I relocated to Wyoming in July of 1999. Much to my dismay, because of residency requirements, I could not hunt big game for a year, without paying the insanely expensive non residency charge. One of my pals suggested I hunt coyotes.
"You get to where you can regularly kill coyotes, and you'll find yourself a much better hunter," he said.
"They are the hardest animals to hunt, " he added.
The idea appealed to me. I went to a sporting items shop and bought a coyote call. There was a breeder beside my home, who informed me he had some coyotes he would like to have thinned out. I told him I would like to give it a try.
"Have at it," he said.
I drove out to his ranch and found a likely looking spot to call. I had no idea how to hunt coyotes, but I was determined to give it a try.
I got into position, waited a couple of mins, like it stated on the instructions of the call. I put the call to my mouth and blew out a series of squealing bunny calls. As quickly as I blew the call, I observed some motion in front of me. I didn't figure it was anything however quickly learned a coyote was coming straight at me.
I had five shells in my gun. Those shells were quickly expended. I watched the coyote run off.
I called for the remainder of the day and for several weeks after that before I got an additional coyote to come in. By this time I was hooked. I hunted coyotes for at least twenty to twenty-five days a month for the next twelve years.
I wished to learn from the very best hunters, so I got some coyote hunting videos. One of those hunters, was a man by the name of Merv Griswald. He resided in Gillette, Wy. I called him and informed him I wished to discover ways to hunt coyotes from him. I hunted with Merv. He taught me the best ways to find a great area to call from, and educated me ways to blow the call.
When we came back in from hunting, I saw Merv had some dogs around this place. I asked what he utilized the dogs for. "Coyotes," he replied. This truly got my attention. Merve informed me how coyotes are extremely protective of their pups. Throughout the time the pups are with their parents, coyotes will try to run off or kill dogs that risk their pups.
I continued to hunt coyotes for two years after that hunt with Merv. And then I decided to get a dog for coyote hunting. I located a man that was a government trapper. He was paid to hunt coyotes, (talk about a dream job), and this man used dogs to hunt coyotes in the spring and summer. He told me he had a litter of pups from his two best dogs. I bought a pup from him for $150.00. I named him, "Dodger." He was half red-bone and half mountain cur.
When he was about 5 months old, I started training him. I would get fresh coyote hide and play with him. I would let him chew and pull on the hide. He quickly discovered we sought coyotes. He had to do with 6 months old when I took him hunting for the first time. I had discovered a den and I knew we would get some action. I turned Dodger out, and in no time at all, I heard a shrill bark and some yelping. Dodger was doing his best to get back to me. He ran into a fence and the coyote nearly got him. However at the last moment, Dodger survived the fence and ran up to me. The coyote was right behind him: I shot the coyote at the range of about 25 yards.
From then on I would take Dodger with me when I 'd go coyote hunting. He learned quickly and by the end of the summertime, he would bring coyotes in to me. He found out to stay close. And he understood that I would take care of the coyotes if he could get them to me.
It is remarkable what dogs will make coyotes do, when they have pups. I was hunting coyotes with my son. Dodger can be found in and ran between me and my son. The coyotes were right behind him. One of the coyotes in fact ran right into my leg. He was so intent on getting Dodger, he never observed me.
I hunted Dodger for several years. He was one of the very best coyote dogs I ever hunted with. I provided Dodger to a government trapper who hunted on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The government trapper informed me that he was the best dog he had used before. As far as I understand, Dodger is still bringing in coyotes.
If you hunt coyotes with dogs, you will remember the experience. The coyotes will come in so close, it will amaze you.
"You get to where you can regularly kill coyotes, and you'll find yourself a much better hunter," he said.
"They are the hardest animals to hunt, " he added.
The idea appealed to me. I went to a sporting items shop and bought a coyote call. There was a breeder beside my home, who informed me he had some coyotes he would like to have thinned out. I told him I would like to give it a try.
"Have at it," he said.
I drove out to his ranch and found a likely looking spot to call. I had no idea how to hunt coyotes, but I was determined to give it a try.
I got into position, waited a couple of mins, like it stated on the instructions of the call. I put the call to my mouth and blew out a series of squealing bunny calls. As quickly as I blew the call, I observed some motion in front of me. I didn't figure it was anything however quickly learned a coyote was coming straight at me.
I had five shells in my gun. Those shells were quickly expended. I watched the coyote run off.
I called for the remainder of the day and for several weeks after that before I got an additional coyote to come in. By this time I was hooked. I hunted coyotes for at least twenty to twenty-five days a month for the next twelve years.
I wished to learn from the very best hunters, so I got some coyote hunting videos. One of those hunters, was a man by the name of Merv Griswald. He resided in Gillette, Wy. I called him and informed him I wished to discover ways to hunt coyotes from him. I hunted with Merv. He taught me the best ways to find a great area to call from, and educated me ways to blow the call.
When we came back in from hunting, I saw Merv had some dogs around this place. I asked what he utilized the dogs for. "Coyotes," he replied. This truly got my attention. Merve informed me how coyotes are extremely protective of their pups. Throughout the time the pups are with their parents, coyotes will try to run off or kill dogs that risk their pups.
I continued to hunt coyotes for two years after that hunt with Merv. And then I decided to get a dog for coyote hunting. I located a man that was a government trapper. He was paid to hunt coyotes, (talk about a dream job), and this man used dogs to hunt coyotes in the spring and summer. He told me he had a litter of pups from his two best dogs. I bought a pup from him for $150.00. I named him, "Dodger." He was half red-bone and half mountain cur.
When he was about 5 months old, I started training him. I would get fresh coyote hide and play with him. I would let him chew and pull on the hide. He quickly discovered we sought coyotes. He had to do with 6 months old when I took him hunting for the first time. I had discovered a den and I knew we would get some action. I turned Dodger out, and in no time at all, I heard a shrill bark and some yelping. Dodger was doing his best to get back to me. He ran into a fence and the coyote nearly got him. However at the last moment, Dodger survived the fence and ran up to me. The coyote was right behind him: I shot the coyote at the range of about 25 yards.
From then on I would take Dodger with me when I 'd go coyote hunting. He learned quickly and by the end of the summertime, he would bring coyotes in to me. He found out to stay close. And he understood that I would take care of the coyotes if he could get them to me.
It is remarkable what dogs will make coyotes do, when they have pups. I was hunting coyotes with my son. Dodger can be found in and ran between me and my son. The coyotes were right behind him. One of the coyotes in fact ran right into my leg. He was so intent on getting Dodger, he never observed me.
I hunted Dodger for several years. He was one of the very best coyote dogs I ever hunted with. I provided Dodger to a government trapper who hunted on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The government trapper informed me that he was the best dog he had used before. As far as I understand, Dodger is still bringing in coyotes.
If you hunt coyotes with dogs, you will remember the experience. The coyotes will come in so close, it will amaze you.
About the Author:
Roy Sowers III, professional coyote hunter and legal counsel for the North Carolina Predator Hunters Association, goes coyote hunting almost every day, and lives in Corinth, North Carolina.
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