The best weather for calling coyotes
Weather or not
The concept of the best weather to hunt coyotes can be a complex topic. Although there are certainly weather conditions that influence coyote behavior, they can literally be called 24-7, 365. That being said, there are some resources that can help you when selecting the best times to head for the great outdoors in search of yodel dogs.
My personal experience has demonstrated that coyote response to calling decreases when temperatures get into the high 70’s. In southern Utah, where I live, this means that midday hunts through the summer months are usually non productive. I usually wait until August to start hunting and then concentrate on higher elevation areas close by. I also concentrate on morning and evening hunt times.
One distinct advantage of thses late summer/early fall hunts is that there are more young coyotes out and about. Utah DWR statistics show that the vast majority of harvested coyotes are one year old or less.
On the flip side, I have called coyotes on multiple occasions in sub zero weather, as low as minus 12.
Extreme cold has its advantages and disadvantages. Coyotes depend on an increase in caloric intake in cold weather to stay warm. This means they will be hungrier and more likely to respond to prey distress calling. Unfortunately, hunting is just harder in cold weather. You need to bundle up, making movement more restricted. Cold fingers make small motor skills more difficult and even equipment can function less efficiently in the cold. I will do another post in the future on cold weather hunting.
Hunting in snow makes it easier to spot coyotes and easier to find sign. It also helps in finding a coyote after it’s been hit. Tracking, especially following a blood trail, is much easier in the snow.
If you’re hunting in the snow, especially on a sunny day, don’t forget your sunglasses.
As is the case with many types of statistics, the numbers don’t always reflect the behavior you might be looking for. Such might be the case with the FoxPro Fox Data records. According to that information, 34 percent of coyotes are killed when temperatures are 60 degrees or higher. This might actually be a reflection of hunter preference to be out in good weather rather than coyote preferences. Records show that 15 percent of predators were harvested between 50 and 59 degrees, 19 percent between 40 and 49 degrees, 17 percent between 30 and 39 degrees, eight percent between 20 and 29 degrees and two percent in temperatures below 19 degrees.
One interesting side note is that these figures might indicate that the lower the temperature, the less competition you might have from other hunters.
Meteorologists will tell you there is no such thing as good weather or bad weather. Rather, there is weather (rain, snow, wind, etc.) and the lack of weather (sunny and clear skies).
That being said, 55 percent of coyote kills recorded were during periods of no weather, when skies were clear. Again, this might be an indication of hunter preference, not coyote response. 30 percent of harvests occurred during cloudy or overcast weather and six percent during rain or snowy conditions.
My personal preference is to hunt during overcast weather. I have found that the wind is usually a little more predictable during these conditions and I’m not as concerned about sunlight reflecting off my equipment.
Most people will tell you the best time to hunt is right after a storm. I especially like hunting after a fresh snowfall. Although this is one of my favorite times to hunt, data might suggest a different focus.
According to barometric pressure records, 30 percent of coyotes were killed when the barometer was rising, usually after a storm. By contrast, 70 percent were killed when the pressure was falling, indicating an incoming storm. This would indicate that calling is more successful just before a storm, rather than just after.