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62 Predator Xtreme June 2(111) j www prcd.norcucnx-.cixn<br />
During the summer coyotes are extremely aggressive<br />
while protecting young. Using coyote-vocalization<br />
calls can wor1< toward the hunter's advantage,<br />
especially It you've scouted and know where dens<br />
sites are located.<br />
ri'|Xtxluiiion. increased pup survival, ami increased liner<br />
size. In short, if you plan lo manage coyotcs lo increase<br />
game density, it's a 365-day-per-year jol).<br />
Trying lo save fawns or olhcr small game on your |>ropcity<br />
by re-mewing coyotes c-arly is a worthy goal, but a second<br />
reason to lake a barbecue timeout is lo Ixiild your confidence.<br />
Chew on this: Coyotcs reveal several vulix-rabili-<br />
Ik's Ix-ginning in spring and continuing tlmHigh summer.<br />
The first is the protective instinct of parents. As coyotes<br />
stake out den sites, rear pups, atxl hunt for tlx-ir ravenous<br />
litter, tlx-y bccomc ultra-protective of their territory, particularly<br />
the micro environment near an occupx-d tlen.<br />
During this tinx-. tlx-y are more aggressive ami respond<br />
Ix-lter to certain calls. Liter in the summer you can build<br />
your confidence by calling pups. Since juvenlk-s haven't<br />
been jaded by experience anil haven't gained a paranoid<br />
character, most everything you throw at tlx-m in the calling<br />
category may work. Plus, you'll call in more coyotcs simply<br />
because tlx-re are more availaMe as litters disperse. Ami.<br />
you won't lx* com|x-ting with as many other predator<br />
hunters as you woukl during prinxiime winter months.<br />
Qmfklcnce-buikling may not seem like a noteworthy ek-mcnt<br />
to predator hunting success, but tinx- and time again I<br />
lx-ar front coyote hunters east of the Mississippi River on<br />
IXAV difficult it can lx- to call a coyotc. Ilrxiing your skills<br />
prior lo tlx- winter rush on uneducated coyotes will give<br />
you new straicgx-s lo employ later when pells arc- prime.<br />
A final reason to hum coyotes in spring ami summer is<br />
for fun. Calling coyotes is simply a great way to sjx-ixl<br />
lime. Wlx-n ycxi add Ixtter responsiveness, more coyotes to<br />
call, ami aiding cxlx-r wildlife by depk-ting tlx- coyotc population,<br />
it makes a lot of sense to call coyotes during the<br />
dog days.<br />
finding Summer Hotspots<br />
Ycxi can kxate warm-weather coyotes much as ycxi vvcxild<br />
during ihe w inter months by using simpk- howls or an electronic<br />
clxxus of yipping coyotcs at dawn and dusk. I luve<br />
Ioix- howls and a yi|>ping chorus on my Johnny Stewart<br />
PM-4 remote digital caller. Coyotes respond to these invitalions<br />
to prcxlaim territory, issue a warning, or simply to say<br />
lx-llo. Regardless of the reason for ilx-ir answer, it gives you<br />
an idea of where tlx-y Ixxl or have a den. Note ii on a map<br />
for future calling.<br />
CoyiXcs ckm'i always answer a howl. Tiglu-lip|xxl coyotes<br />
may result from human pressure, or llx-y may lx- lessckxiiinant<br />
in a local area ami prefer to k-ad a confrontational-free<br />
life. If you're luving difficulty in getting coyotcs to<br />
answer, you'll luve to lx- a spy.<br />
Denning sites are a sure lx-t for coyote encounters from<br />
March ihrixigh August. Coyotcs generally lake over tlx- ck-n<br />
ol' another animal and renxxk-l it to their specifications.<br />
When it's hot. water is vital to survival, so scout near<br />
water edges to locate travel routes to and from den<br />
sites. A beat-down trail with tracks going both ways Is<br />
a sure sign that coyotes are living nearby.<br />
They commonly invade dens nude<br />
by fox, badgers, skunks, ami other<br />
burrowing numnuLv l/x>k for llx-se<br />
locations on open hillsxk-s. in fence<br />
lines, ami along Ixxlgerovvs. Coyotes<br />
may fiixl a natural ck-n in a rrxky<br />
cxitcropixng or in ilx- stump crater of<br />
an overturned tree. Mcxst ck-ns will<br />
lx- elevated to avoid tlx- possibility<br />
of llcxxling ami fix Ix-tler surveillance.<br />
(icxxl hunting and a gcxxl water<br />
source are generally within easy traveling<br />
distance- of a ck-n. Check water<br />
edges for |uttems of regular coyotevisits.<br />
If ycxi find a packed trail of<br />
paw prints near water, you're bound<br />
to lx- ix-ar an active ck-n site. If tlx-re<br />
are parcels of governnx-nt-sct-askkacres<br />
nearby (e.g.. Conservatkm<br />
Reserve Program acres), clxx'k tlxise<br />
as well. Coyotes will zero in ixi<br />
fawns for a Ixk-f window (hiring the<br />
ekig days, Ixit tlx-y siill need to hunt<br />
mice and raNxts for tlx- Ixilk of tlx-ir<br />
summertime calorics to regurgitate to<br />
ilx-ir |xips. They find large c|uantiik-s<br />
ol' llx-se in undisturlx-d grasslands<br />
and overgrcAvn woodlands.<br />
lastly, keep sluck- in mind. This<br />
may not lx- as important lo coyotcs<br />
of Hastem forests, but for coyotes of<br />
tlx- Midwest ami West, shack- can lxa<br />
luxury. As jxi|>s venture farther<br />
and fartlx-r from ck-ns. Icx>k for coyotes<br />
to Ixxl up under low bnish.<br />
along creeks, and on north-facing<br />
skipes to lx-at ck>g-day lx-at.<br />
Create A Coyote Trap<br />
For effective sumnxr hunting, ycxi'll<br />
need lo umlerstaml tlx- changing<br />
mindset of coyotes from spring<br />
through summer. And change it<br />
ckx-s. First, springtime coyotes luve<br />
one thing on tlx-ir mind: pups. A<br />
|Xiir of coyotcs raises a litter of pups<br />
as a team. After selecting a ck-n site,<br />
coyote pairs Ixxxxix- very defensive<br />
ol" tlx-ir territory. Ihis Ls a great tinxlo<br />
use canine vcxalizatkins such as<br />
IKAVIS and Ixirks. Coyotes will<br />
rvsjxind to see who's invading their<br />
honx-land ami try ami drive the<br />
invaders away. Ihis intensity increases<br />
once pu|>s luve Ixx-n Ixrtlxxl.<br />
This is a key lime to includc a<br />
decoy ck>g in ycxir setup. Ixit makesure<br />
tlx- ck>g olx-vs commands io<br />
mum with no hcsitalkxi A pair of<br />
coyotes won't run up and snllT its<br />
a-ar, Ixit they will race to ytxir ck>g<br />
vviili kthal intent. Kcx-p your dog<br />
"Benchrest Clean for Every Firearm."<br />
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ite ^u/v yyjiJj 3