how long?

[wtnhunt]

Got to try out my new caller yesterday afternoon with no luck. How long should I be keeping a sequence going. If I am using a distressed cottontail, the caller will run for aminute then has to be restarted. The caller will run two sets of calls at the same time too, so I can add in coyote barks along with a distress, or add in howls with an animal distress. How long should I call for at a time, and how long between sequences to wait before calling again?

[captkb44]

Re: how long?

Typically I stay on a stand for 15 minutes when I am just targeting coyotes. If I feel there may be a bobcat in the area I try to stay 30 minutes. The calling sequence will vary. Sometimes I start off with one or two greeting howls and wait 3-5 minutes and then start with some type of distress call. I use a hand call 90% of the time and will call for 15 - 20 seconds and then wait a few minutes and give another short series of distress. The first two series of calling I try to keep the volume down, just in case there is something bedded up close. Nothing comes in after those two series of distress I will get a little louder with the hand call and repeat this 3-4 more times. Once I see a predator coming in I stop calling. If they hang up then all I do is squeak at them to get them headed my way again.

When you first start calling look at your watch and then when YOU think you have been there 15 minutes, check to see how long you have actually been there. I had to really force myself to sit on a stand for 15 minutes as I am somewhat impatient. I honestly thought I was sitting there that long, until I started keeping track of it. Don't be afraid to try something new. There is no exact science on how to call predators.

[sureshot]

Re: how long?

I agree with cap only thing I find is if using howlers stay longer,just think of it like you had to go downtown to try and get mike tyson out of town, would you run right in or take your sweet time knowing it had to be done lol, just like coyotes coming to howlers, they are expecting a fight and will take there time hoping the intruder has left,I would say the past 2 weekends the average coyote has taken 20 minutes,we are lucky so we can see them for sometimes a mile off so it really helps sittign if you know one may be coming, if I am in open country I can see long I will only sit 10 minutes,were I can not see farhter than a few hundred yards I will sit at least 1/2 hour come january,not only howlers but with disress to, they are way warrier after gettign shot at and called before, plus deer season put a scare in them,hard to sit that long but what I do at the end when I figure the gig is up I will sit and count very slowly to a hundred, blow a few calls, count to a hundred again,blow one light one,then I will count to 250 slow with no noise,this will give you 5-8 more minutes and it had got me at least 10 coyotes this eyar extra after Iw as thinking of leaving!

Good luck!!

[wtnhunt]

Re: how long?

Thanks for the tips. I know there are quite a few yotes around, have seen a few bobcats too. Sitting for a half an hour is not a problem, used to sitting for much longer deer hunting.