20 replies to this topic

[SPECIALIZED]

Hi Guys, specialized here, I thought I would share a little coyote hunting secret with the members,
who hunt or have thought about hunting Coyotes, especially at night. As many of
you know, I really enjoy hunting Coyotes with my crossbow, so therefore I am always
looking for new ideas.
My favorite way of hunting Coyotes is calling them in at night, using my Bowlite
for scanning the darkness and sighting my crossbow, and my mouth caller that
sounds like a rabbit in distress. Some times I set up my little mechanical bunny
look a like with battery powered motion, about 30 yards from where I am concealed
in the brush. The Bunny distracts the Coyote away from me as he responds
to my call, and has been viciously attacked several times. Some times a
Coyote will not respond to the call even though you know they are in the area you
are hunting for some reason or another. Well I have found a little trick that works
pretty often. Again we are night hunting Coyotes.
First, find a area that is fairly open where you know there are coyotes in the vicinity.
Look for a small tree that has limbs 5 or 6 feet from the ground, Take several
cans of cheap tuna, open and pour the tuna into two or three old socks, then hang
the tuna filled socks from the tree limbs. Place a cheap very small motion detector
light directly under the socks, then conceal your self nearby, approximately twenty
or thirty yards away with the wind in your favor.
Prepare your self for a wait of usually an hour or sometimes less. During the wait I
usually use another mouth call that sounds like Coyote or Raccoon pups. When
you hear the sounds of the coyote or see the small motion detecting light you
placed blink. Aim your crossbow in the area below the hanging socks, flip on your
bow mounted Bowlite, zero in on the
Coyotes kill zone and let fly the arrow.
If there are more than one coyote
around the Tuna baited area, after
your successful shot, set tight, many
times the other coyotes will return to
the are, providing more opportunities
for shots.
I have used this method and
found it works for me, something
about the Tuna, the
coyote can not resist, maybe
the smell, lol, try it, might just
work for you.

Remember When crossbow  hunting at night, there are many more things to remember, you cant see  obstacles like a tree branch, twigs, brush or even a  wire fence. Any obstacles can interrupt your arrow flight causing you to miss.  A clear shooting lane is a must. And you've got to recognize what you're shooting at, the position of your predator, and how far the target is from you. Most crossbow hunters judge distance pretty good during the day, you may be very good at it, but when you judge distance at night, it's completely different. For many, 30 yards looks like 60, and 40 looks like a football field in distance. In the dark, everything looks further away than it really is.So before you head out, You really need much practice to become proficient at shooting an arrow in the dark. Coyote hunting with crossbow in the dark is a high seldom experienced with any other hunting, and once you have taken a coyote up close with your crossbow, you are hooked.

Here are a few pictures of my Fifteen 2011 coyote kills.

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•  SETUP.JPG   267.98K   2 downloads

[Buck_Slayer]

Impressive. Thanks for the tips. I've always wanted to give coyotes a try. I'll have to check the coyote laws here in Michigan.

[Lscha]

This is great! Thanks Larry!!

[Highlander]

Really nice in-depth article. We don't have a problem yet with the coyotes, but are now just appearing in our area. I assume they will multiply quickly in many areas where little hunting pressure exists. This article will help a lot for me if they do get out of hand.

Many thanks.  

[SFA Member]

Thanks for the advice.
It was an interesting article & pictures,I think it may work with
our native dog the Dingo or the common Fox.

Thanks Again

Graham

[FuzzyFultz]

Thanks Specialized, nice and a lot of useful ammo. But what light is the motion light you speak of ? Just can not wrap my mind around that. Does this light actually light up the area around the yote when he comes in, or just a motion sensor blinking red light ? Also is the scope light one of those good size lights that attaches to the scope and do you use a red lens ? Well after a third look at the pics I saw the light on your bow, do you use a red lens ?

Edited by FuzzyFultz, 23 January 2012 - 10:02 PM.

[SPECIALIZED]

FuzzyFultz, on 23 January 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:

Thanks Specialized, nice and a lot of useful ammo. But what light is the motion light you speak of ? Just can not wrap my mind around that. Does this light actually light up the area around the yote when he comes in, or just a motion sensor blinking red light ? Also is the scope light one of those good size lights that attaches to the scope and do you use a red lens ?

Fuzzy, many hardware stores sell this motion alert or a similar LED light.
some advertised as a security light that comes on when you move from room to room in your home or enter a dark hall.
Many also sold as a motion sensitive light alarm when a car enters your drive way.
sensitivity about 10 feet, stays on just a few seconds per activation, enough light to see a Coyote in the immediate area.

As to the scanning and shooting light it is a small LED red or green,I like green, mounted on top of the crossbow scope, good for scanning and a satisfactory shooting light, can illuminate coyote to about 100 yards.

See LED light mounted on top of scope in picture.

Attached Files

•  SETUP.JPG   267.98K   2 downloads

[deerboy]

sounds fun and interesting.  would like to hear more about estimating distance at night, staying warm and staying awake. Thanks for the article.

[H&S Archer]

I like the sock in the dark idea! We will see the TUNA vrs KFC test soon

[fxstdavew]

get info. I am going to start hunting these I have heard them on the property that I hunt. What do you do with them afterwards?

[SPECIALIZED]

fxstdavew, on 08 February 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

get info. I am going to start hunting these I have heard them on the property that I hunt. What do you do with them afterwards?

In several areas ,you can sell them to fur dealers, especially in cooler climates where the fur is heavy and better condition.
Taxidermist also some times will take them for clients who want them for displays in sporting goods stores or even personal Den or man caves.

[Gimmy]

That was a great article on the coyotes. We have a problem with them where we hunt. This season, at one stand alone, there were 6 taken along with a bobcat. There were 4 more taken at different spots on the lease. And many many more left to sing their songs at night. That is the spooky part. Hubby and I will be heading back to camp in a few weeks and will be going coyote and bobcat hunting. The trick about the tuna should bring a heard of varmits within our shooting range. Thanks again. I really enjoyed it.

Edited by Gimmy, 10 February 2012 - 10:36 AM.

[hunterfisher]

Looks like you have done well, Specialized. 'Congrats.'  And thanks for the tips. NC, has just gave the o.k to hunt yotes at night. Hope to give it a try real soon.

[ridgehunter]

We often have trouble with coyote packs.  The sock and light tips sure sound worth doing.  Thanks for the suggestions.  I may be the world's worst coyote hunter.  The only way I have brought them in is when I call turkeys in the spring.   I have also missed them when they have run by my stand in the fall chasing squirrels.

[agingcrossbower]

Larry, this may be the best hunting article I have ever read. Really interesting and informative. Thanks so much for taking the time. Aging

[xbowguy]

You are my HERO.  Coyotes with a crossbow!

[Highlander]

PELT HANDLING

www.furharvesters.com/pdf/pelthandling.pdf

Edited by Highlander, 26 February 2012 - 12:12 AM.

[setreng]

Just an fyi for all. The best light that I have found to put on top of your crossbow is the x-100 kill light--on a rifle is the x-250 kill light . Do a google search for the best price.The mounts are solid and you have a choice of a pressure switch or a on and off switch.I like the on/off switch. JMO

[countryby25]

Thnx for the tips, great article. & I wouldn't of thought of the tuna

[Sniper John]

Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing.