Throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states, we are at the peak of the coyote breeding season. That means that we are in a prime time of the year to hunt one of our state’s most prolific predators. Both males and females are out and about during daylight hours more than usual, working up an appetite not just for mating, but traveling a greater distance means needing more food intake as well. A bit like whitetail bucks during the rut, male coyotes, while usually quite cautious, will sometimes throw caution to the wind as they tend to stay laser focused on mating.
And as if the mating season isn’t enough to distract them, with snow and ice making it more difficult to obtain food, they are increasingly occupying much of their time in search of something to eat. Both of these factors make the next several weeks prime time to hunt coyotes.
While black bears are the largest predator of whitetail fawns — both in size and numbers of fawns taken in the early months of birthing — there is little doubt that coyotes come in as a quick second in taking spring fawns. Bears tend to adjust their diet for the rest of the year and devote much of their consumption to nuts, berries, field corn, and other vegetation. Coyotes, on the other hand, continue their intake via predation of all sorts of birds and mammals.
Young female coyotes do not generally breed in their first year, but there are known cases where yearling females have given birth to and have raised a litter of pups in their first year. Female coyotes have one heat period that lasts four to five days and generally occurs in mid-February, but can occur in late January or early March. Thus, hunters are right in the middle of the prime time to take advantage of the coyote breeding season.
With all of that in mind, and with no scheduled hunting seasons occurring this time of year, you have a great opportunity to cull a few coyotes now, thus reducing the predation that would occur throughout the year. Coyote hunting, whether by using dogs, calling, or spot-and-stalk, is a good way to introduce someone to the sport of hunting, especially if you are mentoring a youth or an adult. Whatever method you use, there is plenty of time to talk about related subjects like proper handling of firearms, ethical hunting, a hunter’s responsibilities, respect for the outdoors, the habits and habitat of the game you are pursuing, and the sheer enjoyment of just spending quality time in the outdoor world.
Calling or vocalization can be particularly effective now.
FoxPro, a Pennsylvania-based electronic call maker, manufactures a range of callers that incorporate an array of sounds. Very effective during the breeding season are a series of coyote sounds that both males and females make as they look for or call to a potential mate. Later in the winter, there are vocalizations that imitate a coyote pup in distress, and it is one of the most effective calls in a coyote hunter’s repertoire. The sound of a dying rabbit has long been one of the most effective calls that coyote callers use. All of these, and more, are available on one of FoxPro’s electronic callers. If one of the electronic callers is out of your price range, no problem, as there are numerous handheld callers that are quite good at producing a huge range of calls. Whether you use an electronic caller or a handheld call, there are dozens of YouTube videos that can teach newcomers and help experienced hunters polish their calling.
Another solid reason to hunt coyotes over the next several weeks is that this is when their pelts are in prime condition. If you want the pelts tanned for various uses, this is the time of year to do so. Coyote fur can be used to make coats, jackets, or hats. A coyote pelt can make a beautiful rug or can be displayed by hanging several pelts together — this is especially attractive when various color variations are hung together.
If you are interested in helping cull the coyote population in your favorite hunting grounds, this is a very effective time of year to hunt coyotes with hounds, by calling, or by spot-and-stalk methods. Remember that for each coyote you eliminate this winter, there is an increased survival rate of whitetail fawns and wild turkey poults in the spring!
