I moved 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 outrageously expensive non residency fee. One of my friends suggested I hunt coyotes.
"You get to where you can consistently kill coyotes, and you'll find yourself a better hunter, " he said.
"They are the hardest animals to hunt, " he added.
The concept appealed to me. I visited a sporting products shop and purchased a coyote call. There was a breeder alongside my home, who informed me he had some coyotes he would like to have thinned out. I informed him I would like to give it a shot.
"Have at it," he said.
I drove out to his cattle ranch and found a likely looking area to call. I had no idea the best ways to hunt coyotes, but I was determined to give it a shot.
I got into place and waited a couple of minutes, like it stated on the instructions of the call. I put the call to my mouth and blew out a series of squealing rabbit calls. As soon as I blew the call, I noticed some movement in front of me. I didn't figure it was anything, however soon discovered a coyote was coming straight at me.
I had 5 shells in my firearm. Those shells were quickly expended in a flash. 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 in from hunting, I noticed Merv had some dogs around this place. I asked what he used the dogs for. "Coyotes," he replied. This really got my attention. Merv told me how coyotes are very protective of their pups. During the time the pups are with the dogs, coyotes will try to run off or kill dogs that endanger 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 five 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 learned we were after coyotes. He was about six months old when I took him hunting for the first time. I had found 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 almost got him. But at the last moment, Dodger got through 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 surprise you.
"You get to where you can consistently kill coyotes, and you'll find yourself a better hunter, " he said.
"They are the hardest animals to hunt, " he added.
The concept appealed to me. I visited a sporting products shop and purchased a coyote call. There was a breeder alongside my home, who informed me he had some coyotes he would like to have thinned out. I informed him I would like to give it a shot.
"Have at it," he said.
I drove out to his cattle ranch and found a likely looking area to call. I had no idea the best ways to hunt coyotes, but I was determined to give it a shot.
I got into place and waited a couple of minutes, like it stated on the instructions of the call. I put the call to my mouth and blew out a series of squealing rabbit calls. As soon as I blew the call, I noticed some movement in front of me. I didn't figure it was anything, however soon discovered a coyote was coming straight at me.
I had 5 shells in my firearm. Those shells were quickly expended in a flash. 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 in from hunting, I noticed Merv had some dogs around this place. I asked what he used the dogs for. "Coyotes," he replied. This really got my attention. Merv told me how coyotes are very protective of their pups. During the time the pups are with the dogs, coyotes will try to run off or kill dogs that endanger 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 five 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 learned we were after coyotes. He was about six months old when I took him hunting for the first time. I had found 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 almost got him. But at the last moment, Dodger got through 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 surprise you.
About the Author:
Roy Sowers III is both a professional coyote hunter and the legal counsel for the North Carolina Predator Hunters Association. He enjoys coyote hunting almost every day, and lives in Corinth, North Carolina.
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