Should I downsize?

[Star1pup]

I wonder if I'm carrying too much to a coyote stand.  I'm beginning to think that by the time I put out a wiggling rabbit decoy and an E-caller I'm adding a lot of scent and could be easily spotted.  I'm in Ohio and shots will probably be in areas where shots are less than 100 yards.  No long range shots here like I see on the western DVDs.
Maybe I should just take my mouth calls and my gun.  That would let me sneak in with less disturbance.

[FPH]

I take my mouth calls. a rifle, a shotgun and a pad to lay on.  Every thing else is in the truck.

[Hellgate]

I'd say alternate stands (every other one with the decoy & E-caller) and see if after about 20 stands if there is any difference in results. If not, go with the decoy & e-caller. You are likely not going to be as easily spotted in woodsy country than out in the flatlands of the West.

[tomtomz]

A typical shot for me would be spotting a coyote from my truck or ATV as they are watching my cattle.
Over time, they gradually close the gap and seize upon a calf or weak cow.
Coyotes show little regard for me, and keep a 300 yard buffer for their safety.
Long shots are normal, and they do not fear humans that far away IMO.

[Sourdough]

I have learned that if you only shoot Coyotes at 50 yards they will quite letting you get within 50 yards.  Then when you shoot them at 100 yards they will only come in to about 200 yards.  You shoot a few at 200, and they will then stay 300 yards out.  So on and so on.  Eventually the survivors will run if they get an incling you are about, be it 800 or a 1000 yards. 

The trick is not to let there be any or few survivors, to teach the rest.

[Ladobe]

Never found a need for anything except the days chosen rifle, handgun or long bow, 2-3 of my mouth calls and sometimes a feather on a string to do predators for over 5 decades without electronic doodads, camo or scent blocks.  Anythng else would just hve been excess baggage to tote.

[Star1pup]

It will be interesting what part of the country you all hunt.  I see the western videos with coyotes coming in easily, but it sure seems harder here in Ohio.

[backstrap]

i live in oklahoma up in the northern part where there are some pastures and mostley wheat fields, i take a little camo bag with my foxpro and decoy walk out into the wheat field set up caller and decoy, walk back to the edge of pasture set up turn on call and a few mins later he comes runing in kill him ,get up and go to next set i myself never worry about getting spotted, and i have also walked in  on some flat grassed pastures and set up and started calling, within a few mins the yote comes runing in and i stop him and shoot him, and get up and go to next set i just dont worry about it i guess, i just got to a lott of  ground to hunt to worry about being spotted by the coyote  is all i guess,where i call it seems to me they come in from a distance to the call , not just right where i am so i wouldnt worry about it, i know they can smell you before they can see you

[mechanic]

Strange thing here in GA. the coyote is a non-game specie, no season or bag limit.  But we can't use electronic calls.......
 
I've had some luck calling them in by laying prone on old woods roads using an old mouth call of my Dad's.
 
For some reason, I've had them come in when I'm calling crows....??
 
Ben

[Ranger99]

if you think you're scenting the area or spooking
animals, set up your electronic stuff nearest your
vehicle, then move on to the next area and catch
the area where you set up your electronics at the very
last on the way back to the vehicle. you may also
try having a selection of mouth calls and using
a different one each time. if you don't have one,
get a squeeker. sometimes you also may want
to try calling at a lower volume. try calling a
couple of times, then stay totally silent while
you watch for a good while afterwards. they
often watch an area from cover for a while
to see what the prospects are.
good luck

[Star1pup]

I watch all the predator stuff on TV, but it sure seems that the western coyotes are easier to call in than the ones here in Ohio.  Of course, I realize that what TV shows in 5 minutes might have taken 5 hours before editing.  I worked in TV. 

[FPH]

I watch all the predator stuff on TV, but it sure seems that the western coyotes are easier to call in than the ones here in Ohio.  Of course, I realize that what TV shows in 5 minutes might have taken 5 hours before editing.  I worked in TV. 

You have good days and bad days.  I have called in 6 lone yotes at a stand, I also have been skunked many times.

[tomtomz]

Learn to watch livestock. They will let you know if a predator is nearby. Their senses are acute.

The trick is taking shots around livestock. The calf you save makes me $$$.
If you shoot my livestock, you just bought yourself a beef. Bring checkbook
and a skinning knife.

[tomtomz]

An old rancher tip is to spread powdered milk to draw coyotes.

Coyotes know a meal is nearby if they smell momma's milk, and
a suckling calf can't be far away.

[cjclemens]

It all depends on how you use the decoys.  Personally, I use a Mojo Critter.  I usually put it no more than 25 to 50 yards out from my stand.  I don't intend for the coyotes to walk right up to it - I use it to hold their attention temporarily.  If you're using mouth calls, the sound is coming right from your location.  That means that, as coyotes approach, their eyes are fixed in your direction.  A decoy with motion, will attract their attention long enough that you can shoulder your rifle and take a shot without being noticed as easily.  As far as scent is concerned, I just assume the only way to outsmart a coyote is to play the wind.  All the scent eliminators and cover-ups wont fool a coyote, so your best bet is to trick them into coming out into the open before they get a chance to circle downwind.  That doesn't always work, so the bottom line is be patient.  If something isn't working out the way you want it to, don't be afraid to make some changes.  I always carry too much out to the field with me, but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[tomtomz]

Wow, CJ - you're a real hunter!

I just tend a herd and take shots as coyotes sneak up on it.

[squirrelslayer]

Tomtomz and I have it easy. Shooting them off calves makes you forget how sneaky they can get. IF and only IF you know you're not hunting within view of an elmer fudd that decoy can be close to you. As long as it sticks out worse than you. Its generally only to keep thier attention for a little while. I enjoy seeing one slobbering at a dead run for my decoy on a rare occasion but more often then not it becomes a staring battle until I get fed up, dope in, settle down and let em have it. Try it like previously mentioned and use what works. If the results are commonly better one way then thats the way for you! When we're shooting at them in cow pastures its just like tomtomz says. Everytime you let one go, they're 10 yds further next time you see em. It's easy for us. You're actually gunna have to hunt them!