February is Valentine's month. Don't forget about your sweetie or your sweetie might forget about you. February is also when coyotes starting making the moves on their sweeties. I think I saw a bit of that this weekend. Saturday morning my buddy Gale and I called in four coyotes on two stands.
Luck wasn't with me as every coyote came in on Gale's side, the downwind side, giving him the best position for shooting. Not only was I disappointed, but so was my dog Sage, who missed out on the action except for recovery duty. The only coyote I even had a chance at was trying to hook up with two other coyotes dancing in front of Gale. About the time I was moving my rifle and ready to let Sage do some decoying, Gale tipped over the closest coyote and my target disappeared in a sea of sagebrush.
I'll quit whining now and tell you how to deliver a Hornady V-Max valentine (www.hornady.com) on your next coyote outing. Switch calls and use more coyote vocalizations. Coyotes that don't have mates will be looking for a date and coyotes that are paired up will start defending denning territory. I used coyote talk all morning via diaphragm calls and my Johnny Stewart
PM-4 caller (www.hunterspec.com).
Next, sit longer. When you use coyote vocalizations it generally takes longer for coyotes to show. That wasn't the case Saturday as two showed up to my howls immediately, but a later coyote took 20 minutes to show.
Finally, toss in a bit of coyote yipping, growling and snapping. Any coyote conflict sounds will work and will sound like two coyotes in a love spat or even fighting over a meal.
Don't use these tactics on your valentine. I'd suggest a candle-lit dinner or cash.
Put me in coach. I can handle my untamed cousins.