New at coyote hunting

kregg · 02-26-2008, 09:14 AM

Hi all!

I am from Southeastern Illinois and I am new at coyote hunting. I purchased a H&R single shot 223 for my first varmit gun. It has a BSA Sweet 223 6X18x40 scope on it. Any input from you all would be appreciated.

samuel · 02-26-2008, 09:19 AM

A friend of mine lives in central Ill. and has virtually the same setup with an electronic call and does okay.I seldom use electronic,just hand calls.I would sugest 40gr vmax loaded from Hornady or hand loads. sam.

kregg · 02-26-2008, 09:22 AM

Thanks

nathangdad · 02-26-2008, 09:26 AM

Congratulations on what I feel would be a good gun for the purpose.
I grew up the West Texas desert oil fields where we heard coyotes
singing most nights.

A coyote is not a dog in the sense most people have experienced dogs. They are highly intelligent and phenominally sensitive to sounds and
smells in their environment. Yes, you can successfully hunt coyotes
but it is not a walk in the woods (so to speak). Before you begin
I would really advise connecting with someone hunting successfully
in your area.

Good luck and good hunting.

damage855 · 02-26-2008, 09:26 PM

Hi kregg that sounds like a good setup to get you started but beware. hunting kiot's is adictive. I started just to do something when deer season was out now I hunt them more than any thing else.

7mmremmag1995 · 02-26-2008, 10:13 PM

a friend of mine has the same rifle but a cheaper scope. it shoots the lights out

rckymtnboy · 03-05-2008, 01:57 PM

I have to agree with damage, it is very addicting. I too started off just plinking them for fun in the off-season and now I find myself going harder after them than anything else. I would recommend not using a single-shot, cause there will be more times than not that you need either a follow-up shot, or you've called in doubles. Might want to add a shotgun to your coyote arsenal for the close up shots as well. The .223 is a great choice. I started off with that, but have moved to the .204 in a Remington 700 SPS VT. It's just a matter of personal preference and the area you hunt in. Good luck!

kregg · 03-05-2008, 06:04 PM

I agree with ya rckymtnboy, but right now between my bowhunting and fishing habits my wife may not agree on me buying another rifle, but I do want one!

scootin boogy · 03-22-2008, 03:10 PM

hey guys i live in nebraska and i want to start gowing coyote hunting and i was wondering what the best time of the day is to go thanks p.s 8==D

hey i was just wondering if any of you guys have a 17 hmr and what scope you you on it. i have a bsa sweet 17 on mine and it is prety accurite.

sell33 · 03-24-2008, 02:09 PM

^^^^Just like anything else about dawn n dusk.

muleyman · 04-09-2008, 11:18 PM

I just started coyote hunting a couple of years ago, and I will agree with everyone else that it is addicting as hell. I will also agree with nathan that you should hook up with someone in your area that has hunted a lot of dogs and learn as much as you can. Believe me too, there is a lot to learn. The other important thing is to not get frustrated too fast. It is hard, and you will learn as you go. Two years ago I only got 5 dogs. This last year I was able to shoot 25, and I hunted considerably less. Setup is very, very important. Try to find a place where you can see them coming from a ways away. Get the wind in your face, and the sun at your back, but don't silhouette yourself. Finally, always watch your back. Coyotes are smart and will try to circle and come in downwind of you if they can. That's my 2 cents.

soonerborn · 04-10-2008, 07:33 AM

Yep, best bet is to hook up with some nearby coyote hunters. Try to find some actual coyote hunters too, and not a truckload of bubba's.

Scent is very important. Always use the wind.

Setup is very important. Do not setup on top of a hill, instead drop down about 1/3 of the way and try to get some trees or brush behind you and a little bit in front helps too.

Dont go crazy on the calls but you need to go get a few good ones. A squeeker (which you can probably find something laying around your house to use, like a small toy) a howler, and a wounded game squaler are 3 good ones to start with. Start out medium volume then after a few tries, pick up the volume and work it back down low.

Sneek into your position as quietly as possible.

Keep your eyes peeled. They will often try to circle you at the edge of a tree line to get a smell of what is making the noise before they will approach. So you have to see them first and bust em before they get behind you.

The biggest things that helped me out was getting into position quietly and just keeping my eyes peeled better. They can be hard to spot sometimes but they will see you when you raise that call to your mouth.

GlennM · 04-10-2008, 02:15 PM

Unless Illinois changed their hunting laws since I last read their regulations (2 or 3 yrs back), electronic calls were not legal. Might want to double-check the most recent regulations before walking into that field with an ecall on your belt...

02-26-2008, 09:14 AM	#1
kregg Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 53	New at coyote hunting Hi all! I am from Southeastern Illinois and I am new at coyote hunting. I purchased a H&R single shot 223 for my first varmit gun. It has a BSA Sweet 223 6X18x40 scope on it. Any input from you all would be appreciated.

