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the numbers in Western North Dakota are as good right now are crazy. We have 10 years worth of data from the trounaments and also from talking with fur buyers. I have hunted coyotes in 9 western states, texas and arizona for instance. I have done as well in western North Dakota as I have done anywere if not better. I have been all over Arizona and used to go as many as 3 times a year. they have lots of coyotes all through out that state but they have nothing over eastern Montana and western North Dakota.

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#'s really don't mean shit when you think about it

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I would have to disagree. How many callers in their same area only killed a fraction of those numbers. Being in areas of high population densities doesn't guarantee high number kills.

Cal, Randy and I were talking today, and wondered if the mild winter allowed them physical access to ground that was normally inaccessable this time of year?
 

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Posted by the bearhunter (Member # 3552) on February 27, 2012, 06:06 PM:
 
crossj. i guess what i meant was there are lots of factors that come into play with the #'s game. if a guy goes out 5 times a year and kills 25 coyotes, he's in the same leaque as the guy that goes out 25 times and kills 125.
 

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Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on February 27, 2012, 06:10 PM:
 
Jealousy comes out in the numbers deal pretty regularly. It kind of makes me laugh when guys say they could have done it too, if they only had the time, or lived closer, or whatever. Very few, including myself, could ever begin to do what the Hydes have done this winter. I'm too damn old and lazy personally, but I can still pat someone else on the back and admit that it was a hell of an accomplishment for anyone.
 

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Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on February 27, 2012, 06:16 PM:
 
CJ, according to the Hydes themselves, the weather this year actually allowed a lot more competition access than usual. These guys will strap on snowshoes and get to a lot of uncalled country that no one else will even try on a bad year. So in a way they prefer that I think. This year they had to deal with other callers non stop.
 

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Posted by jwelk (Member # 2051) on February 27, 2012, 08:03 PM:
 
What would you guys consider respectable numbers
from your area from the average caller?
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on February 27, 2012, 08:30 PM:
 
If your talking called animals, 30-40 I would say would be a good avg. 70+ would be a great year. A few trappers in the area are in the 100-140 range. I can't imagine being able to go out an avg. 6-8 coyotes every time I hit the field. Calling that is. I hear guys beat their chest about how much TIME an HARD WORK they put into calling. Guess I don't wanna work that hard while trying to relax an have a good time.
 

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Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on February 27, 2012, 08:40 PM:
 
Today was the last day of our "season". My partner and I have both decided that this was the last day in February we could both get out together and we simply do not hunt after February unless we get a landowner requesting us to do so. Beginning at about noon today, the coyotes around here have a "bye" from us to do their thing, raise new targets for next year yada, yada, ad nauseum. Having said that, this is my last coyote for the '11-'12 season, taken this morning around 10:15 and she is number 63 for us as a team.



I got 30, Kevin got 27 and another gunner of mine, Mark, accounted for the remaining 6 as he is only available to hunt with us every few weeks. These 63 coyotes represent our take hunting every Sunday, weather permitting, and one day off a week, usually by myself. Because of ongoing knee problems left over from surgery a year ago, I was only good for about half-days this year before I was gimping along too much to enjoy the experience, and I can appreciate the amount of work anyone would do to pile up 200, let alone 400 coyotes. To show the spread, we had one day we killed 6 between 7 and 11 am, I had a couple 4 coyote mornings on my own, and a handful of two dog days. The rest were singles, and that results in a lot of busted stands and days when we got home without heating a barrel. As has been so often pointed out, calling is a numbers game. My only interest in my numbers is how they stack up against last year's hunting the same area. We beat last year's by two coyotes so we're happy with that. Kevin, like me, is a big K-State fan and I told him that we hunt coyotes like Coach Bill Snyder plays football... we don't expect to win the national championship. Just get better than we were (last year) yesterday.

To the original question, from talking to guys around here, anywhere from 15-40 would account for 90+% of guys hunting in Kansas.

As this "season" comes to a close, I hope everyone here had an enjoyable year, and remained safe throughout.

[ February 27, 2012, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on February 27, 2012, 09:29 PM:
 
Until about ten years ago, when my son and I stopped the competitive hunts, we were killing about a hundred a year on eight hunts over an eight month, highly structured season.

