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 could regularly kill coyotes, and you'll discover yourself a much better hunter," he said.
"They are the hardest animals to hunt, " he added.
The idea appealed to me. I went to a sporting goods store and bought a coyote call. There was a rancher next to my house, who told me he had some coyotes he would like to have thinned out. I told him I would like to give it a try.
"Have at it," he said.
I drove out to his ranch and found a likely looking spot to call. I had no idea how to hunt coyotes, but I was determined to give it a try.
I got into position, waited a few minutes, like it said on the direction 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 but soon learned 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 the rest of the day and for several weeks after that before I got another 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 wanted to learn from the best hunters, so I got some coyote hunting videos. One of those hunters, was a man by the name of Merv Griswald. He lived in Gillette, Wy. I called him and told him I wanted to learn how to hunt coyotes from him. I hunted with Merv. He taught me how to find a good spot to call from, and taught me how 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 5 months old, I began training him. I would get fresh coyote hide and play with him. I would let him chew and pull on the hide. He rapidly learned we were after coyotes. He had to do with six months old when I took him hunting for the first time. I had discovered 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 virtually got him. But at the last moment, Dodger made it through the fence and added 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 fast and by the end of the summer, he would bring coyotes in to me. He learned to stay close. And he knew that I would take care of the coyotes if he could get them to me.
It is amazing what dogs will make coyotes do, when they have pups. I was hunting coyotes with my son. Dodger came in and ran between me and my son. The coyotes were right behind him. One of the coyotes actually ran into my leg. He was so intent on getting Dodger, he never noticed me.
I hunted Dodger for several years. He was one of the best coyote dogs I ever hunted with. I gave Dodger to a government trapper who hunted on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The government trapper told me that he was the best dog he had used before. As far as I know, 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 amaze you.
"You get to where you could regularly kill coyotes, and you'll discover yourself a much better hunter," he said.
"They are the hardest animals to hunt, " he added.
The idea appealed to me. I went to a sporting goods store and bought a coyote call. There was a rancher next to my house, who told me he had some coyotes he would like to have thinned out. I told him I would like to give it a try.
"Have at it," he said.
I drove out to his ranch and found a likely looking spot to call. I had no idea how to hunt coyotes, but I was determined to give it a try.
I got into position, waited a few minutes, like it said on the direction 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 but soon learned 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 the rest of the day and for several weeks after that before I got another 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 wanted to learn from the best hunters, so I got some coyote hunting videos. One of those hunters, was a man by the name of Merv Griswald. He lived in Gillette, Wy. I called him and told him I wanted to learn how to hunt coyotes from him. I hunted with Merv. He taught me how to find a good spot to call from, and taught me how 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 5 months old, I began training him. I would get fresh coyote hide and play with him. I would let him chew and pull on the hide. He rapidly learned we were after coyotes. He had to do with six months old when I took him hunting for the first time. I had discovered 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 virtually got him. But at the last moment, Dodger made it through the fence and added 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 fast and by the end of the summer, he would bring coyotes in to me. He learned to stay close. And he knew that I would take care of the coyotes if he could get them to me.
It is amazing what dogs will make coyotes do, when they have pups. I was hunting coyotes with my son. Dodger came in and ran between me and my son. The coyotes were right behind him. One of the coyotes actually ran into my leg. He was so intent on getting Dodger, he never noticed me.
I hunted Dodger for several years. He was one of the best coyote dogs I ever hunted with. I gave Dodger to a government trapper who hunted on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The government trapper told me that he was the best dog he had used before. As far as I know, 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 amaze you.
About the Author:
Roy Sowers III, professional coyote hunter and legal counsel for the North Carolina Predator Hunters Association, goes coyote hunting almost every day, and lives in Corinth, North Carolina.
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