East Coast Coyote Hunting

[1357MAG]

I have tried my hand at yotes, but I cannot seem to call 'em in. First off, I live in NJ, and most of the shots I have had on dogs has been coincidental, i.e while I was hunting deer or small game. I have heard that hunting coyotes in the east is one of the hardest things to do because of the denseness of the terrain (woods).
I am trying my hand at it again with some friends of mine this Saturday night.
We will be hunting some cut corn field edges, seperated by low hedgerows.
At night, we can only use shotgun with no smaller than #4 and no larger than #T. During the day, which is pretty useless, but we can use m-loader. This restriction is a pain in the butt, because I have had coyotes come in at around 100 yards. Great rifle range.
I am looking forward to comments on strategies, etc. I am very eager to kill some here soon as their breeding season is coming in.

 

[SBruce]

Sounds like it could be pretty tough there.

Let us know how your night went.

 

[jmason]

I'm by no means a pro but I do have some experience with these east coast yotes. Remember to set up for you wind and not to give them that advantage. Since you need them up close w/ a shot gun make sure you give them a safe way to get to you. Set up on a tree or brush line and not a brush pile in the middle of the field. You might get surprised by them but that's part of the fun.

 

[Chas1]

1357Mag, the restriction you mentioned is it that no centerfired rifles are allowed on yotes or is it all game. Unlike Jersey City, Bayonne, Paramus etc there are still parts of Jersey that are pretty wilderness so does it apply to the whole state or just certain counties?

 

[1357MAG]

1357Mag, the restriction you mentioned is it that no centerfired rifles are allowed on yotes or is it all game. Unlike Jersey City, Bayonne, Paramus etc there are still parts of Jersey that are pretty wilderness so does it apply to the whole state or just certain counties?

Chas1, that applies to the whole state. If you are hunting at night, you can only use shotgun with between 4 and T shot. Alot of guys are using the Hevi-Shot in T's. Per pellet, the T's weigh more than lead #4 buck.
I think I will make a purchase here soon. See my reply to this post.

 

[1357MAG]

I was out last night. I did not bring my gun, but just wanted to scout out the area where I deer hunt. (1 mile from my house) As soon as I got out of the truck I heard what appeared to be a large male. The howl was a deep one. I decided to go up to the ridge where I hunt and do an interrogation howl, and got an immediate response! I let out some ki-yi's and I got a closer response.
I decided to boogie home and get the 12 gauge.
I went right back to the spot that I was at, and did not get any responses because they were right near me. I could hear them running about in the leaves. I then decided to squeak a bit, and they got even closer. No bodies though.
Needless to say I WILL be back there this week! Wish me luck!

 

[1357MAG]

I'm by no means a pro but I do have some experience with these east coast yotes. Remember to set up for you wind and not to give them that advantage. Since you need them up close w/ a shot gun make sure you give them a safe way to get to you. Set up on a tree or brush line and not a brush pile in the middle of the field. You might get surprised by them but that's part of the fun.

I appreciate the input. I hunt on a North-South ridge, so that gives me somewhat of an advantage with the wind. Most of the time I have a NW wind here this time of the year. Take a look at the last post. I got really close last night! Thanks you for the input, and I will let you know how I do.

 

[1357MAG]

1357Mag, the restriction you mentioned is it that no centerfired rifles are allowed on yotes or is it all game. Unlike Jersey City, Bayonne, Paramus etc there are still parts of Jersey that are pretty wilderness so does it apply to the whole state or just certain counties?

Chas1, I have a correction. the only thing we can use a centerfire on is woodchucks on either private or federal land with these restrictions: any weight bullets from .22 to .25 caliber, .25 caliber or larger 100 gn. bullets or less. At least the lat time that I checked. I can see the point of notbeing able to use a c-fire in such a densely populated state, but we should at least be able to use them on private land with the exception that you are shooting from a tree stand. That sounds fair to me.

 

[Chas1]

Ouch...the whole state. Well it's been about 28 years since I've been to the western part of Jersey...out past I think they're called the maketchum mountains...I don't know it's been a long time but, I guess things have built up over those years. Sounds like the state's worried about bigger more powerful rounds straying or something.

 

[SBruce]

Some guys get a fair number of yotes with a shotgun...........I am not one of them!....LoL..... Most yotes I get are 100 to 300 yds away. Seems like most of the time (where I live) they are very near my downwind by the time they get into the 100 yd marker. They also seem to really notice movement at about that same distance. Getting them close enough for shotgun is pretty rare where I hunt.

If there are alot of trees and woods where you are going, your calling sound won't travel as far as you probably think it will. Hills and trees/brush really muffle the sound from a distance.

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you, being limited to Shotguns.

Good luck.

 

[1357MAG]

@Sbruce,

When I first started out in 2000, the very first night, I had 7 pairs of eyes, but none would come in. I now hunt a strip of land that is about 100 yards wide with a road on one side, and a field on the other. There is a huge swamp on hte end of the strip and that is where I hear them. Last night they definately heard me because of the responses at the end of each call set.
I think that if I use the Hevi-Shot #T, that should extend my range, and also give me more energy or "knockdown" as it is commonly referred.
I am going to switch to using a tree stand as well as maybe throwing some old venison around. I figure if I change tactics, I might be able to get a shot.
Needless to say, I could make a 100 to 300 yard shot with the 223 or 06.

 

[1357MAG]

@Sbruce

Most shotgun kills that I hear of are when guys are doing deer drives or small game hunting. I know that I have to get them in to at least 50 yards using #T Hevi Shot, 3.5" mag.
I do not have that many trees where I am at even though it is wooded, and I am on top of a ridge. I can even get up in the climbing tree stand. I know of a guy that is rather successful that way using the bow. My nature leads me to enhance and change my strategies in order to be successful, so I am confident that I will at least get a sighting! LOL!
I am rather dissatisfied with the way this state handles its laws. Most other states that I know of have a limitless season on them, with very little restrictions. We can't even bait!
Looks like we have to move LOL!lightbulb

 

[SBruce]

Yea, it sounds alot different than here in Wyoming. Out here, people can shoot them with any type of gun. They can be shot from choppers and airplanes. They can be run with dogs, trapped, snared, poisoned, baited, denned, run down with Snomobiles, ATV's, and Motocross bikes. There is also no season or limit or liscence to buy. Some counties even offer bounties for their scalps. Other counties pay a small group of people to get yotes full time year round.

I only call and shoot, but some of the guys that get paid to kill yotes use alot of the above mentioned tactics.

You mentioned the .223 or '06, can you use rifles during the daytime??

 

[1357MAG]

Yea, it sounds alot different than here in Wyoming. Out here, people can shoot them with any type of gun. They can be shot from choppers and airplanes. They can be run with dogs, trapped, snared, poisoned, baited, denned, run down with Snomobiles, ATV's, and Motocross bikes. There is also no season or limit or liscence to buy. Some counties even offer bounties for their scalps. Other counties pay a small group of people to get yotes full time year round.

I only call and shoot, but some of the guys that get paid to kill yotes use alot of the above mentioned tactics.

You mentioned the .223 or '06, can you use rifles during the daytime??

Yes, sounds like you live in a non-socialist state quite unlike the one I currently reside in. LOL! We can use rifles if we do not get caught LOL! It is illegal. Shotgun and muzzleloader, or bow during the day, shotgun only at night.