Predator Hunting - Winter 2015-2016

TS E S
R CA O T
FO B Y
S O O
C B C
TI S Y
C OD T R
TA O U N
W
P CO
EE
D SH
U
BR
WINTER 2015-2016
PERFECT
PREDATORS
WHEN THE HUNTERS
BECOME THE HUNTED
THE ULTIMATE
CHALLENGE
CALL IN A
M O U N TA I N L I O N
LURE IN A
GIANT WOLF
Access Tough Terrain

Judge Distances
Master the Wind
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4 | P R E D AT O R H U N T I N G
Magazine
2015-2016
PREDATOR HUNTING WINTER 2015 - 2016
Contents
FEATURES
8
The Cat of Many Names

You will probably fail but calling in a mountain lion is the ultiimate challenge in predator
hunting. By Jack Spencer, Jr
12
50
Beast Hogs & Song Dogs

How hog hunting and predator hunting
go hand-in-hand. By Bob Humphrey
54
The Quiet Woods
Stealth-Mode Bobcats
Suppressors are becoming legal for hunting in

many states. How and why to give them a try.
Everything you need to know about hunting

the ghost of the woods. By John Murray
18
Hunting Giant Wolves

of the North
A Candian quest.
24
By Brian McCombie and Dick Jones
56
Reaching Out
How to extend your long-range shooting
with confidence. By Doug Howlett
By BJack Spencer, Jr
The Mobile Hunters Triad
58
Any-Country Coyotes
A 4WD truck, a motorcycle and a mountain

bike. By Ted Stotler
28
Calling in the Thick Stuff
How to master the landscape in any

terrain that you hunt. By Mark Kayser
62
How Far? How Close?
Tactics for hunting in the jungle brush.
A survey of predator hunters on everything

from driving time to how far they take shots.
By Randy D. Smith
34
By Andrew Lewand
Predator Hunting on a Budget

An experiment in putting together an
economy rig. By Cary Rideout
42
Conditioned Coyotes
Dont let song dogs figure you out.
By Lance Homman
Calling the Crows

Its just like coyote hunting except
the target has wings. By Art Isberg
46
66
70
Get Comfortable
This predator hunting gear takes the
misery out of a tough hunt. By Mark Kayser
Calling the Mountain Winds

Careful analysis of breeze patterns is a
key to hunting success. By Hunter Bodenchuk
Predator Hunting is presented by the F+W Outdoor Group.

Copyright 2015 by F+W, a Content + eCommerce Company.
2015-2016
| P R E D AT O R H U N T I N G
Magazine
| 5
EDITORS CALL | James Card
And There I Was

WINTER 20152016
David Koester is a travel writer that has a series of books titled, And here
I Was where he chronicles his travels to far-lung places in Africa, Asia and
South America.
I get a kick of his choice of words: And here I Was.
hose four words are powerful. It signals the start of what usually is a good
story. Its those words that get people to stop what they are doing, perk up,
lean closer, and pull up a chair next to the campire.
I can only imagine some predator hunters swapping some tales:
And there I was with this coyote ive feet away

from me and it looked like it had rabies
And there I was, with a dead battery 19 miles
from the nearest town when I thought I should
climb up onto this
And there I was, with the fox in the crosshairs
when I noticed it only had three legs
And there I was, looking into the cave where
the wounded mountain lion ran into
Heres one of my And-here-I-Was stories: And there I was, sitting on a
stump with a compound bow in my lap. I was 14 years old and waiting for a
whitetail deer. By mid-morning I had seen a few deer but none of them were
in range. Before bagging it for the day, I decided to try my new predator call.
It was a simple wooden reed call and I gave it a string of strangled toots, doing my best to imitate a small animal dying a horriic death. hen I waited
and watched for a fox or coyote to come running in. Nothing appeared. I
called again and decided to wait another ten minutes before hiking out.
Ater a while I got that feeling that something was watching me, that I
wasnt alone. I slowly turned my head, scanning through the brush and there
was the bobcat. Its body was hidden in the brush and only its head was visible. I watched the bobcat and the bobcat watched me. It was about 75 yards
away, too far to shoot with my bow and arrow and I didnt have a bobcat tag
anyway. It didnt matter. At that very moment I learned that I had the power
to summon one of the wildest creatures of the woods, to draw the predator
near and to look it right in the eyes.
May this season bring many adventures and upon your safe return from
the ield and forest, I hope you have plenty of And-here-I Was-stories to
share around the campire.
Vol. 10, No. 1
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001

715-445-2214
Editor | JAMES CARD

F+W Outdoors Editors | CHRIS BERENS
ALAN CLEMONS
GORDY KRAHN
Contributing Writers | LANCE HOMMAN
JACK SPENCER, JR
MARK KAYSER
ANDREW LEWAND
BRIAN MCCOMBIE
RANDY D. SMITH
TED STOTLER
Design Manager | SHARON BARTSCH
Graphic Designer | DANE ROYER
Advertising Sales | MARK BEAUCHAINE
SCOTT BUCHMAYR
AMOS CROWLEY
MARGARET ANN HUGGINS
BRAD RUCKS
Advertising Assistant | LORI HAUSER
Predator Hunting Magazine is an annual magazine published

solely for information to readers. The publisher is not liable for
authors or advertisers claims, or for negligence by manufacturers
that advertise. Advertising rates available upon request. Address
correspondence to: Predator Hunting Magazine, 700 E. State St.,
Iola, WI 54990-0001.
Contact F+W about these quality outdoor magazines:
Deer & Deer Hunting
Ice Fishing Magazine
Trapper & Predator Caller
F+W, A CONTENT + ECOMMERCE COMPANY

JIM OGLE, CFO & INTERIM CEO
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F+W MAGAZINE GROUP
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COPYRIGHT 2015 BY F+W

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PREDATOR HUNTING IS A REGISTERED
TRADEMARK OF F+W
Magazine
2015-2016
THE CAT
OFMANY
NAMES
Magazine
2015-2016
G E T T I N G A M O U N TAI N LI O N
I N TO R AN G E I S T H E P I N N AC LE
O F P R E DATO R CA LLI N G
JACK SPENCER, JR
could smell the piss of the deer-tiger as I crawled

along a steep rock canyon wall littered with territorial
scratches, turds and the unmistakable smell of rank
urine. his is a well-known historical haven for mountain lions to visit and deposit the last remaining morsels of their unlucky victims. On hands and knees, I scoured
the broken terrain; inspecting pugmarks, stride length and
direction of travel. An experienced feline hunter can tell a lot
from sign if one knows what to look for and how to read into
a cats passing remnants. he cougars solitary and secretive
nature oten makes them diicult to observe and nearly impossible to harvest while predator calling.
he elusive mountain lion holds the Guinness world record
for the animal with the most names in the English language.
Puma, cougar, catamount, panther, screamer and painter are
others you have probably heard. I typically refer to them as
mountain lions or just lions for short. he years I have spent
pursuing mountain lions and discovering the ever abundant
amount of deer they kill and consume, I tend to call them by
their lesser known name of deer tiger as it more appropriately best describes these eicient deer-killing machines.
Calling the Big Cat

here are many methods predator hunters can employ when
tackling mountain lions. he easiest and most reliable method is by the use of well-trained lion hounds. I have personally treed well over a 100 lions while hunting during the past
decade with hounds in my home state of Nevada, so I feel
conident enough stating the easiest way to ill a lion tag is by
following a proven pack of hounds. Still hunting or tracking
in the snow another method, but barely a doable ordeal and
a feat seldom accomplished. Sitting on a lions kill can also
be efective; however, nearly most states do not allow shooting big game at night when most lions return to their kills
to feed. Calling in a lion is possible, but again, this method
also screams failure, but as with most challenging endeavors,
perseverance can prevail even in the midst of compounding
impossible odds. When I hunt lions in other states that do not
allow the use of hounds, calling is my preferred method.
heres really no magic sound when calling for lions, theres
only the hard work of scouting and endless calling, calling
and more calling. he best predator caller in the woods is no
better than an amateur caller if there are no lions in the immediate area to hear the sounds emitted from the predator
caller. In many states, hound hunting is not permitted so calling is about the only viable option besides getting lucky and
stumbling upon a lion. In other states where running hounds
2015-2016
Magazine
| 9
T H E C AT O F M A N Y N A M E S
Left: Even snuggled tight against a rock crevice, the mountain lion, more often than not, has
an uncanny ability to see the hunter before the hunter can get a shot off. Middle: Inspecting a
lion-killed deer. Note the surrounding tracks and scattered debris. Right: A cougar in its prime
winter fur make for an incredible trophy and calling one in is the ultimate in predator hunting.
are a legal method, not everyone has

access to hounds or has funds available
for a $4,000 to $5,000 guided mountain
lion hunt. Many guided lion hunts are
no guarantee and most hunts average
30 percent to 50 percent hunter success.
If a hunter is dead set to call in a lion
then one is going to have to learn to be a
more disciplined predator caller. Youre
going to have to learn to pass on other
target-rich animals that will respond
to your calling more frequently than a
prized lion. I can personally guarantee
that you will call in more non-target
critters such as coyotes, bobcats and
fox than lions. I have had coyotes come
running to my calling stands when calling for mountain lions on countless occasions. I have had coyotes 10 yards out
barking at me, raking their feet across
the dusty desert loor only to have the
10 | P R E D A T O R H U N T I N G
Magazine
dust they created blow right in my face

by a sot gentle breeze. Sometimes its
damn right humiliating to put up with
such embarrassment; however, I keep
my eye on the prize and I dont give in
to some cocky coyote kicking dirt in
my face. he truth of the reality is that
harvesting lion by calling is one of the
least efective methods to ill a lion tag
according to mandatory harvest checkin data that is oten required by game
departments.
They Will See You

I will justiiably go on record to state
that from my observations and successfully calling in lions in over the years
that a lions eyesight is every bit as good
if not better than the sharp eyed antelope. Lions have excellent diurnal, nocturnal, binocular and peripheral eye-
2015-2016
sight. I do my best to blend in a whole

lot better than I normally do when I am
trying to coax in lions as they have the
ability to pick you apart and can catch
the ever slightest of movement.
Last year I had a lion coming into
my calling stand at a decent trot, and at
about 60 yards out, he stopped, squinted at me, shited his head in a circular
motion and ran away. By reading the
cats body language, the lion obviously
detected me as I lay motionless tucked
back in the brush. hese cats can spot
you even while camoulaged, snuggled
in against dense vegetation matter and
not moving a single muscle. here is
a huge diference between calling in
a lion and actually harvesting one. I
called in ive lions before I had an opportunity to ire my irst shot.
Recently I ventured out one morning
to do a combination of mountain running, predator calling and shed antler

collecting as the morning suns rays
peaked over the distant hills. I found a
location where several canyons melted
together with the presence of a few rock
piles that looked catty. With a little
yellow FoxPro call, I let out a series of
prey-in-distress sounds and not long
aterwards across a semi-open canyon I
spotted two lions. One of the two lions
was trotting towards my direction with
its head up constantly scanning, while
the other stopped, sat on its butt, and
started licking itself about 90 yards out.
On this particular outing I was toting my lightweight single-shot H&R
Handi-Rile, so I had to be a little picky
on my shot opportunity. he oncoming
lion disappeared below me, so I positioned myself where I thought the lion
T H E C AT O F M A N Y N A M E S
would show itself. I was of a little of on

my educated guess and the lion showed
up 20 feet to my right. hrough previous calling experiences, I dared not
move my body with a lion within spitting distance. I did no more than shit
my eyes towards lions direction and
blinked. he lion immediately ran of.
Many times before I have missed out
on these close encounters, but I still had
another opportunity across the canyon
if the other lion would hang around.
I looked over to the other side of the
canyon and the other lion was looking
directly at me. I cursed myself under
my breath for not having my steady
shooting sticks, but I did my best to
calm down and made the needed shot.
hrough the small smoke cloud, I saw
the lion somersault in the air ater the
report of the rile on the irst shot, and
I followed up with two more shots as

it lip-lopped itself into a nearby cave.
Ater dark crawl into the cave, one large
prime winter mountain lion lay at my
feet. It is an exuberant feeling when it
all comes together and the harder the
challenge, the greater the reward.
he mountain lion is the ultimate
super predator and is the pinnacle of
predator calling. Calling a lion within
shooting range is an extremely rare feat
and for those fortunate predator callers lucky enough to connect with these
well-known man-killers, this is the absolute grand slam.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 11
Magazine
2015-2016
BOBCATS
EVE RY T H I N G YO U N E E D TO
K N OW AB O U T H U N T I N G T H E
G H OST O F T H E W O O D S
JOHN MURRAY
2015-2016
Magazine
| 13
obcats are considered

the rarely seen phantoms of the woods. Most
people are completely unaware of their existence and
would be quite shocked to realize the
actual numbers of these animals that reside within their area. he truth is that a
bobcat is more likely to see you, rather
than you seeing the bobcat. Bobcats
are generally quite leery of humans and
once they have a visual sighting of a human, they will not linger within the area.
Not only is a chance sighting of a
bobcat unlikely, but inding any indicating sign of them within the woods
is quite a diicult matter. Possessing
large furry feet, it is almost impossible
to locate tracks, unless there is snow
on the ground. Droppings, otherwise
known as scat, are also very diicult
to ind. Bobcats will generally have a
few toilet areas within their territory,
and if this toilet area is located on the
ground, they do a pretty good job of
covering their scat with dirt. Occasionally a bobcat will have a toilet area on
top of a rocky outcropping. Remains of
their prey are not easily found. If a bobcat does not consume nearly the entire
prey that it has killed, it will do a pretty
through job of concealing the remains
by covering it with available forest matter such as leafs.
Magazine
S T E A LT H - M O D E B O B C AT S
he bobcat hunter must understand the bobcats habits in order to

be successful. Many hunters assume
that a bobcat is nocturnal because of
lack of day sightings. Instead of being
a true nocturnal species, bobcats are
technically considered crepuscular
meaning active in twilight hours. Most
activity begins approximately three
hours before sunset and will continue
up until midnight. At about the midnight hour, a bobcat will typically bed
down to rest. In the predawn darkness,
an hour or so before irst light, the bobcat will become active again and will
stay active until about three hours ater
sunrise. his is the common pattern of
the bobcat during most of the year.
his movement pattern can vary
due to other factors. During the brutally harsh cold winters, bobcats will
become considerably less active during the frigid nights because their prey
is much more active during the day
hours. Another factor is based on hunger. Should a bobcat make a kill and
have a substantial meal at the beginning of its activity cycle, the bobcat will
bed and rest and will have absolutely no
desire to move again during that period. Sometimes there will be additional
hours of daytime bobcat movement
during periods of storm darkened, or
dull cloudy days.
2015-2016
NEVER HEAR THEM COMING