02-26-2008, 09:19 AM	#2
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,081	A friend of mine lives in central Ill. and has virtually the same setup with an electronic call and does okay.I seldom use electronic,just hand calls.I would sugest 40gr vmax loaded from Hornady or hand loads. sam. Last edited by samuel; 02-26-2008 at 09:22 AM.

02-26-2008, 09:26 AM	#4
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,235	Sounds like a good gun for the purpose Congratulations on what I feel would be a good gun for the purpose. I grew up the West Texas desert oil fields where we heard coyotes singing most nights. A coyote is not a dog in the sense most people have experienced dogs. They are highly intelligent and phenominally sensitive to sounds and smells in their environment. Yes, you can successfully hunt coyotes but it is not a walk in the woods (so to speak). Before you begin I would really advise connecting with someone hunting successfully in your area. Good luck and good hunting.

02-26-2008, 09:26 PM	#5
damage855 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 951 Blog Entries: 1	Hi kregg that sounds like a good setup to get you started but beware. hunting kiot's is adictive. I started just to do something when deer season was out now I hunt them more than any thing else. __________________ If total goverment control will make us all safer, then why are prisons so dangerous?

02-26-2008, 10:13 PM	#6
7mmremmag1995 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,272 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 1	a friend of mine has the same rifle but a cheaper scope. it shoots the lights out __________________ Just LeDoux it

02-26-2008, 09:22 AM	#3
kregg Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 53	Thanks

03-05-2008, 01:57 PM	#7
rckymtnboy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: I am a dual resident. Posts: 340 Images: 20	I have to agree with damage, it is very addicting. I too started off just plinking them for fun in the off-season and now I find myself going harder after them than anything else. I would recommend not using a single-shot, cause there will be more times than not that you need either a follow-up shot, or you've called in doubles. Might want to add a shotgun to your coyote arsenal for the close up shots as well. The .223 is a great choice. I started off with that, but have moved to the .204 in a Remington 700 SPS VT. It's just a matter of personal preference and the area you hunt in. Good luck! __________________ When they come for my guns, I'll give 'em the bullets first!

03-05-2008, 06:04 PM	#8
kregg Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 53	I agree with ya rckymtnboy, but right now between my bowhunting and fishing habits my wife may not agree on me buying another rifle, but I do want one!

03-22-2008, 03:10 PM	#9
scootin boogy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	hey guys i live in nebraska and i want to start gowing coyote hunting and i was wondering what the best time of the day is to go thanks p.s 8==D hey i was just wondering if any of you guys have a 17 hmr and what scope you you on it. i have a bsa sweet 17 on mine and it is prety accurite. Last edited by scootin boogy; 03-22-2008 at 03:13 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

03-24-2008, 02:09 PM	#10
sell33 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,558	^^^^Just like anything else about dawn n dusk.

04-09-2008, 11:18 PM	#11
muleyman Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18	I just started coyote hunting a couple of years ago, and I will agree with everyone else that it is addicting as hell. I will also agree with nathan that you should hook up with someone in your area that has hunted a lot of dogs and learn as much as you can. Believe me too, there is a lot to learn. The other important thing is to not get frustrated too fast. It is hard, and you will learn as you go. Two years ago I only got 5 dogs. This last year I was able to shoot 25, and I hunted considerably less. Setup is very, very important. Try to find a place where you can see them coming from a ways away. Get the wind in your face, and the sun at your back, but don't silhouette yourself. Finally, always watch your back. Coyotes are smart and will try to circle and come in downwind of you if they can. That's my 2 cents.

04-10-2008, 07:33 AM	#12
soonerborn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 348	Yep, best bet is to hook up with some nearby coyote hunters. Try to find some actual coyote hunters too, and not a truckload of bubba's. Scent is very important. Always use the wind. Setup is very important. Do not setup on top of a hill, instead drop down about 1/3 of the way and try to get some trees or brush behind you and a little bit in front helps too. Dont go crazy on the calls but you need to go get a few good ones. A squeeker (which you can probably find something laying around your house to use, like a small toy) a howler, and a wounded game squaler are 3 good ones to start with. Start out medium volume then after a few tries, pick up the volume and work it back down low. Sneek into your position as quietly as possible. Keep your eyes peeled. They will often try to circle you at the edge of a tree line to get a smell of what is making the noise before they will approach. So you have to see them first and bust em before they get behind you. The biggest things that helped me out was getting into position quietly and just keeping my eyes peeled better. They can be hard to spot sometimes but they will see you when you raise that call to your mouth. Last edited by soonerborn; 04-10-2008 at 07:35 AM.

04-10-2008, 02:15 PM	#13
GlennM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 177 Blog Entries: 1	Unless Illinois changed their hunting laws since I last read their regulations (2 or 3 yrs back), electronic calls were not legal. Might want to double-check the most recent regulations before walking into that field with an ecall on your belt...