The Best Coyote Calling Sequence for Hunters

For some hunters, there is nothing more exhilarating than outsmarting a coyote. These cunning animals are known for their speed, intelligence, and ability to adapt to their surroundings. They’re elusive, but that’s all part of the thrill. As any experienced hunter knows, calling a coyote is an art that requires patience, skill, and knowledge.

Over the years, hunters have developed different tactics and sequences to lure in coyotes. However, not all sequences are equally effective, and knowing which one to use can be challenging. 

Whether you’re a hunter looking to improve your skills or a beginner trying to learn the ropes of coyote hunting, we’ll help you understand the best coyote calling sequence. We follow a simple sequence, and we’ll get into the details of each.

• Locator call.
• Distressed call.
• Follow up.

Start with a locator call.

When you’re hunting coyotes, the first thing you want to do is locate them. After all, if you don’t even have a general direction, how are you going to call them in? That’s where a locator call comes in.

Using a locator call can attract a coyote’s attention and make them curious about the source of the sound. These types of calls are just to get the attention of the coyote and should only be used once or twice.

Some examples of locator calls include howls, barks, or even owl hoots. These sounds that coyotes typically hear in their natural environment may pique their curiosity. The goal isn’t to bring them in; it’s just to let them know you’re there and to get them to respond.

As the pack responds, it will give you an idea of the coyote’s location, which can help you prepare for the next phase of the sequence.

Use distress calls.

Once you’ve used a locator call and have a rough idea of where the coyotes are, it’s time to move on to distress calls. 

At this point, the coyotes don’t know what you are, but they’re curious and interested enough to come take a look. This is where distress calls come in.

There are many distress calls, including rabbit, chicken, and rodent calls. Each call is different and emulates the sound of a specific animal needing help. You should try different ones until you find the one that works best in your area. For example, we don’t have an abundance of rabbits in our area, but coyotes sure love a chicken dinner, so we’d use chicken distress sounds.

These calls usually last for one to three minutes, followed by a pause. This draws in the coyotes but doesn’t give them enough information to know whether it’s safe to come in. The pause imitates the sound of an injured animal taking a breath or stopping to listen for danger.

On top of prey distress calls, another angle you can take is the coyote pup distress call. This includes mixing in some coyote howls with yipping occasionally.

Follow up with different sounds.

After a brief pause following the distress call, it’s a good idea to mix things up and try different calls. Coyotes can get bored quickly and may become wary if they repeatedly hear the same sound. Hence, using different sounds to create variety is an essential strategy in the sequence.

One great strategy is to use howls in between distress calls. This will give the impression of more than one coyote in the area, making the target coyote overconfident and more likely to investigate.

Coyotes are the type of animal that will often come in silently, so howls can also serve as a locator call for those who may have missed the first step.

Practice and patience.

Coyotes are intelligent animals capable of adapting to their surroundings very quickly. Therefore, even the best calling sequence won’t always guarantee a catch. 

Even if you’re not necessarily hunting coyotes, I always recommend going out and practicing. Rarely do hunters ever practice, but it’s a skill like any other, and it takes practice to become proficient. You can go through the call sequence to get the coyotes to respond, which will give you a good idea of how successful it is for the area you are hunting in. Plus, practicing will help you become more familiar and comfortable with different calls and timing.

Tips from the pros.

We’ve reached out to a few of our friends and even some coyote hunters on Reddit to get their perspectives and tips on the best coyote calling sequence. Here are some of the top tips we’ve gathered.

One of our good friends and expert coyote hunter, Bill Raines, says, “The locator call is integral to a successful hunt. It’s akin to a chess player’s opening move, setting the stage for the game to unfold. Get it right, and you’ve already won half the battle. The coyotes won’t come to you, but they’ll be curious – and that’s your opening.”

Another coyote hunter in our local area, James Beckham, recommends using electronic calls whenever possible. According to him, “Electronic calls are a game-changer for coyote hunters. They produce high-quality sounds and can be controlled remotely for convenience.”

Redditor u/huntCOYOTEhunt shared their personal experience, saying, “The key is to sound like what the coyotes hear every day and mix it up. If you sound like a distressed rabbit, the coyote will know something is wrong since rabbits don’t typically make noise during daylight hours.”

As you can see, there are many different opinions and strategies when it comes to the best coyote calling sequence. Ultimately, what works for one hunter may not work for another due to varying conditions and environments. That’s why it’s essential to experiment, practice, and be patient while hunting coyotes. 

Whether you’re hunting for meat, fur, or pest control.

Hunting coyotes is an intricate process that requires a combination of knowledge and skills. 

For hunters, finding the most effective coyote calling sequence is essential to their strategy. A combination of locator calls, distress calls, varied sounds, strategic timing, and practice can give you the best chance of success in your hunt. 

A few questions we received about coyote calls.

When we asked our readers about coyote calls, we got a few questions we thought were worth addressing.

What sounds attract coyotes the most?

The call we found to be the most successful is the rabbit in distress call. However, it’s essential to consider your specific hunting location and try different calls to find what works best for you. You want to mimic their prey in your area.

How long should you play a coyote call?

We typically recommend playing the call for one to three minutes, followed by a pause of around 20 minutes. However, reading the coyotes’ responses and extending or reducing the duration based on their behavior is essential. Let the coyotes dictate the pace at which you play your calls.

How far away are coyotes when you hear them?

Many variables are at play, such as terrain and wind conditions. However, on average, you can hear a coyote’s vocalizations from up to three miles away in ideal conditions.