Movement of the bobcat is unquestionable the quietist movement of any animal that has a comparable body size. A
squirrel, which is considerably smaller,
will make more noise. his is an important fact to remember for the bobcat
hunter. Most diehard bobcat hunters
will tell you that they never hear a bobcat approaching. Bobcats are designed
not to make any noise that will give
their position away to a potential diner
candidate. Bobcats have large fur covered feet and no matter what the terrain
is, bobcats will rarely make any noise
when they are moving. his is quite impressive for an animal that has a body
weight that can exceed thirty pounds.
Not only is their movement quiet,
but also this movement is also slow and
methodical. Bobcats are always searching for prey when they are moving.
Eicient visual stalking hunters that
possess uncanny eye sight and hearing.
Bobcats possess a tremendous amount
of patience. Its approach will be slow
and will stop oten to look and lay while
concealing itself within dense brush. It
is a true challenge to see a bobcat if it is
not moving because of the natural camoulage color of the bobcats fur.
A bobcat is a carnivore and will eat
practically everything within its home
range. For a male bobcat, that home
[
range can exceed twenty square miles.
A female bobcats range will be less.
When it comes to dining choices, all
creatures large and small are on the
diner menu. Moles, chipmunks, mice,
rabbits, skunks, porcupines and squirrels are readily hunted and eaten. Even
feathered animals, including many
types of small birds, and other larger
bird species such as woodpeckers,
quail, pheasant, grouse and turkey are
also welcome entries on the bobcats
dining list. Deer fawns are also a potential meal and a bobcat will not hesitate to attack an adult deer, which has
grown weary of the struggle to move
within deep snow.
Bobcats are an opportunist predator
who will live where they have readily available food sources. Dense brush
provides cover and concealment for
all of the bobcats food sources. his
is where the successful bobcat hunter
should hunt. Prime spots are within the
heavy cover of thick dense forests that
have plenty of new growth. Edges of
swamps are great locations, as the wet
soil provides great growing habitat for
dense clumps of vegetation. If the bobcat is spending time inside the dining
room, the bobcat hunter needs to get in
there with the bobcat.
HUNTING METHODS
Bobcat hunting in the dense brush is
undoubtedly the most challenging type
of predator hunting. You have entered
into the realm of the bobcat, who sees
everything thing that moves and hears
everything that makes a noise within
the surrounding area. his predator,
the bobcat, has a cloaking ability that
makes it very diicult to be sighted
and the visibility-reducing brush compounds this problem.
Using an attractant call to attract and
lure a bobcat within the hunters shooting range is a very efective tactic and
will increase your chances of having a
successful hunt, as compared to sitting
at a stand waiting for a random bobcat
to approach. We know that a bobcat
will eat many types of diferent foods,
but the calling hunter should primarily focus on using two diferent calls,
When calling bobcats, the most important thing to remember is that they move very slowly and they
could approach from any direction, including from above.
which will be rabbit distress and bird

calls. Each of these calls are time tested
and have been proven to attract and
lure most any bobcat within the area.
Woodpecker calls will get the attention
of a bobcat, and a turkey call should
also be used, especially in areas that
have concentrations of turkeys.
Every season we hear reports of
bobcats approaching turkey hunters
who are using a turkey call to attract
a turkey. his is not some random coincidence that bobcats are responding
to these turkey calls. Bobcats will not
hesitate to consume any turkey it encounters, whether it is on the ground
or roosting within a tree. Bobcats are
superb tree climbers and many a roosting turkey has had their evening rest
interrupted by a bobcat.
A bobcat caller can lure a bobcat at
anytime during the hunting season, yet
there is a distinct advantage to calling
a bobcat later in the hunting season.
he onslaught of winter has arrived
along with the snow that regularly accompanies it. his snow cover on the
ground will make the bobcat much
more visible within the brush, with the
only exception being new snow that has

stuck to most every available branch
and twig within the brush. Late season
periods will also have most vegetation
shed its leafs, which increases visibility
also. A fresh snowfall also revels those
bobcat tracks which would normally
be impossible to ind during non snow
periods. Track sightings increases your
odds of success because you have a visual indicator that tells you bobcats are
within the area.
Night hunting is a tactic used by
many bobcat hunters. Bobcats do a
portion of their hunting during the
darkness. Bobcat eyes are highly relective and will brightly shine when the
light beam of a lashlight is directed at
them. Red or green lens lashlights are
recommended for this night hunting,
as a bobcat is far less likely to spook
when this is shined upon them. here
are some drawbacks to hunting a bobcat within the dark of the night. If you
dont have a hunting partner with you
who is performing the duties of a light
holding spotter, it is quite a challenging
task to achieve a good shot. It is very
important to remember that a bobcat
2015-2016
Magazine
| 15
Adaptable and aggressive hunters, the bobcat will take to the trees to kill roosting
turkeys. They are strong climbers and fast on the ground but their greatest trait is
the ability to perform a slow, patient stalk on its prey.
can see very well in the darkness and a

human cannot. his gives any bobcat
an advantage of seeing the hunter before the hunter has a visual sighting of
the bobcat.
SET-UP STRATEGIES
his concept of who sees who irst has
dramatic efect on the success of the
bobcat hunt. he key to successful bobcat calling is to be able to see the bobcat
once it has been lured close. So very often, the bobcats are there, but the caller
just does not see them. Calling in the
daylight hours will level the playing
ield for the hunter because the hunter
has increased sight advantage.
he most efective calling times to
lure a bobcat are at early morning or
late in the day before evening. When
the bobcat hunter ventures into the
brush to a prospective calling location, it is very important for the bobcat
hunter to proceed slowly and quietly. If
Magazine
a bobcat is within the immediate vicinity, many bobcats are frightened away
by the oncoming approach of a noisy
hunter busting through the brush.
hese frightened bobcats will not return to this area for a prolonged period
of time, no matter how skilled that bobcat hunter is at using attraction calls.
A ideal setup location to chose as a
stand is where the bobcat hunter can
get his back up against a tree within a
location that can efectively provide a
three hundred and sixty degree view
of the surrounding terrain. First and
foremost, it is necessary to realize that
the bobcat can and will come from any
conceivable direction. Do not ever sit.
Never. Sitting has a dramatic impact
on hampering the hunters ability to
be able to look behind him. Remember that there is a very good possibility that the bobcat will approach from
your backside. When at the stand, the
bobcat hunter should never make quick
2015-2016
movements, as the keen eye of a bobcat

will readily notice these movements.
Move in super slow motion. It is a good
idea to inch your back around the tree
slowly, so that you are able to visually
able to scan other areas.
hese areas of thick dense brush provide limited range of visibility at best.
In many of these brush areas, the bobcat hunter may have a maximum visibility sight range of no more than thirty
yards. Hand held calls work quite well
to lure a bobcat to the hunter, but the
hunter can increase the odds by using a
remote electronic call. he speaker unit
of the remote caller should be placed
twenty ive to thirty feet away from the
location of the hunter. Any approaching bobcat will be stalking the source
of the sound coming from the speaker
unit and looking for any movement
of the prey that the bobcat believes is
making the sound. If the hunter is utilizing a hand held call, then the bobcat
]
next series of calling noises should be
about every two minutes and this series
will be continued at this time interval.
LOCATE AND SHOOT
hunter is the actual source of the sound.

he potential drawback to this scenario
is that there is a very good possibility
that the bobcat will see the hunter irst.
LURE THEM IN
A call, either a hand held or remote,
takes advantage of the bobcats good
hearing abilities. he bobcat hunter can
take advantage of the keen eye sight
of the bobcat by providing an actual
source for the sound that has attracted
it. If a remote speaker unit is used, the
hunter can tie a piece of feather or fur
on a length of ishing line or string and
hang it over the location of the speaker unit. his visual attractor will sway
in any breeze and is best utilized by
hanging it three to four feet of of the
ground. his will give a good visual attraction for a bobcat to key on, which
will be away from the hunters stand
location. Better still, there are remote
controlled decoys that provide irresist-
ible luttering, dancing movements to

a visual attractor. When using a hand
held call, it is not advisable to use a visual attractor for the sole reason that
this visual attractor will be too close to
the bobcat hunter. he bobcat may spot
the hunter. Better of to make the bobcat get as close as possible in its search
for the source of the sound.
When the bobcat hunter is using either a bird or distress rabbit call, it is
best to keep the volume at a minimum
realistic level. he call should not be
performed or played longer than a
minute. Ater a minute of producing
luring noises, stop and look very carefully around the surrounding area for
any signs of movement. Wait about ive
minutes and repeat the calling sound.
If there are any bobcats in the vicinity,
they will hear this initial volley of noise
and will have gone into search mode as
they approach. It is now imperative to
keep the attention of the bobcat. he
A bobcat will never or very rarely come

running into the area to investigate
the source of the sound. Almost every
time, the bobcat will sneak in slowly.
he bobcat will move slow, stop, lay
and look, then move again towards the
location of the sound. Be very, very
patient. he bobcat hunter should stay
at the stand for a least an hour during
the calling process. It can take that long
for a bobcat to come into view. Look
hard for any signs of movement. Many
times, the bobcat hunter may only see
a piece or portion of the bobcat as it is
approaching. Oten, when the bobcat
stops moving in its approach, it can
disappear completely from the view of
the hunter, but it is more than likely still
there. Focus sight on the area where the
movement was least seen and wait for
any sign of movement again.
As with every bobcat hunter, the
choice for a gun caliber is always a personal preference. It is advised not to use
too little or too large of a gun caliber. A
properly placed .22 caliber long rile can
dispatch a bobcat, but sometimes the
bobcat can travel quite a distance ater a
misplaced shot. A heavy caliber such as
a 30-06 will knock a bobcat to the loor,
but will destroy the valuable pelt in the
process. A good choice is to use either
a .223 caliber or a 12-gauge shotgun
loaded with number 4 buckshot. When
the bobcat hunter is hunting within
thick dense brush, the shooting range
will be rather close most times.
If you are looking for a challenge to
hunt one of natures top predators, get
into the thick dense brush and call in a
bobcat. If you are successful, you can
hold your head high and be proud to
recognize that you have called in one
of the most wary of animals within the
wild. And that, for any hunter, is quite
the accomplishment.
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Magazine
2015-2016
of
the
North
A CA NA D IA N Q U EST
JACK SPENCER, JR
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| 19
H U N T I N G G I A N T W O LV E S O F T H E N O R T H
s the aternoon progressed I noticed a coyote running out of the

trees across an opening
and it didnt stop for hundreds of yards. A short time later a pair
of ravens made some alarm sounds and
dive-bombed something in the brush.
I guessed a wolf was near. About 20
minutes later a pair of coyotes emerged
near the same area and they ran out of
the thick brush and started barking. I
dont claim to be the best wolf hunter
in the woods or know the most about
wolves, but when I hear a pair of coyotes nervously barking I know that
means there is a larger species nearby.
I igured if a wolf stayed so close for
so long, it was waiting for darkness to
hit the bait. I wondered if this was the
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black giant that our guide had trail cam

photos of and had eluded his hunters
for years.
threading-the-needle shots couldnt be

had. Life is not always easy for a diehard predator caller while trying to collect a wolf pelt.
I have experienced some remarkable

predator encounters while blowing
and sucking air on a varmint call trying to entice wolves. Ive had grizzly
and black bears come within 15 yards,
coyotes within 10 feet and once a curious otter within six feet. I have hunted
wolves from Idaho to Alaska with some
of the most dismal calling success one
could imagine. Eventually when wolves
would come to my stand they either
managed to run past my position or be
sheltered by a forest canopy with vegetation so thick not even a locked-on
rile could ind a shooting hole. Even
2015-2016
A fellow wolf hunter directed me to

Kyler Knelsen of Wingmaster Outitting (wingmasteroutitting.com) in La
Crete, Alberta Canada. He was experiencing phenomenal wolf hunting success by baiting. By placing hunters in
stands nearby and patiently waiting for
wolves to approach the bait, they had
ample shooting opportunities. Hunting
over bait while placed in a stand concept was all too familiar with me personally on coyotes; however, I virtually
had no experience with hunting wolves
over bait. One would think sitting on
The guide said it was the largest

wolf taken by any of the hunters
he has guided over the years.
a bait piles in sub zero temperatures

would be a cinch to tag a wolf; however,
I quickly learned that is not oten the
case. Knelsen has one of the highest
wolf hunting harvest rates in the world
bar none.
To sweeten the deal even more, I was
hunting with one of my good friends
and war hero Lt. Colonel Roger Capps.
Roger was wounded a year earlier from
small-arms ire while piloting American troops in a Chinook helicopter in
Afghanistan. He was as happy as I was

to have the opportunity to hunt wolves
in northern Canada.
Knelsen picked us up from our log

cabin in the mornings and dropped
us of in remote blinds located deep
in the bush. He had blinds on and of
the ground that had shooting windows
on all sides and most importantly, had
small propane heaters. On the irst day
the temperature was -41 below. Knelsen

cautiously reminded us that we should
not turn on the heaters before daylight,
so the wolves would not see any illumination in the blinds.
he irst hour in the blind was extremely cold, but once daylight arrived the small heaters made the blinds
comfortable. Without the heaters there
was no way one could sit for 10 hours
without being miserable. I made it two
hours once without the heater but the
2015-2016
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| 21
Of six locations with trail cams, the wolves usually came

at night and days would pass before they returned.
weather had heated up to a balmy -10

below.
Knelson showed us trail cam photos
of 21 diferent wolves that had visited
six bait sites during the past few weeks.
He also reminded us that while the
wolves regularly hit the bait, it was rare
from them to do so everyday. Some
may only visit the bait sites once a week
and even then only come in at night. A
week before we arrived, a hunter seen
four wolves and shot one; however,
Knelsen being the honest man he is,
also mentioned that the hunter had sat
six days the year before and never saw
a wolf.
On the irst day I saw 91 ravens and

nine coyotes all jockeying one another
to feast on the frozen remains of beef
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bones. he coyotes appeared to be average size except one that looked to be

in the 40-pound range and most were
dark in color. Knelsen advised not
shoot any coyotes or we would likely
jeopardize our chances for a wolf.
Roger had a similar experience and
saw may coyotes and ravens but no
wolves. On the second day, Knelsen
moved us to new blinds to keep us from
being bored. hat day 16 appeared at
my blind and I thought many were the
same coyotes that visited the bait, but
then I saw several diferent groups of
three and four coyotes show up at the
same time. Knelsen had informed me
that three wolves where making the
rounds to this particular bait site and
that one was a huge black male that
was shot at three years ago and quickly
learned to hunt at night.
2015-2016
Darkness falls faster in the far north, so

I thought I should try something and
sooner rather than later. I opened the
small window to the blind, shoved my
head in the narrow opening and let out
my best subtle wolf howl. I closed the
window and used my credit card to
shave newly formed ice of the window.
I had only shaved a small area when I
immediately saw a wolf running right
towards my stand. Let me be absolutely
clear with this statement, there is no
mistaking a big wolf for a coyote.
he wolf looked agitated and it
neared the bait but it was looking in all
directions trying to ind the one who
dared to howl in his home territory.
I didnt hesitate to take the shot and
I locked in on him. I still remember
The wolves are unpredictable. Sometimes they

are regular vistors, or in the case of one hunter,
he sat for six days and never seen one.
the big yellow shiting eyes and then

the bullet hitting perfectly behind the
shoulder. he big dog whirled around
and headed for cover. I knew the shot
was good but I decided to give him another one on the run for good measure.
He made it to the nearby brush line and
over a small rise. Even though the wolf
was running on the second shot, I felt
very comfortable with the irst shot and
the second was nothing more than giving myself a piece of mind.
Knelsen arrived at dark and we
walked to where I had last seen the
wolf and there the beast lay. He said it
was the largest wolf taken by any of the
hunters he has guided over the years. I
am 62 and well over 200 pounds and
I had to really had to muscle the huge
black wolf to get it of the ground. I used
a .243 with light bullets, but Knelsen
recommends at least a .243 caliber as

the minimum with larger calibers being better as he has tracked wounded
wolves in the past. One was a wolf shot
with a .308 three times before it was recovered. Shot placement, regardless of
bullet size, as with all animals, is oten
the key.
Roger ended up harvesting a nice black

wolf the following day. He mentioned
that his wolf came straight to the bait
without hesitation. In three days we
had two wolves down and later in the
hunt I had a huge gray wolf walk very
close to the bait, but aforded me no
shot. he image of the huge gray wolf at
that stand will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life, so I guess the
most sensible thing for me to do is go
back and try for him again next year.

