Coyote Bowhunting Tactics

[mrpenguin]

Hey everyone!  I have been asked to help out a friend who lives on a sheep farm.  They are having coyote issues.  I need advice on how to best kill these troublesome dogs.  What calls work best? Should I use a treestand (I think I should...)?  And any other advice you could offer would be great!  I really want to help these guys out.

[Gehrke145]

I like bird sounds myself.  Grey fox pup is great also.

[jacobsladder]

traps work good too.

[capt eddie]

They need a couple Akbash dogs.  I have three and at least once a month I find the remains of predators and stray dogs that thought our free range chickens were free meals.

[Mo. Huntin]

I have had great luck with cottontail distress and pup distress.  A lot of times coyotes will try to circle downwind when they are out anywhere from 100-200 yards.  If you are just wanting to have some fun great but for a real problem, Snares, traps and a 22-250.

[str8jct]

They can pinpoint sounds from over a hundred yards away, if your up a tree 15ft and squealing like a rabbit you'll have a bad day of killing.  Since it's a sheep farm and I assume they're killing a few, try to sound like a lost or distressed lamb, mimic what they want.  And for best results, use a rifle.

[str8jct]

Penguin, I almost forgot, be VERY wind aware.  Use a decoy to distract their attention.  Use a single turkey wing or tail feather tied to about 12 inches of fishing line and attach to a stick or limb within shooting distance.  The slightest breeze will wobble the feather and for some reason it works.

[Mo. Huntin]

You know snares and traps may not be an option on a sheep farm come to think of it.

[Gehrke145]

Leg holds are totally fine around sheep.  When I lived in WI I got lots of hunting ground by trapping yotes

[kshunter55]

wish my friend had a sheep farm i love predator hunting. If no one has called much around there any rabbit distress call will work great.  I like to call in thirty second phases every couple minutes.  I would wait at least thirty minutes longer is better sometimes they come in slow which could be likely if they have a stomach full of sheep.  Play the wind like you would with a deer.  Also i walk along way from the truck coyotes don't like trucks much at least in my part of the country.

[Bonebuster]

If you are serious about helping with removing coyotes and you are just learning HOW to do it, a firearm may be a better choice.

The local song dogs WILL get educated very quickly. Get to know them, and you will be amazed.

I am a bowhunter to the core, but when the quarry is a `yote, I prefer a firearm.

A coyote that has responded to a call has a faster reaction time than deer. When the arrow gets to where the `yote was...he is already gone.
If they haven`t had hunting pressure, it may not be so bad, but they will figure it out quick.

Being in a tree won`t hide you from his nose. You must assume they are going to get the wind to their advantage when they come in, they live by their nose. You will be more mobile from the ground.

I have an electronic call, with a housecat in distress recording. I have found that sometimes, the `yotes can`t resist. I set up close to barns and out buildings, and have found that yotes will cross open ground to torture a lost kitten.

Coyotes with a bow...the ultimate challenge.

[azhunter]

I do a lot of coyote calling.  A lot of what has been said above.  Lots of sounds that work.  Rabbit, pup in distress and the list goes on and on.  I will only sit and call for 15-20 minutes and then move about a hlf mile and then make set up and start calling again.  Make sure you are very quiet when you set up, no talking no slamming your truck door, rattling keys etc.  You will be amazed how much difference that will make. They will ussually circle down wind.  Be still, no movemement when calling.

[Ron LaClair]

From a tree stand I called this one in close enough for a shot by kissing on the back of my hand. He took some killin (3 arrows)

   

[Herdbull]

I rattled this one in while hunting deer. See curent issue (Oct/Nov09 TBM. Mike
 

[Ron LaClair]

That's a big yote Mike...  

I had mine made into a full mount.

   

[Herdbull]

I've taken 7 with my bow. Two were rattled in with antlers. Ha!  I have 3 full-body and the rest rugs. Based on the number of coyotes that have pegged me first before I could draw, I think they are quite the "trophy." At times there is a need to hunt predators.

[Shaun]

Note: Coyotes kill sheep by attacking the throat area, dogs kill sheep by "hamstringing". Make sure its yotes doing the damage. If not, then taking out the local yotes will allow others to move into the habitat and the new ones might be sheep killers. You cannot get rid of them all. Take em out if they are attacking sheep and you or the farmer can confirm by checking the kills or seeing them attack.

Coyotes generally learn sheep killing because the farmer leaves dead sheep out or birthing of lambs is in the field instead of a shed. Once they learn it there is no way to stop em but killing.

Snares at fence crossings is the most effective, leg hold sets next, varmint rifle next and finally dedicated stick bow hunter.

Good Hunting!