How good are you?

How do you stack up as a coyote hunter?

  When I was first getting serious about coyote hunting it was easy to become discouraged. At the time I was living in an area where heavy predator control efforts were in place. Finding a coyote was hard enough. Finding one that would respond to a call was extremely difficult. Watching the FoxPro and Luck Duck videos didn’t help. It seemed like those guys were calling in doubles on every stand.

This big female was the first coyote I called using coyote vocals. I’ve learned that these should be part of every sound library.

            I soon learned that even the best hunters who call in the best locations have challenges and struggles.

            I did manage some success and discovered that I wasn’t really doing that bad. When I reviewed the coyote harvest statistics published by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, I discovered that my measly three coyotes in 2014 was actually better than 60% of the coyote hunters in the state of Utah. This was only factoring in those who actually killed and submitted coyotes. Considering all those who didn’t kill a dawg, I really wasn’t doing so bad.

            According to the coyote harvest information gathered by the Utah DWR over the past several years, ten percent of the coyote hunters are harvesting 50 percent of the coyotes in the state.

            There seems to be a natural breaking point in hunter success at around five coyotes per year.

            67 percent of those submitting coyotes for compensation harvested five coyotes or fewer. 33 percent turned in six or more. As I was starting to get serious about coyote hunting, I took some comfort in this, knowing that, even though I wasn’t harvesting as many coyotes as I wanted, I was still in the top third of all those crazy guys who spend their time chasing after song dogs.

            This knowledge gave me renewed confidence and commitment. I did more research, was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of Big Al Morris and Kerry Carver, both top finishers in the National Coyote Calling Championships.

            I did more scouting and, most importantly, more hunting. I learned from my successes and from my mistakes.

            I’m now harvesting around 20 coyotes a year in Utah, one of the tougher western states to hunt because of the bounty generated interest. That puts me in the top 5% of Utah coyote hunters. I’m not saying this to brag on myself, but to help you understand that you may be better at hunting coyotes than you think you are.

            Bottom line. Don’t give up, you may already be doing better than you realize. Talk to successful hunters, but don’t pressure them to take you along. Attend YouTube University and specialize in coyote hunting. Watch videos and learn from them. I have found that Hidden Instinct, FoxPro and The Last Stand. Are three of the better channels. I especially liked Hidden Instinct because they share successes, failures and tips. Their 100 coyotes in 30 days series was fun to follow.