There’s nothing out there like the thrill of that first coyote hunt. For me, the big one was my first night out thermal hunting. It’s one thing to have a coyote get your heart pumping on a daytime stand, but it’s a whole other experience seeing a pack of coyotes run in to your calls in the middle of the night. Nothing compares to it.
One of my favorite thermal hunts was out with my buddy, Parker, when a pack of 4 coyotes responded to our calls in perfect sync. With a calm night and a 4mph wind in our favor, we closed a 600-yard gap with subtle lip squeaks. A soft long howl stopped them just 50 yards away, and we took down three out of the four. Two dropped simultaneously, and I managed to clean up the third on a dead sprint. It may not have been the most crazy stand or the most coyotes we’ve killed in a night, but after an experience like that, you can only hope every stand is just as exciting. Since then, we’ve killed a lot of coyotes and made even more memories. We’ll continue chasing that adrenaline rush as long as we can!
Late-season tips:
In late-season hunting, adapting to the constant changes becomes pretty important. Coyotes grow more discerning and even smarter towards the end of the season, making successful hunts harder to come by. From personal experience, I've found it beneficial to keep my go-to calls for these tougher moments. Throughout your other stands during the season, take note of distress sounds or coyote fights that draw them in. These become super valuable and calls you want to save for later in the season, when facing coyotes hesitant to approach within shooting range. Remember, every area is unique, and trial and error will be your best teacher, so I encourage you to just get out there. Remember, you can’t kill ‘em sitting on the couch!
- Weston Burgeson // @sdtriggercrew [IG]
