As a predator hunting enthusiast I am often asked the question, “How do I harvest more coyotes?”
If I had the perfect answer to that question, I would quit my day job and hunt for a living.
Over the past several years I have been fortunate enough to be able to call in and harvest several coyotes on a regular basis. If there was one tip that I could give a predator hunter that would guarantee them more success, it would be to hunt where there are more coyotes.
At first you may laugh, because of how simple it sounds, but when you put some thought into it, it can improve your odds tremendously.
Here are a few tips that I have learned over the years to explain just what I’m talking about.
Find several properties
After hunting some of the land that I had access to multiple times, I began noticing my success rate was decreasing. Was it because there were no more coyotes? Because that, too, can happen, when you harvest all of the coyotes that you have.
However, it is very unlikely. If you do some research on coyotes themselves you will learn that they do not like pressure. If you go into the same piece of property over and over a coyote is likely to get spooked out of the area due to human scent, calling pressure, etc.
As a rule of thumb, if you call in a coyote then miss the shot, chances are they will not respond to a call for a long time. This, combined with the human scent left behind, gets coyotes weary and can cause them to move to a different piece of property.
This is why I have learned it is essential to hunt different properties; the more you can obtain the better your success rate.
Having multiple properties gives you the ability to hunt one time, give it a break for a month or more, then hunt it again. By doing this coyotes don’t feel pressure, which in turn means more coyotes will stay in the area.
Another advantage I have found with having multiple properties is that coyotes are so territorial and adaptable that when you make a harvest, it is said that another coyote will move in within a few days.
This is another reason it is good to have multiple properties, you can give that particular land time to rest so incoming coyotes can move in.
How to get more properties
Living in southern Missouri I am blessed with a lot of cattle farmers as neighbors. Almost every farmer you talk to isn’t a fan of coyotes and will jump at the opportunity to have someone manage their coyote population, all you have to do is ask.
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Over the last couple of years, I have went about asking for permission to hunt as if I was passing out business cards,
because honestly, that is what you are doing. You are providing a service, and that service just happens to be harvesting coyotes.
I began early summer asking every farmer around if they have anyplace to hunt coyotes. Most of the time they either say YES! or they lead to someone who will.
I start by going to the local feed stores. What better place for farmers/livestock owners to gather than where they buy their everyday farming supplies?
I have learned when you start harvesting coyotes on farmers properties, they pass the word along. Over the past year, I have had farmers call or come by my place of work asking if I would be interested in harvesting coyotes off of their land due to harassment of their livestock.
It is amazing at how you seem to get a popular name around town once you begin harvesting coyotes for the local farmers.
Another good way to obtain more land is by talking to UPS and mail route drivers and see where they have seen coyotes, then scout those places out for permission.
Be respectful
Once you have obtained permission from landowners, it is our responsibility to be respectful to the land we are hunting. This means helping the farmers out when they need it.
Such as summertime during hay season, offer to help with hauling. Offer to feed livestock during the winter months, or bust ice in the frozen ponds. Show the landowners that you appreciate them.
Another way to respect the land is by always making sure you close gates behind you, and don’t leave trash lying around. I’ve always heard the saying “leave the land better than the way you found it.”
By respecting the land and the lan owners you will get an invitation to continue hunting year after year.
Get out and search for land, start knocking on doors and making phone calls. I promise your success rate will increase.
By Heath Wood
(Heath Wood can be reached at struttin1@hotmail.com.)