Congrats Steve M. As I was reading your story I recognized the bugga boo in the second sentence before reading the results. A tip for using fencerows, find a place where you can stand concealed with a rest for the rifle. The rest is just to keep it at shoulder level to have it ready.Fence post or tree limb will do.Get in the fencerow itself. That is for the very reason you mentioned, they can come down either side and will most often come on the down wind side of it.If you can't find a tree big enough to conceal your silhoette use the honey suckle that always seems to be there.Make sure you have fair visibilty and decent shooting lanes with just a little movement of the rifle and your all set.

In choosing a howler there are a few things you need to think about. How will you use it? As a carry call or something in the truck for locating. The reason for this is that the better calls are made of natural materials such as wood or cow horn. Cow horn is light in weight but wood like mine has some weight and is a bit bulky, it is better suited for the truck. Carry calls need to be compact and light. Some plastics fit this bill nicely but just don't have the clear sound I like.

Open reed or closed? Open reeds are far more versatile than closed.The better closed reeds are the Lohman and Primos made of plastic. Fairly good sound but a bit raspy.They are limited to barks and howls unless you learn to take them apart quickly to use as an open reed. Open reeds come in a lot fo diferent materials from custom wood smodels to brass like the Burnham Bros howler.The versatility of open reeds is unmatched. Puppy whines,injured yelps, barks , growls and the standard howl sounds. Don't knock that Burnham Bros tin horn, thats the first howler I ever used and intend to have another as soon as I can gather the dough for it.It will tick off an old dog with the best of 'em. Jimmie

Hey Jimmie,
Thanks,I hear ya! I was set up in this fence row with my back to it. Reason being, (one)a dog could not get through the small fence I thought,and(two) nothing would come from behind on the other side because of the wind. It was a good plan except for the hole in the fence I did not know about. Just my luck! This hole let'em come down the line behind me instead of making him come down the line in front for a clear shot!! Oh well!! That is why they call it huntin!!

Lots of geat info on here so far hope it keeps coming and helps out!!

The biggest mistakes we all make are where we outsmart ourselves.Like Steve I made a bunch of those too. In choosing a call site we need to recognize all aproaches to the set up. That fencerow as Steve learned had two aproach lanes, one on each side as well as the levie in front of him. No two coyote's are going to apraoch the same way. A pup will barrel in there like the first one Steve told about but that cagy older critter will use the back door if you let him. With time and a few dozen coyotes under your belts you'll learn which aproaches are teh most likely when you choose your site and which are possible but not probable. Until then your going to get to see a few rearends going over the hill Jimmie

GC, Bob Mc. Thanks for the cat info. I have seen only enough animals to learn that they travel like all predators through the country but had no idea what they prefered to hunt in.With your info and that last seranading trip in the LBL I think I know just where to find that kitty I have been wanting for so long.A couple of little valley's up there with all the things you mentioned in them.They should hold a load of birds come winter with all the brush,weeds and scattered open strips for turkeys.Feed is the key to the prey and the prey is where to find the critters we hunt.Jimmie

Jimmie,
I recall one of the old masters of predator calling (forgot who) saying that if he wanted a cat he would sow cracked shell corn on the ground where he was going to call for the bobcat at a week or two ahead of time. This would attract and hold those small prey birds to the area, thus keeping the cat around as well. Then when calling the area you could be fairly sure there would be one hanging around that area. I'd suspect that bird distress sounds would be the most likely to produce results. That's the type sound I make with a open reed or my Sceery AP-6 variable pitch. Though I have called bobcats with the standard raspy cottontail call. That was a hard, mean, winter with lots of snow.

I remember the crochity old rascal too GC. It would be nice to get him in on this thread if we could.The knowledge trapped in that mans skull could fill twenty volumes on predator hunting.

In choosing a call site I look for travel routes. How htey fit into the terrain helps make the choice. If the woods comes to a point in a saddle I will position myself where I can see down both sides. Coyotes use the edges formed by the brush there . If I can't get directly in the travel lane itself I choose a corner or fencerow.Making sure I can see aproaches to the stand.

Every once in a while a farmer leaves a single large tree in the middle of a field.Usually in a terrain feature that creates a travel lane. These are great spots to call from real early and late. There will be a little grass or weed cover around the base of the tree and it's usually big enough to hide the silohuette. That old critter will trot right up the nearest dip in the field to you.

Name your favorites guys Jimmie

I know there have got to be two dozen questions about specific things. What we've covered has been the basics so far. I still say there is no such thing as a stupid question. Even I still learn from all I can find or read. Learned a new stunt last night while reading an old magazine. How to let the tempo of your calling get you the right results. It made a lot of sense to me.The man said constant calling brings them running and slower tempos bring them slow and easy. Let your stand site determine which you use.If working a more open area bring them in hot with constant calling. Working the brush slow it down, call intermitantly, to bring them in slowly to give you a better oportunity for the shot.

