Coyote Hunting Tips On An Overlooked Subject

You’ve got more than enough spots for hunting coyotes that you couldn’t possibly ever need another spot, right? Yeah, me either! In this article, I’m going to dish out some of the most crucial advice that gets overlooked when discussing coyote hunting tips, gaining access to property for hunting coyotes. I will be discussing some things for you to think about and some different approaches that you can take to help you gain access to those predator hunting honey holes and allow you to put more fur in the truck.

Generally, the two biggest reasons you won’t ask someone for permission to hunt on their property is because you’re assuming they’ll tell you no or someone you know has asked before and got told no and you don’t want to waste your time. That’s fine and understandable, but you also need to take a rational approach to the situation and answer a few questions before you pass on that possible predator hunting paradise. What exactly did the person before you ask to hunt? I know, in my particular portion of Indiana, if you pulled up to a random farmers house and asked for permission to hunt deer, turkey, etc. your chances of getting a Yes is about 1 in 50. The reason is that most people hunt deer and turkey, it’s just a statistical probability that someone in the family is a turkey or deer hunter. So, your friend who asked to hunt, most likely asked for one of the most common game animals. Those same 50 farmers, I’ve learned turned to about 1 out of 2 or 3 will give you a Yes for hunting coyotes.

Be Specific!

Specificity is the key when asking for permission to hunt on someone’s property! When I talk to a farmer that I’ve never met in my life, which has become more common than I ever thought I’d feel comfortable enough to do, the conversation ALWAYS changes when I specify exactly what my intentions are. I always start off my conversation with, “I wanted to seek your permission to hunt your property, but I only have interest in Coyote and Fox.” Explain this to them, most farmers don’t even like deer due to the crop destruction that they cause, but they almost always have that brother, son, grandson, son-in-law or some relative that would set the world ablaze if they couldn’t come and hunt the deer that are there. I explain my intentions very clearly that I am only wanting to hunt for coyote and fox, that I have zero interest and won’t be on the property if someone else is hunting and I won’t be on the property during the peak hunting seasons for deer, turkey, etc. That right there, for me has usually been more than enough to get the blessing from the farmer to get into some of the best predator hunting locations I’ve been to.

Be Respectful!

One thing that will ruin you getting access to a new hunting spot more than anything else is lack of respect for the landowner. If leaving the property better than you found it isn’t #1 for you every time you step out of the vehicle, chances are, you’re part of the problem and not the solution. It took several years for my reputation to build up, and it only takes one night for that to be ruined. Farmers talk to one another and they’ll be honest with one another about how you conduct yourself. I’ve walked over a mile into a stand on someone else’s property because it rained the day before, and I wasn’t sure if there were any soft spots, but I wasn’t about to rut up their drive, field or anything else because after all I am a guest on their property. Another time, I showed up one Saturday afternoon to a property I had hunted the night before and repaired a section of fence about 6’ long and the cattle gate latch. As I was repairing it, the farmer came and asked what I was doing so I told him the night before I noticed it and since it was broken, it just took me a few minutes and a few dollars in material to fix it, so I was just fixing it right quick and I would be on my way. That little bit of initiative and respect for another man’s property and livelihood gained me access to more land and respect from the other farmers in the surrounding counties than I would have ever dreamed. It’s truly the little things that make a big difference and it all was made possible by simply doing the right thing and trying to say thank you for allowing me to be on the property.

Have References Ready and Do Your Homework!

Having a “hunting resume” really helps for those hunters who are serious about getting as many locations as they can for the maximum enjoyment of their season. If you can show someone that you have been doing this for quite some time and are very good at it, that says a lot about you. Couple that with the fact (this is where doing your homework comes in handy) that you know Farmer Joe is actually cousins with Farmer Ed, whom you’ve helped out last year with the problem of foxes getting into the chicken coop, then that’ll only help your cause and be more likely to sway him in your favor of getting the blessing to predator hunt the property. It also helps if you know that the particular property owners are Animal Rights people, in which case, it’s best to let the sleeping dog lie and not upset someone by asking in an almost certainly “No” situation. That again, just speaks to your character and can only help you in the long run.

I hope this helps give you a little insight and allows you to maybe get access to some of those “if only I had permission” properties. You can’t know without asking, and as long as you prepare yourself and conduct yourself in the highest professional manner and treat them with respect, you’ll be amazed at how much the word about you will travel. I’ve had people actually call me to come coyote hunting, because they know so and so, and so and so knows this person and I took care of a coyote problem for this person’s neighbor. You’ll be amazed just how far having respect for the property owners and their families, neighbors, etc. will take you. Best of luck and I hope this gets you more fur in the truck out hunting predators.

Questions, comments, etc….please e-mail me at [email protected]