It’s a position that no hunter ever wants to find themselves in: missing a key piece of coyote hunting gear when they need it most. Here’s a checklist, so you never forget a piece of coyote hunting gear when it’s time to take the perfect shot.
Calls
An essential item on your list should be your calls, electronic or otherwise. You can either use electronic or voice calls to lure your prey closer. Some hunters like to carry a mix of mouth and e-calls in their coyote hunting gear.
Expert hunters advise setting up your electronic calls at intervals to lead your prey into the perfect shooting zone. E-calls are especially useful as they focus the coyote’s attention on the sound’s source, leaving you with the ideal opportunity to take one down.
Mouth calls are varied, with some sounding like a crow caw and another like a fawn’s distress call. You can also make some calls with your windpipes and diaphragm. For optimal success on your coyote hunt, bring along an array of calls to entice your prey.
Stool
You may be out there a long time, and your comfort is a primary concern. If you don’t feel comfortable, you won’t be properly focused when it’s time to take the crucial shot.
Hunting another predator means keeping as still as possible until you have the animal in your sights. A coyote will pick up the movement with its heightened senses and become wary if you are fidgeting.
It’s not just about staying still, either. Keeping your backside as warm and dry as possible is a crucial asset to bringing a collapsible stool in your coyote hunting gear. Even the slightest bit of dampness can cause hours of discomfort in the wilds.
Camouflage
You don’t want to put in all the effort of planning a hunt, gathering gear, and tracking your prey, only to be spotted when the coyote arrives on the scene because you don’t have the appropriate camouflage gear.
Most of the time, you’ll be hunting coyotes in the fall or winter, so you should match your camouflage attire to the setting. Choose a palette of brown and gray as green will be out of season in these colder, drier months. Always opt for a camo suit that’s a little darker than you think you need.
See Related Article: Tips for Effective Coyote Hunting
If you go for a full ghillie suit, a unique piece of coyote-hunting gear made to resemble the outdoor environment in color and texture, consider only wearing one part of it. Many hunters opt for just the top of the ghillie suit, worn like a poncho, as the multiple textures can hinder your movement or pick up debris.
Windicator
Another critical area to shield yourself from detection is making sure you are always downwind of your prey so they won’t smell you. A windicator is a crucial piece of gear to avoid detection by a coyote.
You need two pieces of information when factoring wind into your hunting tactics – you want to learn which direction it’s coming from and when it’s going to change.
T-Post Stepper
Many popular spots for coyote hunting are out west, which means you may have to cross barbed wire fences to keep close to the coyote’s trail.
For any T-post fencing, you can use the lightweight T-post stepper to safely and quickly scale multiple fences, keeping you close to your prey. Just remember to keep a hand on the post at all times to remain steady.
Spotlight
Coyotes are interesting creatures that will change their habits drastically to avoid being hunted. Coyotes are primarily crepuscular, meaning they’re most active at twilight, but they will become more active at night to avoid human predators.
With a spotlight, you can easily change your habits to fit your prey’s. Use a spotlight sparingly to pinpoint your prey’s movements.
Decoys
Most of the time, coyotes are cautious predators. When they sense something amiss, especially when they’re coming into a call, they can skitter off in a split second.
Once they hear a fawn in distress, a coyote will skittishly approach, trying to spot some sign of an animal. If they can’t spot any movement, they will usually work their way downwind of the detected sound. This is where your decoy can make a remarkable difference.
Shooting Stick
Most seasoned hunters won’t go out without a bipod or shooting stick, especially if one of the items in the coyote hunting gear is a stool. If you use a seat to keep your pants dry and off the cold ground, you won’t be standing for your shot.
A shooting stick is extra added support you need that could mean the difference between a bagged coyote and an unsuccessful hunt. Bipods work well on flat ground, but a shooting stick works best for any kind of elevation.
There are also tripods, which work well in boggy or swampy land, but coyotes can approach from all directions. When setting up a tripod, you have to point it in one direction, which will narrow your shooting zone considerably.
Optics
You need to see your prey to get a good shot at it. The best optics depends on your weapon’s caliber, and you need to tailor both of these to the terrain and the season.
For hunters going after coyotes out west, you need to make shots from 200 to 500 yards, so your firearm and your optics must be capable of long-range shots. In the midwest, you may be chasing your prey on farmland or hunting properties, making optics that aid your sight up to 200 yards extremely valuable.
Prepare for Your Hunt
Keeping yourself warm and comfortable, blending in with the surroundings, and making sure the coyote won’t spot or smell you are essential for a successful hunting trip. Ensure your coyote hunting gear package contains the appropriate equipment to achieve this before you set out on your hunt.
Bring both a shooting stick and a seat to keep you elevated off the ground and ensure your optics, gun, and camouflage match your terrain.
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