Hunting Coyotes with the Latest Tips, Tactics and Tech

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Perhaps you’ve seen them, but most likely you have not. They troll rural back roads, mostly in pickups, in the pitch darkness of the coldest New England winter nights. There is nothing nefarious afoot, however. In fact, their mission is purely noble, and these sportsmen should be lauded for their endeavor, which is to help the local deer and turkey populations by attempting to control coyote numbers.

According to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, “Coyotes capitalize on a variety of prey species, including deer. Many studies have documented that coyotes, black bears and bobcats all kill fawns in the spring. Coyotes also kill some deer in the winter.”

ITS OWN BEAST

”They go by many names: coydog, yodel dog, song dog, trickster, brush wolf, tweed wolf,” says Maine outdoor writer Bob Humphrey. “Most people, including biologists, now generally refer to them as Eastern coyotes (Canis latrans), but sometimes even the scientists aren’t exactly sure where this critter falls on the taxonomic spectrum.

“Meanwhile, the human population is split,” continues Humphrey. “Some hunters consider them a nuisance and even a bane, others see them as a challenge. Some suburban and urban residents fear them, while others enjoy having them around.”

So, what really is this large canid that occupies nearly all of the eastern United States and Canada? Make no mistake, it isn’t your ordinary predator. “Our Eastern coyotes are very different from Western coyotes,” says Shevenell Webb, furbearer biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “On average, they’re about 10 pounds heavier. They eat deer and they show more color variation. Some exhibit a pale gray pelage similar to western coyotes, but others are blond, red and even black. It was once thought this variation may be derived from historical breeding with dogs.”

Just how big of a problem are coyotoes for Eastern deer and turkey populations? A study of radio-collared Pennsylvania deer showed that only 53 percent of fawns survived after 34 weeks. Approximately 33 percent of the mortalities were attributed to bears and 37 percent to coyotes.

Meanwhile, a South Carolina study found that coyote predation accounted for between 46 and 84 percent of all deer mortality in the study area, and somewhere between 47 and 62 percent of all fawns succumbed to coyote predation, most within the first three weeks of life.

Although turkeys are capable of flushing and flying to avoid predation, the biggest threat from coyotes, foxes and bobcats comes during nest incubation and just after poults have been hatched and can’t yet take to wing. Wet springs bring further complications. Keen-nosed predators are easily capable of targeting sitting hens, which exude a great deal of scent, and they do just that.

“Increased predation pressure from coyotes can lead to increased nest abandonment rates among turkeys,” according to one study from Oklahoma-based G7 Ranches. “Females may abandon nests when they perceive a high risk of predation. Abandoned nests result in wasted reproductive effort and can impact overall population growth.”

As coyotes and other furbearing predators wreak havoc on local fawn and poult populations, their numbers continue to climb, even in heavily developed states like Massachusetts. According to a 2023 report, the Bay State has the second-highest coyote population in all of New England—12,000—trailing only land-rich Maine’s population of 15,000.

SUPER SLEUTH

To his credit, Taunton, Mass., resident Todd White is looking to put a dent in those numbers. If you’re looking to grab dinner and a beer with White in the fall or winter months, you can forget about it. He’s hunting and not available.

“From basically October through March, I’ll be out four to five days a week,” White says. “Predators are most active at night, and so am I. It’s a thermal optics hunt. In Massachusetts, there’s no bag limit; you can hunt until midnight, and I’m usually out until then. It makes it a little tough on family life, of course, but it’s a great challenge even in the dead of winter. I typically hunt pieces of land that are 10 acres or more and try to hit five to seven spots per night depending on wind direction and such.”

To the uninitiated, and in the most basic sense, thermal imaging is a technology that uses infrared radiation (heat) emitted by objects to create a visible image, allowing the shooter to see targets even in complete darkness. “Ask any enthusiastic hunter under age 30 what piece of gear they’re saving their money to buy, and I’ll bet the majority will tell you it’s a thermal scope or maybe a thermal monocular,” says optics expert and frequent Game & Fish contributor Andrew McKean. “Suddenly, thermals are more affordable and ubiquitous, and American hunters are hungry for additional ways to use them.”

