By Glen Wunderlich

Hunting coyotes is always a challenge and adverse weather conditions can make it even more so.  High winds, rain, snow or extremely cold temperatures can make hunting more than uncomfortable.  However, by employing some basic deer hunting tactics, the predator hunter can not only bear the elements but he may have reason to grin, as well.

Planning a hunt in advance can mean that hunters may be subjected to unfavorable conditions on the day(s) of the hunt.  Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to attempt to define the difference between brave and stupid.  But, on this brisk and frosty January morning, we had a plan.

Nothing would please me more than to remove a local fawn killer from the gene pool within the boundaries of our deer hunting grounds.  With light wind from the west, my hunting partner, Joe, and I agreed that one of our deer hunting shacks would be the perfect site for an ambush.  There, we could take advantage of the prevailing wind and the warmth from a propane heater in the blind.  Typically, a heater is not necessary, because setting up for a coyote encounter doesn’t usually involve extended stays – usually, 20 minutes or so – but, not this time.

Overnight temperatures had dipped to 16 degrees Fahrenheit and had transformed the ground into a crunchy carpet of ice balls.  The sound of two flat-footed hunters making their way across the landscape was like crushing styrofoam in the still air; it was impossible to make a quiet approach.

While Joe carried the firearms to the blind

Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08, Leupold scope

, I set up a full-body coyote decoy about 100 yards into the wind and the FoxPro electronic caller was placed nearby.  Deer urine collected and melted from yellow snow was applied to our boot soles and around the decoy – not on it.

Here is where the heated blind comes into play:  We fired up the heater and let our disturbing approach succumb to patience, as we waited for dawn.  We positioned ourselves to cover any potential activity in the field using sandbag rests for our rifles – a distinct advantage.  Plus, in the event of electronic caller failure, I carried a couple of hand calls for backup.

A half hour or so had passed before I selected some vole squeaks with the remote transmitter.  (It’s always best to start a calling sequence at low volume in case a varmint is lurking nearby.  Since the hearing of coyotes is almost incomprehensively superior to that of humans, there is no need to blast out sounds.)  The stillness of the air was then interrupted by 30 seconds of pitiful squealing sounds, before hitting the pause control.  Several minutes of quiet produced nothing, so I repeated the procedure.  We watched.

With no response, I switched to the predator hunters’ favorite sound:  a rabbit in distress at low volume.  After another quiet period, nothing appeared, so I increase the volume a bit more, switched the caller off, and we continued to scan for movement.  Minutes had passed and then Joe noticed a lone coyote curiously searching for some fast food along a brush line about 150 yards out.

The 33-pound female paused long enough for Joe to launch a 139-grain Hornady SST projectile from his Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08

Handloads for 7mm-08

, while I plugged my ears and watched intently.  The killer was dead.

Saving fawns can be a challenging experience, although success is never guaranteed.  But, this time, we beat the odds.

Joe Reynolds with his 33lb. 2oz. female coyote taken at 137 yards

WASHINGTON, DC – On January 19, 2017, Safari Club International (SCI) filed a lawsuit against three sets of Obama Administration regulations that prohibit and restrict certain methods and means of hunting on National Wildlife Refuges and National Preserves in Alaska.  SCI filed suit in federal district court in the District of Alaska.

SCI’s lawsuit challenges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) and National Park Service’s (NPS) illegal acts in ignoring and overriding the State of Alaska’s authority to manage wildlife and regulate hunting in Alaska.  The Complaint documents how the FWS’s regulations pertaining to Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and the NPS’s regulations pertaining to National Preserves conflict with the State of Alaska’s constitutional and statutory obligations to manage the State’s wildlife for sustained yield by Alaska’s hunters.  SCI’s lawsuit explains that the FWS’s and NPS’s regulations violate the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

An early morning trip to add some fuel to the outside wood furnace was abruptly interrupted by the unmistakable and lonesome howl of a nearby coyote.  Pausing to cup my ear and to direct it toward the sound in time to enjoy an encore performance was all the reminder necessary:  It’s coyote season!

In fact, it’s always coyote season, since the recent adoption of more liberal rules allowing hunters to take the fawn killers on any given day or night throughout the year.  With the additional advantage of now-legal centerfires at night, there is no need to tote the marginal rimfire calibers afield any longer.  The fastest rimfire in the world – the .17 Winchester Super Magnum – is a wimp compared to any centerfire in terms of energy, and thus effectiveness, and will no longer be the firearm of choice.  The term “effective” can be read as humane, as well, thank you.

Is there such a thing as overkill?  Yes, if one wants the fur; otherwise, the answer is no.  I have taken them with the mighty .300 Winchester Magnum and versatile .30-06, and because I am a handloader, these .30-caliber choices offer long-range potential and plenty of punch with custom loads utilizing lightweight, frangible bullets.  However, our new regulations still consider the .30 calibers illegal for night use with a legal limit of .269 diameter projectiles. 

Typical varmint calibers such as the .22 hornet, .223 Remington, and especially the hotter .22-250 Remington pack more than enough punch to be humane for night use, when one considers the limiting factor of darkness.  Modern hand-held LED lights have come a long way and have become the varmint hunters’ choice afield after sunset. 

I like to scan an area first with a red light, because it has less of a chance to spook game.  At the same time, however, beyond 100 yards only an animal’s eyes will light up and that’s not enough to identify a potential target animal.  Tip:  Using the halo of the light, rather than the brighter center, is advisable for scanning.  A second green or white gun-mounted light can be used for positive identification and closing the deal.  If you are fortunate enough to have a partner, let him/her operate the red light, while you concentrate on getting on target.

Even though most of a coyote’s hunting is done at night, early mornings and evenings are still prime times for success afield. 

And, because mating season is upon us, coyotes will respond to challenge calls and are generally quite active now and offer sportsmen and women vast opportunities to save a few fawns.  Since most sets are limited to a half hour or less, fighting the cold is not as problematic as an all-day deer hunt. 

With a bit of instruction, a youngster can be a good lighting partner and the onset of any cabin fever will be forgotten quickly.