It is likely that less than one percent
of all the hunters in North America
will ever harvest a wolf, let alone ever
see one. Wolf hunting success can vary
greatly. Free-ranging wolves are hard to
pinpoint because of their nomadic nature; however, wolves are fairly easy to
call and bait only if they are in the immediate area. I thoroughly enjoy hunting wolves and I even like eating them.
Its not as bad as people might think
and I am living proof you can eat just
about any predator that walks the earth
and live to tell about it.
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The Mobile
Hunters
Triad
A TR U C K, M OTO R CYC LE A N D A M O U N TAI N B I K E W I LL P U T A
P R E DATO R H U NT E R I NTO M O R E P R O D U CT I V E T E R R AI N
TED STOTLER
verything was looking good just before irst

light, and then the wind reversed its usual
direction. his meant that breezes would
now carry my scent toward instead of away
from my planned calling area. As I drove I
considered other roads that might allow me an approach
from downwind. he one road that would allow this required a four-wheel drive vehicle, but I didnt have one.
Back then I drove a standard pick-up. hat alternative
road was all dirt and had places that were so steep and
rutted that a standard drive could not safely negotiate
it. So with my plan foiled by unexpected weather, I just
pulled over at the irst likely place and began calling at
irst light.
I didnt get lucky and spent most of the day pondering
what might have happened if I had 4WD capability. My
planned choice of a stand that morning was not far from
an old abandoned ranch site. It had a running spring,
complete with a resident pack of coyotes. If I could have
approached from downwind, there was a very good
Magazine
2015-2016
chance that I would have called in more than one coyote at dawn.
My hesitation about the 4WD truck was its extra
cost and also that its increased capability would only
be needed on occasionin my mind not worth the expense. On the way home I stopped of a dealership, and
let a few hours later with a new four-wheel drive truck.
I have never looked back.
It doesnt take a serious predator hunter long to realize the beneits of a true coyote rile over a deer rile.
he latter will work, but a rile speciically designed for
coyotes is much better. Likewise, a battery of specialized
predator riles, one for a perfect day, one to buck the
wind, and a shotgun or semi-auto for close fast action
work, are much better than any single weapon.
he same goes for mobility. Over the years I have
tried just about everything, from cheap combat boots to
a new pickup truck. A helicopter is just plain out of the
question inancially, or I would have tried one of those,
too. Time in the ield has taught me that what is true of
With a slim profile, an off-road motorcycle can navigate tight trails better
than an ATV and can be loaded into the back of a pick-up truck.
irearms is also true of vehiclesone will work, more

will work better.
It seems to me that the fully capable coyote hunter
needs both a battery of specialized irearms and a collection of specialized vehicles. his would include a fourwheel drive truck, a light motorcycle and a mountain
bike. he main advantage ofered by all of these vehicles
is the time and energy they save opposed to traveling
slow on foot, and that time is better spent calling.
A hunter carrying full gear, a pack, a caller, and a rile
travels 3 miles per hour on foot. he time spent walking
to a stand is dramatically reduced by any of the three
vehicles. hese vehicles ofer other beneits also, such as
quieter approach, lower scent signature, and more efective visual concealment.
The Callers Workhorse

A good deer rile can be used for predators, likewise,
any reliable vehicle can be used for getting you on stand
but some work better than others. Over the years I have
been calling in just about every type of specialized truck

or SUV imaginable, and based on that experience, and
what I see other experienced callers driving, I would
have to say that the best four-wheeled vehicle for predator hunting is the light to medium 4WD pickup truck.
he 4WD pickup truck serves several purposes. It
can negotiate both freeways and dirt roads, and haul
another vehicle such as a motorcycle or mountain bike,
hundreds of pounds of other equipment, and harvested
animals. While many SUVs have 4WD and suicient
weight hauling capability they lack the asset of the
trucks bed. his open-air feature allows for storage of
the messier aspects of predator hunting such as bloodied carcasses, and even more noxious masking scents
such as fox, coon, or skunk urine. Any of these if spilled,
or even stored in a conined area such as a vehicle cab,
can become overwhelming and can prove sometimes
impossible to eliminatea sure way to turn wives, children, or friends into enemies of the hunt. he pickup
truck bed allows not only for constant airing but can
2015-2016
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| 25
[
also easily be hosed down and cleaned
in the event of the unavoidable spill.
In the ield the 4WD capability allows
for travel on the worst of dirt roads, and
easily moves over or through most mud
and silt-sand areas. he combination of
weight hauling, ease of maintenance,
and accessibility to diicult terrain,
makes the 4WD pickup peerless among
vehicles types. It is the hunters true
workhorse and main battle pony.
hat said, there are times when a
truck, because of its size, can be a real
liability. One year I had the president
of a local calling club tell me that his
membership was in agreement that the
Carrizo Plains were a real bust, there
were few coyotes and none that could
be called in. I just couldnt believe that.
My hunch was that over-calling and too
many vehicles in the open were putting
of the local canines. On the Carrizo,
like any plains area, there is very little in
the way of foliage or terrain that could
hide a truck, and few things can warn
of coyotes like the sight of a vehicle.
Sure enough a week later I took
a drive to that area and made sure I
parked my truck in a rare low spot in
the terrain that completely concealed
it. hen I moved of down the wash a
good half-mile before I climbed out and
set up. I took two coyotes that summer
morning in full daylight, one at about
ten oclock. he problem hadnt been
lack of coyotes, but most likely coyotes
spooked by vehicle visibility.
THE MOBI LE HUNTERS TR IAD
Once you get to your target location, ditch the cycle and head out on foot. A camo tarp makes the
motorcycle disappear in the desert.
rougher terrain. Like the motorcycle

and mountain bike, the ATVs lack of
a roof and outer body allow for wideopen view both up close and distant.
One of the best ways to discover tracks
and other sign over a wide area is to
ride the ATV on dirt roads at slower
speeds, especially just ater a rainstorm
has washed all old tracks away leaving
only fresh signs of passing. Frequent
stopping to glass terrain, both close and
far, is much more convenient than in a
full-bodied vehicle.
ATV Pros & Cons

I dont disparage ATVs but one trouble
with them is that when traveling far
from home they will need to be hauled
by trailer, and compared to the truck
their total carrying capacity is limited. I
do realize that there may be parts of the
country where an ATV is just the ticket.
Anyone who can hunt a few miles from
home would be a good example of this.
For the caller who takes down two or
more coyotes on one stand, the ATV
can be much more helpful than a motorcycle or mountain bike.
he ATVs strong suit is as a scouting
vehicle. Its four-wheeled drive and narrow width make it capable of accessing
Magazine
The Motorcycle
Next to the 4WD truck I have found the
most useful vehicle to be the motorcycle. he modern motorbike ofers quick
traverse of broken terrain that is not
accessible to the four-wheel vehicle. In
fact, a motorcycle will go almost anyplace that your feet will take you only
faster, and leave you more physically
rested and vigilant on ambush. Muled
for public places, it makes less noise
than a larger vehicle and puts less exhaust fumes in the air to alarm distant
prey. A motorcycle can also be hauled
in almost any truck bed and is large to
haul plenty of gear in saddlebags.
2015-2016
Because it is smaller than a fourwheel vehicle the motorcycle is much

easier to conceal or camoulage when
parked. Camoulage tape kits can be
purchased from any number of sellers
and if you prefer not to mar the surfaces of your bike there is another way to
camoulage it. I use a section of camo
netting that can be neatly wrapped and
carried in my pack. It is lightweight,
easy to use and completely hides the
otherwise glaring visual liability. Like
the ATV, the motorcycle ofers the
wide-open view for fast easy use of binoculars, and will also serve as well for
scouting as actual calling.
My use of the motorcycle has led
me to believe that the ideal is a lightweight, single-cylinder, dual-purpose
type. his type of motorcycle comes
factory equipped for both on-road and
of-road use. It has lights and turn signals in order to be street legal, but also
comes with lower gear ratios and ofroad knobby tires for better torque that
helps pull you uphill on steep and loose
surfaces.
More speciically, a 200-450cc engine
is probably best. Anything smaller does
not have adequate power for some ter-
THE MOBI LE HUNTERS TR IAD
A mountain bike is one of the best all-around tools for a predator

hunter that has to cover lots of terrrain. Sometimes it is the only
option in areas where motorized vehicles are not allowed.
rain and anything more means extra

weight and more diicult handling.
he typical 200cc motorcycle weighs
300-320 lbs. maximum. his means it
is also easier to load into a truck bed or
manhandle when necessary in the ield.
More power and engine size means the
additional weight, which is not good
for mud or slit and will oten bog down
less irm ground. Motorcycles also ofer
a varied atermarket for racks to carry
carcasses ater successful encounters.
The Stealthiest
Last but not least I would recommend
a 10-15-speed mountain bike. he only
real drawback to this type of vehicle
would be that it requires more expenditure of physical energy, but even so
its at least twice as fast and half as tiresome as walking. he gearing allows for
easier mobility over steeper and looser
terrain. Also, the mountain bike has
two advantages over every other type of

useful hunting vehicle. First, it can go
some places that a truck, an ATV or a
motorcycle cannot go. Second, it can be
the most quickly and completely hidden from predator eyes than any other
vehicle.
I ind it ideally suited to terrain that
is the lattest with the least or lowest
natural ground cover. Laid on its side
it requires no netting or special camoulage paint or tape. In fact, its biggest
drawback is that it is so easy to hide
that the caller needs to be especially
careful to remember exactly where he
let it. If not he may have trouble inding it when returning from a stand. Any
incoming coyote or bobcat would have
to pass within 4-5 feet to discover it.
As with motorcycle, the mountain
bike is a great scouting and hunting
vehicle, and it is easier to transport or
manhandle in rough terrain than any
other vehicle. In fact, modern mountain bikes are so light they can even be
carried if necessary. For hunters like
me, who are stealth and scent fanatics,
it makes even less noise than walking
and puts out no telltale fumes.
The Bottom Line

Depending upon what part of the
country we hunt all callers need good
reliable transport to ensure maximum
success. he vehicles made available by
modern industry are both useful and
varied. In order for the caller to realize
his full potential in the ield, and reap
an ever more productive fur harvest, he
is best served not only a battery of specialized irearms but also by specialized
mobility.
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Calling T
in
the
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2015-2016
hick Stuff
TACT I C S FO R H U NT I N G I N T H E J U N G LE B R U S H
RANDY D. SMITH
he ideal predator calling setup comprises

a well-concealed shooter overlooking a
broad expanse of open ground with the
wind and sun in his favor. Any dog responding to the call can be seen from far
of as it comes in and the shooter has the luxury of waiting until his target holds up for a nice stationary shot.
Ive watched this scenario played out many times on
predator calling videos. he shooter waits with his rile
balanced in his cross-sticks and his shotgun at his side.
Most of the time the shotgun is only used if the predator
hunter has time to make the switch. It makes for entertaining and sometimes exciting viewing and a lot can
be learned about tactics and shot decisions. hese shots
are seldom misses. When misses are shown it usually
involves a far diferent situation. he predator comes in
from an unexpected angle, surprises the caller, never
leaves thick cover, or rushes by. A clean shot opportunity never presents itself. he caller makes a rushed shot
and oten misses. In most of the country I call, the later
situation is usually the norm.
hick cover and heavy foliage dramatically increase
the chances for a lost predator. Such areas can be avoided
but if that is where the coyotes are then that is where you
have to call them. Sagebrush, tall grass and thick undergrowth force new tactics and diferent shooting styles.
I am reminded of one situation that occurred not long
ago. My partner and I were hunting unfamiliar private
land near Black Kettle WMA in western Oklahoma.
We came upon a broad and low river valley with high
ground overlooking sand lovegrass a couple of hundred
yards from the river. Higher, more open ground rose at

a steeper angle from the opposite bank. he land was
full of young, lightly hunted coyoteseasy marks for
calling eforts. We set up near a cluster of small locust
trees. I found a low position at the base of the trees and
did the calling while my partner set up among the trees
on higher ground. I was not carrying a shotgun but
rather an unfamiliar AR. I was really more interested in
my partner getting the shot. I sat there calling with the
rile wedged between my knees blowing on a howler/
barker. A young coyote suddenly ran headlong into me
not stopping until he was no more than a foot or two
away. Before I could get the AR into position and the
safety of, he was gone. My partner never saw him until
ater my futile shot attempt. We could only joke about
me getting caught with my pants down. he problem is
that unless diferent strategies are used this will happen
over and over. It can get frustrating and a lot of coyotes
are getting a good education.
The Set-Up
Calling from an elevated site will at least help the hunter
see a predator approaching. A caller doesnt have to be
real high but high enough to be looking down on cover
rather than through it. I have a portable stool that will
get my bottom of the ground by at least a foot or so.
his is important on lat open ground of tall grass. Obviously the caller is exposing himself so good camo and
tall background cover is an aid. I like to position myself with even a small tree or slope behind my calling
position or have taller cover in front of me as long as
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[
it doesnt obscure my shooting angles,
and I try to use anything that will break
up my outline.
I watch for well-used game trails
whenever possible. Coyotes will habitually follow those trails rather than
break through tall grass. hey will not
CALLI NG I N TH E TH ICK STU FF
try to break through thick brush that

might entangle them. hey like to move
switly and see where they are going. If
I am using an electronic call, Ill place it
near, above, or right on the game trail.
If I have a decoy I will place it where it
can be seen from the game trail upon
My primary shooting rig for heavy grass and brush areas in this 12-gauge Aimpro Predator pump
shotgun with a Bushnell 1-4X circle reticle scope. The 3-inch magnum Winchester Coyote loads
teamed with an extra full choke allow for a credible killing range of 60-70 yards.
]
approach. If an open area of low cover
is near Ill place the call or set up so that
I can get a shot opportunity there and
concentrate on the game trails that lead
into the open ground.
Gun Management
I nearly always carry both a shotgun
and a rile when I am calling and I always call with the shotgun in my hands
and the rile at my side usually wedged
in cross-sticks. It is a tactical mistake
in thick country to do it the other way
round. You nearly always have time to
switch to the rile for longer shots or at
predators that have hung up but grabbing for a shotgun and getting a rile
out of the way when a predator surprises you is nearly impossible. I carry
a shotgun set up diferently than most
do. I have an Aimpro Predator pump
action shotgun customized from a
twelve gauge 590 A1 Mossberg. It has
a 1.5-4X-circle reticle shotgun scope
that is always set on the lowest magniication level. Red dot and tactical electronic sights also work well. I prefer the
I prefer to set my electronic call in open areas

when possible to draw a predator out of cover.
If this is not possible I look for established game
trails as most coyotes will usually follow them.
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2015-2016
[
circle reticle scope for quick shots and
have never felt hampered by it and the
batteries never go dead on a scope. his
shotgun is equipped with an extra full
choke and loaded with 3-inch magnum
Winchester Coyote loads since #4 buck
and 00 buck is illegal in Oklahoma.
his gun is very versatile and lethal
out to sixty or seventy yards with this
load yet there is still enough spread in
the pattern for quick shot resolutions
at close range. If I am calling in heavy
sagebrush or plum thickets the shotgun is sometimes the only gun I carry
as there is seldom a credible long range
shot opportunity anyway. I focus the
shot attempt on the predators head if
possible with both eyes open to keep
my bearings on the target in relation to
the background. In low light it is easy
to become disoriented if you take your
eyes of the target.
I often use this inexpensive folding stool

when calling over flat areas in heavy grass or
brush. It gives me just enough elevation to see
approaching predators before they are right on
top of me. The .243 Ruger American rifle is held
in reserve for hung up dogs at longer ranges.
Tight shot patterns shoot through

brush or tall grass much better than
rile bullets do. Ater taking my shot
I always try to concentrate on the target to see if it is going down or moving
of. he same tactic should be used if
you have a rile. At longer ranges a second round is good insurance if there
is doubt that enough shot reached the
mark. Coyotes seldom go down from
a shotgun hit like they do from a rile
hit unless the shot is closer than thirty
yards. hey will spin or stagger giving
]
the shooter time for a second, more
lethal hit. If the predator goes down
I always approach or track it with the
shotgun at the ready rather than a rile.
Marginally hit predators will bolt from
cover at close range and a shotgun is
more likely to bring them down.
Calling Strategies
When I call in thick cover, whether
with a hand call or electronic call, I
go with very sot calls at irst. Predators, especially if you have made a
Even a slight elevation rise can prove a definite

advantage when calling heavy cover. The
higher you can get with the least exposure is a
definite advantage in heavy cover.
Coyote taken in thick cedar woods with a scoped 30-30 Marlin.

