What a bust!

[1Shooter]

So all last week I was getting jacked up about coyote hunting all of the Halloween weekend. I got some land to hunt on just east of Washburn and a buddy of mine and I headed out early that morning. We got to a good looking spot around 8:45 or so. The wind was in our faces, the sun at our backs and we were hunkered down in some grass on the side of a hill. We could see for miles. Pheasant and geese were CONSTANTLY moving around, and there were many shot-guns going off around us. We set the Quiver-Critter up about 100 yards away from us and started calling. We sat for a good 45 min. or so, but didn't hear or see coyotes. There was a corn field close by, and I figure maybe they would be staying in there out of the wind? It wasn't very strong, only 5-10 mph or so. Well, we packed up and went to a different spot in a pasture with some cows. We were both leaning up against large corner-posts, and had the Quiver-Critter set up about 100 yards away like last stand. We were overlooking a small valley. There was a dried up slough about 800 yards ahead of us and to our left, and directly to our right down in a bigger valley was a slough with lots of cat-tails and thick weeds. There were some old abandoned buildings there too. The wind was coming from our left and going to our right. Sun was at our backs again. We sat for about an hour on this stand, but still nothing. I've been told this area is becoming overpopulated with coyotes; that they're hanging out in farmer's barns and getting in fights with their dogs. Did I do something wrong here? The vehicle was fairly well hidden on both stands. Will coyotes come in to a call if there are cows in the same pasture you're calling in?

[Optimax90]

Cows are your friend IMO! I have watched a cow give away the location of coyote more than once Last week when I was calling, I had one weaving between the cows on his way in.

Last year me and Tyrant sat in a feed lot, up against tire feeders and called a pair within a 100 yards from the cows, with the cows giving us up the whole time

Again IMO you dont need to sit on stand neer that long, I'm 20-25 max, unless I got a visuall on one, or know there is one on the way. I would rather have 6 stands that were 20 minutes long than 2 stands that took an hour..... Not saying I'm right, just know what is working for me.

Also get away from the other hunters, the less traffic the better! I try to find stands that are 1/2 mile off the road, with a mile plus on all other sides, to avoid people.... And I know that somtimes that don't work in some areas. But pick better stands if possible. And if you can, do some locating on some areas before hunting. I spent alot of time this summer driving around and figuring out how many are around and where they are thick and its working, I've taken 8 coyotes out of a 6 square mile area, and I know there are plenty more in that area Last weekend after taking one with my shotgun, on the way back to the truck I started howling and there were at least 8 more within hearing distance of me......

Don't give up, Saturday we made four stands with nothing started getting hummbled, next stand called in four. Next stand one, and got another on the way home in the middle of the day. Every stand is one more class in Coyote 101, and I taking every class I can

[lyonch]

Since it seems like you are new to the sport, i would have to say you need to keep it simple. The first and absolute first thing i would have done is get out there the evening before or morning of and do some locating. You can't kill whats not there. Second thing i would do (only because i dont use one) is leave the decoy at home. They might have spotted you as you were trying to set it up. Next is to make sure you didn't sky line yourself walking into the stand. It sounds like you kept the wind in good direction and sun to the back so that part is good. It also seems like you spent too much time on stand for an October hunt. I would sit on stand 20 - 25 minutes tops. Second thing is that you only mentioned that you made two stands. Get out there and shoot for 10 - 15 good quality stands in a day. Coyotes don't come running in on every stand. when someone says they call in a coyote 1 every 10 stands (good coyote hunter average) that doesn't mean that by the time they hit stand #10 that they have called a coyote in. I have had dry spells where i have made over 30 stands before calling in a coyote and the very next day you call 6 coyotes in 8 stands. This is only my 2 cents and take it for what its worth.

