Question for the "pro" Coyote hunters.

[CyaN1de]

So I went out this morning to do some calling in an area that I have seen yotes in previously and always has tracks due to the cows grazing in the area.

I was ultimately unsuccessful with get any dogs in (any that I could see) but I did have 4 or 5 Magpies come in and land in the trees on my downwind side. Wind was super switchy, changing direction up to 180 degrees every few minutes.

I know that Magpies will follow Coyotes for obvious scavenger reasons, picking up the leftovers, etc.

Just wondering if there's a chance that these birds were following a dog that, most likely, would have winded me without my knowing it was even there as my scent would have been going up and over the hillside I was sitting on, or do Magpies show up to distress calls on their own?

Pic below shows basically the whole setup:

 

[Donny Fenn1]

Magpies are a good sign there may be dogs around but they will also come to check out any distress sound in the hope of an easy meal.
Were there dogs? Maybe? The fact you called in the scavengers is a good sign your calling was enticing.

 

[Adrian J Hare]

Not a pro , but don't understand where you expected the yotes to come from. That's the most important before you leave the road. The coyotes location and the wind direction...

 

[Grizzly Adams]

If you're calling magpies, you're doing good. Scavengers in their own right, they'll come when they think there's food to be had. Sure don't follow coyotes around. More like the other way around. squawking magpies draw company. keep calling and watching.

Grizz

 

[Superbrad]

No idea and not a pro.... but crow presence tells me you are doing it right...

 

[CyaN1de]

Not a pro , but don't understand where you expected the yotes to come from. That's the most important before you leave the road. The coyotes location and the wind direction...

There is a valley just up and to the left of the tree thicket. And an old cat trail just above the thicket that comes around to right in front of where I was sitting. Hard to explain without actually seeing it as the Google Earth image doesn't show the terrain as well as I would have liked. From my location to the left edge of the pic is about 200-225yds.

The times I have seen dogs in the area, they have been on the other side of the lake from the road (top right of pic) and heading towards the valley/draw.

It's private land from between the hill I was on and the swampy area up and beyond the lake so this was the closest I could get to where I wanted be and not be trespassing on the land.

New to this Yote hunting so I go to the areas that I have seen them in the past.....seemed like a good start to me.

 

[DVXDUDE]

I get that feeling sometimes too. Only true way to find out is to walk downwind and look for tracks. I have done it before and have seen fresh tracks, Now I change my set up and only call if the wind is prefect, Success rate went up a lot.

 

[Rotaxpower]

In my experience I always have magpies come in first, then coyotes second.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

I'm no expert, but one thing experience has taught me is if you can, set up so that a yote trying to circle has to break cover to wind you.

sometimes setting up with a crosswind instead of directly downwind of where you think they will come from helps.

not sure if that makes sense...

an birds first...same with ravens and bears...used to buy a bag of day old white bread to throw around a new bait sight to bring in the ravens. Bears would be there shortly after coming to the squawking.

 

[dgl1948]

Nothing wrong with your setup. They just do not come every time. Maybe they have a full belly or are out of earshot. Try again on other days and they will come. When you find a good spot keep going back.

 

[Adrian J Hare]

Nothing wrong with your setup. They just do not come every time. Maybe they have a full belly or are out of earshot. Try again on ther days and they will come. When you find a good spot keep going back.

I have to agree, but its also had with no distances between points. Looking at your map I would have an interest on looking for a high point along that drainage ditch to the left, This way it gives the dogs an advantage point to get up high in the open to see what is making the calling and allowing you to see them coming. The drainage ditch also give a dog cover to get in close to a call before making the ponce. Now you have all points covered in front and down wind of you. Trial and error makes for good yote hunter...

 

[retoxtony]

In my experience I always have magpies come in first, then coyotes second.

My experience too. If i get a few magpies to come in, usually the yotes are not far behind.

But i'm pretty far from being a "pro". Just a farmboy who shoots alot of coyotes.

 

[Aniest]

Anybody that says they are "not a pro" means they are honest enough and humble enough to give good advice. All good stuff already said I could only repeat...

(oh, and practice does make you better, BTW)

 

[CyaN1de]

I appreciate all the advice given. With guys like AJH and fratri knocking down yotes on a regular basis, those posts just make the drive to succeed that much greater.

After leaving that stand I drove higher up and there were tracks all up the main road.

 

[leveractionjunkie]

I am not even remotely close to being an expert or even highly skilled Coy dog hunter. I was just wondering how long you sat at that location and what calls you were using? It looks as though you were in the sagebrush somewhere around Kamloops. One thing I've found in the area is sometimes it takes a bit longer as the sound will really carry on the breeze, yet you cant always see dogs coming in. Also I sometimes start with a locator howl in these areas as there can be quite a few coyotes/territories and responses are common and at least give a location and hope of dogs coming. Just my 2c.

 

[CyaN1de]

I am not even remotely close to being an expert or even highly skilled Coy dog hunter. I was just wondering how long you sat at that location and what calls you were using? It looks as though you were in the sagebrush somewhere around Kamloops. One thing I've found in the area is sometimes it takes a bit longer as the sound will really carry on the breeze, yet you cant always see dogs coming in. Also I sometimes start with a locator howl in these areas as there can be quite a few coyotes/territories and responses are common and at least give a location and hope of dogs coming. Just my 2c.

I believe it was about an hour and a half that I spent there. Transition from sagebrush to timbers (base of the mountains basically).

Used a combination of Locater when I got there (no response but I know that does not always mean dogs are not around), rabbit distress and a few pup yelps thrown in.