While not generally considered a good calling round, a .30-30 lever
action rifle is deadly and usually produces minimal hide damage.
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When moving from one calling site to another it is good practice to sling your rifle and have
your shotgun in hand. Predators occasionally flush from cover during such transitions and a
shotgun is better for quick response shots before the animal in lost in thick brush.
stealthy approach to your calling site,

are oten very close. Whether or not
you announce yourself with an opening howl involves more of a gut feeling than anything else. I will howl in
more open country but dont very often in extremely thick cover. If the season is right and coyotes are talkative I
might try aggressive challenge barks
but generally I stick to estrus calls and
distress cries for thick cover. On the
hunt described earlier there were several young, aggressive coyotes in the
ield. I had a lot of good responses from
short barks and challenge cries from
my mouth calls. In cold weather when
coyotes are hungry Ill stick to distress
calls. If ater ive minutes or so I do not
have a response, I will increase the volume to try to cover longer distances. If
I suspect or see a predator approaching I will decrease the volume or stop
calling altogether. Coyotes have good
hearing and will usually approach the
original sound source location even if
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it isnt playing.
Call longer and soter than you
would over more open ground. I oten
call the thick stuf for thirty minutes
and carefully watch the fringes for wary
predators. Bobcats also prefer thick
country and they respond better to longer calling times. I call continuously for
bobcats lowering the volume as the cat
approaches.
If you have a clear, good shot opportunity on open ground with tall cover
closer to your position take the shot at
longer range. Experience has taught me
to take a good open-ground shot rather
than trying to lure a predator closer
through thick cover. he closer a predator gets the more likely he will make
out the caller and the easier he can
withdraw without you having a shot.
Try vocal barks, yips, or even a hey
you to stop the predator for an open
ground set shot. I very seldom have
time to switch to a hand call to bark
them to a stop unless the ground is very
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open. his scenario calls for the rile. If

the dog keeps on coming through open
ground and back into cover without
stopping switch back to the shotgun
and wait him out.
Finally, work in and out of your calling site as quietly as possible. You just
might lush a predator passing in the
area. Again, I carry the shotgun and
sling the rile for approaches and withdrawals. I sling my electronic call and
my chair so that I have both hands free
while moving. I avoid approaches that
will take me through thick brush that
might tear at my equipment, or create
unnecessary commotion. he irst place
I always look when Ive inished calling is directly behind. I cant remember
how many times a coyote was standing
behind me when I inished my calling.
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Predator
Hunting
on a Budget
Magazine
2015-2016
N EW I S N I C E B U T U S E D I S S O M E T I M E S T H E O N LY O P T I O N
CARY RIDEOUT
PHOTOS BY LORAIN EBBETT-RIDEOUT
ew stuf is great and nothing beats a

shiny new rile. But a new shootin iron
is not always possible. With the rising popularity of predator hunting and
more hunters becoming interested I decided to see if I could put together an economy outit. A
true predator-hunting rig that could tune the song dogs
but leave enough cash for the other bills as well.
be equipped with otherwise this would be an added

expense. Any well-rounded predator-hunting outit requires a shotgun and I expected this part of the search
would be the least diicult or so I thought. he low cost
rule made used irearms the only choice and I would try
to complete the rig with all the additional equipment I
could ind or scrounge.
Bore Size
Parameters
With economy in mind I decided to be open to any type
of actionbe it single, lever or bolt. All would be acceptable if the rile was in decent condition and used
a capable cartridge. Speaking of cartridges I set my
sights on a .22 centerire and not necessarily the current
market darling either. Along with the rile, an accurate
scope would be needed which hopefully the rile would
he starting point for this experiment was the rile/

scope combination. A used varmint rile today oten
comes down to either a .223 or .22/250 along with the
hot .17 and .204 calibers. But I approached the search
with little concern about whats popular and more about
price. he dealers used racks had plenty of choices but I
found most a tad too pricy. Being on budget doesnt allow for much wiggle room and very few riles met all the
2015-2016
Magazine
| 35
[
criteria. A Ruger Model 77 in .22/250
was a possibility but slipped by as did a
Remington 788 in .222. Actually I shot
the Remington several times and the
old Bushnell 4X did a ine job ater 40
odd years of knocks. he owner however was unwilling to drop the price
P R E D AT O R H U N T I N G O N A B U D G E T
for my research purposes so the search

continued.
One rile I briely considered was a
Model 70 Winchester in the classic .220
Swit. he Swit is a legendary cartridge
that set the shooting world on its ear
when it was irst ofered. With breath-
]
taking accuracy and a muzzle velocity
of 4,000 fps it still ranks as a predator
round worth considering. But speed
like that couldnt help but result in pelt
damage so I wasnt interested. Little did
I know that .220 Swit would play a part
in my varmint outit later.
History Lessons
It took much longer to run down a rile
than I expected and ater multiple disappointments I fell back on the best
search engine ever: WOM, as in word
of mouth! Its amazing how the irearms
community works. All you have to do is
put out the call and pretty soon someones trying to sell you just want you
need. But instead of a stranger it turned
out a local dealer contacted me and I
hustled over to view his ofering.
Sitting on the store counter in a
frayed ratty old case with a broken zipper was a rile. We talked a while and inally he pulled the scoped rile out and
handed it over. I recognized the Savage
Model 340 right away and checked the
barrel markings expecting either .22
Hornet or .222 but it was stamped .225
Win! Never heard of that one I told the
trader who proceeded to educate me
with a detailed explanation including
visual materials.
To round out the Savage 340 rifle, the author picked up a well-worn Mossberg
500, a classic pump shotgun that could shuck shells faster than grease lightning.
Magazine
2015-2016
[
On paper it was pretty much a .22/250
Remington with very close ballistics
except it had been out of production for
decades. Hmmm. When questioned on
ammo availability he pulled out a worn
cardboard with an antique looking Lee
Loader plus powder, primers and bullets. He also had four full boxes of Winchester factory 55-grain PSP ammo
plus another of unprimed rounds to
boot. I really didnt know much about
the Savage 340 itself but once the dealer
made it clear the whole works was going home with me we quickly agreed
on a price: about what the rile cost in
1970! I asked him to keep an eye out for
more ammo and he has since located
additional ammo. Having a good relationship with a friendly dealer is vital
for anyone that is a hunter and working with a local neighbor is better in
my experience then a voice on the tele-
phone or email any day. As an interesting aside the Savage was a 340V which
was the Varmint model and a true hidehunters gun.
On Closer Examination
he scope proved to be a Bushnell 1.755x20 mounted on a set of Weaver 11H
1-inch rings sidesaddle style. I contemplated replacing it but since I was going economy it had to stay. he scope
proved a straight shooter able to place
lead into a coyotes vital at 150-200
yards. For the woods/farm country
shooting I do this is acceptable. he
ladder and post iron sights provide
close range back up. he rile feeds
from a 3-round detachable clip and a
second spare was in the old gun case.
Lock up is tight and the riling while
used is still in good condition. he
stock has the marks of rough usage and
]
I doubt it has ever seen any attention in
the way of linseed oil. Action wise its
never jammed up and while the ofset
scope mount isnt too attractive but it is
solid, and once properly screwed down
the riles accuracy is ine for the ield.
Up Close Arsenal
Besides a long-range option I wanted a
shotgun for those sneaky varmints who
drit up close enough to count their
eyelashes. A shotgun is the ticket here
but I wanted to see how low I could go
in keeping with the project. Once again
the local hunting community came to
the rescue with a contact. An elderly
hunter was selling of a Mossberg 500.
Now to say it was battered wouldve
been a compliment. Not a speck of
stain in the stock and the faintest of
memories of bluing. he barrel lacked
a front bead and the action practically
The Savage 340 in .225 Winchester with a Bushnell 1.75-5x20

scope. The author bought it for what it sold brand new in 1970.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 37
]
worked itself. It turned out the decades
old pump gun was his rough weather
special but ater he told me price I dug
out my wallet.
Once I got home I broke down the
rough weather special. It was a standard Model 500 with a 3-inch chamber
(on the plus side) and a 30-inch modiied barrel (not on the plus side) that
was pocked inside and out.
Remember that loose action? Well
I have never handled a faster working pump or lever in my life. he darn
thing is like lighting with a broken in
feel thats tough to describe. It just slams
home the bolt, ires, ejects and reloads
like a corn shucker. he next step was
to load up for fur. I knew that buckshot
or heavy non-toxic shot is the recommended round for coyotes but in keeping with my budget I checked around
for other options.
At one time I remember every shot
Although the author got a good deal on a rifle in an obscure caliber, eventually he
would have to reload cartridges to keep up a supply of ammo and keep costs down.
Magazine
2015-2016
[
shell ammo box listed BB as fox loads.
Well I wondered if this recommendation still worked. I purchased a box of
lead BBs in 3-inch magnum. While patterning the load, I expected to see gaps
but at 25 yards it ripped up a test paper
with authority. Pacing back to 35 yards
the aim point still had decent multiple
hits with a decidedly non-modiied pattern. For varmint work tight chokes are
supposed to be the best but at least in
this old pump the more open constriction seems to print very well. It shoots
tight and a dozen or more lead BBs in
the breathing apparatus of any predator
will make it game over.
Squeaks, Squawks And Squeals

Once I had the rile/shotgun combo
looked ater it was time to call em up.
As luck would have it an uncle of mine
had mentioned an old coyote call and
I was able to get my hands on it. A
Scotch Model 1503 Varmint Call circa
1970s. he long rubber bellows is attached to a hardwood throat and the
whole apparatus is 12 inches. Talk about
retro! Using this is a serious interactive
experience but the darn thing is pretty
good at producing a decent series of
sounds. Volume is really good and as a
bonus it doesnt take two hands to operate. Ater a little experimenting I found
it possible to work from various positions even hanging from a shirt pocket
and merely nudging it. I like the big bellows and can get the artillery in action
even as it continues to squeal drawing
the curious predator closer. While there

are countless modern choices in varmint calls this classic its nicely in with
the low budget varmint rig.
Clothes Make The Man

Hunters today have the greatest selection of duds imaginable that wick moisture away and keep you toasty dry. But
like most outdoors folk I wear some
ragged looking clothes. Stained torn
and faded are the watchwords of my
wardrobe. Ater studying what the wish
books ofered I wondered about maybe
fudging a bit on my low budget rule.
hen while mall crawling one day with
]
my wife, she beckoned me over and
held up a nice camo jacket. It was too
expensive I said, and then she turned
the price tag over. he coat was $15 and
insulted AND a decent forest pattern to
boot. Turned out it was knock-of but
heck it was $15 and all it lacked was
a zipper tab. I quickly found the store
manager and asked if it was priced correctly. She conirmed it and I made for
the checkout. For a facemask I picked
up a thin mosquito head net and a couple pairs of cotton camo gloves at the
feed store and completed a simple lowpriced predator hunting outit.
The floppy Scotch Model 1503 varmint call from the

1970s. Keep an eye out for old predator calls as they
still work in the field but also for their historical value.
ABOUT THE .225 WIN

In 1964 the varmint-hunting world was awash in wildcat
cartridges and the big gun makers noticed. Winchester had
its .220 Swift in the Model 70 frame but this fine round
was already 30 years old and the company was casting
about for an updated offering. Over at Remington the
long awaited release of a wildcat round, the .22/250, was
sure to be a hit. So Winchester put its own world-beater
together. But unlike the scorching wildcat Big Ws round
was based on a different premise. Winchester took the
Donaldson .219 Wasp and its own .219 Zipper to produce
a balanced more than capable varmint round. Rimmed
and looking like a necked down .30WCF the new round
was called the .225 Winchester. Rather than try to out run
the speedy Remington round, the .225 Win offered a wise

combination of useable power, a round that maintains it
velocity and had excellent reloading qualities. But as we
all know the .22/250 had a long head start with legions
of wildcatters familiar with the round and a slight edge in
speed at the muzzle. With only a couple rifles (Winchester
70-670/ Savage 340) and Winchester as the sole ammunition maker, the .225 drifted for a decade. Eventually rifle
production ceased but the round hung on with enthusiasts
keeping its name from completely disappearing. As a round
that never received its due and one that actually makes the
grade, the .225 Win is worth a look for any predator hunter
whether they are on a budget or not.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 39
As an experiment in spending, the author put together a budgetpriced predator-hunting outfit and as this bobcat indictaes, it
proves it doesnt take much to get into the predator hunting game.
Post-Season Conclusions
on the go with a
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Of course no experiment yields 100 percent satisfactory results. It is diicult to ind ammo for the .225 Win so reloading
is a must. While I never intend to load the round to the max,
I am not sure the Savage would be up to the repeated poundings anyway. he pointed sot point 55-grain bullets that came
with the rile are a bit ierce on fur pelts and I probably should
look at a .224 option that is gentler. Most of the reloading suppliers are now ofering what are touted as fur-friendly rounds.
But being a cheapskate I will likely wait until I reload all the
bullets I have in stock now. A higher priced modern scope
would be a smart move as well but the Bushnell does what
Ive asked of it so far. he dated Scotch bellows call produces a
useful series of attracting squalls but it requires some practice
as any call does. It would likely get me laughed out of a stand
but it works. My rough weather Mossberg is a ine shooter
with the retro choice of lethal lead BBs. I have never checked
to see if it is safe with steel loads and if it becomes law for
upland work in my area Ill just set it aside for a deserved rest.
Final analysis? he tools are up to the task.
For the person willing to work at it a low cost predator hunting rig that doesnt eat up the greenbacks in todays cash tight
world is possible. here are some surprising choices once you
begin looking and it might just be a nice enough youll want
to keep. I know I am keeping mine.
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Calling
the
Crows
Magazine
2015-2016
I T S LI K E C OYOT E H U N T I N G
E XC E P T YO U R TAR G E T H AS
WI N G S.
ART ISBERG
veryone is familiar with the old adage, curiosity

killed the cat. Somehow I believe theyve pinned
that moniker of the wrong critter. he reason Ive
come to this is because of what took place on my
front yard just days ago. Lets call it a little experiment I cooked up to prove a point with a group of crows that
regularly cruise up and down my street. I set out full-body
plastic crow decoys in my front yard next to busy street traic.
Back inside the house I sat at my oice window watching and
waiting but not for long.
Five minutes later the decoys got the crows attention. hats
where their endless curiosity kicks in. Four birds swung over
the lawn making a quick U-turn before dropping down to a
gentle landing two feet from their plastic cousins. hey eyed
their artiicial brethren to see what they were doing that was
so interesting. It only took a few seconds for the four to realize
their new pals were frauds and they vaulted back up into the
air. But Id proven a point conclusively. he unbridled curiosity of crows is something they cannot resist and any would-be
crow hunter can capitalize on it. hese birds are smarter than
any other American game bird but they can be outfoxed.
Almost all irst time shooters and a good deal of veteran
hunters crow hunt by passing shooting birds as they move
around each day. However, using crow decoys is a more successful and more exciting way to hunt these very same liers.
Youll get more shooting, get it at birds in closer for surer kills
and have the satisfaction of bringing birds to your decoy sets
and your calling skills.
Decoys
One of the most important things never pointed out about
crow decoying is that you dont need the huge spreads that
waterfowl hunters use for ducks and geese. Ten or twelve
full-body crow decoys will pull in live locks many times
their number. I like to place mine three to four feet apart and
spread them out in a feeding pattern, facing them in diferent directions as live birds do when foraging. he clincher to
small numbers like this is by adding one or two lying decoys.
he Motto Crow, is a ground-staked decoy with wings that
actually lap and adds life-like movement that increases the
drawing power of your ield sets. Another winged decoy is
the SilloSocks brand, which is a fabric stretched over a frame
and staked on a tall pole. A third option to add power to your
ield sets is that standard full-body plastic decoys oten have
a small hook in the back so they be suspended on tree limbs
or wires. hese appear like live birds that have landed and are
inspecting their pals below. heir drawing power comes be2015-2016
Magazine
| 43
CALLI NG THE CROWS
Crow decoys on the ground will make up your main

spread but also attach some to tree branches and other
elevated perches for a more realistic draw.
cause they are elevated and can be seen over long distances
where ield decoys might be missed because of obscuring
ground cover. hese three simple additions to standard ield
sets give you a real edge on wary birds.
Calling
Crows have quite literally dozens of diferent calls in their formidable vocabulary from outright calling to squawks, hails,
groans and cries. Yet no would be crow caller needs to learn
dozens of diferent calls or when to use them if he or she just
concentrates on four or ive basic calling sounds. here are
two ways to achieve these: mouth calls and electronic calls.
Mouth Calls
hink of your calling in three simple phases and all this is
more easily understood. First is the hail call, when youre trying to get distant birds to notice your decoys. he call is blown
at the loudest volume with a two second break between each
call. It sounds like: CawCawCawwww! You can continue
to use this call until birds start to swing your way. If they turn
of at some point, go back to it.
Second is the over-here call, ater the crows swing your
way and come closer. his is blown at medium volume. he
last note in each call is blown at a lower pitch like: CAww
CawwCaww. Wait several second between each three-note
Magazine
2015-2016
delivery and watch to see if the birds are continuing toward

you. Should you hear them calling back which they of ten do,
you know your calls are solid.
he third is the all-is-well call or what some call the feeding
call. his is blown with the least volume as birds close in. Its a
shorter yet more exited call that is blown with a faster tempo
in two parts: Caw-Cawwww, Caw-Cawwww, Caw-Cawww.
Once the birds are in shooting range, stop calling and tend to
business. Youve done your job. Dont overdue it. Master these
correctly and you will be calling crows convincingly.
Electronic Calls
For the hunter uninterested in becoming a virtuoso with
mouth calls, electronic callers will do all the work for you
but at a higher price. hese calls ofer some real advantages.
Not only do they have a much larger selection of calls, but
also most of them cannot be matched with mouth calls. Such
choices as crows-in-distress, crow-ighting-owl, crows-gathering, crow-death-cry, and hawk-attack are just a few of dozens available. Choices like that can bring in crows that have
either been called before or even shot over. Starting, stopping,
changing calls is achieved by a simple push on a remote control keypad. hat also means no hand movement that might
give you away when using mouth calls. hese calls can also be
set to run non-stop as crows mill around decoys so you can
CALLI NG THE CROWS
concentrate on shooting and not calling.

