Hunting & Fishing Relocating between coyote call sets

[TheGerman]

Was curious for calling coyotes at night, what the minimum distance to relocate to your next call area would be?

I travel by foot, so that would need to be a consideration.

Only thing I haven't been 100% sure on.

Thanks

 

[PSYOPS]

Depends on the terrain, but I would ideally travel far enough to separate yourself from the last stand.

So that may be a 1/4 mile or maybe more like a 1/2 mile or more.

Kinda of a vague answer, but since you travel by foot at night, you may not need to go as far.

What state do you hunt in?

 

[TheGerman]

Utah

I figured about 1/2 a mile but didn't want to waste my time. I tend to stay in a stand longer (30ish mins) and the latter part of it decide how/where my next route is for the next stand. Just didn't want to overlap and keep extending a 'ruined' area.

 

[Doogie]

I would say it in part depends on the terrain. Example, some friends and I set up over one valley area (west Wyoming) called for ~30 mins and got nothing. Turned 180 walked maybe 1/2 mile in the morning time and called into a more flat area. Within 10 minutes we had a younger dog come in and skirt around our spot until…Bam

 

[Bunnypunter]

Good hell, find a picture of yourself next time. That dude has a big ole shit eatin grin on his face. Oh wait, thats me cause you guys wouldnt hit it. Click, damn.. Anyway...

Back on topic, TG, its anyones guess here in Utah. Dogs are so unpredictable with all the pressure they get, especially with the gov bounty. Start downwind and work upwind in to your hunting grounds going maybe 1/4-1/2 mile per stand depending on concealment options in the terrain. Good luck and happy hunting.

I would say it in part depends on the terrain. Example, some friends and I set up over one valley area (west Wyoming) called for ~30 mins and got nothing. Turned 180 walked maybe 1/2 mile in the morning time and called into a more flat area. Within 10 minutes we had a younger dog come in and skirt around our spot until…Bam
View attachment 18895

 

[coldboremiracle]

M, depending on the terrain, and weather, I'd agree with whats been said. A 1/4 mile to a 1/2 mile will probably do. If its windy, wooded, and mountainy terrain, then a shorter distance is probably enough. But the wider open spaces, when its quiet, you may need to go further.

 

[Southbreeze]

Are you hunting hand calls or got a booming ass Wildlife Tech or Fox Pro? When I'm hunting loud, a mile or more.

Cheers,
Breeze

 

[knockemdown]

Depends on your calling technique.
If you want to 'tiptoe' thru an area using soft distress sounds, you might could get away with 1/2 mile between stands. If you are using vocals, I'd stretch it to at least a mile. And sit quietly the end of a stand for 5-10 minutes after using vocals, you'd be surprised at what you might have 'bumped' moving to the next stand too early...

 

[TheGerman]

Are you hunting hand calls or got a booming ass Wildlife Tech or Fox Pro? When I'm hunting loud, a mile or more.

Cheers,
Breeze

Hand calls for right now. Started with the low tech, and wanted to learn how to do it rather than rely on something else (no offense to anyone).

 

[TheGerman]

Depends on your calling technique.
If you want to 'tiptoe' thru an area using soft distress sounds, you might could get away with 1/2 mile between stands. If you are using vocals, I'd stretch it to at least a mile. And sit quietly the end of a stand for 5-10 minutes after using vocals, you'd be surprised at what you might have 'bumped' moving to the next stand too early...

What do you mean by soft distress? I thought the distress (what I am using right now) is to be kind of frantic and loud? Or do you mean in comparison to electronic calls?

I'm far from a pro at the calling part, thats the thing I need to master. Everything else for me is easy, the calling for me is the learning curve.

Right now I get into a set, get my cottontail or jackrabbit distress hand call out and call for 1 minute, wait 30 seconds, call again for 1 minute, wait 1 minute and then do one last minute and then wait for 10-15 minutes. How does that sound as far as call and waiting? When I am sitting there after calling I get an urge that says keep calling, but everything I've read says call and then wait 10 minutes. Is this correct or did I miss something?

ETA - I have also sharpened my E&E skills for people trying to find me at night. lol Jeff

 

[Southbreeze]

When you first get in place, give a couple minutes of soak time and try a couple real quiet lip squeaks. many times, too much volume, too early can push them out instead of bring them in. You can catch them napping when you slip in...