CH1, Whenever you get back in here jump on the band wagon. I know you have a lot of experience in heavy cover yourself.These inquiring minds want to know. Jimmie

Jimmie,
I think we could use some more help in here and really don't understand why we're not getting it. This thread was sparked by the desire to share tips, techniques, information, and questions. An online workshop so to speak. We all learn from each other. If a guy has some info or would like to change direction some, stomp right in here and lay it out! If a guy doesn't have info, then surely he has questions. Now wouldn't that make sense to ask specific pointed questions here now for the good of all? New opinions and experiences along with some new specific questions will generate new conversation and dialogue. We'll all grow from that as predator hunters. It doesn't reflect on a persons skill level or degrade them in any way to ask a question. I'm certainly no "expert" and learn new info to help me out all the time by listening and asking when I don't understand something. Or have the need or desire to gain new information regarding something I'm unsure about. That's part of the learning process. If I can pick up on something on this thread to make me a better predator caller (and there's lots of room for that!) you can bet I'll be all over it! I'd like to see this thread expand to about five pages or so, what do you guys think?

Here is an old trick that works many times on those call wise coyotes. Buy yourself one of those cheap hawk screamers and learn to imitate the hunting scream of a hawk. Now when you go back to the calling stand where you know the old call wise yote will here you, just give out two or three loud hawk screams and then quickly switch to a rabbit call that you have not used in that area before. Coyotes are ornery devils and just love taking rabbits away from hawks when they get a chance. Coyotes are used to hearing the hawk scream, followed by the sound of a screaming little critter that said hawk just sunk those talons in to. Make sense fellows?

Does anyone east of the big muddy hunt with the wind at their back.From what I can gather most hunters hunt with the wind in their face in thick cover?

There certainly is a wealth of knowledge in these replies. Looking then over I see we share a lot in common, most of my techniques have been covered by the previous replies. This is great, when I first started calling a few decades ago I had no tutor. I was on my own in the field. Even today my learning is still in process. Like Mr. Cronk, I use a blown hawk call along with a rabbit sound. Another good sound is a blown crow call, coyotes associate crows with food and safety, a good confidence call.
Most of my hunting is done in the big timbered hardwood forests of the Appalachian highlands of Tennessee. This region contains a varied terrain well suited for coyotes, at the same time the irregular landscape can make it hard for hunters to be successful. When hunting timber, which makes up 95% of my calling areas, shots are usually limited by trees and terrain to about 100 yards or less. Most close encounters come well within 50 yards. I had one excited coyote come from behind me, passing by at five feet. I don’t know which was more surprised me or sir coyote. I would say he probably was as his tail hair is now being used to dress fishing lures.

Some of the bits and pieces below may have been previously discussed, if so excuse me for rambling.
I have observed a few things that will cause a coyote to come into a caller… hunger, dominance of territory, hopes of finding a mate and curiosity. Lack of experience with hunters is also a factor but young or unwise coyotes learn fast or else don’t last long. When calling I seldom worry about what type of sound to use. I have a few favorite types and brands of hand calls and tapes that I use the most but I have found almost anything that sounds like a distressed soon-to-be meal will call in coyotes, IF they are hungry. We are lucky, there are a great variety of calls on the market today. We even have some of the best hand call makers right here on the board.
Howlers can be used to fool ol’ Wiley into thinking another coyote is in their area. Other members will need to help here, this is a new tool for me. I am learning how to speak coyote but I often sound like a moose in heat. Coyote pups in distress sounds often peaks their curiosity as can a K-9 or red / gray fox pup in distress although the former can also bring them in looking for a meal.
Wind can also be a factor, if the wind is under 10 mph or so I call into the wind, if it’s 10-20 I like to call with the wind as my scent is dispersed by the strong air currents plus the sound will travel further. Anytime it’s over 20 mph I stay home and reload.
For me learning to gain a feel for the best set up was one of the most important additions to my bag of tricks (by set up, I mean where I prefer to be located in relation to where the coyote may come from). Notice I use the word may, did I say I’m still learning. This “feel” I can not explain in words, although it is not something magical or mysterious like finding water with a forked stick, the “feel” is something we can all learn by paying special attention detail and not forgetting our past mistakes. Like I have told my hunting partner in the past, it is something that comes with time and experience.
First off I want to go on record as saying…. No setup is perfect! I don’t care how the planets are in alignment, which way the wind is blowing or if you are setting in the middle of coyote central there will always be that day when coyote refuse to come out and play. Then there’s the setup where against all odds, one ol’ coyote comes in from where you are not expecting and busts you. That’s hunting! Been there done that!

