I am not a big fan of coyotes. I am a believer in coyote hunting. Regardless of the fact that the coyote-deer situation is natural predation, Aroostook’s harsh winters favor the predator, and in the end notably affects our already depleted deer herd areas. Anyone who has seen a pack of coy dogs relentlessly pursue a deer and down it, then begin feeding before the whitetail is dead will share my support of varmint hunting.
Another view in support of coyote and fox season is that these wary, wily predators are a true challenge for regional hunters. During the cold weather months when only two seasons are open to keep shooting and stalking skills keen, it’s either fox and coyotes or rabbits. Snowshoe hare are easy to find and simple to hunt, but four-legged predators can offer County sportsmen a true test of calling skills, woodsmanship and marksmanship.
There are three basic methods of gunning for coyotes, some simpler than others and some far more productive than the others. The easiest, and most comfortable style of varmint hunting is to drive and spot. Although spotting a coyote while cruising woods roads is possible, the coy dogs are usually at close range and flee for cover immediately allowing little chance for a shot. Some devout coyote gunners own hounds and use theses tenacious trackers to run down coyotes. Hunters then follow radio signals from the collared hounds to locate the cornered predator.
Driving through open farm country and scanning roadside fields is a better way to sight coyotes. Using a good set of binoculars to search distant wood lines will further improve the odds. Then it’s just a matter of getting a shot before spooking the animal. Long range, flat shooting rifles with crisp, high power optics are essential to anchoring a coy dog across a large open field.
Setting up a bait site to attract meat hungry coyotes is perhaps the most dependable option for getting a clear shot at these shrewd predators. The colder the weather and the deeper the snow, the more likely one or more coyotes will take advantage of easy food. Some hunters use beaver, fish, and muskrat carcasses left from trapping season, butcher shop remnants work as well, but if a moose or deer carcass from an accident can be obtained, it’s the best bait.
Baits must be anchored so the coyote can’t drag it to cover and feed. Bait locations should be a good distance from roads and snowmobile trails. Excessive noise or activity nearby will reduce a bait’s effectiveness. A safe shooting backdrop behind the bait and some cover for the shooter are also requisites. Shots of 200 to 500 yards are the norm for hunting over bait.
Sportsmen with a house situated among farm fields or who own a large piece of property can set up a bait site that can be watched from home. The beauty of this opportunity is that on moonlit nights the bait can be checked from indoors every half hour and if and when a coyote shows up it only takes a minute to ready for a shot. It’s amazing how many varmints are bagged this way during a long winter. Some riflemen have downed multiple dogs in one evening.
While a faithful old deer rifle may work for 100- to 200-yard shots over bait, long distance shots require small caliber, very flat shooting calibers and at least 20X scopes. Consider a .220 Swift, .22-250, .223, or a .204 Ruger to take full advantage of accuracy at extended range varmint shooting over bait sites.
The third method of predator hunting gets the gunner up close and personal to the game and eliminates the need for long, long shots. Shooters can use a favorite deer rifle, a shotgun, handgun or even a bow. Best of all, the outdoorsman gets to play a much more active role in the hunt. Rather than riding around or sitting and watching a bait, using a predator call and a remote motion decoy allows the sport to bring the animals to him. Another plus to calling coyote is the opportunity to move from spot to spot if no game appears.
Hunters select a likely location, set themselves in some cover such as a tree line, hedgerow or against a rock pile and begin calling. White coveralls help shooters to blend into the snowy background. Handheld mouth calls work, but mechanical battery-operated calls with speakers are louder and leave hands free to shoot. Injured rabbit, fawn or bird calls, or mouse calls are popular and there are very realistic furry decoys to add realism. Any sort of decoy also helps draw attention away from the hunter.
If one spot doesn’t produce any action in 45 minutes, it’s time to pick up, snowshoe back to the vehicle and try another spot. Sportsmen traveling by snowmobile need to leave sleds a good distance from calling locations and walk the last few hundred yards. Some coyotes will come sneaking around to check out the possibility of an easy meal while others will come running at the decoy. Sharp eyes, quick reflexes and true aim are keys to success.
Night hunting is an option from January to June, from one and a half hour after sunset until one and a half hour before sunrise, but with no hunting permitted from midnight Saturday until 12:01 a.m. Monday. An electric, hand-held or mouth-operated calling device must be in possession after dark. A special permit is needed, but night hunting coyote using moonlight of infrared spot lights can be very productive and worth the effort, so check the current law book for exact regulations.
Coyote hunting is a great challenge for sportsmen who need some shooting opportunities to survive the long winter. Coyotes will never be eliminated by gunning pressure, but every deer saved is an asset that just adds to the sport and satisfaction of predator hunting.
