Coyote Behavior

[roy reali]

This morning my dog and I decided to do some scouting and exploring in our local desert. We were in an area adjacent to some agriculture. Shortly after we began our walk we heard some coyotes in the distance. They were not too near us, but they were not more then a half-mile away.

I estimated there to be about six or seven of them. They were yapping away like crazy. It sounded as though we had stumbled upon some sort of coyote party. Now I have question for anyone more familiar with coyote behavior.

Is there any chance they were reacting to our presence, namely my dog's? Not only were they being vocal, they seemed to be positioned in a half circle in the way we were going to go. This gave me the willies. I did have shotgun and .22 revolver on me so I was not completely defenseless.

So, was this a chance encounter on our part or were they displaying some sort of aggression towards us? I want to find that land owner and get permission to return and try my luck at coyote hunting.

 

[lt dan]

i have noticed that coyote and jackal have the same behavior. i have seen this on videos and talking to us coyote hunters. so what you have come accross can be a few things. they might have reacted to you and your dog. but certain times of day they tend to get vocal(sunset). there is allso the possibility of a bitch in heat.

if you go back take your caller an leave the dog.

 

[Scorch]

In the morning, coyotes vocalize (howl and yelp) as a social act. They may have been reacting to your presence and giving a warning yelp if they saw you, it's hard to say. The fact that they were arrayed in a semi-circle across your direction of travel suggests to me that you pushed them in front of you as you were walking.

 

[W. C. Quantrill]

Usually coyotes run in pairs. Two coyotes vocalizing sounds like a whole pack. I would suspect that you heard a pair. Find you a place to put your back into some cover and set up a call. You can probably call them in and get them. I would suggest waiting till they have weaned the pups though.

 

[Art Eatman]

It only takes a couple of coyotes to sound like a whole bunch. It's common for them to hunt noisily, trying to spook a rabbit into motion. They spot the movement and go for the bunny.

When you call, they'll first travel straight toward the sound. At some point it's common for them to circle and do the final approach from downwind. I like to find some area of terrain and/or vegetation which constrains them to come in more from across the wind, or even straight in.