Coyotes

[SouthMDShooter]

Hey all I decided this season coming up one of my biggest goals would be to try and kill a coyote with my longbow. Last year I killed two very nice bucks (both P&Y) with my recurve and I wont be terriblly disapointed if I dont shoot a buck this season.

On my property in WV we see tons of coyotes running around and ive killed a few with a rifle before but it wasnt really huntin just saw it in the field and shot it. We started shooting them because they killed one of our calves. Now I intend to deer hunt just as much as possible, but I see those hunts turning more into coyote hunts as the day wears on ( I say that now but when I hear the crunching of the leaves underneath a deer I know coyotes will slip into the back of my mind haha). But what Im asking is how do you guys kill coyotes with a longbow or recurve? Any tips? also post a pic and short story of your kill.

Good luck this year the season is just around the corner!
-Curtis

[gregg dudley]

One of my goals also!  They are tough.  Most of the pictures that I see guys post are the result of an incidental encounter rather than a planned hunt.  The pics that I have seen of planned hunts are the result of calling, which I am reluctant to do whule deer hunting.

[Jerry Jeffer]

The coyotes I have take were ones that happen along while I'm sitting in the ground blind hunting deer. I do a bunch of coyote hunting were I use calls and have had a lot of luck bringing them in to about 50-80 yards. The tough part is getting them to commit, and if they do, getting a draw on them.

[MikeW]

I use to be a fanatic about yote hunting mostly with a gun but I have taken a few with a bow on purpose.

If you are serious and want to be successful at it get a remote electronic caller like the Fox Pro and you will need a decoy of some kind. Feathers tied to a bush work OK but they also make electronic decoys too. The one I had I made. Just get some kind of old fur tail or rabbit skin and attach it to a battery operated motor on a piece of wire or you can just buy one.

9 out of 10 times the yote will always get down wind of the sound, be prepared for that.

Good luck
   

[Swamp Pygmy]

I called one out with a doe can about a month ago. He came running up to about 40 yds. Then he stopped and ran back about ten. looked at me and went in the woods.

It's the only coyote I've seen up close.

[woodslinger]

Either use a remote caller with decoy or hunt with a partner who does the calling. Set up downwind and don't be afraid to use a treestand. Calling in the east is tough but can be done.
Another way to do it if leagal is to hunt over bait.

If you think deer or turkeys can spot movement wait until you try to draw on a coyote!

I have shot at a few and have yet to get one.

[Bonebuster]

If you want to call in and kill a coyote, you MUST extend your effective range to thirty plus.

When he/they come to your call, they EXPECT to see something causing the commotion. When they get within thirty or forty yards, and they stop, they rarely come closer UNLESS they see something of interest. Even if there is some sort of decoy
to try and keep their interest, they rarely come closer once they stop at thirty or forty yards. They just figure out something is wrong.

I will venture to say that MOST coyotes circle and get your scent before you have any clue they are there.

I am assuming your are going to be calling in woods/heavy cover. Many videos show coyotes coming from great distances across wide open country, but I can tell you, that the eastern coyote we have in Michigan, and probably the same eastern yotes you have in Maryland and West Virginia will NOT do that very often. In addition, they rarely respond to a call without trying to get the wind in their face.

 Its difficult at best to get a coyote to come within range of an arrow.

Once he is there you must get your shot off quickly. He ain`t hanging around long.

I have found that if you call from a tree, they somehow KNOW the sound is above ground level, and don`t be surprised to see them looking up as they approach. Personally, I no longer call from a tree.

I have killed several coyotes with an arrow, but they were all accidental.

I have called dozens to bow range, and only connected once, and I ended up tracking it in deep snow and finishing it with the 22 mag.

Believe it or not, I have found that coyotes are able to hear the sound of the incoming arrow/feather noise and dodge the incoming shaft.
If you think a deer can react quickly, wait till you see a coyote jump out of the way and follow the path of your arrow with his eyes. This has been my experience several times.

I am a bowhunter through and through. But when I chase yotes, I use a firearm.

