Break Free of Your Routine

Technique of the Week: People are creatures of habit. Most of us get up at the same time each day, eat lunch at the same time, go to bed at the same time, etc.

A few predator hunters I know also run their calling loop the same each day they hunt. They call the “old blowdown” first, then move to “green field” stand and so on, no matter what the conditions.

Well, consider for a moment that coyotes, bobcats and foxes are creatures of habit, too. The pair of coyotes that lives in the territory with the “old blowdown” might be in the routine of spending daybreak at a watering hole two miles away. If that’s the case, the hunter might never call that pair, even though the coyotes are in the area every day.

Vary your routine. If you call a certain stand at dawn one day, consider calling it late morning or midday the next time, or save it for the last hour of light. Another good reason to try a location at different times is that different animals might use an area in the afternoon vs. morning.

Certainly, factors such as sun direction and wind should be taken into account when considering the optimum time to call a given location. Still, when possible, try to mix up the time of day you call your standard predator calling loop.

Bobcat Summit Yields New Season Proposal

A couple weeks ago, I attended a bobcat management meeting in Stevens Point, Wis. The meeting was the result of continuing efforts to address concerns by hunters and trappers that believe they should have a longer season and more area to take bobcats.

Wisconsin has a very restrictive bobcat season, with only the northern third of the state open to harvest, which is controlled by a preference point permit system. This year, only 540 tags were issued. More than 12,600 people applied.

I attended the meeting, which was moderated by the Wisconsin DNR, as a representative of Wisconsin Outdoor News. My story appears on Page 1 of the current issue, but can also be found online at www.wisconsinoutdoornews.com.

Hopefully, the meeting will result in longer seasons and more opportunity to hunt bobcats in Wisconsin.

Bobcat Study Could Expand Hunt

A population and distribution study about bobcats in Wisconsin could lead to more opportunity to hunt and trap the highly regulated furbearer.

As it stands now, Wisconsin predator hunters can only take a bobcat north of Highway 64, which means only the northern third or so of the state is open to bobcat hunting and trapping. In addition, bobcats are a special tag species, so hunters must pay $3 every year to apply for a tag. Tags are issued in a lottery based on preference points. In general, it has been taking four to five years to draw a tag. This year, 12,684 people applied for 540 permits.

Leslie Adams, a University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point graduate researcher, is investigating population distribution and abundance by using hair collected at snaring stations. More than half of her hair snare locations were south of Highway 64.

The bobcat population is thought to be increasing in Wisconsin. Road-killed animals and incidentally trapped bobcats are becoming far more common in the southern half of the state.

Adams’s study might provide the Wisconsin DNR with the data necessary to not only expand the area open to bobcat harvest, it could also lead to more tags being issued.

I have written an extensive feature article about the bobcat situation for Wisconsin Outdoor News. It appears on Page 1 of the Oct. 31 issue. The full article is also posted online at wisconsinoutdoornews.com - it is article No. 2 in the rotating news cue on the home page.

I will also be attending a special management meeting about bobcats on Nov. 14, and will have a full report in an upcoming issue of WON. I’ll also share some of the highlights here.

Photo courtesy of Leslie Adams

Poll: Response Rates

In my travels, I’ve met predator hunters who expect to call coyotes at every stand they make. If nothing responds, they feel like something went wrong with the stand. I’ve also hunted with guys who think getting a predator to come in on every third of fourth stand is excellent.

Where you hunt, time of the year, amount of hunting pressure, weather, terrain and other factors certainly influence calling response rates. Just for fun, let’s see how your response rates compare to other predator callers from around the country.

Take the poll to the left. To be clear about what constitutes a response, it’s a coyote, bobcat, fox, raccoon or other predator that is approaching your position as a result of your calling, whether you get a shot or not. Also, if three coyotes come in at one stand, that counts as one successful stand.

Please tell the truth. No one will know who you are anyway, so there’s no shame or bragging either way.

Cover Your Mugs

Technique of the Week: This morning, as the sun was cresting the trees, two duck hunters dressed in their best camouflage and deeply nestled into the cattails thought they were well-hid. But they stood out like a lighthouse beacon.

Faces in the sun flash light. When you’re hunting predators, cover your face. I see so many pictures in magazines of predator hunters on a stand with no face net, and it always bothers me. Coyotes, bobcats and foxes will pick out your mug if you leave it exposed.