And finally the #1 item in my book: Don’t give up!

Rich,
That is a great tip! Sounds really useful, better in certain situations than starting the stand with a howl. For instance, when I think I may stand a chance at calling a bobcat I never begin the stand with a howl, simply starting with low volume distress series. Beginning with the hawk whistle could be a neat way to drag those call shy coyotes into the stand without jeopardizing the chance of calling and not spooking a cat. Maybe if I think a howl could spook young coyotes and cause them to not respond readily for fear of being beaten up on by an old dog, this way could attract both old and young. Good tip.

Terry,
In my case because most often if I see a predator which is responding to the call, it'll certainly be within killing range, I call with the wind in my face and blowing behind me. Most likely when I can first see an approaching predator it'll be less than 100 yards. I always call with the wind in my face. I do this, and then try to make terrain work with me to funnel an approaching animal in my favor. If I can get the wind in my face and my back against a bluff or some similar terrain feature hopefully I can help keep the critter out in front. If I lived in an area that had fields and such, I'd have the field at my back and be facing into the cover to call (with wind in my face). This may cause a sneaky coyote to hesitate to circle and get your scent because he doesn't want to expose himself in the open without cover. A steep draw or gully can be used in much the same way. Saddles, points, spur ridge tops, side hill benches, clearcuts, all can help place a critter right where you want him. Sometimes!

You can use altitude the same way. Let the wind blow your scent on over the top of the ridge away from the cover you hope to get a critter out of. If all is right with the hunting gods that day, you'll be able to arrange all this and even have the sun at your back so the approaching animal has to come in squinting through the light!

I also most often hunt with my Dad and he's my back door man. Dad always covers the downwind side of the stand. Depending upon how thick the cover is, sometimes he'll be actually sitting against the back side of the same tree I'm leaning against, or as far out back as 100 yards. Over the years I've averaged around 65-70% of the kills and Dad has picked up the rest. Most of his kills if I were hunting alone would have gone untouched, probably unnoticed by me! Think about that now would ya!

You can also use your calling tempo to keep a hot trotter on the string. Normally, If I can see a coyote, it's time to shoot and quit calling. Yeah, I may lip squeak a time or two to pull him that last few yards into an open area or away from super heavy cover. I may also whistle or even bark like a dog to try and stop him from circling and getting my scent if I'm on him and know I'll have a good shot. However, if you don't have a shot and stop calling and the coyote quits on you and begins to get fidety, reduce volume and either lip squeak or keep right on calling. Sometimes you have to keep them interested or their natural curiosity and wariness will kick in and they'll want scent verification of the situation and begin to work around you.

This can also be the time for a motion DECOY. I use the Predator Supreme decoy after using just about everything else, including a homemade job I dubbed "FRANKENRABBIT." When the coyote sees the decoy they tend to get locked on that and are giving it at least half their attention. That's half off of you! Many times much more than half. I've had coyotes lock up like a champion bird dog on point at the sight of a decoy, this makes for a nice easy shot BTW. They also don't tend to notice a small bit of movement on your part if you set your decoy up right. I've had coyotes circle the decoy on it's downwind side trying to scent check it. I always try to put my decoy out upwind and out in front of me. When they circle in this way that puts them literally in your lap. I also spritz just a touch of cover scent around the decoy. Red fox urine, rabbit, squirrel, even deer cover scent. Anything the coyote may normally smell will be OK. It's just meant to hold their attention long enough for the shooter to do his job. BTW, don't spritz your decoy itself, you have to handle that thing and keep it somewhere around the house. A little squirt (not too much) on the downwind side of the brush or ground will suffice. I've also had a few coyotes rush the decoy and shooting them was in defense of property!
Another neat thing about the motion decoy is that crows, bluejays, woodpeckers, owls, and hawks will gather over it and add a touch of realism to the stand. Last winter I had a hawk attempt to snatch my Predator Supreme and make off with it!

I hunted with the wind in my face for several years and on some stands I continue to do so.My kill rate went up several times when I started calling down wind.This is the direction 95% of the coyotes come from.

Calling down wind usually makes for a long shot but with shooting sticks a 200-400 yard shot can be easily made.

Terry,
We are talking about thick cover calling right now. If you can see your coyotes when they are 200-300 yards away then you sure ain't hunting thick cover. When I am talking thick cover I mean cover where you have to look for a small clearing to even see fifty yards. In cover like that it would be silly to enter the area with wind at my back. Shucks, there would be no critters there to call because I chased em all off with my scent cone. In really open country like you are thinking of, I call with wind at my back with no problem. In the THICK stuff it is a whole nother ball game.