I am in the very NW corner of FL.
This year was the third PM convention/hunt I attended.
What I learned was that I was doing everything right, just not getting close enough to that many here.
Hello all. I have hunted for over 50 years, most everything and all in FL and enjoy varmint hunting the most at this time.
No expert but here is what I have learned:
Set up is 95% + of your success. Wind, sun, etc.
On one setup I was facing the sun and a coyote stopped at 30 yards out. I think it saw a reflection off of my scope or more likely the face of my TX-200 remote, should have turned it around or not set up that way.
If they know that you are in the area, they won't come in.
Full cameo, hands and face. I use a gillie long coat.
I like to stand up with gun on sticks pointed at caller. I can see better in the thick.
No movement.
Be ready to shoot right now when you start calling, until you leave the stand.
Have confidence, if they are there, they will come, be ready.
If they stop looking at the call, shoot. They will leave real quick when they don't see the dying critter.
They don't always stop, just get close to call and high tail it. Maybe smell you around the call.
Some will come in running, be prepared to shoot a fast mover.
Just be prepared for anything. They are as different as you can or can't guess.
Byron South told me that he uses prey sounds because they gota eat every day.
I have found that the grey fox pups in distress is my best producer here and out west.
Glen Guess calls hogs regularly, just get close to them.
Coyote vocals are producing for some right now.
Bob cats are real hard on turkeys, quail and can and do kill grown deer. There is a post re; same under biology.
Night hunting with a light in FL requires a special permit like a Degrading Deer Permit.
Coyotes aren't any harder here than out west, just not as many. Hunting BLM land is very nice and seemingly unlimited.
Hunting in NM is all different than the southeast. Thorns! some can puncture tires. They will scratch your paint. Lots of "roads" are stream beds that are dry - don't get caught out there when it rains - the high water marks are up to 50 feet higher than the "road". Cliffs can and do flake/fall off - for days after a rain. You can get stuck in gravel or high center, or...........
Some parties at the hunt - up to four people - found what I think was a this year family group and called in several at one stand. Other good/experienced hunters didn't have any luck.
This probably isn't everything but it is a good start. I have had the opportunity to hunt with several of the real pros that you read and hear about. Some of the western custom call makers can make some real enticing sounds and not have to carry an electronic caller. Many use electronic callers, which I am convinced are the way to go in limited visibility and jive better shot opportunities.
Southern NM has plenty of coyotes and places you can hunt but few deer. I hunted eight days this time and covered a lot of ground. I hunted with a local that has hunted and trapped all his live there and kills lots of coyotes- knows what he is doing. Saw four deer, three bucks - one a whopper, one shooter and one last day shooter and one doe. They can only kill one deer per year. Here deer are a nuisance.