Cover your hands. Always wear gloves, even if they’re nothing more than flimsy mesh. Think about it for a minute. You move your hands to blow your call or adjust your rifle for a shot. Uncovered hands can become like warning flags flapping in the wind for incoming predators.

When possible, sit in the shade. Doing so will reduce the glare from exposed skin. However, sun or no sun, always cover your dermis.

Tad Brown on Decoy Placement

Technique of the Week: Today, I interviewed Tad Brown of Flambeau, which also markets predator hunting products under the Lohman Game Calls and Circe brands. Specifically, Tad talked to me about using decoys for predator hunting.

Tad covered many aspects of decoys, but I found his advice about placement especially valuable. Hunting with the wind in his face, Tad said he usually places the decoy about 30 yards away off to his right side, because he shoots right-handed. But that’s not all. He tends to put the decoy behind him and to the right of the area he expects the animals to approach from.

Why?

The coyote will generally circle, and when it does, even if it’s a wide, cautious loop, the coyote will be within easy shooting distance.

Tad puts it to the right so that if a coyote comes straight to the decoy, it will pass in front of him.

“When the predator is looking at the decoy, I don’t want to be right in their line of sight,” he said. “You want that coyote to be looking past you.”

One more tip about decoy placement. “The higher up it is, the better it is,” Tad said. “If the coyote can’t see it, it isn’t helping you.”

Fur Market Forecast

As fur market analyst Parker Dozhier has told me more times than I can count over the years, it’s all just a guess. However, I can’t remember a year heading into the season when fur buyers and those in the know had as much uncertainty as they do right now.

Of course, when the stock markets tank, then drop again and the global economy is as shaky as it is right now, we’re all in uncharted waters. Still, commodities often hold their own when the economy gets rough and the markets falter.

So, the best guess: coyotes – not so good; bobcats – should be as good; gray foxes – down a bit, but still solid; red fox – still poor; raccoons – could be very good, could drop dramatically.

Coyotes: A lot of unsold lower-grade pelts exist right now, so that will hold the price of new goods coming onto the market down. Dozhier says the best coyotes – pales with wide, white bellies from the Rocky Mountains might bring $40 to $45, but most will fetch far less. He put Wisconsin skins at $25 and down for the best large, heavy coyotes. A representative of North American Fur Auctions also indicated the coyote market was not expected to have much depth and generally be poor. Might be a good year to tan some coyotes and sell them to alternative markets.

Bobcats: Dozhier said he thinks the high-end bobcat market will hold up for another season, although the best skins might not hit $1,100 as a few did last year. Bobcats are being used to make luxury goods, and the demand continues for spotted fur.

Gray foxes: After doing exceptionally well last winter, gray foxes did not do as well at the spring auctions. Dozhier termed it as a hiccup, and said he thought the market would still be good for grays. He suggests hanging onto grays until later in the season.

Red foxes: Ranch production of foxes continues to keep the market for wild red foxes depressed. Expect a replay of last season, Dozhier said. The best might bring $35, but most will be $20 or thereabouts.

Raccoons: Every year, it seems one furbearer receives extra attention as the species to target. In 2008-2009, it’s raccoons. Many trappers and hunters are expecting to average $40 or more this season. Dozhier and the NAFA rep agree that the raccoon market holds great promise, but caution that the weather – both in the United States and Russia – will play a major role in determining the size of the harvest and the demand for the fur. If it snows and freezes early in the United States, and Russia has a frigid winter, fur harvesters who have a bunch of raccoons to sell will benefit nicely. If it’s warm here and there, disappointment is likely.

It’s all a crap shoot. Just like the stock market.

Confirming the Obvious

Here's a shock: Your favorite calling target is the coyote.

OK, OK, so no one is surprised by that. When I made the poll question, I thought maybe more of you coyote killers would be tempted by less common and more vexing predators such as bobcats and mountain lions. For the record, my favorite is the bobcat, probably because I haven't been successful at killing one yet, despite several encounters. This year!

Anyway, the results revealed that 65 percent of you identified coyotes as your favorite animal to call. Red foxes and bobcats tied for second with 14 percent, and raccoons garnered 7 percent. Mountain lions and gray foxes did not get a vote in the poll.

Onto the next poll. Let's look at guns. The question is "What is your primary predator calling weapon?"

As always, thanks for voting.

Where to Rest Your Rear?

Technique of the week: You’ve parked the truck and you’re packing a predator rifle. Now where should you plunk your rear?