Speaker location is also important. I like to place mine well
away from my blind of to one side of my decoys. his keeps
the birds attention on that spot and not me.
More expensive calling units now ofer dual speakers for
a surround-sound efect and optimum volume for reaching
out to distant birds. hese big calls run on battery packs and
its wise to keep a spare in your pack while aield. Cold winter
weather can sap battery power by almost half with extended
play, so you always want a back up handy. Carrying weight
for most electronic calls is about three pounds and are easily
handled in the ield.
About Roosts
At days end, crows wing in from all points of the compass
gathering in roosts to spend the night. heir raucous calling
at these times can be easily heard a mile away. With so many
birds lying into one spot its tempting to shoot roosting sites.
Dont do it. Shooting here will only scatter birds and youll
have to start all over again to ind new areas theyll frequent.
You can capitalize on shooting both pass and decoying if you
set up several miles away along the sky paths birds take both
going to and from roosting sites at each end of the day. Crows
are birds of habit. hey will follow these routes each day. he
smart way to hunt them is to shoot one area for a day or two
then rest if for four or ive days before going back. Rotate
shooting areas by having several you can move to. hats the
smart way to handle roosting areas.
matching your hunting perfectly. I buy low-brass trap loads in

either 7 1/2 or number 8 shot depending on how Im hunting.
hese give high pellet density in lead shot loads. Crows look
large on the wing, but theyre really all just thatwings, tail
and head. heir actual body is narrow, tough and skinny under all those feathers. You want to get multiple pellets into that
small body for quick kills. Use a full choke for pass shooting
and modiied or improved cylinder for close shooting over
decoys. hese traps loads are efective out to 35 yards where
your last decoys should be placed as a marker. he 20-gauge
is lighter, fast swinging, and easy on the shoulder when using
low-power loads. If youre doing your crow hunting on either
federal or state-owned lands, lead shot cannot be used and
you should switch to number 6 steel for an equivalent load in
either gauge.
If ever a game bird was designed for dedicated shotgunners
and predator hunters, the American crow is that bird. here
isnt a prayer hell ever be overshot because his numbers continue to grow everywhere he calls home, and thats just about
anyplace between both coasts and borders.
Timing Tips
I learned a long time ago the daily movement and timetable
of crows is something well worth understanding for steady
shooting. Any dedicated waterfowl hunter is the perfect candidate for crow hunting. Why? Because crows use the same
exact schedule as ducks and geese. heyre up lying out of
roosts at irst light and make their inal light of the day back
at the last hour before dark. his means you should be set up
either for pass shooting or decoying, to match their timetable.
During midday, crows break up into small groups of four or
ive birds and spread out freelancing for any food opportunities they can ind. hese small numbers are very susceptible to
decoying because they are curious to see what other crows are
feeding on. Noontime shooting can be spectacular because of it.
Crows also react quickly to changing weather. Big winds
set them lying seemingly for the sheer joy of it, just as waterfowl do. hey move far, wide and fast under these conditions.
Heavy rains, fog and even snow will send them into cover to
ride out the wet weather. You wont see a bird as long as it
lasts. But the moment the rain stops, they come right back out
again to make up for lost time.
Guns And Loads

I use both 12 and 20-gauge shotguns for crow hunting. One
of the great pleasures of using a 12-gauge on crows is the fact
you can buy the cheapest ammunition on the market while
on the go with a
Youll get the full issue with
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resources online & have all
your issues in one, convenient
place with you all the time
with a digital subscription.
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deer-hunting-magazines
2015-2016
Magazine
| 45
CAR E F U LLY AN ALY Z E T H E

B R E E Z E PAT T E R N S B E F O R E
H U N T I N G AT H I G H ALT I T U D E S
HUNTER BODENCHUK
Magazine
2015-2016
he coyote family answered a locator howl from

up in the aspen grove. Early in the fall, the pups
were still together and it sounded like the adults
were nearby as well. Getting them out of there,
however, was going to take some efort.
he aspens followed a dry wash and started about a half
mile above the creek. From the sound of it, this group was
another quarter mile into the trees. Approach from below was
out of the question as the upslope winds would announce my
presence long before I got within calling distance.
he only possible way to call these coyotes was to circle
widely and come at the wash from the side, preferably above
the level of the coyotes. his would take time, and they could
certainly move before I got in position, but calling to coyotes
I knew were home was better than calling blind.
Doping the Wind

Calling in the wind can be frustrating. A study done years ago
at New Mexico State University examined a number of variables that afected success. he No. 1 variable was the wind.
When the wind exceeded 10 miles per hour, calling success
dropped to almost zero.
Intuitively, one of the reasons for this is the wind decreases
the distance your call can be heard. Also, those coyotes that
can hear your calls will usually be downwind of your position,
where they can smell you long before you see them. In good
country, its better to wait until the wind is less of a factor than
ruin an area with ineicient efort.
However, the mountains always have wind, maybe not at
10 miles per hour, but there is always some breeze blowing.
hese winds are known as convection winds, and they blow
upslope as the air warms and downslope as the air cools. Understanding mountain winds is essential to successful calling.
First, a little bit of science: everybody knows that warm air
rises and cold air sinks. On a mountain slope, you can count
on this principle every day. Just at or ater sunset, cooling
air starts down the slope toward the valley loor. hese light
winds increase in velocity as the air cools. During spring and
fall, when the diference between daytime and nighttime temperatures is the widest, they can blow a signiicant 10 to 20
miles per hour.
Ater sunrise, when the sun warms the valley itself, the
winds switch direction and blow upslope, again increasing in
velocity with widely diferent daytime and nighttime temperatures. As you might guess, for 15 to 30 minutes before a direction change, the winds are extremely diicult to predict and
swirl constantly. his is an especially bad time to try to work
close to your quarry.
Dont expect the wind to blow straight up or straight down
the slope though. he diferences in air temperature ind
their own levels, and an open, exposed slope might heat up
and have upslope winds at the same time a canyon, deep in
2015-2016
Magazine
| 47
C A L L I N G T H E M O U N TA I N W I N D S
shade and cool temperatures, still has a

downslope wind.
To visualize the wind, think of the
air as water that would low over the
land. If the air is cooling and blowing
downslope, it will run strongest in the
bottom of canyons. On the hillside at
the edge of a canyon, the wind will also
be blowing downslope but will also be
sinking into the canyon, just as water
would do if it were poured at your feet.
If the air is warming, it advances
upslope as if the mountainside were
the edge of a basin. It certainly lows
upslope, but when the air encounters a
draw or bench, it will slow down and
blow up the draw or swirl on the bench,
just as water would do.
One exception to this image is the
top of the mountain. Prevailing winds
mixing with convection winds will always cause turbulence, and the wind
will swirl unpredictably. Sometimes the
Magazine
2015-2016
[
only place you can be sure its not blowing your scent is straight downwind
of your current position. he swirling
wind at the top of the mountain will
guarantee your scent to be dispersed
over a wide area. Avoid the very top of
the ridge if possible.
Calling in the Wind

While variable winds make calling a
challenge, mountain coyotes have some
of the best fur and are certainly worth
the efort. Obviously, being able to predict convection winds allows a caller
to get in place without being detected.
Using the wind to your advantage increases your success.
Setting up requires a little additional
thought. Being able to predict where
the predators might be laid up enhances your chances of setting up correctly.
Using a locator howl early in the season
when young-of-the-year coyotes will
answer greatly increases your success.
For bobcats and gray foxes, knowing
the country and where rocky outcrops
provide midday protection is also an
advantage. Approach these areas from
a distance and stay hidden.
Mountain slopes are rarely lat, tilted
plains. Every mountain slope Ive called
has been cut by small draws, washes
or coulees. Electronic callers with remote controls, such as those designed
by FOXPRO, have made calling in the
mountains so much more successful.
With a handheld call, predators are automatically drawn to your location, and
if they are cross-slope or above your
level, they will hit your upslope scent
cone before coming into view.
With e-callers, I place the calling
unit across a draw, slightly below my
level and return to a hiding spot where
I can see and shoot above the caller.
he caller might be hidden from view,
but it is important to have thin brush
or an opening above the call where the
predator can be seen and shot.
If youre set on using a handheld
call, plan on getting above the predators youre hunting. Remember to stay
of the top, though. Coyotes will oten
lay up in a cool patch of timber, and if
you can get in position above the tim-
C A L L I N G T H E M O U N TA I N W I N D S
ber without being detected, you can

call them out. hey will not, however,
likely storm your position. Expect these
coyotes to clear the edge of the timber
and sit down and watch. Its always best
then to set up within shooting distance
of the upper edge of the timber and use
binoculars to detect a coyote at the very
edge of the trees. Take your shots when
they appear and remember that steep
downhill shots hit high.
In Practice
he coyotes at the beginning of the article had almost a full half hour before
I was able to get into position. I misjudged their location, or more likely,
they drited towards the locator howl
while I circled the aspen patch and approached from across the slope.
I had set up slightly above the middle
of the aspen draw, but when I hit the
FOXPRO, they appeared about 200
yards downslope and near the edge
of the aspens. Two young-of-the-year
]
coyotes seemed to race each other toward my position while a third timid
coyote hung back.
Knowing my wind was upslope allowed me to wait the coyotes out. he
closest coyote was about 50 yards below the caller when my .22-250 ruined
its day. he second coyote cut a big arc
across the hillside, and my second shot
fell about three feet behind it. Adjusting for distance and speed, I launched
a third 55-grain missile in its direction
just as it disappeared. he sound of a
solid hit told me I needed to look over
there irst.
When I arrived on the spot, I found
the coyote down and out. he shot apparently hit behind the last rib angling
forward and somersaulted the coyote
20 yards to its inal resting spot.
By understanding how the mountain
winds blow, I was able to use all my luck
on the shot rather than on calling.
Since we started making our Primos Truth

Calling All Coyotes series a dozen years
ago, weve been amazed at the growth
of predator hunting all over the country.
A lot of us have learned predator hunting
from Randy Anderson, who manages to
teach effective tactics while spouting his
unique brand of humor. For the Truth 12,
Randy and friends hunt from Canada to
Oklahoma and many points in between.
Youll see more than 50 predator hunts
in more than 3 hours of action-packed
scenes. Randys brought along the
whole gang this time, too, including
Shawn Heyden, Glenn Zink, Gary
Hausmann, Dave Tatum, Lee Patterson,
and everybodys favorite hunting buddy,
Morris Wooly Kowerchuk, aka, the
Saskatchewan Slayer. So pop in the DVD
and get ready to Speak the La
Language!
g age !
2015-2016
Magazine
| 49
Beast Hogs
& Song Dogs
H O G A N D P R E DATO R H U NT I N G A R E B E I N G E M B R AC E D .
H E R E S H OW TO J O I N T H E N E W I N - C R OW D .
BY BOB HUMPHREY
Magazine
2015-2016
hitetails represent the mainstream

of hunting. hey get most of the attention, which is fair because they
account for more hunters than all
other species combined. But theyre
not alone. Ample alternatives exist, from genteel upland
game and working-class waterfowl to the fringe species
creatures that live and must be pursued in those dark
places seldom discussed in polite company.
Hogs and predators, and those who pursue them, were
once considered rough and uncultured and forced to the
fringes. But they have grown in number and geographic
range to the point they can no longer be shunned or dismissed. hey are now accepted more openly in hunting
society and are actually being embraced.
Why
No hunting faction is mutually exclusive, and with little
exception, the surge of sportsmen joining the fringe is
more diversiication than true growth. If nothing else,
its an excuse to spend more time outdoors a lot more
time. Predator and hog seasons are open year-round in
many states, and some states even allow night hunting
at least part of the year. hat should be enough, but as
2015-2016
Magazine
| 51
[
the infomercial guys love to say, Wait,
theres more.
Its good ofseason training for whitetail hunting. Hog and predator hunting
require many of the same skills, tools
and techniques as deer hunting, such
as stealth and marksmanship. And you
should get plenty of practice, as most
states have liberal or unrestricted bag
limits, with California being a notable
exception, as it is in many categories.
Speaking of California, the alternative hunting lifestyle is also helpful in promoting ecological balance.
Predators serve a purpose to a point.
When their numbers swell to the point
theyre deleterious to other species or
populations, its time for us to balance
the scales. Hogs are a foreign invader.
Magazine
BEAST HOGS & SONG DOGS
Enough said.
here are plenty of alternatives. In
fact, you probably have more options
than for any other species or group of
game.
How
Baiting: Hogs are just as likely as deer
to show up at a corn feeder maybe
more so though the former seem
more inclined to show up when youre
hunting the latter. You can fool hogs by
hunting feeders the same as you would
for deer. You can even hunt them while
youre hunting deer. If baiting deer isnt
legal, you can lure both with an attractant spray such as corn or acorn.
If the land is managed for other species, such as deer and turkeys, hogs will
2015-2016
also use (that is, tear up) food plots,

especially chufa patches. And as any
farmer in hog country will tell you,
most agricultural crops also make ideal
hog bait.
Predators are carnivores, so meat
works best for coyotes and the like.
Road kill is the most popular among
hunters and hunted. Stake out a roadkilled deer by tying a road kill to a stake
or tree, and then sit in a blind to wait
for ol Wile E. to come along.
Spot-and-stalk: his ones self-explanatory. Good optics help for spotting. Use the wind, your stealth and
proper scent suppression for stalking.
Hogs dont see too well, but their sense
of smell rivals a whitetails. With coyotes, its more spot-and-stock. If you
[
spot one, put your cheek on the stock
and ire.
Mans best friend: Man has been
hunting with dogs for millennia, and
hog dogging remains among the most
primitive methods. he strike, or chase,
dogs can be open trailing (vocal) or
the silent type. he former are easier to
follow, but the latter catch more hogs
BEAST HOGS & SONG DOGS
because of their quiet approach. Either

way, when the dogs bay a hog, handlers
send in the catch dogs pit bulls with
basketball-sized heads consisting largely of jaw muscles and teeth. When they
latch on, they do not let go. How you
dispatch the hog is up to you, but one
popular method involves jumping on
top and impaling it with a sharp object.
For coyotes, you use the same dogs

hounds for all aspects of the hunt.
Put them on a hot scent, turn them
loose and follow them until they push
a coyote past a hunter.
One slight variation practiced in
large agricultural areas involves driving
the farm roads until you spot a coyote.
Doing his best Charles Bronson (as Mr.
Majestyk) imitation, the driver then
carefully navigates his vehicle a fourwheel-drive with a dog box across
the uneven landscape at ridiculously
fast speeds until hes closed suicient
distance. He then cuts the wheel, trying not to roll it over as he opens the
dog boxes and then literally cries havoc
and unleashes the dogs of war. Actually, theyre greyhounds, and they like
to chase coyotes even more than stufed
rabbits.
Calling: his is by far the most popular method for predator hunting. he
basic technique is to set up with
or without a decoy in relatively
open terrain and mimic the sound of
struggling prey with a mouth-blown
or electronic call. You need to be well
camoulaged, nearly motionless and as
scent-free as possible. Twilight, when
predators are more active, is good.
Nighttime, when theyre most active,
is better (where and when legal). For
the latter, youll need a powerful light or
night-vision optics (again, where legal).
Cumberland's
Northwest Trappers Supply, Inc.

