predator hunting in the milford area

[nhglock17]

Hello all who also hunts in the milford area beside myself? David

[browning204]

often though about it but never have.

[browning204]

How is the population/activity out that way??

Do you do much scouting and locating?

[nhglock17]

I dont do much scouting but have heard them once in a while also saw dead animals ect remains deer ect of yotes,decent mixure of open fields and woodlots as well as thicker woods, last season was first time I hunted out this was as I moved here about 15 months ago

[browning204]

ya you gotta do your homework to hunt coyotes.

It is a semi-confusing thing to do IMO.

I believe howling to locate at night is probably the best and easiest way to see if coyotes are in the area, but it also leaves some questions.

When people "scout" for coyotes we often look for the same ole' things. We look for tracks, droppings, hair etc but when were the tracks, dropping put there? at night, morning, last week? Some say that coyotes drop chow for many reasons, territory marking, warning signs, communication or whatever. So I think it gives the answer that yes they WERE there, but when, how often do they go back?

I have a spot that everytime I go there I see tracks, in the winter it looks like coyote super highway. I have dropped bait and they tear it apart everytime and pee all over the place. I have called the same spot in every weather condition, everytime of day during all times of year and have saw only Fisher Cats, Deer and Red Tailed Hawks. This is not a place where I wanna put a trail camera and expect to get it back.

Howling to locate leaves some questions also such as, if they howl at 9PM will they be there in the morning.

It is believed that Coyotes (eastern) only Howl from their home turf. If this is true then by howling, chances are you are near there home turf, where they are comfortable. You can go back to that spot and hope that they are home and call them on their turf where they are more at ease to move around.

Coyotes also have "core area" this is different than home turf. Core area is alot of times where the den is and a place that they will retreat to if threatened or whatever. Some times even while in there home turf, if something is up and they feel uncomfortable they go back to the core area to regroup, rethink or just feel safe.

Getting into the core area is ideal for hunting but not easily done.

Two mistakes I think that Most Coyote hunters in the east make including my self are.

1) You gotta get off the ground. You will see more and cut down on getting made by coyotes.

2) not staying on stand long enough/ quiet time.
In the east our calling sounds may not carry well due to vegitation and landscape. 30 minute or longer should be done IMO.

silence can be the killer. Alot of guys will get up and move as soon as they get done calling. I think that we might be spooking coyotes that we didn't see or where kinda sketched about coming to a call. We could get a shot at the lass dominant or slow approaching coyotes. This has actually happened to me.

Anyways, this is just some stuff that I think about while out getting skunked.

Trial and error is the best way that I learn.

P.s. Where did you move from???