Your first consideration should be sight lines. If you can’t see a predator coming, you have no chance to shoot it. If you choose a spot, then discover you can’t see, get up and move before making the first calling sound.

You want cover behind you to break up your silhouette. Don’t sit at the top of a hill. You will stand out, no matter how good your camouflage. Although it might be stating the obvious, don’t sit at the bottom of the valley, either. Simply put, it’s tough to see approaching animals when you’re lower than they are. You also don’t want to spread your scent all the way down the hill.

Another major consideration is the sun. If at all possible, set up with your back to the sun. Even better: Set up in shade with the sun behind you. Predators approaching while facing the sun have a much more difficult time picking out a hunter. By sitting out of the direct light, you’ll eliminate glare from your rifle, glasses and your face. In addition, most camouflage patterns are far more effective in shadows than in full-on sunlight.

No matter where you sit, a padded seat like those on many turkey hunting vests is very helpful for predator hunting. Cactus needles, jagged stones, barbed wire and spiny roots can painfully shorten a productive day of predator hunting. Some hunters carry a short stool. It can help you sit more upright in a more comfortable shooting position, and it certainly keeps your backside dry.

At the ideal stand, you’ll back into a bush partway down a hill in the shade on a padded seat with the sun behind you.

Comfortable? Now scream!

Sound Strategy: Don't Outsmart Yourself

Technique of the Week: I just read an article that advocates the use of turkey calls and duck calls for predator hunting.

While I’m sure you can call in a coyote or fox using a duck call, I’m equally confident the same coyote or fox will be just as likely to come running if you’re using a predator call. And so will dozens of other coyotes and foxes that will likely ignore mallard and turkey sounds.

Yes, I’m aware that you can make distress sounds on a turkey call or a duck call. You can also get out of your truck and push it down the road rather than get in and push the gas pedal. But why would you?

Using changeup or alternative sounds is a worthy tactic. But there’s a reason rabbit-distress calls are the most widely used tool to fool predators: They work best!

Don’t outsmart yourself trying to be different and offbeat. If you have attended to the other details of the hunt such as a stealthy approach, good concealment and a setup mindful of wind direction, any convincing distress sound should draw a response. By all means, experiment with new sounds to change up your stands, but don’t do it at the expense of proven predator killers.

If your goal is to call turkeys, then by all means, bring your slate and striker. But when predators are the plan, leave your gobbler enticers in the truck. You’ll kill way more coyotes bawling like a bunny on a predator call.

Bobcat Curse: Being a Wisconsin Hunter

Wisconsin is a wonderful state for hunters. We have world-class white-tailed deer hunting, have become a top three turkey state, boast excellent bear hunting, grouse hunting and are blessed with a lot of public land.

However, if killing a bobcat is your goal, your chances are very limited. Wisconsin has a preference point tag system, and only awards 1,000 or so permits each year. More than 10,000 people apply. Essentially, you wait four to five years, dutifully applying and paying a $3 permit fee each year for your turn. Then, when you are drawn, you can only hunt or trap a bobcat in the northern third of the state. If you don’t live in the open area (I don’t), you must plan a special trip, and scouting is difficult because of distance and time considerations. As a result, most Wisconsin bobcats are killed with the help of guides and dogs.

The good news is bobcats are becoming more abundant and expanding their range in Wisconsin. Eventually, that might lead to more hunting area and more permits, just as it has for trappers who want to catch fishers. In fact, a University of Wisconsin Stevens Point researcher is studying the bobcat population using hair snares. Her research is an important step in quantifying the state’s bobcat population and range.

I am currently writing an article about the expansion of bobcats for Wisconsin Outdoor News. When the article is finished, I will post more information about Wisconsin’s bobcats and how it could impact future hunting seasons.

Like most predator hunters in Wisconsin, I hope someday to call in a bobcat in my home state. I sure hope I have a kill permit in my pocket when I do.

Scouting? Hit the Drink!

Technique of the Week: Early in my predator hunting career, Verne Howey told me, “When you scout, start at the stock tank. All animals have to drink.”

I’ve applied that advice many times since. OK, so there aren’t many stock tanks in Wisconsin compared to Howey’s home range of Wyoming, but his point still holds. If you’re looking for predator sign, water is a great place to begin your search.

For starters, animal tracks are always more evident in the soft soil near water. You can usually identify with confidence which predator species are in your zip code. You can also get a sense of how many animals are around, and even the size/age of them in some cases.

