By Mat Brost
A job in the hunting industry allows me to be one of the first to hear about new products and upgrades to existing products. When the excitement and buzz over these products lasts more than a couple months, that’s when I take note and check the product out for myself.
One of the most frequently asked questions amongst predator hunters is that of when is the best time to hunt coyotes. They want to know what time of the year is best to call coyotes, and they also want to know if calling coyotes is better in the summer, fall, or winter.
Nuclear energy and radar weren’t the only technologies to originate during WWII. Germany had developed primitive nightvision capabilities just before the war and the Allies quickly developed their own devices to keep pace. Such technology proved to be so bulky and cumbersome, it had to be mounted on the bed of a truck for field use – an easy target during battle.
The popularity of calling in wildlife predators in the last few years, specifically coyotes is fast becoming one of the top hunting categories. Calling coyotes is an exciting, adrenaline rush experience that many hunters are eager to try. They can call in coyotes, not only for the the excitement, but also to reap the benefits of helping to reduce coyote populations which in turn helps manage the hunting land for the deer, turkey and bird populations.
There is a completely different style of calling predators which is referred to as “contest style” hunting. This is a fast paced style that requires the hunter to have the mindset during the hunt of getting as much done in the shortest amount of time as is possible. This style of calling was created by hunters competing in calling contests, yet it can also be beneficial to the everyday coyote hunter when performed properly.
As the leaves begin changing into their beautiful fall colors and the temperatures begin cooling more with each passing day, the desire to venture outdoors and hunt becomes a priority to a lot of hunters. Although most of these hunters are in pursuit of whitetail deer or a mature fall gobbler, the early fall is also a great time to predator hunt.
This past September while hunting coyotes near my hometown in southern Missouri, I positioned myself next to a large oak tree overlooking a cow pasture. The weather conditions were unfavorable because of unseasonably warm temperatures. There was an intense struggle to see a mere 50 yards due to heavy fog.
One of my favorite things to do is to help instruct someone that is new to the hunting scene. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege to teach through seminars, talk with hunters, and to write multiple articles filled with tips for the beginning predator hunter. Throughout this time, I have realized that many hunters have the aked a few common questions.
Even though I hunt coyotes pretty much year round, if someone were to ask me to only pick one time of the year to hunt, it would be January/February. This is due to the fact that coyotes are much more active during these months in Missouri, because of breeding. I recently asked two expert predator hunters to share some of their tips of when and how they successfully hunt this time of year.
Deer hunters are deer managers! At GrowingDeer.tv,managing whitetails also means managing the predator populations. This video kicks off with a "spot on" coyote hunt, then a bow hunt that highlights the need for balancing the predator population, followed by tips for more effective predator trapping.
