captkb44

Norm, I wish I could give you and everyone else a good solid answer to your questions but in my opinion there just isn't any. I have been involved with helping kids that are terminally ill or have life altering medical conditions go on hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures since 2004. In those years I have met some very interesting people from all across the United States. On the other side there are a few bad apples out there that try to ruin or hinder such programs or take advantage of them. I have always heard it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, but there are days I would like to see if that holds up or not. I believe the adaptive equipment some hunters need cost more due to either totally having to fabricate something new or completely alter something that has already been made....................things you already know I am sure. I feel very fortunate in all my dealing the past 5 years that anytime we needed something for a hunt, there has always been someone around to help make or donate it for the hunt. Don't get me wrong there are times it takes 40-50 phone calls before you find that person. As for the hunting itself.......................most of the hunts we have done are for trophy animals during normal hunting seasons. NOW what you call a trophy and what a 15 yr old girl with cerebral palsy or brain cancer calls a trophy may be two different things. I haven't a clue to what the hunting conditions/regulations are in your neck of the woods, but you should be allowed to hunt during ANY season. As for folks shying away from helping a disabled/physically challenged hunter is probably due to the lack of knowledge on their part. They have never delt with it so they are pretty clueless and what we don't know about we usually shy away from. I know the very first hunt I was involved in, I was so afraid that I was going to screw it up that I just about made myself sick before the hunt ever started. Once the hunt was underway and I realized we were all still humans, things were fine. I received an education that weekend that has stuck with me everyday since. Sometimes folks need to be educated before they get involved. Here in Texas we are very very fortunate to work with a good group of outfitters and ranchers that donate hunts for our program. Without their generosity we would not be able to do what we do. There are people out there that are willing to help, finding them may be the hardest part of the whole deal. Norm, if there was something I could do to help out your situation I would in a heartbeat!!! Kurt Bryan President Texas Outdoor C.H.I.L.D.

If legal I would suggest hunting the ag fields at night. If not legal then you can still hunt the edges of the ag fields where you can see better. Probably have better results using an electronic caller with remote and a decoy. Set the decoy up about 50 yds off the edge of the field along with the caller. Set up down wind of the caller along the edge of the field. Coyote will generally try to circle downwind, this would put them coming out between you and the caller. The decoy should catch its attention while you put the crosshairs on that front shoulder. Sounds simple and easy but they never come into the call where you want them to. If you forced to hunt the thick brush then what you have already been told should help you out. Hunting in a tree stand with a remote e-caller should help you as well. Keep in mind there is no true science to calling predators.....................what works for me might not be as good for someone else. Keep trying new things until you come across something that works for you. Keep several hand calls in your pocket even when using e-callers. Hope this helps.

Congrats Gus!!! Good to see someone was able to get out and do some calling. Wheres the picture of the coyote??? We picked up 12,000 acres down in your neck of the woods near Stephenville. I will give you a hollar when we make it down that way. I hear tales you met a buddy of mine the other day. Good guy you just can't believe much of what he has to say.

I just recently got my hands on a Compu_Caller III from Burnham Brothers and it works great. The sound quality is top notch, could stand to be a tad bit louder but still has good quality sound...............no distortion. I have used the FoxPro FX5 FX3 and Scorpion and they all work very well. I had issues with the remote on the FX3 working when IT wanted to, even with fresh batteries. It is frustrating when a remote decides to stop working in the middle of a stand and the caller only 25 yds in front of you.

Calling coyotes will vary from state to state and even within some states. My best time to call has been in October for the past 3-4 years. I started keeping a journal several years ago just to see how and what effected our calling here in the open West Texas area. Looking back October has been by far our best month for calling predators, especially coyotes. Here we don't have a season on them, so we can call anytime a landowner or rancher needs us to. I would go any chance I had to see if I could help your friend out. Keep in mind that calling the same area over and over will educate them, making them tougher to call in.

Next Time The next time you decide to set up and either call or ambush them, I would suggest setting up in a different spot or location if you can. Coyotes are very intelligent animals and if that is the same one you shot at before the likely hood you call him back to that same spot anytime soon isn't that great. The shotgun loads you have will work, but if you get a chance to pick up some of the "Dead Coyote" by Hevi-Shot I would. Its expensive but worth it in my opinion. Good Luck!!!