OWATONNA, MINNESOTA
TA
Johnny Stewart Calls

Fox Pro Calls
Zepps Predator Calls
CritRCalls
Also we have a full line

of trapping equipment. See us
at www.nwtrappers.com or
E-mail for a catalog at
trapper@nwtrappers.com
2015-2016
Magazine
| 53
The Quiet Woods

M O R E STAT ES A R E LEGA LI Z I N G
S U P P R ES S O R S FO R H U NT I N G. H OW TO
B UY O N E A N D E N J OY T H E B E N E F ITS.
BRIAN MCCOMBIE & DICK JONES
potted the elk herd in a small

canyon, just below a ridgeline, near Craig, Colo. here
were about 15 bulls and cows
milling around and feeding.
Using boulders for cover, Metzger and
his guide got to within 220 yards of the
elk. Metzger had a cow tag. Selecting a
yearling cow, he lined up the crosshairs
on his custom .308 bolt-action rile and
squeezed of a shot. It fell over backwards, sliding down the snow-covered
slope. he other elk were momentarily
startled, jumped a bit, looked around but
within a minute went back to feeding.
If thered been another hunter with
me, he couldve illed his tag, too, says
Metzger. My guide said hed never seen
anything like that.
Magazine
his happened in October 2013 at the

C-Punch Ranch, on a hunt for wounded
veterans, and Metzgers rile was tipped
with a hunder Beast 30 PI suppressor.
For Metzger, a former U.S. Army Ranger who sufered wounds while serving
in Iraq, a suppressor was a natural way
to hunt. He was introduced to suppressors while in the military, and instantly
saw the many beneits to using them,
including hearing protection and allowing better communications when
multiple shooters/hunters were aield.
Another advantage Metzger sees as a
hunter is that suppressors can actually
make the hunting experience better for
other sportsmen as well.
I can see if youre on BLM or Forest Service lands out West, and youre
2015-2016
walking into an area, and all of a sudden

a guy starts cracking of shots up ahead
of you, Metzger says. You might as
well go back to your camp. Everythings
going to be scared of for a good square
mile or better from that shooting.
But with suppressed riles, even if
game animals are frightened, it will
be in a much more localized area. To
paraphrase the American poet Robert
Frost, good suppressors make good
hunter neighbors.
Suppressor Style
Jonathan Owen co-founded Special
Hog Weapons and Tactics over two
years ago, SHWAT.com, as a meeting
place for people who like tactical hog
hunting. Hes hunted and taken hogs
with suppressed riles. Along with ARstyle riles and night vision gear, suppressors top the list of equipment that
tactical hog hunters gravitate toward
and for good reason.
With a hearing safe suppressor, you
can communicate much more easily
with hunting partners, Owen notes.
You can hear the pigs feeding and
moving around when you dont have
foamies crammed in your ear canal.
Additionally, suppressors tend to mitigate both recoil and muzzle rise, allowing you faster and more-accurately
ired follow-up shots. he latter, Owen
notes, is big help when you suddenly
come up on a group of wild hogs and
its time to dump a full magazine.
People used to ask me, Why would
you want to hunt with a suppressor?
says John Hollister. I had a lot of very
good reasons, like saving your hearing, and I would explain that. But, really, Im to the point where I just switch
it around and ask them backWhy
would you not want to hunt with a suppressed irearm?
Saving your ears from muzzle blast,
communicating with other hunters in
the ieldthese are really important

reasons to use suppressors, says Hollister. But one reason that doesnt get
a lot of attention for suppressor use in
hunting is introducing young people
and newcomers to our sport.
A relatively quiet, suppressed deer rile, for example, is going to be much less
threatening to a ledgling hunter than a
gun that sounds like a clap of thunder.
And because of the way they disperse
muzzle blast, suppressors oten reduce
recoil signiicantly. Young people, as
well as smaller-framed female and
male shooters, are much more likely to
try and enjoy hunting with a rile that
doesnt mule-kick their shoulders.
Ultimate Eradication Tool
Buck Holly knows irsthand how
suppressors can reduce felt recoiland
in the process, make hunting more enjoyable and successful.
Holly runs a custom rile-making
business, C&H Precision Weapons of
City, LaBelle, Fla., which specializes in
manufacturing authentic Marine Corps
M-40 sniper riles. For the last halfdozen years, hes hunted game with
suppressed riles, including deer and
elkbut most especially hogs.
hats because Hollys part-time
job, when hes not making custom riles, is being contracted by the state and
local governments to eradicate the wild
and very destructive hogs on 20,000
acres of public lands in South Florida.
Holly does this work with suppressed
riles and has excellent results.
Unlike Metzgers experience, Holly
says his use of suppressors really is not
about relative quiet and not scaring of
his prey. heres a good deal of hunting pressure on the public lands where
Holly does his eradication work, and
the wild hogs here are generally what
hunters consider educated.
hey know the game, says Holly.
hey hear that sonic crack of the bullet and theyre running.
STEPS TO BUYING A SILENCER

1.
2.
3.
4.
Make sure your state allows ownership of silencers.

Decide which type of suppressor works best for your needs.
Find a Class 3 dealer and choose your suppressor.
Fill out the required paperwork. Your dealer should assist you in this
process. Individual ownership requires a law enforcement signature,
fingerprinting and two self photos. If you intend to use a trust or
corporation for ownership,
the law enforcement signature, fingerprinting and two photographs
of yourself is not required.
5. Pay the $200 transfer tax. Youll then have to wait for the paperwork to clear. Normally, this takes about 2 months for the manufacturer-to-dealer process (Form 3) and about 6 to 8 months for the
dealer to corporation or trust (Form 4). Individual ownership (Form
4) will require more time, with the total time taking about a year.
6. Once the paperwork has cleared, youll then fill out a Form 4473
and pay for your silencer.
For a period of time, it was possible to use an electronic eForm to
apply for ownership. This process cut approval times down to about four
months on the Form 4 process. A few months ago, the BATFE shut down
the Form 4 eForm process.
Dick Jones
2015-2016
Magazine
| 55
Reaching Out
7 TI PS FO R TA K I N G C O N F I D E N T S H OTS AT LO N G E R R AN G E S
DOUG HOWLETT
erhaps no feat better epitomizes the marriage of precision irearms technology

and marksmanship ability
than long-range shooting.
But it takes more than just a suitable
caliber, a quality rile, a top-shelf optic and a steady trigger inger. Every
one of those components must work
together like a inely tuned instrument
in the hands of a skilled musician. Placing consistently successful shots at long
ranges can only be achieved through
extensive practice in a variety of conditions and with the beneit of ample
homework.
1. Fit the Rifle to You

Its about being able to control the irearm and establishing consistent attachment to the rile every time the shooter
Magazine
brings it to his shoulder. For serious

long-range shooting, youll want a rile
with a stock that permits instant adjustment to the length of pull and the
cheek rest. Take time to adjust the bipod or rest and any rear support before
getting in position to shoot. Failing to
do so will make it impossible to achieve
a consistent weld to the gun and will
increase the likelihood of scope shadowing, where the full visual diameter of
the scope cannot be seen.
2. Place Your Body Behind

the Scope
Watch most shooters and they will
stand or position themselves behind
the rile at an angle. But all that recoil
is transferred to your body, and if the
mass of your body is largely to the side
of that energy, it will jerk the body
2015-2016
more. For long-range accuracy, square

the body behind the target to provide
a more reliable. his position helps you
stay on target throughout recoil for
follow-up shots or to simply observe
where your bullet strikes.
3. Wind
Understanding a bullets performance
in the wind is a true art form, and
the only way to begin mastering it is
to spend a lot of time shooting windy
conditions. Remember, wind where
you are may be diferent than where the
target is and can be inluenced by the
terrain the bullet must travel over. One
trick is to use mirage, visible through a
high-power optic to read the wind near
the target and determine how far of to
the side you must aim.
EYES WIDE OPEN?
4. Shoot On the Bottom of

Your Exhale
When youre locked on a target, there
is a rise and fall of your reticle from
breathing and heartbeat. Remembering
consistency is critical to shooting, if we
shoot on the exhale, it gives us a consistent trigger time at a moment when the
body is most relaxed. Hold that breath
at the exhale for no more than three or
four seconds. If you do, the body will
start shaking because its technically
becoming oxygen deprived. If you dont
make the shot in those three or four
seconds, hold the shot. Wait, take another breath and settle back in.
5. Trigger Follow-Through
Pull the trigger back and hold it. Dont
slap it; dont lit your head of the
stock. You want to see the bullet impact through the scope, and holding
the trigger prior to resetting it will help
you retain sight of the target when you
Despite the fact that many shooters tend to close an eye when lining up a
sight or scope, proper shooting form dictates that we leave both eyes open for
better situational awareness and overall sighting performance. At 6x or lower,
the eyes can easily accommodate the visual difference, and shooters should
adhere to the both eyes open dictate. But above that, particularly when
going above 10x, doing that can be difficult since the eyes are trying to focus
on two drastically different focal points. If you need to close an eye when
sighting a long-distance target through a scope, so be it. Go with what works
best for you.
D.H.
cycle the bolt for a second shot (if using

a bolt-action). You wont have to reposition the scope and your body because
they are pretty much the same. Keep in
position until the shot strikes the target.
6. Reticle Illumination
If your scope has an illuminated reticle,
you dont want it on when using the
scope for ranging. Blooming, the afect
created when viewing a lit object with
the human eye, thickens the size of the
reticle and disrupts focus for ranging.
ranging will work at all magniications.

Second focal plain ranging only works
at the highest magniication. How do
you know which one you have? When
adjusting magniication, if the reticle
size adjusts with it, yours is in the irst
focal plain. If it doesnt change size, its a
second focal plain reticle. he irst focal
plain ofers more lexibility, though you
might have to dial down the magniication to ind the target because full magniication creates a narrow ield of view,
but ultimately its a personal preference.
7. First or Second Focal Plain

When ranging a target using a ranging
reticle, understand that irst focal plain
2015-2016
Magazine
| 57
Any-Country
Coyotes
BY M AST E R I N G T H E LA N D S CA P E, YO U CA N H U NT
C OYOT ES W H E R E V E R T H E Y AR E F O U N D
MARK KAYSER
lmost everything involves the wind in

one form or another. Scent is a coyotes
irst and last line of defense, and something you may fool, but only for a brief
window of time. In spite of it being a coyotes best protection against danger, it can also be your
best ally when used correctly.
hat simply means you need to have a window of
your downwind alley or remove the option of a coyote
sneaking in from that direction. Since a coyote characteristically circles downwind any coyote you call in from
behind or on either side of you will eventually show up
directly downwind. To win you either need a downwind
shooting gallery forcing coyotes to show themselves
or a closed backdoor that gives you downwind invisibility as coyotes circle in an upwind opening.
Master the Wind

If you follow standard coyote hunting protocol, you
check the wind before you leave your house, check
again when you park your truck and do a inal check
Magazine
2015-2016
when you reach your calling site. Take along a small puf
bottle and give it a puf while hiking to your stand site.
You can watch the stream of light powder loating on
even the slightest of breezes to tell you where a coyote
will circle if it arrives.
Testing is imperative at your inal destination since
morning winds shit, coulees create wind swirls and
ridges may produce thermals. A variety of temperature,
terrain and weather anomalies can make wind as shity
as any career politician. But be assured that predominant winds generally follow the same patterns once you
learn them. If you receive northwest winds and your
calling site has a tendency to blow west when you arrive because of a steep creek bank, it should follow that
same pattern whenever a similar wind direction blows.
Mark it on your smartphone weather program, like
ScoutLook Weather, and youll begin to have a history
of wind direction for all your hunting locations.
Thick as Shag Carpet

If you coyote hunt mesquite country, swamplands or
2015-2016
Magazine
| 59
A N Y- C O U N T R Y C O Y O T E S
Coyote hunting will take a hunter through

beautiful and rugged country, from brushy high
plains, river bottoms and mountain foothills.
thick forests you know how hard it is

to get a coyote to stick its head out of a
cover for a shot. Give a coyote enough
brush and you may never see it. hat
means you may have to abandon some
country or only hunt it when the wind
is as dead as a raccoon on the highway.
What you need to ind are openings,
lanes, senderos, old forest roads and
the likes that will give you a shooting
window in a downwind angle. Find
windows like this and you can focus on
using these terrain features to manipulate movement.
Coyotes always feel more comfortable coming to a call when they can
remain close to escape cover. Your mission is to locate a brushy area known
to house coyotes with a prevailing wind
that historically blows into a downwind
opening. By setting up as high as possible, even using something as simple as a
Magazine
bucket, set up with a shot toward the

opening that should be almost downwind. Shooting windows will be tight if
the opening is straight downwind, but
if you give coyotes too much room on
either side of the opening to grab your
scent it will be self-defeating with the
coyotes again gaining the upper nose.
Once conirmed the wind is blowing
toward the opening begin your setup
and stay focused on the opening. You
should aim in that direction and use
a shooting aid, like shooting sticks, to
help you prop up your gun to avoid
muscle fatigue. If all goes as planned,
any incoming coyote will be forced to
leave the brush, cross the opening to
check scent and give you a few leeting
seconds to wallop the culprit.
One winter while calling along a frozen river I knew my only hope was to
get the coyotes out of the thick, river-
2015-2016
bottom cover and out on the ice where

the downwind breezes blew. I scouted
and found a likely bend in the river
that was nearly directly downwind.
Ten minutes into the setup, a coyote
leaped from the brushy bank onto the
frozen ice for a downwind scent check.
I barked once and the second bark was
my .22-250 launching a Hornady VMax to end the charade.
Open as a Golf Course Green

Hunting coyotes in pancake-lat open
country can be as frustrating. Open
country can be as big as a sagebrush basin or even a sizeable picked cornield.
You have one beneit in your favor.
Wind direction should be easy to identify and it should remain stable once
it blows over the open ground. A real
bonus is to have slivers of brushy country or coulees adjacent to your open
A N Y- C O U N T R Y C O Y O T E S
setting. For open country think elevation and put your electronic caller, and
decoys into play to pull coyotes into the
open and onto your playing ield.
First, consider elevation. Almost
all lat land has slight rolls, dips and
bumps. Scout ahead of time and look
for these minimal, yet advantageous
aids. You may have options to put treestands up in scattered trees or even setting up a tripod stand well in advance
to blend into a lone cedar tree on the
edge of a lat. Be creative. Some farmers clear ields, but leave mature trees
in fence lines and these can be great
observation posts for a treestand setup.
Next, determine prevailing wind direction and mark the downwind angle.
his is where you want to place your
decoy and remote caller. You want the
coyote to circle towards the attraction
of sound and movement. his is where
cover can be beneicial as it forces coyotes out into the open to see whats up.
he deceitful ruse should be almost
straight downwind and anywhere from
50 to 100 yards or more away. Place
the attractors where you have a clear,
easy shot and take into consideration if
youre using a rile, or shotgun.
A sensible decoy for predator hunters
to use is one that imitates a wounded rabbit, rodent or bird. It provides the visual
stimulation for the sound you are creating to lure a coyote. Several companies
now manufacture rabbits, furred balls
and feathered shapes that shake, rattle
and roll to portray popular prey inlicted
with major injuries. In the spring and
summer you can also incorporate coyote decoys into setups to play upon the
animals pack, and territorial instincts.
his can be deadly when incorporating
coyote vocalizations into a setup.
Whether using a prey or a coyote
lookalike, it needs to be visible. Place
the decoy in a clear, elevated setting
for any approaching coyote to see. As
the coyote circles for the downwind
advantage use a clear, loud bark to stop
it just before it hits your wind stream.
Of course if youre in an elevated stand
any brisk wind could send your scent
completely over a coyotes scent detection system.
Rugged as the Grand Tetons

Out of all the terrain obstacles you may
encounter rugged could be the worse of
the gang. With rugged terrain in your
sights a coyote could literally jump up
from anywhere like an obsessed Jackin-the-box. Fortunately terrain also
ofers you a variety of options when
trying to route a coyote into your rile
sights. One of the best is steep geography. Vertical canyon walls, rocky ledges
and narrow ridge tops have the ability
to prod a coyote into following a pathway with some semblance of horizontal terra irma. he steeper the better if
you hope to keep a coyote on the path
of your choosing.
Although a coyote can climb like
a billy goat when asked, theyll otentimes take the lattest route to get from
their position to you. Creek bottoms,
canyon loors and the tops of lat ridges
provide the easiest travel options. Unfortunately lowland paths can also conceal a coyote traveling to your setup
site. To win this game you always need
to play the elevation card.
Nosebleed, stadium seating allows
you an over watch of everything below.
In rugged terrain you need to see every
downwind angle or set up with a clif
or vertical slope blocking your backside. his will push a coyote out front
to expose itself since it wont be able to
circle and get on your elevation for a
quick whif.
Since coyotes will characteristically
follow a coulee or gully to your site, set
up so you are at the head of the drainage. hat forces any coyote to eventually pop up in front of you or on a parallel ridge. In either case your elevation
should provide a shooting advantage as
the coyote tries to circle for scent.
here are more rugged terrain scenarios than people on the planet so you
simply have to study whats before you.
Block your backdoor with terrain or a
partner, and force the coyote to circle
downwind onto a ledge, opening or lat
giving you an open shot.
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D I STA N C E C O N S I D E R AT I O N S P LAY A K E Y R O LE
I N M AN Y AS P E CTS O F P R E DATO R H U N T I N G
STORY & PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEWAND
f you go to a predator calling seminar, you will hear

about the importance of proper scouting, setup location and which type of call to use. hats all great stuf.
If you visit a popular Internet predator hunting forum,
you will ind lots of discussions about all things predator. Again, thats great stuf.
As a seminar presenter and host of an Internet forum, I am
always intrigued by the variety of questions raised regarding
the many factors involved in successfully calling coyotes and
foxes. No matter how much we hear or read about predator
hunting, new and interesting questions are always asked.
Even though hunters might be quite comfortable using tactics that they are familiar with, it is never a bad idea to be
open to using techniques that other hunters ind helpful. he
concept of distances involved in various aspects of predator
Magazine
2015-2016
calling comes up oten. In fact, questions regarding distance

where a large part of a recent national survey given to hunters all across the country by the Bark at the Moon Coyote
Club. he survey polled 200 hunters, ranging from beginners
to professionals, and was conducted in summer 2014. It relects the most current trends of what is happening among the
predator hunting community.
Vehicle Issues
Many predator hunters surely feel the crunch at gas pumps as
they travel to hunt. he topic of skyrocketing gas prices and
its impact on predator hunting comes up frequently as my
hunting buddies and I head out for a night of calling. With
todays economic state, are hunters willing to make predator
hunting pilgrimages like they have in the past?
Most hunters report that they are willing to travel great distances to hunt predators. he percentages between traveling
an hour or two from home and a state or two away were fairly
close. Furthermore, the number of hunters willing to travel
across the country was high as well. Apparently, the road to
quality predator hunting is never too long.
ing distances to a minimum in order to get as many sets in

