Over the past few years, the popularity of predator hunting has skyrocketed. In fact, manufacturers of game calls now say that orders for predator calls has risen to the level of turkey calls, which means that predator hunting as a sport has a lot of recent new fans. Since there are so many new predator-hunting converts across the country, some sage advice from recognized pros can help you raise your success rates when hunting some of the more popular predator species.

Although I've been hunting predators for a quarter century, I bow to the level of experience exhibited by some of the well-known, and some not-so-well-known, experts who engage in the craft. Books have been, and could be, written about each varmint species that will come to a call, but I want to focus on what I consider the three most popular predator species that are most likely to live where you hunt deer and other game.

In no particular order, coyotes, gray foxes and bobcats rank as the most popular targets for varmint hunters. Some folks reading this will ask why the red fox isn't on the list. It does seem ironic, but I have a red fox that has lived in my back yard for the past two years. The reason that red fox takes sanctuary in a busy neighborhood just outside a major city is a case in point.

"Red fox numbers are directly proportional to the coyote population," said noted furbearer biologist Gary Cook. "When you have a lot of coyotes, you don't have many red foxes. The reds tend to move into urban areas when coyote numbers are high.

"On the other hand, gray foxes don't seem to be bothered by the coyotes because they don't typically share the same habitat."

Successful predator hunters know there's more to the sport than just blowing a call. Knowing a predator's habits and habitats through scouting plays a major role in getting it in your cross hairs. For that reason, we're going to share some insight into the three species, as well as some proven hunting tactics.

PREDATOR HUNTING 101: HABITAT & HABITS
Habitat for red foxes is the open pasture type with lots of rodents, which is the same favored by coyotes. And since coyotes are the larger competitive predator, their increase in range over the past 20 years has displaced the red fox in many of its former habitats. Coyotes have a nasty habit of chasing every red fox they can, catching it and eating it. Cook is convinced they do it just to remove the competition.

"Buffer lands with more forest, forest edge and thickets are the best gray habitat," said Cook. "Bobcats are more forest-type animals associated with thickets, and their habitat leans more toward timber, which is similar to a gray's habitat."

In addition to being an experienced wildlife biologist, Cook rose through the ranks with his state's wildlife resources agency and became the Region Manager in charge of all personnel in the western part of the state. In his spare time, the 58-year-old Cook has honed his predator-hunting skills to a razor's edge. To give you an idea of his experience, he taught a well-know predator hunting magazine writer and editor how to call and kill his first coyotes many years ago.