The Ultimate Guide to Coyote Hunting: Strategies for Every Hunter

Justin Hunold

02/07/2025

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Few pursuits in the hunting world are as thrilling—or as maddening—as calling in a wily coyote. They’re among the most adaptable predators in North America, thriving in everything from remote deserts to the outskirts of suburbia. Coyotes are sharp, cautious, and quick to learn from mistakes, making them one of the most challenging game animals to pursue. But with the right approach, you can level the playing field.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been calling coyotes for years, this guide will help you refine your strategy, increase your success rate, and, most importantly, enjoy the hunt.

Beginner Coyote Hunting Tips

1. Finding Coyotes

Locating coyotes is the first challenge. They roam large territories, and unlike deer, they don’t follow predictable movement patterns. Here’s how to narrow down your search:

• Scout smart: Look for fresh tracks, scat, and kill sites to identify active areas.
• Listen at dawn and dusk: Coyotes are most vocal around sunrise and sunset. Use their howls to pinpoint their location.
• Talk to landowners: Farmers and ranchers often have problems with coyotes preying on livestock. Many are willing to grant access to responsible hunters.
• Use trail cameras: If you have permission to hunt private land, set up cameras near game trails and open fields to track movement patterns.

2. Choosing the Right Gear

A well-prepared coyote hunter has the right tools for the job. Here’s a breakdown of essential gear:

• Firearm choice: A bolt-action .223, .22-250, .243, or 6.5 Creedmoor works well for longer shots. For close-range setups, a shotgun loaded with #4 buckshot is ideal.
• Camouflage: Coyotes have sharp eyesight—blend into your surroundings with neutral, seasonally appropriate camo.
• Electronic call: While mouth calls are effective, an electronic call allows you to create realistic sound sequences with less movement.
• Shooting support: A bipod, shooting sticks, or a solid rest improves accuracy, especially when taking long shots.

3. Mastering Basic Calling Techniques

Coyotes are opportunistic hunters, and the right sounds can bring them running. Try these methods:

• Distress calls: Rabbit-in-distress or fawn bleats mimic an easy meal.
• Volume control: Start soft and gradually increase volume to avoid spooking nearby coyotes.
• Be patient: Coyotes may take 20-30 minutes to respond, so resist the urge to move too soon.
• Switch it up: If a call stops producing results, try a different sequence or sound.

4. Wind and Concealment

A coyote’s nose is its best defense. No matter how good your setup is, if a coyote catches your scent, the game is over.

• Hunt with the wind in your favor: Set up so the wind carries your scent away from where you expect the coyote to approach.
• Use natural cover: Fence lines, trees, and tall grass help break up your outline.
• Minimize movement: Coyotes have keen eyesight—keep still and avoid unnecessary adjustments.

Intermediate Coyote Hunting Tactics

1. Fine-Tuning Calls and Decoys

Once you’ve got a few coyotes under your belt, it’s time to refine your approach.

• Use different calls: Introduce pup distress, howls, and challenge barks to provoke territorial responses.
• Pair decoys with calls: A moving decoy, like a spinning rabbit, can hold a coyote’s attention just long enough for you to make a shot.
• Experiment with mouth calls: Electronic calls work well, but a skilled mouth caller can create more natural-sounding sequences.

2. Hunting at Peak Times

Coyotes don’t keep banker’s hours. Their most active periods are:

• Early morning and late evening: Coyotes move most just after sunrise and just before sunset.
• Before and after storms: Barometric pressure changes often get coyotes on their feet.
• Fresh snowfall: Tracks in the snow make it easier to find active areas and set up accordingly.
• Night hunting (where legal): With thermal or night vision, hunting after dark can be highly productive, as coyotes are less wary.

3. Adapting to Educated Coyotes

Coyotes wise up fast. If a spot goes cold, here’s how to adjust:

• Move locations: A coyote that didn’t commit may still be in the area, but a fresh setup a few miles away can make all the difference.
• Switch up call sequences: If you’ve been using rabbit distress, try rodent squeaks or fawn bleats.
• Use silence: If a coyote hangs up just out of range, stop calling and let curiosity pull them in.
• Suppress your rifle: A suppressed shot doesn’t spook nearby coyotes as much, increasing your chances for a follow-up kill.

Advanced Coyote Hunting Strategies

1. Mastering Vocalizations

When you start speaking their language, you’ll see more coyotes commit to the call.

• Lone howls: Imitating a single, non-aggressive coyote can lure in loners looking for company.
• Challenge howls: These work well on dominant males defending their territory.
• Pair howls with distress calls: A combination of coyote howls and prey distress sounds can hit both territorial and food-driven instincts.

2. Setting Up with a Partner

Hunting with a buddy increases success rates.

• Crosswind positioning: Set up so one hunter watches the downwind side while the other calls.
• Leapfrog tactics: If one stand doesn’t produce, move a short distance and try again, rotating who calls and who shoots.

3. The Role of Coyote Hunting in Game Management

Coyotes are apex predators that can significantly impact deer, turkey, and small game populations.

• Fawn survival: In areas with heavy coyote populations, reducing their numbers can help whitetail fawns survive.
• Game bird recovery: Turkeys and upland birds are frequent coyote meals—keeping predator numbers in check improves game bird recruitment.
• Balancing predator species: Coyotes outcompete smaller predators like foxes and bobcats. Controlling coyotes can allow these species to rebound.

Final Thoughts

Coyote hunting is as much about strategy as it is about skill. These animals are survivors, constantly adapting to their environment. If you want consistent success, you need to do the same.

Whether you’re just learning how to hunt coyotes or refining advanced tactics, the key is patience and persistence. Some days you’ll call in a pair within minutes, and other days, you’ll go home empty-handed. But no matter the outcome, you’ll always be learning.

And if you’re looking to get away from overpressured public land and hunt high-quality spots with less competition, check out Infinite Outdoors USA. Their private land access ensures better setups, lower hunting pressure, and more opportunities to put your skills to the test.

After all, there’s always another coyote out there waiting to be called in.