as possible. Some hunters indicated that as the season progresses, they walk farther away to remote setup locations in
an attempt to call in predators that have not been subjected
to a lot of pressure.
How far away from your vehicle do you walk

to your set-up?
How far are you willing to drive to go

on a predator calling trip?
Distance
Percentage
Total
0-50 yards
2%
Distance
Percentage
Total
hour from my house
3%
50-100 yards
10%
20
1-2 hours from my house
36%
72
More than 100 yards
49%
98
1 or 2 states away
34%
68
79
27%
54
No specific distance as long as car

in out of sight
40%
Across the country
During the calling season, I ind myself illing up my gas

tank far more frequently than during other times of the year.
Understand that I am not talking about taking predator hunting vacations. I am simply using gas because of my frequent
local jaunts. In January alone, I tacked 5,000 miles on my Jeep.
I oten wonder if other hunters are stacking up miles like I
am. hinking about typical predator hunting outings going out for a few hours to local farms I wonder about how
many miles hunters drive during a typical predator hunt.
How far do you drive during a typical

predator hunt?
Distance
Percentage
Total
0-25 miles
20%
40
25-50 miles
29%
58
50-100 miles
31%
61
More than 100 miles
21%
41
An analysis of the responses shows that the highest percentage of hunters travels between 50 and 100 miles each outing. hat means that hunters might be burning upwards of a
half a tank of fuel each outing. Assuming the average hunter
goes out two or three times a week, it is obvious that hunting
must take a toll on most hunters wallets. Again, the allure of
predator hunting is stronger than the urge to stay home and
save on fuel.
Lets assume our gas tanks are full and we are out hunting.
Anticipation runs high as we pull up to one of our favorite
calling spots and park of the road and gather our gear for an
exciting hunt. he next question is, How far do you typically
walk to your calling position ater parking your vehicle?
Most hunters (49 percent) prefer to walk at least 100 yards
away from the vehicle. Forty percent of the survey respondents reported that there was no speciic distance as long
as the vehicle was out of sight. his makes perfect sense for
hunters who wish to operate as eiciently as possible. So long
as local laws regarding legal distances from homes and dwellings are being adhered to, hunters might wish to keep walk-
Ater a setup, whether it is successful or not, you ind yourself wanting to drive to a new location for further hunting.
he question is, How far do you drive?
While hunting in the East, it is possible to call in predators
from more than one farm while at one setup. Hence, driving
to the farm next door might not be advantageous. In this case,
the hunter might be calling to predators that would already be
within earshot of the calling from the original setup.
When hunting out West with its expansive and open terrain, hunters also need to move far enough away so that they
are calling to coyotes that have not heard the original calling
attempts. Our survey results show that most hunters move
at least a mile away between stands.
How far do you drive between set-ups?

Distance
Percentage
Total
mile
23%
46
1 mile
37%
74
2 miles
14%
29
More than 2 miles
26%
51
Set-up Savvy
Using proper setup tactics is oten said to be the most important factor to calling success. So much so that volumes
have been written about the subject. Still, many hunters question how to set up in the best possible manner. Our survey
asked speciic questions relating aspects of setting up and distances issues.
One important issue involves the decision of how far to set
up from cover that might be holding predators. here are a
couple variables that will impact this choice: Type of irearm
used and type of terrain available. Shotgun hunters will generally elect to set up close to cover. On the other hand, highpower centerire rile carriers will set up at a greater distance.
Of course, the type of terrain will impact this decision. In areas of tight cover, such as what is oten available in the East,
closer setups will be advantageous.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 63
HOW FA R? HOW C L OS E?
According to our survey, setting up 100 yards away from

cover is the most common tactic (41 percent). Hunters indicate that at this distance they can still be within efective
irearm range should a predator hold up at the edge of the
cover. he next two most common responses were setting up
at 200 yards and more than 200 yards. hese hunters enjoy
seeing the predators approaching from a distance, which allows them time to get prepared for the shot.
How far from cover do you typically set up?
respondents indicated that the distance moved depends upon

the terrain. When hunting in areas that feature many hills and
valleys, it might not be necessary to move that far.
If you are hunting a large farm or area, how far

do you walk/move between stands?
Distance
Percentage
Total
100 yards
1%
200 yards
8%
15
400 yards
12%
24
600 yards
9%
17
It depends on the terrain
75%
150
Distance
Percentage
Total
20-30 yards
5%
50 yards
10%
20
100 yards
41%
82
Electronic Call and Decoy Tactics
200 yards
20%
40
More than 200 yards
25%
49
With electronic calls being all the rage these days, there is
some confusion as to what is the best way to use them. One
obvious question generated about electronic call models that
feature the ability to be operated with a remote control is,
How far away should I place my call? Furthermore, is the
answer to this question diferent for hunting in daylight versus hunting at night?
For a standard daytime hunt, most hunters choose to place
the call 50 yards away from them. his allows the incoming
predator to focus its attention on the call and not on the camoulage-clad hunter. It also allows the hunter to make slight
movements without the increased likelihood of being noticed
by the predator. he second most popular distance reported
was 25 yards away. Although not indicated in the survey, its
logical to guess this distance was a popular choice for hunters
who use shotguns.
One area that fascinates me is the various tactics that

hunters use while hunting with partners. Hunters who
have been calling together for years have their setup tactics perfected and go into any location and set up without
speaking a word. The process becomes second nature and
is developed to incorporate maximum efficiency and safety. I am aware of how I set up when hunting with others,
but how do other folks do it? Do they sit right next to each
other like we do? Or do they do it differently?
he most common response was to sit 5 to 10 yards apart.
he advantage of this strategy is that the hunters can communicate and safely maneuver their irearms toward an approaching predator. It was interesting to note that the tactic
of placing a partner well downwind of the call was not represented in the survey results as only 5 percent of the responses
indicated sitting 100 yards apart.
When hunting with a partner, how far apart

do you typically sit from each other?
Distance
Percentage
Total
Always sit together
12%
24
5-10 yards apart
38%
75
20 yards apart
19%
37
50 yards apart
18%
36
100 yards apart
5%
I only hunt by myself
10%
19
Let us assume you are hunting a large farm or tract of land.

You spend 20 minutes calling and no fox or coyotes show up.
Because the area is so immense, you decide to move to a diferent location and make another stand. he question is, How far
do you walk to a new calling position?
From experience, we know that predators can hear and approach our calling from many hundreds of yards away. It only
seems to make sense then to move at least that far when selecting a new location. However, a vast majority of the survey
Magazine
2015-2016
During a daytime hunt, how far away do you place

a remotely operated electronic call from your
setup position?
Distance
Percentage
Total
10 yards away
3%
25 yards away
37%
74
50 yards away
42%
84
100 yards away
11%
21
More than 100 yards away
11%
I only use mouth calls
5%
10
Something noteworthy happens when asked the same

question of nighttime hunters. It seems that under the cover
of darkness, more hunters want the call in closer proximity to
them. Why is this so? It stems from the belief that hunters will
not be able to see the relective eyes of an incoming predator
if the call is too far away from the hunter.
During a nighttime hunt, how far away do you

typically place a remotely operated electronic
call from your setup position?
HOW FA R? HOW C L OS E?
Distance
Percentage
Total
At my feet
20%
40
10 yards away
18%
35
25 yards away
30%
60
50 yards away
22%
44
100 yards away
3%
1%
I only use hand calls
7%
13
Another variable regarding the use of electronic calls is

the height at which they are used. Is it OK to place them
right on the ground? Or should they be elevated for maximum sound projection? Sound emitted from the call can get
muffled due to snow, dense grasses and thick vegetation.
I personally place my FOXPRO call right on the ground 95
percent of the time I use it. When available, I will hang the
call on a tree branch or nestle it in some bush to get it of the
ground. Many hunters mount their calls to a tripod to elevate
them of the ground. I personally do not go this route because
I do not want to carry anymore gear than I already do.
At what height do you use your electronic call?

Distance
Percentage
Total
Set right on the ground
58%
116
Elevated 1-2 feet high
39%
77
Elevated 5 feet high
3%
Elevated more than 5 feet high
1%
he beneits of using a motion decoy are numerous. Each

time I go to set out my decoy, I quickly ponder where to put
it. Usually, I place it within a foot or two of the call. I always
make sure that any vegetation in the immediate area will not
hinder the performance or the movable decoy. Many of the
newer decoys attach directly to the electronic call so the decision of where to put it is nulliied. However, if you are using
a Mojo Critter or a Jack Attack decoy; a game-time decision
needs to be made.
An overwhelming number of survey respondents indicated
that they place the decoy right next to the call. A signiicantly
lesser number of respondents said they put the decoy 5 yards
away. his is done as a way to take attention away from the actual
call, which might stand out in the terrain.
If you use a motion decoy with your

electronic call, how far do you typically
place it from the call?
Sealing the Deal

Whether hunting during day or night, the positive identiication
of incoming animals is always important. hat fact is that it is
more challenging to do under the cover of darkness. I am always
amazed when my hunting partner whispers, Its a fox! when I
can only see glowing red dots dance across the landscape. Most
hunters indicate that they can identify predators at a distance of
50 yards. he second most popular answer was 100 yards.
Ater the target has been identiied, one of the most important questions as a predator approaches is when to shoot.
he most important thing a hunter can do is be aware of his
scent cone and take the shot before the coyote catches a whif
of the hunters scent. Additionally, the hunter should keep all
movements to a minimum to avoid being spotted. Of course,
the hunter needs to know the capabilities of the irearm he is
using so that a lethal and ethical shot is taken.
Most hunters 71 percent according to our survey let
predators come as close as possible before shooting. Even
though their rile might be capable of a 300-yard shot, most
hunters want to bring the predator in much closer for a more
manageable shot. Undoubtedly, there will be predators that uncannily detect something is amiss and take of before a shot can
be taken. hat is simply part of the sport.
So what is the average successful shot distance of most hunters? Our survey showed fairly even results between the moderate ranges. he highest percentage reported was between 75
and 100 yards, which made me feel good as that is where I ind
most of my successful shots when using my trusty Remington
700 in .223. he second highest ranking distance was 50 to 75
yards followed by 100 to 150 yards. Our survey indicated that
long-range shooting (more than 150 yards) at predators ranks
fairly low (16 percent). Indeed, a large part of the thrill of predator calling is bringing the animal in close for a high-percentage
shot opportunity.
According to your personal records, how far is

your average successful shot distance?
Distance
Percentage
Total
20-40 yards
11%
21
50
50-75 yards
25%
75-100 yards
29%
58
100-150 yards
20%
40
More than 150 yards
16%
31
Go the Distance
Distance
Percentage
Total
Right next to the call
82%
163
5 yards away
13%
26
10 yards away
3%
3%
Our survey data shows how hunters across the country practice their crat in regard to the numerous questions that ask,
How far? Hunters who are looking to ine-tune some aspects of their techniques can refer to the data as they attempt
to go the distance for increased success.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 65
Conditioned
Coyotes
D O N T LET S O N G D O G S W I S E U P TO YO U R R O UT I N ES
LANCE HOMMAN
struggled to catch my breath, gasping from climbing the near vertical slope of an old pond dam
while we paused momentarily before making the
inal ascent up and over the top to our hiding
spots. Behind us, the ground leveled out 50 feet
beneath where we now stood. Before us lay the same
drop in height, giving us elevation and a commanding
view down into, rather than through, the tall grass and
skeletal remains of long dead sunlower stalks.
his was the morgue easily our No. 1 honey hole.
It was known for the extraordinary number of dead
coyotes it had produced over the past several years.
Crouching low, my partner and I both scurried across
the two-track running the length of the dam and slipped
into position just down the other side, hidden by sumac
Magazine
2015-2016
and sand plums. I cautiously slid down the incline and

positioned my M.A.D. Ultimate One just far enough
away to keep prying eyes out of my business while, at
the same time, keeping their owners headed in my general direction.
Within seconds of opening with rabbit distress, I
heard Kevin whistle.
Game on!
I stole a glance to my 10 oclock and could see a coyote
darting away from us, let and right through the cover
toward a row of trees bordering the boundary of the pasture on the let. A quarter-mile in front of us, two more
coyotes were hastily running from right to let along the
sanctuary of a below-grade game trail created by years
of deer hooves and coyote feet traveling from this patch
of ground to another one nearby.

A fourth coyote erupted from beneath where we hid, charging from its
bed and to the let. Kevin took the running shot and was rewarded with the
satisfying thump of one solid meeting
another.
Educating Coyotes
When Kevin and I irst joined forces
nearly ive years ago, each of us brought
a lifetime of calling experience together,
and all the ground that goes with that.
Between the two of us, we had access
to in excess of 300,000 acres of Kansas
country real estate. But, even at that,
we found ourselves returning time and
again to the same hot spots because of
the number of targets each provided.
he fact is 90 percent of your coyotes
will occur in 10 percent of the total area
youre hunting. For motives that we can
both see plainly, and not at all, there
are reasons coyotes prefer one location
over another. hus, if you ind one coyote there, chances are very good that
others will be there as well.
Your challenge is to determine how
best you can work the area efectively
without overplaying your hand and
conditioning the local coyotes what
some would call educating them to
your intentions.
Off-Season Work
Probably the most obvious way to avoid
overhunting an area is to amass as much
country as you can through hard work
in the ofseason securing landowner
permissions. Of course, if you live where
public ground or large ranches are the
rule, this becomes less of a problem. My
personal rule of thumb is that I only
need permission on the red squares on
the checker board since calling provides
you with the means by which coyotes
can be called of neighboring properties
where you dont have permission and
onto ground where you do.
Likewise, I familiarize myself with all
the diferent tracts I hunt each year and
do my best to identify hides places
where Ill sit from all sides so as to be
prepared to call regardless of wind direction. In the past, this has been a very
labor-intensive project. But, with todays modern access to aerial imagery,

most of this work can be done from the
comfort of your computer, leaving you
only a few sites that are questionable to
investigate from the ield.
Using that same aerial imagery, I also
try to identify where I think the coyotes will be laid up during the day and
the routes they will use to travel to and
from there and neighboring sections of
land. Ideally, I try to approach a calling
site by the route where I am least likely
to be seen or smelled by coyotes, which
means I try to avoid bedding areas and
major travel lanes.
I also understand that approaching coyotes will use those lanes to approach, or escape, should everything
go bad. How this is an advantage will
be addressed in a few moments, but for
now, I want to be able to see coyotes at
a distance rather than have them suddenly appearing at short range. he
best-case scenario is when a coyote can
be seen at long range and has to pass
through or behind obstructions in its
approach. his gives me opportunities
to shoulder my gun and position for
the shot.
The 10-Minute Rule

In my opinion, most stands fail and most
coyotes are conditioned to humans and
calling long before the irst sounds are
ofered. Everything from parking your
ride to approaching your hide is critical and must be done with the utmost
in stealth. Pay attention to crossing
open spaces, topping hills, making unnecessary noises and walking upwind of
where you think the coyotes are bedded.
At the same time, too many callers
make the mistake of conditioning survivors when, ater dropping a coyote,
they disclose their presence by either
getting up and walking to the dead coyote or yelling to their partner.
Bad idea.
Where theres one coyote, there are
others, oten at several hundred yards,
waiting and watching to see what transpires next. As a solid rule, Kevin and I
call by the 10-minute rule.
Start calling and call for 10 minutes.
If nothing shows, wait ive minutes in

silence and leave. If a coyote shows,
shoot it and resume calling, starting the
clock all over again. Each time a target
appears and a shot is taken, the 10-minute clock repeats until there are no takers. Wait ive minutes and leave.
When leaving, one of us rises and
goes directly to the downed coyote(s).
here is no talking. No attaboys. No
back slapping. he coyotes are retrieved
and hustled back to the truck, moving
with the same sense of caution and
stealth that we used going in.
Why do we do this? Simply put, and
as stated previously, where there is one,
there are more. Youve dropped one
coyote, and there are others in the area
that are still in play. If, ater 10 minutes,
nothing shows, you wait ive minutes
to ensure that those coyotes the
ones that did not run to the call do
not make the connection between the
sounds that were being used, the gun
shots and you. Just like Pavlovs dog
learned to associate the sound of a bell
with dinner, a coyote can learn to associate the sound of you calling, your
voice and you standing around with its
littermate being dragged away dead.
Do I really think that coyotes are capable of learned behavior such as this?
Yes, I do.
Dont make the mistake of thinking
youre the only guy out there rattling
their cage, either. Im always surprised
to ind that others are using my same
setups with no knowledge that I was
ever there. What looks good to me
looks good to them, too. At the same
time, coyotes are under constant pressure from other human intrusions as
well, whether thats bird hunters, deer
hunters or ranchers checking cattle.
Human presence is a negative, regardless of the circumstances, and the more
efort you put into ensuring that they
dont know youre there, the better of
youll be.
Change, Change, Change

