Calling Sequences

[204sniper]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked before (if it has it should be a good refresher). What does everybody do for calling sequences? When you get to a set, what call or calls do you start with? How long do you run that sound before you switch to a different call? This question applies to both mouth calls and electronic calls. Basically I'm trying to trouble-shoot my sets. If the car don't run, might as well start checking the engine.

[Prairie Ghost]

I use mostly mouth calls but do have a foxpro with some sounds that i use. I blow for 20-30 seconds with a general distress call and wait 3-5 minutes plain and simple no trickery no "secret sounds" ( this time of year) when it comes to howling there is a little more thought process that goes into it but that is for the late winter, spring and summer.

[EO caller]

Depends on the terrain for me, that and wether or not I know there is a coyote there for sure. If I can see for a long ways I will let fly with a howl, wait 3 or 4 minutes then start on the distress. I usually sit for 20 to 30 minutes calling every 4 to 5 minutes but then wait longer and call quieter towards the end of the set. If I'm in a spot were I can't see to far, like the head of a draw I'll start with very quiet and short distress calls until I'm sure that I'm not blowing out a close one. If I see a coyote that I think I can call in I always try to get in front of him. In other words call to where he is heading,not where he's already been. I pretty much use distress in this situation unless I think he's wise to it. I do more howling than alot of guys but I have howled in lots of dogs. Its up to you and how comfortable you are with it. Hope this helps.

[204sniper]

Thanks for the advice. I'm beginning to think that I've been calling too aggressively. I'll try toning it down a little and see what happens.

[bucksnbears]

204, i'm also from minn. and not sure why?? but when i call here, my percentage ratio really sucks!!! big time. i've had way better luck out west. at first i thought that it was just that there were more coyotes out west so of course more would be seen,but i'm starting to thing different now. i've been calling around here and the coyootes that do come in come very cautious, few hard chargers. out west they just seem way more aggresive coming to the call. i have not called in piles of coyotes anywhere but i sure like going out west way better.

[The Outdoorsman]

First off, BNB, love your signature. You can learn alot from being a Mitch. As for my calling here in Indiana, I try to keep it toned down as I hunt more wooded areas and fear that I will blow one out that might be close. Thats why I opt for a fawn distress call alot to start with, especially now that's colder. I will hit the FD call in short bawls every 15-20 secs for about 1-2 minutes. I'll wait a few minutes and let out one or two more bawls and sit tight for 15-20 minutes. If Im able to work an open area where I can see more, I will start with a distress call but not overly aggressive. When I started calling that all I did was be aggressive because I didnt know any better. I will hit the distress call for about 20 seconds and sit for about 8-10 minutes and repeat this for about 30 minutes, and if nothing, I move on.

[bucksnbears]

Outdoorsman, whats your sucsess ratio where you hunt.

[The Outdoorsman]

Its nothing compared to Mitch’s!!! lol I would say my ratio is close to 25% for each outting for calling something in. Im still fairly new to the game, but everytime out Im learning more and more. Especially with the fact that I hunt more woods than open fields. Is there something else I could be doing with my sequences to help increase my success ratio??

[bucksnbears]

keep doing what your doing i'd say mine is 1 in 10-15

[204sniper]

I've been learning of more and more people running them dogs around here. I wonder if that has been having a negative affect on success ratios for callers.

[lyonch]

204sniper i am in the exact same boat as you are I deal with the exact same thing from willmar to staples. It doesn't seem to matter where i go, there is someone in the area who runs coyotes with dogs. Here is what i see when i call coyotes that have been run by dogs. The coyotes always seem to be in really tight cover like large cattail sloughs or decent size thick woods. I will call an area and after 30-45 minutes of calling and no response, i will get up and walk along the woods and cattails to see what exactly i am calling too and looking for any fresh sign. On several occasions i have noticed a fresh pair of tracks that come to within about 20 yards of the wood edge or cattail slough but never come out. There is something with a dog that just freaks a coyote out. I dont know what the deal is but it seems to never be good. Pheasent hunters, duck hunters, and of course houdsmen. My numbers are extremly low in minnesota due to i dont hunt as much here as i use to and the amount of pressure these coyotes see. Last year i took a fellow employee out a couple of times in minnesota and he brought his puppy with the second time and brought it with on stand. I told him that this stand is his show and he can do everything (it was late february). the pup didn't like the cotton tail distress sound he was making so it kept barking and pulling on his hat and jacket and about 2 minutes in the stand here comes a pair of coyotes on a dead run coming out of the cattails only to meet there mark at 50 yards and 125 yards. I strongly feel it was the puppy barking and not the rabbit distress. The only people i am aware that have success in minnesota in any decent numbers are guy who hunt at night under a full moon.

[204sniper]

The only people i am aware that have success in minnesota in any decent numbers are guy who hunt at night under a full moon.

That's gonna be my plan at the end of the month. Hopefully I get some clear nights.