Question about photographing coyotes?

cappi

I've been thinking about trying my luck with a rabbit in distress call and seeing if I could call in some coyotes to take photos of. Do I have to worry about my personal safety when using a call? Will a whole pack show up and try to eat me?

bfjr

Well Yes and No

Will you call em and smell like a Juicy Steak !! :food

Honestly I used calls rarely back in my huntin days but never for coyotes
Never have used calls or bait for photography ever, just never
felt it was necessary

LivingLarge

cappi wrote:

I've been thinking about trying my luck with a rabbit in distress call and seeing if I could call in some coyotes to take photos of. Do I have to worry about my personal safety when using a call? Will a whole pack show up and try to eat me?

No, you won't have to needlessly worry. Of the hundreds of coyotes I have seen there has only been 2 that weren't single. Those were both mama's with young. Truth be told, they are VERY wary and are much more afraid of you than you of them. I don't go after them, but the folks I have talked to say not to waste your dollars on those moving, twittering rabbit "flags" that move about. Just get a good recording of a rabbit in distress and some kind of scent lure (don't know what works best) and that should suffice.

cappi

LivingLarge wrote:

No, you won't have to needlessly worry. Of the hundreds of coyotes I have seen there has only been 2 that weren't single. Those were both mama's with young. Truth be told, they are VERY wary and are much more afraid of you than you of them. I don't go after them, but the folks I have talked to say not to waste your dollars on those moving, twittering rabbit "flags" that move about. Just get a good recording of a rabbit in distress and some kind of scent lure (don't know what works best) and that should suffice.

I'm thinking about going the old fashioned way and just getting a wooden call that requires good old lung power. I'll have to practice the technique some. Some of the coyote caller/hunters suggested that the electronic type calls had some downside too them... Like being heavy to lug around and having battery power run out. I guess it's not uncommon to attract foxes, bobcats, hawks, owls, and other predators with them. I don't know but it sounds cool. I'd also like to try one of the owl calls they make.

I just ordered the Canon 400mm 5.6 lens. Next I'll have to get a little camo and I was thinking about a cover up scent. I've got a flock of Turkeys that I've been feeding in the woods along the golf course I work at. Maybe where there are turkeys, there are predators. We'll see. I can't wait for this weekend. I hope it's not too cold.

Cygnus Studios

I see a lot of coyote here in Ca and rarely do they get close enough to worry about. They tend to spook easily so be ready with the camera.

LiquidAir

Most of the times I have seen Coyotes up close it has been in parks where they have been borderline tame. I wouldn't walk right up and pet one, but at 300mm lens distance I wasn't worried. I saw this fellow on the side of a road in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, stopped the car and took a few shots out the window. Shortly after I took this shot a Ranger drove by and shooed him off.

DsrtVW

You usually do not have to worry about yotes unless they are rabid or cornered. They have always given ground to me and are pretty shy. Calls do work. If you know there is one in the area and where he frequents a call will get his attention and most times they will investigate as long as they do not smell you. Always pay attention to wind direction you want to be downwind of them.

Cygnus Studios

LiquidAir wrote:

I saw this fellow on the side of a road in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, stopped the car and took a few shots out the window. Shortly after I took this shot a Ranger drove by and shooed him off.

I also have seen plenty in the Golden Gate Park. The only difference is that I am the one shooed away by the park rangers for getting too close
They are certainly more tame than others I have seen here in Ca.

Cal39

I have a Primos fawn in distress call and it works in the summer months for calling in coyotes. It also works great for calling in Doe deer, They will charge in full alert mode but wont be there long. You can get some good leaping deer shots that way when they leave. Renzos decoys has a predator decoy pack that should help get them in close http://www.renzosdecoys.com/predator.htm. Whatever you use, the Hawks should be there pretty soon after you start calling. Coyotes will also follow a Doe in Heat scent trail.

Roadkill

No worries... I would use a wounded rabbit caller out in Arizona and bring them in all the time just for fun. They wont mess with you. It can be a bit unsettling when they surround you and communicate back and forth, but its still pretty cool.