Sorry 'bout the time delay....in Korea at the moment.

Cheers,
Breeze

 

[TheGerman]

When you first get in place, give a couple minutes of soak time and try a couple real quiet lip squeaks. many times, too much volume, too early can push them out instead of bring them in. You can catch them napping when you slip in...

Quiet on the mouth call, or can my squeaky toy work for this?

I guess my main question is, how often/for how long should I be using the mouth call once in place and after waiting a while?

Let's say I get there, wait 5 minutes, call softly at first, then....how often do I call and for how long, and then wait quietly for X minutes?

 

[knockemdown]

There's no cut & dried answer that will always work, that's why the allure & challenge of predator hunting never gets old!
But I don't think it's ever a bad idea to start off a stand with some soft rodent squeeks, in case you have slipped in on one, or one has travelled to within earshot while you've sat & waited for the area to settle down. When it's time to blow on a hand call, I let 'er rip, too. Make it sound like you're gettin' your guts ripped out!
How far that sound carrys depends on what kind of call you are blowing, too. Coyotes have EXCELLENT hearing, and can pinpoint a sound from a long distance away. So, when you're hand calling, keep the series short and full of blood curdle! But don't blow yourself out trying to reproduce a redundant loop from an e-call. 10-15 seconds is plenty long enough. Most important when blowing a hand call...consider the animal you are trying to sound like & pretend you have the same lung capacity as they do!

Years ago, I hit a fleeing cottontail with some #6s. Rolled it up, but was not immediately fatal. Well, that bunny gave me a wonderful lesson in what to sound like with a hand call! A bunny only has so much air to scream with, so regulate your screams to short, realistic bursts of sound. Then, wait & watch...
If a coyote likes what he heard, he'll be coming along to check.
E-callers allow a nice luxury. They can play sounds over & over, at any volume, and most importantly, they get that sound AWAY from your location. Remember that when you are hand calling, that coyote knows where that sound came from, and will be focused directly on YOU! So, call less, watch more and DON'T MOVE!
If you've got a lot of country to burn up, give it a mile between stands. If not, muffle the volume from your hand call and make 'em closer...
Good luck & have fun...

 

[coldboremiracle]

I agree with knockemdown, you'll find different techniques will work at different times. I have been surprised in the past, the few coyotes I've called in was when I was calling way to hard, and too long, at least it seemed so to me. But in they came. I usually call for 2-5 minutes, then wait for 5-10.

 

[knockemdown]

I hear ya, CBM
Lots of guys who use e-callers just turn on the bunny blues, let 'em play constantly, and kill plenty of coyotes.
But, if you're hand calling, you'd prolly be better served with shorter series. Not because less calling is better, but for some of the reasons stated above. To reiterate:
Hand calling requires movement. The less movement on stand, the better.
Hand calling focuses the coyote's attention direclty TO your position. A coyote will burn the source of that sound down with its eyes, ASAP. Smart coyotes will only approach to where they've gained a vantage point of the sound source, and will come no further without visual confirmation. If they do, it will be the dreaded downwind circle to get confirmation with their nose! If you are not set up for that, you are busted...
Calling less will make them come "hunting" for the source, don't give it to them on a silver platter with continued sound from the same location. (when using an e-caller, you set up differently to capitalize on that focus )
Hand calling takes time away from you looking for that approaching coyote. Whomever sees who first, wins!
Hand calling is fatiguing. The less you call over the course of a day's hunt, the better you'll hold up. Sounds silly, but blow a hand call for an hour straight & see how ya feel afterward
Hand calling is a skill. The less you call, the less chance you'll fork up and make a goofy sound you didn't want to.

With hand calls, sound convincing the first time, and let 'em hunt for the source. Ideally, set up to where you figure the aforementioned vantage point might be. They'll stop to search for you from there, so try to have it within rifle range. Easier said than done, but when they read the script right, you can smoke 'em when they get there.
That is the real art of predator calling, knowing just how to set up to where the coyote reads YOUR script, as you laid it out for them. Make it easy for them to want to approach, and kill em first chance ya get...

Nothing more fun than that!!!