[1Shooter]

I have been going to spots where farmers have said they hear them howling. Right now I work 8 hour days and then have an online class to go home and do homework for, so I don't have much time to be driving out of town during the week. I consider my 'locating' as farmers telling me they hear coyotes close by at night. I think I might try leaving the decoy at home next time. Like you said, it may be giving me away when I go to set it up. Why is it that a guy should spend less time on a single stand? Also, how far apart are your different stands (1/4 mi. apart, 500 yrds. apart, 20 mi. apart)? I have a tough time finding the land by Washburn that I've been told I can hunt on, mainly because I don't know exactly the land I can hunt on or roads. Optimax90, do you still think the cows are your friends even if they are standing 20 feet away from you and looking at mooing at you because they're curious of the sounds you're making? Don't worry guys, I'm no where NEAR giving up, I just want to make myself a better hunter and increase my odds of finding some coyotes.

[lyonch]

Second hand information is not as good as first hand. I take a farmers knowledge and insight into consideration, but i never take it for gospel. You need to let the the terrain determine how far apart you make stands. If it is calm out and no cover i would make a stand every mile or so. If it is windy and open i would say every 1/2 mile. if it is thick cover and calm i would say every 1/2 mile. If it is thick cover and windy i would say every 300 yards or every draw you can see. The density of coyotes play a huge role in this as well. The morse dense of the population in the area, the closer you can make your stands and have success. When i see cattle in a pasture i try not to let them get a visual on me. Once a cow sees you and is standing next to you and staring and mooing; i feel it is no different than you watching the cows give away the location of the coyotes, the cows will give your location to them. You also need to be looking for coyote sign as you walk in to your stand. The reason for the short stands is so that you can cover ground and pick off more of the cream/aggressive coyotes. If you are going to walk a pasture from one end to the other i would keep the volume slightly lower than normal and make 15 minutes stands ever 500 yards or so. Get in there and make higher numbers of stands and you will soon see what is a good set up and what is a so-so set up.

[1Shooter]

So the distance between stands should be based mostly upon amount of cover, wind speed and viewing distance. I'm going to try to make it out hunting Thursday night, and I'll do some locating Wednesday evening. Sounds like we should have really great weather all week; and if I get anything I'll post it up ...to be continued

[Optimax90]

Lyonch; Totaly agree with trying to remain hidden from cows. I have had a couple of stands where that was not an issue. Cows will give you away as easy as they could help you get a visuall on a coyote. But for the most part, stay concealed from them. Your better off walking away from a bad stand and coming back another day, than screwing it up and missing a chance.

Saturday we made a stand every 3/4 mile on open land with little wind. on the third stand were got 4 to come in, and they came from a long ways off, at least a mile.

Start a log of all the things that are working and not working, and make a mental note of everything. Like Lyonch said, make multipule stands.

[quote="lyonch"]Coyotes don't come running in on every stand. when someone says they call in a coyote 1 every 10 stands (good coyote hunter average) that doesn't mean that by the time they hit stand #10 that they have called a coyote in. I have had dry spells where i have made over 30 stands before calling in a coyote and the very next day you call 6 coyotes in 8 stands. This is only my 2 cents and take it for what its worth.

I have been doing good then, I guess I'm right at 31% on stands per coyote response. I made 84 stands in the last six weeks and got 17 coyotes dead, and 9 more that I back out of the stand, and will be going back soon But I went through a dry spell last winter of like 20 stands without seeing anything. Thanks to locating and paying attintion to the signs things have been getting better

[Dcoy]

A lot of it is a real estate issue.Location,location,location.In most of Mn I'd say 1 coming in per 25 stands would be great.Around my place,1 in 8 stands is about right.100 miles west,1 in say 6.In parts of NoDak I'm upset if its not 1 in 4.Of course there's a lot to it-set up,wind and myriad issues but there are places damn near anyone can be a hero and places heros become zeros.Truth.

[lyonch]

Well put Dcoy! Just because someone is posting a lot of pictures of dead coyotes doesn't mean they have been like that since day one. First thing is the guys who kill 2-3 plus dogs a day simply dont miss any of there shots. They also have paid attention for several years and let the coyotes tell them what to do and the area dictate where to sit. It will come, but it will take time.