these days favor electronic callers that are available online or at most larger sporting goods stores. The rabbit squeals multiplied to mouse squeakers for close up and quiet nights to howlers and pup calls. Even hand calls are now available that make everything from pup distress calls which work well most times to whines, howls, and aggressive barks. But most still carry a rabbit squeal too, to toll in those young animals who are out there looking for an easy meal. These day many also carry a fawn bleat, and use it often in the late season when does begin to drop their fawns. There have been studies made in South Carolina, Alabama, and elsewhere that show coyotes account for 37 to 80 percent of all fawn mortalities. A newborn fawn is easy pickings for a family pack and provides a lot of meat. Coyotes know that well. Another accessory for coyote hunters that's becoming ever more common is a coyote decoy. These are available at places like Cabela's and L.L. Bean, and more are waiting online by Googling up Coyote Decoys and for that matter, Coyote Calls. ven a silhouette will work well most times, and they're cheap, easy to carry, and weather proof. A full sized silhouette or a life sized styrofoam decoy arranged sideways to where a customer might appear will usually draw a dominant male in fast to chase away an intruder, and give a young animal confidence, particularly when added to a rabbit squeal. Whatever your choice of electronic callers and calls, do remember to place them at least 30 to 35 yards from where you're sitting, hopefully lightly camouflaged with grass or small brush. Approaching animals will be homing in on the calls, and likely not notice your camouflaged and well hidden hiding spot. There's new stuff, too. Like prey type attractors that can be a small box with batteries, and a 12- to 20-inch rod above that can hold long, color tails, a ball of fur, or even feathers. The batteries drive the attractor back and forth and look like something in trouble. They can be deadly for coyote. There ae thermal scopes too, that pick up on body heat, though only hunters with heavy wallets can afford one. It add up to lot of choices, both inexpensive and otherwise, but most will improve your score this winter, and thin the numbers of these major predators.