I have seen several videos and news releases from California where coyotes have attacked kids. They run thru neighborhoods like stray dogs and pay little attention to the folks that live there. They have adapted to living in and around humans out there and are more bold or brave then what we are use to seeing in a coyote. They have had problems out there for years but you never hear of anyone doing much about it.

Congrats on the tag and good luck this season!!!! Being that I have never hunted bear, I have a question. Do you try calling in bears in the spring or will it be over a baited area?

When it comes to calls these days you have a good variety to choose from. The typical commercial calls you can pick up at most stores all work. In the past several years the technology of electronic calls has come a long long ways. These range from $40.00 to $800.00. Your pocketbook and how serious you want to get into calling is a big factor on giving some of these a try. From what I have seen, the cheaper e-callers are just that.....................cheap. Not saying they won't work, but the sound quality I have heard just isn't all that good. Then you have custom made calls for the more serious or hardcore type hunters. These calls are usually hand tuned to your preference and can be retuned at any time. Most are made from good quality hardwoods and the sounds created with these IN MY OPINION are alot better than the cheaper commercial calls that are generally made of softer wood or plastic. No matter which call or calls you decide to try, you have to have confidence in it and yourself. You may buy a dozen calls before you find "THE ONE" and then again it may be the very 1st call you ever buy. Keep in mind that there is no exact science to calling predators. You can take one hand call and 20 different callers use it and you will get 20 different sounds and calling sequences. None will be wrong and yet none will be any more right than the other. With that said................don't be afraid to try something new...............new call, new calling sequence, or new calling style. Most predator hunters start out with a closed reed distress call and eventually work their way into using an open reed call. The very 1st open reed call I bought, I chunked out the window of my truck within the first fifteen minutes. I thought it was a piece of junk.........................it wasn't, I just didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. After several minutes of a veteran caller showing me how to use one I was on my way back to the store to get another one. Now you can rest assured everytime I step out of the truck to go calling I have at least one open reed call with me. Your calling sequence/style will vary from state to state / hunter to hunter. Again there is no exact science to this. While using a distress call, remember you are trying to imitate a hurt or dying animal. Put some feeling into your calling!!!! Imagine your that hurt or dying rabbit and do your best impression to try and convience every predator around that your for real. Here in Texas where I hunt, there is alot of open country to call. I generally start off "soft" calling, just in case there is one close..................starting off "hard" and loud could spook a close predator. With the open terrain, I can usually tell if theres anything close within the first couple of minutes. If nothing shows, I get louder and start putting more feeling into it. Call for a couple of minutes and wait 3-5 minutes and call again. I usually sit on one stand for 15-20 minutes and then move on. I know alot of callers that will sit and call for 30-45 minutes on one stand. I just happen to be impatient and its hard for me to sit there that long. I suggest hunting with one buddy. Keep it simple....................the more hunters together the more noise you make going into a stand and that reduces your chances of calling in a predator. Finding a calling partner that likes to hunt like you isn't easy and is alot like finding "The Call"..........................you may go thru several before finding the right one.

graphic pic I went out last night for a couple of hours and did o.k. Added

I have only seen pictures of 2 that other hunters have shot. Definitely a trophy in my opinion to just see one.

Congrats on another great season Bret!!! Keep up the good work and one of these days I am going to have to make it up that way and go calling with ya.

Looks great Tonya!!! I hope those swivels hold up better for you than they did for us. In the past we had used those swivels and they always worked real well - on one of our racks (two seater) we have replaced them both several times this yr.

Like wtnhunt said, you will get a variety of reason people hunt coyotes. Depending on what area your hunting usually dictates what is done with them after you harvest one. Up north where they actually have a good winter, a good number of folks hunt them for their hides.....................and can make a fair amount of pocket $$$$. Others hunt them to keep them from killing too many calves, sheep, goats, deer, turkey, quail, and house pets. As for eating one, I never have and hope that I never get that hungry to try. They are ALOT of fun to call in and in my opinion if you could call one in and take it with your bow then that in itself is a trophy. Coyotes are very intelligent animals and fooling one takes more than just blowing on a distress call. Good Luck!!!

I had one several years back and it was very accurate. It however wasn't fur friendly at all. No matter what bullets I tried it blew holes the size of your fist. That was several years back and maybe they have come out with a better bullet.