- Keep your light on.
Jeff says that many people are surprised to learn that he never shuts his light off. From the moment his gets to his stand until the time he leaves, that light stays on. Why? Well, to begin with he notes that there are a lot of animals out there, in addition to coyotes. Turning that light on and scouring the landscape helps you identify deer and other critters, allows you to make sure there are no livestock nearby and something many people wouldn’t think about, t-posts. Jeff says that t-posts reflect your light as you are shining and can make you think you’ve seen eyes, which in the end will be a waste of your time and attention. By keeping that light on and identifying everything around you, you’ll be better able to confirm real targets. - Your light is your camouflage.
Most people don’t realize that the light, not your camo clothes, is your camouflage. If you don’t have the light in their eyes, they can see you plain as day says Jeff. Many hunters will go out and turn on their call, wait a bit, and then flash their light intermittently looking for coyotes. However, Jeff says that’s a mistake. There is a good chance that when you shut off that light a coyote will already be on its way in to your call. At that point, if it spots you and then runs off, you’ll have no idea what just happened. You have to keep the light on if you want to see incoming coyotes. - Color and intensity.
White or red, it’s an age-old debate but Jeff says that he is a white light guy. While many hunters are under the impression that you have to use a red light, Jeff says to throw that myth out the window. Instead, he concentrates on the brightness and intensity of the light. Jeff notes that he used Wicked Hunting Lights and says that one of the best features is the rheostat. Because coyotes are individuals, some will take a lot of light and some won’t, so the adjustability of the light is a great advantage.
When it comes to calling, you need to use vocalizations that are appropriate for the time of year, something that will pique their interest enough to make them react and come in to check it out. Right now, Jeff says that he hits distress sounds a lot. Through the winter, food is a big factor for survival, so prey distress sounds are like dinner bells and if used correctly can be very effective. In addition, Jeff says that coyote fights and pup in distress vocalizations have been working really well for him as they generate a lot of interest and curiosity from coyotes which can equal success for the hunter. Jeff will also talk about call volume explaining when and where a loud and bold approach is best and other stands where a lower volume is more appropriate.
Identifying areas heavy with tracks and scat is a solid indicator as to where you should be setting up. Jeff says that coyotes are incredibly territorial and natural boundaries like roads and pipelines can be hotspots. In these areas, he notes that using coyote vocalizations like howling and fights can really trigger a response setting you up for excellent hunting action. If you are finding a lot of sign but aren’t seeing any coyotes then it’s time to change something Jeff says. First, he cautions hunters not to drive through the area they will be calling as you don’t want to alert them to something different or potentially dangerous in their territory. If they suspect something is wrong or they feel pressure, they likely won’t be showing their faces. The animal always has the upper hand because they know the area better than you. Jeff says if you aren’t seeing them, they might be in an unexpected area where they wind you before you even start calling. In that case, trying a different approach and playing the wind is important. Once you identify a coyote hotspot or honey hole, Jeff says you need to remember that spot. If you have taken more than one coyote from the same location, then that is probably a spot with good food and cover and one that is highly desirable. In those cases, when one coyote moves out another one generally moves back in rather quickly making it a spot you can hunt regularly with success.
So, what is Jeff’s go-to predator rifle? He says that his .22 Creedmoor made by Horizon Firearms is the most accurate rifle he has ever shot. With bullets flying at over 3,000 fps, Jeff says that it’s a killing machine and one that he is impressed with. He notes that in his ideal setup he likes to have two shooters, one with a rifle and one with a shotgun. Because coyotes are unpredictable, Jeff says that having a shotgunner for close range running shots is handy. Tune in for tons of tips from predator hunting pro Jeff Thomason that will help you increase your success rates.
Be sure to mark your calendars and look for all new episodes of “Predator Pursuit” premiering on Sportsman Channel in January 2019. You can also binge watch the previous six seasons on MyOutdoorTV. Be sure to download the MOTV app and take advantage of the free trial!
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