Coyotes can also be conditioned due to
overuse of certain sounds and excessive
calling pressure at certain times of the
day.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 67
[
While e-callers ofer a long and growing list of sounds to use for coyotes, human nature is to always fall back on the
select few that have proven efective for
us in the past. So much, in fact, that
we cause burn out in the coyotes, and
our go-to sounds become warning bells
rather than dinner bells.
Coyotes hear and respond to a litany
of prey types in their night-to-night
and day-to-day adventures. Using the
same sound the same pitch, the same
volume, the same cadence time and
again will quickly crash your number.
Having a half-dozen diferent jackrabbit
sounds on your caller gives you the capability to rotate between them and ofer
those coyotes something fresh and new.
At the same time, mixing things up
with cottontail distress, fawn bleats and
house cat distress will oten break loose
coyotes that have become skeptical.
Whether using hand calls or an ecaller, changing up your presentation
can make a big diference, too. Maybe
you run the caller continuously, or
blow the call for 30 seconds and wait
a minute just like the old instructional
tapes taught you.
Change things up. Run the caller or
blow a short series of squeals no more
than a few seconds in length. Wait for
upwards of several minutes between
each series. Never ofer up the same
period of calling or sounds in the same
stand more than once. Adjust the volume up and down. Change.
If a particular location you have always called at irst light has gone cold,
give it a few days to rest and come back
during the aternoon, right at sunset or
in the middle of the day, and ofer up a
new sound and cadence. Again, change.
Network with other callers in your
area and try to ind out whats working
for them. hen, avoid it like the plague.
Chances are good that theyre calling to
the same ears you are and making the
mistakes youre trying to avoid. hose
coyotes will be conditioned to not respond to their calling, and they certainly wont come to you when using
the same strategies.
If those guys hunt mornings, hunt
later in the day.
Magazine
CONDITIONED COYOTES
The bored stare of this coyote indicates he came across

an unimaginative hunter doing the same old calling tricks.
If they rely heavily upon rabbit distress, go with something else.
Practice Makes Perfect

Educate yourself on coyote behavior
and know not only how to howl them,
but why it is efective at certain times
of the year and not so much at others.
Hunt smarter.
Ive heard it said that a good allaround caller is able to not only call
coyotes but shoot them. In other words,
if you call it, kill it. Coyotes are quickly
conditioned by missed shots, and the
only way to remedy this problem is
good ol fashioned range time.
Know your rile or shotgun. Be fully
aware of how it performs at diferent
ranges by seeing how a particular load
groups or patterns. If the ammunition
youre using doesnt group well, try another brand or begin handloading a
2015-2016
formula that its your rile. A rile that

is not accurate is a liability for not only
you but every guy that has to deal with
that coyote you missed from that day on.
Moreover, practice so you understand your abilities and limitations. Too
far is too far, and there are times when
you can see the coyotes, but you have
no business shooting at them. Coyotes
hear enticing sounds all the time that
come and go without incident. Passing
up a poor-percentage shot and avoiding
conditioning that coyote allows for you
to come back from a new angle with a
new sound and take a second poke at a
later time. Launching Hail Marys only
makes it harder to call for you.
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WINTER 2015-2016
Magazine
| 69
Get Comfortable
N O N E E D TO E N D U R E M I S E RY O N A P R E DATO R H U NT
WI T H T H I S AS S E M B LY O F F I E LD -T EST E D G E A R
MARK KAYSER
ood boots make any hike

friendlier to your feet.
Waterproof raingear can
make even the wettest
days cozy and dry. hat
independent rear suspension on your
ATV gives your bum a cushy ride even
in the rockiest terrain. Do you see a
correlation here?
Comfort gear comes in a variety of
forms for the hunter, but predator hunters may be seeking more specialized
equipment for hunts tailored for fur and
varmints. Gear choices change with the
times, but one thing is for certain, were
all looking for a comfortable day in the
ield. Get some additional outdoor luxury by considering these items on your
next predator-focused outing.
Magazine
Vest Organization
Do you lack organization skills at home?
hat weakness may follow you into the
ield as well. Maybe you should take a
tip from turkey hunters. Have you ever
considered using a hunting vest?
Turkey hunters tailored this handy
clothing item and it has progressed for
more than three decades. You simply
cant ignore the beneits. Today there
are dozens of hunting models available
for you to choose. Some models can
be had for $50 while others may cost
you $200 or more depending on the
options, and the brand marketing behind it. Regardless of budget, here are a
few options you should consider when
shopping for a vest to get the job done
in the predator arena.
2015-2016
First and foremost, it should have

lots of cargo pockets. You want to be organized and have numerous options of
stowing, storing and transporting gear.
hats the main goal of a vest. Pockets
should be large, but not too large. hey
also should be itted to maintain your
mobility and lexibility. As you peruse
options consider the gear you want to
tote into the ield. Make sure you have
a pocket for your rangeinder, hand
calls, caller remote control, extra ammunition magazines and a water bottle.
Youll also want to check out rear storage. his area has traditionally been
saved for larger items including the
aspect of packing a dead animal out. It
may be roomy enough for your digital
caller or act as a pouch to carry out a
[1] Some predator hunters prefer to take a stand and a ground blind offers concealment, comfort, weather protection and scent containment in one package.
The main drawback of a blind setup is mobility, but northland hunters often watch baits and even midwestern, or Texas hunters have funnels that produce
predator sightings with enough regularity for a morning, whitetail-like sit. [2] Mark Kayser uses a daypack to stay organized while calling coyotes. [3] Unless
you always want to have a rifle at the ready and in your hands, youll want to outfit it out with a rifle sling. You have two options: springy or rigid slings. Both
types have benefits, but both dont offer the same benefits. [4] A unique sling that carries your rifle in double-strap, backpack style is the Vero Vellini Backpack
Double Sling. It is similar in style to the slings you see in the Olympics worn by biathlon competitors. It offers a quick release to fit over heavy clothing and
to put it into action instantly. [5] For an innovative hunter-designed chair version look into the HuntMore 360 collapsible chair. Features include a padded
back and seat that are cushioned with cell foam pad pockets to distribute weight evenly. It also sports lumbar support. The sturdy frame is adjustable, virtually
indestructible and squeak-proof, an important benefit while on the hunt. [6] If you find that a traditional ground blind cramps your style, but you like the
place well enough for a blind setup, check out the Primos Double Bull Shack Attack. Its big, its roomy, its easy to set up and yet it blends in perfectly to any
backdrop. Roomy, portable blinds allow you to fit the blind with a chair, bring a friend and even accommodate a propane heater for added comfort.
fox, or even a coyote hide.

An innovative option to nearly every vest on the market is the addition
of a padded seat. his gives you instant
comfort anywhere, but you may also
want to look into back stability and this
comes from the addition of a framed
seat. Cabelas Tactical Tatr II Kickstand
Vest or the Instinct model include a
unique design to act as a built-in chair
to give you an automatic backrest, plus
added steadiness so when its time to
take the shot youre not teetering.
Lastly, dont forget options such as
interior pockets for your license, GPS
and snacks. Some models feature air
cushioning for seating and back comfort. Others have bloodproof liners in
the rear game bag and room for water hydration bladders. Adjustability
should be a top priority to accommodate a wide range of clothing underneath depending on outside temperatures. I could go on and on, but I think
you get my point. Check out a hunting
vest. It could be the best investment

you make to keep organized on your
next predator hunt and comfortable in
the process.
Take The Kitchen Sink

A turkey vest may allow you to forgo
the addition of a daypack, but if youre
like me the addition of the kitchen
sink requires additional cargo
space. Most successful predator
hunters I know pack that kitchen
sink in a quality daypack. he
days of school bag conversions
are over. Look for specially designed models for the serious
hunter who leaves the truck
for hours at a time.
First, shop for models
with large enough compartments to tote your
electronic calls, extra
handheld calls, extra
ammunition and
skinning equip-
ment. Small compartments aid in storing your headlamp, lashlight, scents,

calls and gloves. An extra compartment
is included in many models today to
accommodate a hydration bladder and
dont forget compression straps to lash
your jacket ater you work up a sweat
hiking, or even for toting a skinned fur.
Make sure shoulder straps are
[
7
G E T C O M F O R TA B L E
[7] Shop for daypack models with large enough compartments to tote your electronic calls, extra handheld calls, extra ammunition and skinning equipment.
Small compartments aid in storing your headlamp, flashlight, scents, calls and gloves. An extra compartment is included in many models today to
accommodate a hydration bladder and dont forget compression straps to lash your jacket after you work up a sweat hiking, or even a skinned fur. [8] Few
landscapes are rump friendly. To make your time on the ground comfy invest in a padded seat or a specialized hunting chair. Youll stay dry, comfortable
and cactus free, and stay longer because of the backside wellbeing. [9] Turkey hunters tailored the hunting vest and it has progressed for more than three
decades. You simply cant ignore the benefits. Today there are dozens of hunting models available for you to choose. Some models can be had for $50 while
others may cost you $200 or more depending on the options. [10] An innovative option to nearly every vest on the market is the addition of a padded
seat. This gives you instant comfort anywhere, but you may also want to look into back stability and this comes from the addition of a framed seat. Cabelas
Tactical Tatr II Kickstand Vest or the Instinct model include a unique design to act as a built-in chair to give you an automatic backrest, plus added steadiness
so when its time to take the shot youre not teetering.
well padded and include a nonslip

coating to keep your rile sling from
slipping. If you carry the kitchen sink a
padded hip belt is also a must to transfer weight to the hips comfortably. Plus,
look into a pack with an internal frame
for load-bearing support. Ive had great
luck with Cabelas Bow/Rile Pack, but
also look at Badlands, Blackhawk and
Crooked Horn Outitters for rugged
models.
Say No To Preparation H
Few landscapes are rump friendly. To
make your time on the ground comfy
invest in a padded seat or a specialized
hunting chair. Youll stay dry, comfortable and cactus free, and stay longer because of backside wellbeing.
A quick and easy option includes toting along a padded cushion. You can
plop it down on the ground or rocks,
and it will keep your butt happy. It will
also keep you dry from dew, fresh rain
Magazine
or snow. hey are feather light and attach quickly to a daypack. Whats not
to like?
Some hunters just cant get comfortable at ground level so toting a lightweight chair along makes sense. It gives
them home-like comfort and in some
environments, the ability to shoot over
vegetation that would veil shots from
ground level.
Hunters Specialties has several traditional models, plus the Two-Way
Strut Seat that keeps you low, but in
chair comfort that relies on a tree for a
backrest. For an innovative hunter-designed version look into the HuntMore
360 collapsible chair. Features include
a padded back and seat that are cushioned with cell foam pad pockets to
distribute weight evenly. It also sports
lumbar support. he sturdy frame is
adjustable, virtually indestructible and
squeak-proof, an important beneit
while on the hunt.
2015-2016
Shoulder That Shooting Iron

Unless you always want to have a rile
at the ready and in your hands, youll
want to outit it out with a rile sling.
You have two options: springy or rigid
slings. Both types have beneits, but
both dont ofer the same beneits. Traditional, rigid slings can be constructed
of leather, nylon or another non-stretch
material. In addition to providing sturdy stability on your shoulder, its other
main beneit is to provide a brace for a
steadier shot when you wrap it around
your forearm or lock it into an elbow in
classic military shooting position. Add
a wide pad to the rigid strap and you
get a comfortable ride for you rile.
For even more comfort and the ride
of air-shock comfort, consider neoprene. A neoprene-padded sling grips
your shoulder for a non-slip advantage,
yet provides bounce and spring to reduce the perceived weight of your rile.
Although the stretch can decrease the
G E T C O M F O R TA B L E
]
sibilities for seasons ahead, a permanent blind may be a better investment.
Models, like those from RMI Outdoors,
are constructed of virtually indestructible heavy-duty plastic material. Blinds
such as this can be erected on a raised
platform or set irmly on the ground for
ringside seating to any hunting arena.
Once in place you never have to worry
about animals spooking from lapping
parts or having it destroyed during an
unexpected wind event like many commercial, fabric designs.
Ear And Eye Covers
10
It is similar in style to the slings you

see in the Olympics worn by Biathlon
competitors. It ofers a quick release
to it over heavy clothing and to put it
into action instantly. Vero Vellini also
ofers an extensive line of slings to it
every hunting style and irearm model
including the popular AR.
Housing Authority By You
rigidity of using the sling as a stabilizing agent, you can still employ it, but
with the possibility of some movement
during the shot.
A unique sling that carries your rile
in double-strap, backpack style is the
Vero Vellini Backpack Double Sling.
Some predator hunters prefer to take a

stand and a ground blind ofers concealment, comfort, weather protection and scent containment in one
package. he main drawback of a
blind setup is mobility, but northland hunters oten watch baits and
even midwestern, or Texas hunters
have funnels that produce predator
sightings with enough regularity for
a morning, whitetail-like sit.
If you ind that a traditional blind
cramps your style, but you like the
place well enough for a blind setup,
check out the Primos Double Bull
Shack Attack. Its big, its roomy, its easy
to set up and yet it blends in perfectly to
any backdrop. Roomy, portable blinds
allow you to it the blind with a chair,
bring a friend and even accommodate a
propane heater for added comfort.
If your location has extended pos-
Finally, consider comfort for your ears

and eyes. Ear mufs are a top choice for
ease and reliability. Models such as the
Caldwell E-Max BTH electronic hearing protection allow you to hear normal conversations, yet automatically
shut of with sounds at 85 dB or above.
For a less intrusive option consider
protectors that insert into the ear canal
such as the Ghost Stryke series by Sport
Ear. hey also shut down automatically
with loud noises, but can increase normal hearing by six times so you dont
miss important range commands or a
sneaky coyote behind your stand.
Your ears are important, but so are
your eyes so protect them by wearing
ballistic-quality safety glasses. Many
approved models sport polycarbonate
construction. A top choice by sport
shooters and military operators are
those manufactured by Wiley X, such
as their Guard shooting glasses series.
hey come with three sets of shatterproof lenses in smoke, light rust and
clear, plus other models can be itted
with prescription lenses.
Shooting glasses are a must at the
range, but in the ield they can brighten
a landscape with the switch of a lens
color and they can keep snow, and
blowing sand from impeding your vision. On a long ATV ride they keep the
wind from your eyes for a safe ride in
and out.
2015-2016
Magazine
| 73
PARTING SHOT
Now it is pleasant to hunt something that you want very
much over a long period of time, being outwitted, outmaneuvered, and failing at the end of each day, but having
the hunt and knowing every time you are out that, sooner
or later, your luck will change and that you will get the
chance that you are seeking.
Ernest Hemingway
Magazine
2015-2016
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Access Tough Terrain

Dual-Color Beam Headlamp

Available in Red or Green

Super bright dual-white LED headlamp

F-6 GUN LIGHT

High quality, rechargeable, durable, waterproof,

PREDATOR HUNTING WINTER 2015 - 2016

The Cat of Many Names

Beast Hogs & Song Dogs

The Quiet Woods

Suppressors are becoming legal for hunting in

Everything you need to know about hunting

Hunting Giant Wolves

By Brian McCombie and Dick Jones

The Mobile Hunters Triad

A 4WD truck, a motorcycle and a mountain

Calling in the Thick Stuff

How to master the landscape in any

How Far? How Close?

Tactics for hunting in the jungle brush.

A survey of predator hunters on everything

Predator Hunting on a Budget

Calling the Crows

Calling the Mountain Winds

Predator Hunting is presented by the F+W Outdoor Group.

EDITORS CALL | James Card

And There I Was

And there I was with this coyote ive feet away

Vol. 10, No. 1

700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001

Editor | JAMES CARD

Predator Hunting Magazine is an annual magazine published

F+W, A CONTENT + ECOMMERCE COMPANY

COPYRIGHT 2015 BY F+W

could smell the piss of the deer-tiger as I crawled

Calling the Big Cat

are a legal method, not everyone has

dust they created blow right in my face

They Will See You

sight. I do my best to blend in a whole

to do a combination of mountain running, predator calling and shed antler

would show itself. I was of a little of on

I followed up with two more shots as

obcats are considered

he bobcat hunter must understand the bobcats habits in order to

NEVER HEAR THEM COMING

which will be rabbit distress and bird

only exception being new snow that has

can see very well in the darkness and a

movements, as the keen eye of a bobcat

LOCATE AND SHOOT

hunter is the actual source of the sound.

ible luttering, dancing movements to

A bobcat will never or very rarely come

s the aternoon progressed I noticed a coyote running out of the

black giant that our guide had trail cam

threading-the-needle shots couldnt be

I have experienced some remarkable

A fellow wolf hunter directed me to

The guide said it was the largest

a bait piles in sub zero temperatures

Afghanistan. He was as happy as I was

Knelsen picked us up from our log