In general, you’ll also recognize which direction the animals are heading. Follow the trails leading away from water, looking for additional tracks, scat and hair at fence crossings. Search for travel corridors such as saddles, ravines, creek beds and field edges that could make good calling stand sites.

Water also attracts prey animals. Take note of areas of thick cover that hold rabbits, rats and other predator food sources. Often, the most-edible plants in the area are found near a water source, so that will also concentrate animal sign – both of predator and prey.

So whether you’re planning to call an unfamiliar area or just trying to get a handle on the current predator population in your calling territory, head to the water’s edge with your investigator hat on.

Are You Ready to Shoot?

Technique of the Week: Every Tuesday, I’ll share a predator hunting tip, technique or tactic to help make your predator hunts more successful. Although some of the information will come from my knowledge acquired in the field, many entries will be the result of interviews with accomplished predator hunters from across the country. So here we go with the Technique of the Week. Please feel free to click on the "comments" and add your thoughts.

Are you ready for the moment of truth?

Way too many predator calling stands end in failure because hunters just plain are not ready to shoot when the coyote, bobcat or fox presents the opportunity. I’ve watched hunting partners frozen with their rifles across their laps when a coyotes unexpectedly pop up within 100 yards. I witnessed another hunter fumbling with his jacket as a pair of coyotes ambled past. And yes, I admit it: I’ve been caught off-guard more than once.

To make sure I’m ready to shoot, I follow a little routine when I sit down. First, I make sure I can sit at that spot for the duration of the stand. Sitting on a rock or stump feels OK for the first few minutes, but can become uncomfortable after 15 minutes or more. A cushion or small stool helps. If you don’t think you can sit there for the entire stand, select a different spot. I always make sure I can swing and turn 90 degrees in each direction, too. I take stock in the brush and terrain immediately behind me, because we all know that predators rarely come out and stand in the perfect spot for a shot.

OK, so I am sitting comfortably, concealed with a good view. Next, I shoulder my rifle or shotgun. If I am using shooting sticks, I position them at the appropriate height so the butt of the stock fits correctly into my shoulder and my eye is lined up with the scope. If you have to strain your back and neck to get a sight picture, reposition so you don’t. Then, I look through the scope and find that big tree 100 yards away and spy a large rock 200 yards out. I’m logging reference points into my mind, which will make it easier to locate a running coyote and have a sense of the distance when I’m aiming. A little scanning through the scope can also help eliminate distractions because you will have processed those images before you are trying to shoot a coyote. Just as importantly, I know my rifle is ready. The lens cap is off, the rifle is at the correct height and I know what’s on the horizon.

I keep the stock buried into my shoulder and sit so I don’t have to move my head more than a couple of inches to look through the scope. My gun is up and ready. I can quickly acquire the animal in the scope or move the rifle rapidly to my left or right to shoot.

By thinking about my shot long before the predator is within range, I’m ready when a pair of coyotes charges or the spotted cat materializes from behind the sage. For most of us, predator encounters are rare enough that we can’t afford not to seal the deal when everything else goes right.

So the next time you are camouflaged and about to press play on your digital call, ask yourself, “Am I really ready to shoot?”

Feeding a Calling Affliction

Welcome to Paul Wait’s Hunting Predators, a blog written for you by a professional magazine editor with a decade of experience calling coyotes.

I’ve learned the art and skill of calling predators first-hand by joining some of the best hunters in the country in pursuit of coyotes, bobcats and foxes. In addition, I’ve edited hundreds of predator calling articles from many more experts.

Somewhere along the way, calling predators became an affliction. It might have happened during my first hunt in North Texas, when I singled a coyote from a pack of four that charged to find the sounds of a pig fight. Maybe the first coyote I killed on film in Missouri turned the tide. Or could it have been a midnight encounter with a bobcat that mysteriously melted into the sage and cactus as my finger twitched on the trigger?

To be honest, I’m not sure exactly where and when my affliction took root. It really doesn’t matter. I just know the coyotes, bobcats, foxes and other predators have blessed me with countless encounters and exciting memories. And I'm not stopping now.

In this blog, I’ll write about the fascinating animals we call. I’ll cover encounters, situations and tactics. I’ll share successes and commiserate about failures. I’ll strive to give you a glimpse inside the personalities within the predator hunting industry, take you into the brush across the country and share thoughts on calls, guns and gear to make your hunts more enjoyable. Together, we’ll feed our calling affliction until we get into the field to make the next stand.

Welcome! By all means, please share your ideas and feedback. Good calling to all!