Don`t let my words detour you from using your longbow. You want a challenge...you got it!

[Osagetree]

I found a diaphram turkey call works great at calling in the sun dogs. If you can make a kee kee run with your mouth call, you can do this too. Make your call sound like high pitched yelps from an injured pup or dog. Do this calling about every 5 minutes for 30 or 45 seconds in 15 minute intervals. Keep your eyes peeled in all directions as I found when they come in to this type of call they are not too concerned with the wind direction.
I took this one this spring while turkey hunting. It was spotted 600 yrds across an open feild. Once it heard my call it came at a dead run with the direction the wind was blowing.
 
A slow boiling of the head and a short soak in peroxide cleans the skull up nicley. Super glue the jaw and teeth back in and you got a nice peice to remember your hunt by. Also if you get some commercial tanning formula you can tan out the hide as well.
 

Good luck and post pics of your Trad kills!

[Gehrke145]

When I lived in WI i'd call before leaving the stand then sit an extra 30 min.  Shot a few the last year I lived there.

[zilla]

If you wanna be successful get a recorded call and a decoy.  Those motion decoys drive em nuts.  Many times if you shoot and miss and they can see the decoy moving they will come right back.


Some people around here are also using small dogs to lure the yote in.  Like small poodles, etc.  The coyotes go nuts as it's a teritorial thng.

Mojo Critter..

   

[ABrown_PVAZ]

I took my first yote last year (with a shotgun) at about 20 yards using a decoy and mouth call. The key is to have its eyes diverted from your position so you can draw your bow. Another idea I will be trying in the near future is to set up in a natural funnel that controls the direction they come in. On the downside, nothing is guaranteed in coyote hunting. I've been calling them regularly for over 2 years now and only have one to show for it. On the upside, it's probably the biggest rush you'll ever experience! Good luck!

[blueline]

I use hand and mouth calls, the electronic work great but so do wheel bows, I use natural cover movement will bust you every time. My closest was 3 steps, there is nothing like it. they rarly come in from the direction you expect even if you are playing the wind.

lots of fun

[possumtrot]

I am on the list for shooting a coyote with a bow as well. I shoot several coyotes a year as I love to call. Have learned several methods as the years have passed and agree with those that have mentioned the electronic callers to get the dogs attention away from you and on to something else. One thing that might be of help is that when a coyote is challenged by a another coyote call, they are not as apt to circle downwind as when using a rabbit in distress or something comparable. If you don't know what this is, get a Randy Anderson DVD and watch/listen to what he does. I would set up the best I could so the coyote will be looking into the sun and have the wind in my favor. But when it comes down to the shot, the movement will be the deciding factor. This would be where the decoy would be a plus.  I think it would be more probable earlier in the year as there are  some "uneducated" young coyotes around. The more the year progresses and the more that they hear every kind of call, the more call shy they become. I  am planning on calling from my DB blind as well. Some coyotes have come in on a water hole while I was deer hunting and never noticed the blind but at the same time I have had some turn inside out when they noticed it. But I am going to have a try at it. Might have to brush up the blind a little. Look forward to seeing some pics from some of you...

[Seeking Trad Deer]

Jerry...where are you doing  your coyote hunting at?  Pike County?  SGL's?  I'd like to bring up my calling gear and bring one of those yotes into your bow range.    

[Seeking Trad Deer]

You could always start with fox...they are easier    .

However...if you killed two P&Y bucks last year you are ready for the yotes I'd say.      

 

[Jerry Jeffer]

Mike, I go to state land along the river on 209 and also along 402. Mostly Pike county.

[52 bow]

Last season was the first in 20 years I didn't take a coyote with my bow.They usually walk by close enough or I suck on my index finger or back of my hand to bring them closer.Took doubles twice doing that.I buddy shot a grey fox and while it squalled took 4 coyotes that attacked it!More came in but he ran out of arrows!!Talk about keeping your cool!!I'm in great coy. country and have seen over a dozen in one sitting.