Exactly how effective are thermals? White used the devices to bag 88 coyotes last season, and was well on his way to exceeding that number this season when this issue went to press in early January. (To get a better feel for how it’s done, check out the videos White posts to the “Mass Predator Hunter” Facebook page after each night’s hunt.)

“In terms of optics, I use an InfiRay Bolt TX60C 1024 60 mm scope,” says White. “It’s a high-resolution riflescope that’s optimized for use with bolt-action guns.”

TACTICAL KNOW-HOW

Even though modern-day coyote hunting has largely become an after-dark, thermal optics game, success still greatly hinges on the hunter’s ability to call the predators in. However, mouth-blown dying-rabbit squallers followed by back-of-the-hand squeaks once the critters get close have become passé. They have given way to electronic callers that feature hundreds if not thousands of sounds and produce volume far superior to that of mouth calls. Like broadhead choices for deer, there are many e-callers and everyone has a favorite.

“A Lucky Duck digital caller is what I use the most, though I’ll also use a FoxPro,” says White. “I’ll put the speaker about 50 yards away from my setup location and work remotely. What call to use and when to use it is important. I don’t play the same sounds all season. I’ll use prey sounds in fall and early winter, then switch to female howls later in winter in an attempt to trigger a response from a male looking to breed.”

Wind direction is all-important in terms of where you set up and how you call. If using howls in windy conditions, you’ve got to call more loudly. Always keep the wind in mind, too, when approaching a setup location.

“I know the properties I’m hunting pretty well from past seasons and scouting trips,” says White. “I generally know where they’re coming from, and ideally I want coyotes to come downwind at an angle.”

Wind isn’t the only environmental factor to consider, especially when hunting with thermals.

“Humidity also affects thermal imaging,” says White. “Dry, cold nights with low humidity make for a killer image. While a thermal can cut through thick fog or moisture, the image will be greatly affected.”

Saving one deer or turkey at a time is the name of the game. It’s certainly a challenge, but with the right equipment, know-how and an investment of time, you can play a hand in creating balance between predator and prey.

CRANK UP THE HEAT

• Three thermal scopes that increase the effectiveness of nighttime predator hunters.

• Ask a hunter for his wishlist of new gear, and it’s likely a thermal optic will be on it. Here are three of the top models currently on the market.

PULSAR THERMION 2 LRF XL50

Today’s premium thermal scopes depend on three key attributes for a high-quality image: a high-resolution sensor, a low night equivalent temperature difference sensitivity rating and a low pixel pitch rating. The Thermion 2 LRF XL50 has all three in spades. MSRP: $6,999

INFIRAY BOLT TX60C 1024 60 MM

This scope boasts high resolution and is paired with a high-base magnification, which means less resolution is lost at higher zoom levels. A fast f/1.0 objective lens made of germanium, a high sensitivity rating and a round, 2560x2560 display provide exceptional detail and precision. MSRP: $6,999

AGM Rattler V2 TS 19-256

This budget-priced option offers up to 11 1/2 hours of use on a single battery charge (two are included). Features include a built-in reticle assortment, brightness and contrast settings, shot-activated recording with sound and a high-sensitivity thermal sensor. MSRP: $878

TURN THEIR HEADS

In many respects, predator hunting is still all about the calling. Here are three calls that will perk up their ears.

When it comes to hunting coyotes, foxes and bobcats, you have to make them notice you first. These models make our short list of stand-out electronic callers.

LUCKY DUCK SUPER REVOLT

This e-caller features 200 preloaded sounds (with a capacity of 2,000) and has the capability of playing two different sounds at once. It also features a motorized decoy with erratic motion and a taller tripod that casts sounds farther, a tweeter speaker for high-frequency sounds and a remote-controlled rotational base. MSRP: $749.99

FOXPRO X360

The X360 is Foxpro’s top-of-the-line call. A new and innovative sound feature randomly moves sounds across speakers, creating more realism without the rhythmic patterns of an oscillating motor. With five selectable urgency settings, you can tailor this randomly moving sound from a low-key start to a high-chaos finale. ($1,499.95; gofoxpro.com)

ICOTEC 300+

Despite being the least expensive e-caller on our list, the 300+ is certainly a high-quality unit. It has Bluetooth capability out to 100 yards, can play two sounds simultaneously and has a 300-yard remote range. MSRP: $119.99

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• This article was featured in the March 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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