No dogs yet/ what am I doing wrong?

[outdoorz4me]

I have made about 4 sets so far. I have had hawks checking me out, crows cawing, etc. but no coyotes yet. I did have a red fox come in today though. Anyway please share advice for a novice caller. What calls do you use. Prey sounds or howls, electronic or mouth, how often do you call, how long do you wait to start calling after you're set up, do you call in heavy cover or try to call them out into fields from woods? Please share you experiences. Thanks.

[Glanceblamm]

Did you pop that Red Fox?. Doesn't really matter but your ratio is now 1 in 4 which is pretty good. I would have told you that a 1 in 10 success rate with a squaller is average to good. Success rates can go even higher when you throw a howler in.

Glad to here that you are getting some birds in. Even the smaller ones that land nearby and start raising cain greatly increases your chances as the yotes can here this ruckus from a long way off.

Dont (burn-out) your call sites by using the same ones too often. Make sure that you have good crosswind visibility as the yotes will try & circle downwind of your position. A decoy placed out there in front of you can work wonders in getting the yote to leave the thick stuff & come out into the open.
I use mouth calls only and carry short & long range cottontail, a squeaker, howlers (open reeds can also do bird in distress) a Turkey call (prefer the dbl Kee-Kee diaphram) and even a Mr Squirrel call.

Sometimes I end up in the woods but most of the time it is open field or pasture bordering the woods. I like to give the yotes a way in to me wether it be a wooded finger or a drainage that can let them get in close enough to feel safe. By that time they have seen my decoy or I have seen them. I like to get them in to 150yds but consider 100yds as optimum in the intrest of saving the hide.

[Jerry Lester]

Like glanceblamm said, you're actually doing pretty good!

If you're calling in hawks, and foxes, just give it time, you'll be calling a coyote in sooner or later.

Follow his advice about wearing out the same ares too. That's the quickest way to drive your success rate down.

[outdoorz4me]

Thanks guys, I agree I've been in too big of a hurry. Also I will let my calling sights "rest" a while. How long should I leave them alone before I try calling again? Also, what times of day work best for calling? Now, here's a subject that may cause some controversy. I have considered "baiting" coyotes with road killed deer carcasses. Now I'm only talking about doing this on family owned land, and only because the coyotes are so hard on young turkeys, rabbits, quail, deer, farm cats, etc. They killed every one of my parents young lambs! Do you think that deer carcasses would draw them in? I would never do this anywhere else, just to clear out these coyotes at the family farm. Please tell me you opinions.

[Jerry Lester]

If you're limited to hunting only the daylight hours, then right before dark, or right after daybreak are your best bets. I've personally had better success on all predators during the last 30 minutes or so of daylight untill dark.

Baiting with a fresh deer carcass definately will work. It's hit or miss though as to what time they'll likely visit your bait pile. I've seen coyotes, and bobcats eating on deer, but most times this has been after dark. If you can find a nice secluded spot to place the carcass with a lot of cover, you might luck up, and catch one there during daylight.

On your calling stands...

I try to give mine a week(give or take a day) before I hit'em again. Keep in mind though that I hunt foxes more than anything else. Coyotes might need a few more days before you go back. Our coyotes here in SW Virginia seem to kinda roam around anyway, so it's hit or miss as far as locating them. They'll be in one area tonight, then 2 miles down the road the next night.