Gear

Camo

Can you call in predators without wearing camo? The answer is yes. Do I like wearing camo? Yes! Its not essential that you wear camo but I do think it helps break up your outline.

I used to like wearing all matching camo because it was all about the look. Now I wear different camo patterns because it breaks up your outline better. Give it a try, wear different color camo shirt and pants and see if it blends better. I do like wearing camo that is better suited for the area you're hunting.

This picture is a perfect example of how a certain camo pattern can blend better for specific terrain. Notice how my leg blends in with the ground.
 

Face Mask

You really should have a face mask on while calling. Coyotes may not know exactly what you are but they sure can detect whether or not something ain't right. Sometimes if the sun hits your face right it can make a certain shine and predators pick up on that. The same goes for your barrell shining in the sun, if it doesn't look natural or its not something they are familiar with it could spook them. These animals have keen eye sight and know the areas they hunt so they really can pick up on things that don't look familiar.

I was calling with a buddy one time and just didn't feel like putting my face mask on before we started calling. Well here comes a coyote all the way in and I lip squeak to get its attention and stop it. It gets a good look at my face and then does a full 180 turn back in the direction it came from. We took shots as it was moving out and luckly I hit it and put it down. Im confident if I had a face mask on it wouldn't have spooked.

The coyote was smart but not smart enough for me

 

Wind Checker

 

A wind checker  a great think to have out in the field while hunting coyotes. It will give a precise direction of which way the wind is blowing even if there is barley any wind. I use my wind checker all throughout the day. It's crucial that the wind be right  on stands or you'll get busted everytime.

 

 

Seat Pad

 

A seat pad will make your time on stand feel shorter because you'll be so much more comfortable. Not only that but you'll be able to sit still and sit longer.  A seat pad will help prevent movement, be more relaxed and more patient.

 

Gloves

 

I like wearing gloves it's comfortable, keeps my hands warm, I don't stick out and I like the way the gloves change the sound of the call.

 

Range Finder

 

A range finder is not a must but it definetely gives you an advantage on longer shots. If a coyote has been called before and may be call shy, it's likely a coyote will hold up out there a few hundred or so yards. I've seen them sit down and watch me like a cat would do. If this happens you may have some time to range the shot and click the turrets for the elevation adjustment.

 

Caliber

There is no such thing as the best coyote hunting caliber. The only best caliber is the one that works best for you. I'll tell you from my experience, hunting coyotes is not necessarily about what's the right caliber but rather what is most accurate, has enough knock down power and can shoot distance. I would have to say from see all different size calibers shot at coyotes that the shot placement is key.  To help you buy your coyote hunting caliber I'll tell you what I think about all the calibers and break them up into different catogories; extra small, small, medium, medium large and large.

 

Note: The calibers I mention are not the only calibers I refer to, I only mean calibers that are closely related in size.

 

Extra Small Calibers= (22 Mag., 17 HMR, 22 LR and any other caliber this size).

These calibers will kill a coyote. 22LR is a bit weak and needs to be right in the heart or head. It just doesn't have enough power but will definetly kill a coyote. The other 2 calibers are great for killing coyotes and but don't perform all that great past 100 yards. I like to have my coyote hunting rifles shoot at least 300 yards.

 

Small Calibers=(204 Ruger, 223 Remington, 22-250 Remington)

 These calibers are my favorite because they have very little recoil, plenty of knock down power, they are fast, cheap to shoot and will reach out to 300 yards and further.

 

Medium Calibers=(243 Wnchester, 25-06 Remington, 257 Roberts)

I like these size calibers because they also shoot fast and perform much better in the wind. They aren't over kill and the recoil is mild.

 

Medium Large Calibers=( 270 Wnchester, 30-30 Wnchester, 308 Winchester)

 These calibers will have more recoil but will still be great for killing coyotes because they dont blow the coyote away. I was suprised to learn that some of the bigger heavier calibers did the same impact as the smaller calibersand sometimes much less.

 

Large Calibers=(7mm Mag. and 300 Winchester Mag.)

These calibers are not as fun to shoot on predators because of how much recoil they have. Its hard to see your shot on the coyote with these calibers because the recoil is so heavy. These calibers are over kill on coyotes however I have seen I coyote get shot and run away with a 300 win mag, so its still all about shot placement.

 



 



 





300 win Mag was not too pretty