Missouri Outdoor

National Coyote Calling Champions Al Morris and Steve Collins share their secret tactics for predator hunting success.
During the winter, most hunters become restless. The fall hunting seasons are over, the deer are in the freezer, and spring is a few months away. Most of us sit in front of the TV watching hunting shows to get our fix when we could be out chasing coyotes or other predators. Coyote populations have exploded, and they’re almost as common as raccoons. Many of them raid garbage cans and live on the outskirts of housing developments, in the woods and on farms all across the country. Coyotes can be hunted throughout the winter months, and hunters all over the country are realizing how enjoyable predator hunting can be.

Predator hunting is fun to do during the off season. It also benefits deer, turkey and other animals that share the woods with coyotes, coons and foxes. Predators take their fair share of deer, turkey and upland game each year. Since fur prices have been down for a number of years, few of these predators are trapped or hunted, which allows them to grow in large numbers. Predator hunting is a great way to thin out predators in your area and have fun when nothing else is going on in the outdoors.

Coyotes are similar to domesticated dogs. They are smart, learn quickly and can become very wary and call shy. Yet every winter, a few guys seem to bag their fair share of predators because they know how to play the calling game. One guy who knows that game better than most is Steve Collins. Collins has spent a lifetime chasing coyotes all over the country. In 1991, Collins won the National Coyote Calling Championship, so saying he knows how to call coyotes is an understatement. If you’re interested in learning how to bag a few yodel dogs this winter, pay attention as Collins shares his secrets for success. I also interviewed Al Morris of Hunters Specialties who is also a National Coyote Calling Champion and has a wealth of knowledge to share.

Collins has spent many years calling coyotes. He admits that calling in coyotes, especially in the Eastern United States, is a lot harder than it used to be. “Just think how much your dog can learn from a simple pat on the head. The coyotes’ survival depends on knowing how to avoid being killed. In other words, the stakes are high. They have become good at knowing when a hunter is calling and when it is a real rabbit in the brush squealing. I have learned that you only get one chance to call coyotes in. If you don’t harvest them the first time around, they won’t be called in a second time,” Collins explained. The first mistake most hunters make, according to Collins, is overcalling. “I usually stop calling when a dog is about a hundred yards away and let him come find me. If you keep calling, chances are the dog will pinpoint your location, notice you moving and bust you before you have a chance to shoot. Try to limit the amount of calling you do. Do just enough calling to keep the coyotes’ interest up. If he is hungry, he will come and investigate,” Collins added.
National Coyote Calling Champion Steve Collins with a coyote and a bobcat.
Collins said that another mistake many hunters make is not paying close attention to the wind. A dog has an extremely good sense of smell and coyotes that have been hunted hard with calls will often approach a setup downwind. “I always try to work the wind when hunting; however, smart coyotes will work the wind most of the time. I have heard of a lot of hunters using Scent-Lok clothing or scent eliminating sprays like Scent Killer to reduce human odor. I usually hunt with the wind in my face or with a cross wind and try to call them straight in. During the dead of winter when they have gone a few days without a meal, they are more apt to come in running and not pay attention to the wind. This is the best time to hunt. As a rule of thumb, I always hunt the wind,” Collins said.

When Collins started predator hunting, there was not a large selection of calls on the market for predator hunting. He usually used mouth calls of some type that imitated a dying rabbit. “Your success often depended on your ability as a caller. Today there are a wide variety of electronic callers on the market, which makes the calling process easy,” Collins explained. In recent years, companies like Extreme Dimensions have introduced calls that allow you to make two sounds at once, which makes your setup sound more realistic. “Digital callers allow novice hunters to sound like a pro the first time in the woods. Now a guy can sound like a dying rabbit thrashing around in the brush instead of just a dying rabbit, or he can sound like a pack of coyotes howling and something dying at the same time. The more realistic your setup, the better chance you have at calling in animals.

Collins said if you are going to try to call in coyotes using howls and barks, you better know when to use each call. “Back when I started using coyote calls, very few people were using barks and howls to call in dogs. I learned through the school of hard knocks when to use each howl or bark. If you are trying to challenge another coyote by barking at him, you better know the difference between the different types of howls and barks. When you are speaking their language, you can’t make mistakes. A mistake means an educated coyote won’t be called in again. Using the right call at the right time equals a dog in the freezer,” Collins explained.

Since coyotes adjust to hunting pressure so quickly, the pros are always looking for a new tactic to bag predators. Al Morris from Hunters Specialties says one of his favorite tactics is hunting coyotes in the brush. “Most hunters enjoy using a long distance rifle and hunting in big open fields, which is something I enjoy as well. In recent years, I have had more success hunting coyotes in thick cover,” Morris said. Morris usually uses a shotgun when hunting in the brush and says he has learned that dogs often run right in because they are not accustomed to having hunting pressure in thick cover. “When they hear a mouse squeak in the brush, most of the time they come on a dead run. When hunting this way, you need to be alert at all times because the dogs often appear out of nowhere. My average shot is 15-30 yards. I enjoy hunting open country, but I enjoy hunting the thick stuff because when I am competing in a contest, I need pelts in the freezer. Hunting in the brush usually produces more coyotes,” Morris explained.

Another tactic that seems to increase hunters’ odds is using decoys. According to Collins, decoys are a great way to sucker critters within range. “I have not used decoys a lot, but a few of my friends have had great luck with them. When a coyote sees a rabbit or some type of animal thrashing around, they forget about the wind or any other danger and come on a dead run. Now that electronic callers with wireless speakers are available, hunters can place a speaker next to the decoy so when they come in the sound is coming from the decoy, which creates a more realistic setup and often brings the coyotes in on a string,” Collins added.

Collins and Morris believe the easiest way to bag a lot of predators is by finding areas that are overlooked by other hunters. In some cases, that might mean you hunt behind a housing development or hike five miles into the middle of a swamp. Both hunters agree you only get one chance at a coyote. “I remember a few years ago, I was hunting in some cattails on the edge of a frozen lake. I started calling and a bunch of coyotes came running in. A few of them stayed back and even took off after seeing the setup. I am convinced that was the group of coyotes we had called in the year before from the same setup. They remembered what happened the previous year. Coyotes have a great memory. So when you get a shot, you better take it,” Collins stated.

Predator hunting is like deer hunting or turkey hunting. If you want to be successful, you need to invest some time and money in the sport. You will need to practice on your calling, purchase a few mouth calls or a digital caller, and do a little research. Once you have the craft of calling predators down, predator hunting may end up becoming one of your favorite styles of hunting. Nothing compares to watching a hungry coyote sneak in on your setup. In addition to taking out a few predators, you will put a fresh pelt in your freezer and save the lives of a few deer and upland birds.

written by Tracy Breen

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