Coyotes are one of the smartest of predators with a keen sense of sight, hearing and a nose that rivals the whitetail deer. Once a resident of the West, today they’ve infiltrated nearly every environment from coast to coast, even thriving in cities where they often feed on cats and small dogs. Trapping a coyote with a standard leg trap takes great skill, since each trap must be boiled to remove the tiniest trace of human scent and sets require great care and strategic placement. Snaring coyotes is easier and more effective, yet still takes skillful placement and complete human scent elimination.
Take Up the Hunt
Hunting coyotes by calling or watching bait can be more fun and is the perfect break from cold winter weather after deer season has passed. More importantly, you can use most of your deer hunting gear to score on a coyote that easily can kill a dozen whitetails you’d be hunting in the fall. If you are serious about preserving and selling fur, consider a predator caliber like the .223 or .22-250. Otherwise, use whichever rifle you shoot best. Scout your deer areas for tracks in the snow and if there are lots of tracks near your favorite tree stand consider putting a road-killed bait nearby.
Double Dip for Success-
A conservation officer in New York had a considerable commute each day through back roads in a remote area where he often hunted deer. He knew several landowners, collected a roadkill, and placed it near one of his stands. His drive to and from work allowed him to monitor the bait and if he saw action, he sneaked in early in the morning just like in deer season. If you cannot hunt over a bait, monitoring it with snow on the ground will tell you when coyotes are active and a trail camera can give you precise feeding times. This post from the Realtree website will give you lots of tips to maximize winter coyote hunting and you’ll find it’s easier than you think:
You know how hungry you get when you’re out hunting or working in the freezing cold during a long winter day? How the cold seems to sap your energy and strength, making you think about eating a snack or check your watch to see if it’s time yet for lunch? How your body quickly burns through the fuel you fed it for breakfast and demands more?
Well, that’s exactly the reason you should be out hunting coyotes on cold, snowy days. They are out in that cold day and night and they’re always on the prowl for something to eat, making them susceptible to calling.
http://www.realtree.com/predator-hunting/articles/hunting-coyotes-in-the-snow
