Al, although these few pics & the viewers knowing the wind direction the days they were taken. Is but a piece of the total pie.
Most often, a coyote that is bedded will not be able to see to it's up-wind. I've watched over a couple thousand coyotes in my time. That is what I seen.
They will use structure to cut the wind. Often when they are bedded down. Against or near a fencline drift. Or just below a sharp hill top. To block the wind. It becomes obvious they can not see. Or see very far to their up-wind.
I use that behavior to my advantage when I stalk then crawl in on one for a shot.
Speaking of wind. Even the slightest of winds. They still will be on the down-wind side of structure. No matter how small that structure may be. Coyotes don't like any wind on their face. They'll tolerate wind on their shoulder or backside. But not their face. [Unless, that wind is mild & warm]. That is the only variable I've seen. Which is rare btw.
I've watched many coyotes traveling/hunting from one down-wind area to the next. When they were out in the wind, they were angling/cutting the wind off of their face as they traveled.
The higher & colder the wind, the more angling/cutting to get to the next down-wind area.
I've "never" seen any coyote spend, but very little time out in a direct wind.
Seen some bedded down out on a flat area with bitter cold stout winds. Even then, they had their shoulder or backside against the wind.
Newguy fox & coyote hunters need to understand this behavior. It can only help.
Most often, a coyote that is bedded will not be able to see to it's up-wind. I've watched over a couple thousand coyotes in my time. That is what I seen.
They will use structure to cut the wind. Often when they are bedded down. Against or near a fencline drift. Or just below a sharp hill top. To block the wind. It becomes obvious they can not see. Or see very far to their up-wind.
I use that behavior to my advantage when I stalk then crawl in on one for a shot.
Speaking of wind. Even the slightest of winds. They still will be on the down-wind side of structure. No matter how small that structure may be. Coyotes don't like any wind on their face. They'll tolerate wind on their shoulder or backside. But not their face. [Unless, that wind is mild & warm]. That is the only variable I've seen. Which is rare btw.
I've watched many coyotes traveling/hunting from one down-wind area to the next. When they were out in the wind, they were angling/cutting the wind off of their face as they traveled.
The higher & colder the wind, the more angling/cutting to get to the next down-wind area.
I've "never" seen any coyote spend, but very little time out in a direct wind.
Seen some bedded down out on a flat area with bitter cold stout winds. Even then, they had their shoulder or backside against the wind.
Newguy fox & coyote hunters need to understand this behavior. It can only help.
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