HARDCORE

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