October 2012 – Predator Exclusives

Colding Calling-Southwest Predator Hunts

October 22, 2012March 24, 2014Craig SteeleCalling Predators, Guided Predator Hunts

Most beginners, novice, and even many seasoned predator hunters/callers don’t really use the term, “Cold Calling”. Cold Calling is typically used in the marketing world, but for the purpose of predator hunting it is calling predators without any real scouting. Scouting for predators can be broken down into many different forms or levels, but essentially scouting dramatically increases your odds in being more consist in calling predators.

On a fair weather day you can typically get away with cold calling, because obviously your sounds carry farther and predators will come from greater distances. You can also get away with cold calling earlier in the season when there are more predators available to call; especially transient coyotes. If the weather turns inclement, or during the months of January-April, you are really selling yourself short if you don’t scout.

Southwest Guided Predator Hunts — Cold calling predators can produce results, but not always consistent.

The moral to this story is… start scouting to be a more consistent predator caller/hunter! If you are going to go on a guided predator hunt make sure you ask the outfitter/guide if he cold calls or not. If he doesn’t know what cold calling is, don’t book with them.

Calling in Coyotes-Quadruple!!!

October 6, 2012February 21, 2014Craig SteeleCalling Coyotes, Predator Videos

We had the chance to do some pre-hunting scouting this past month. Sometimes you learn more about your prey when you take your time and observe. At day break I heard a family group of coyotes from over a mile away. I glassed the area, but they were just out of sight from me.

I decided to start with a lone howl from a Nordik Predator Hand Call. My intentions were to get a territorial response of some kind. Realistically, as predator hunters we don’t know where coyote boundaries are, but you can almost bet they are within their home range if you hear them howl.

Within a few seconds I switched to a couple of 15 second distress sounds from the Nordik Predator Hand Call. A few seconds later, I glassed up the family group cresting the hill toward me. I watched through my 15’s, and filmed with my camera mounted to a Jim White Tripod Adapter.

What I learned from this scenario was…

1. The fence line was probably a boundary for this group. Two of the coyotes posted before crossing, and the fourth coyote held up while watching to the East. Honestly, these coyotes gambled to come to the call.

2. If I was to setup on these coyotes with the intent to kill, I would make sure I was inside of the fence line. Calling coyotes inside their territory will GREATLY increase your odds! I called this group in a few more times inside this boundary. The old white faced coyote was always with one of the younger coyotes, but I did not always call in all four coyotes.

3. More than likely there is another family group of coyotes living to the East of this group. The older coyote that held up at the fence line was intently watching that way. Right as the young coyote reached my feet the older coyote began territorial barking. Looking back, I bet it saw the other group approaching. I should have glassed back that way after I was done filming these coyotes. Coyotes know more about their surroundings and territory than we ever will. I learned a valuable lesson after watching this footage and I hope I don’t make that mistake again.