I have no idea how many I kill these days? This year hasn't been very good, I will tell you that much, but I quit counting a long time ago. You really get burned out on the numbers after a while. I never thought I would feel this way about it. But, a contest changes your thinking real fast.

Good hunting. LB
 

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Posted by Kelly Jackson (Member # 977) on February 28, 2012, 07:46 AM:
 
To kill a 100 you got to stay after it. To kill 200 well I don't know, but would like to give it a try if I ever get to retire.

3 guys that know what they are doing and working a good area, calling and killing 400 would be very doable.

Congrats to them guys. I know you worked hard for it.

Stay after them
Kelly
 

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Posted by DiYi (Member # 3785) on February 28, 2012, 09:37 AM:
 
To kill 40 in NE SoDak calling is a feat.I know 2 guys.To kill over 50 here is a real feat.I know one guy who can occ do it.If I could only hunt here,i'd consider shuffleboard.(Ne,not north central or NW.)
To me,killing a 100 or more is a feat anywhere and tells me quite a bit about the person and his skills and dedication.
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on February 28, 2012, 11:12 AM:
 
To me,killing a 100 or more is a feat anywhere and tells me quite a bit about the person and his skills and dedication.

I guess that's why I have such a hard time understanding these kinds of numbers. The Hydes have been mentioned a couple times, an I have no doubt they are legit. Don't appear like they need to toot their horns on what they have been able to do.

I do however have to question guys who talk about hunting in 50 mph winds, using 26 different sounds to get a coyote to commit, or probably the best one is where this guy had multiple coyotes coming in. The story goes something like, he ran over to get a shot on one of the coyotes, an as he turned around 1 or 2 coyotes were sniffing the deer skin gloves he had left behind. Really???
 

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Posted by TundraWookie (Member # 1044) on February 28, 2012, 11:16 AM:
 
Are the Hyde guys a couple of young guys with the energy and stamina to go full throttle all day long, or just wise, efficient old guys?

Anybody who calls and kills 100 coyotes in Alaska would be a super star in my book. Anybody who just calls 100 coyotes would be phenomenal up here. I've never heard of more than 30 called/killed in a season with 18 being my best coyote season so far. I'd rather shoot fox and lynx any day, but I surely won't pass on a coyote when they present themselves.
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on February 28, 2012, 11:52 AM:
 
sak81, I know of whom you speak. With that said whether Mitch and Marty killed over 300 coyotes is not really important to me. I have hunted with Mitch and I do know he puts in way more time than I do, and I'm hard core. He's young, has plenty of time off, and lives in prime country. He and I hunt some of the same properties or adjoining areas at the least. As hard as his story about the coyote smelling his glove might be to believe, I really don't think he made that up. Crazier things have happened.
 

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Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on February 28, 2012, 01:07 PM:
 
Question; Are we talking about called & killed or called, killed & skinned???
Time spent properly handling fur in the field takes away from availble hunting time. All the more impressive if these guys are collecting fur.
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on February 28, 2012, 01:32 PM:
 
You know KoKo I never really paid attention to whether Mitch has been specific about called in and killed vs called in. Because if it's just called in I'm easily over the 100 mark.
 

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Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on February 28, 2012, 02:08 PM:
 
Mitch and Marty are good hunters and they have a good coyote population so anything is possable...
 

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Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on February 28, 2012, 03:18 PM:
 
Kokomo, get this, not only did Hydes put up the 400 plus that they shot, but another 150 or so snared and on top of that Tory bought quite a bit of fur. Bringing the grand total to 1200 plus coyotes skinned and put up. I don't think they sleep much. I've been in the fur shed and know all this to be true.
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on February 28, 2012, 03:21 PM:
 
I don't know which is more insane. Putting up numbers like the Hyde's or the fact that I think I just agreed with TA17Rem on something. Having a hard time getting my mind around either.
 

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Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on February 28, 2012, 04:25 PM:
 
Calling and killing 100 coyotes if you LIVE in a high coyote population area and have ACCESS to those areas and have the TIME to call those areas wouldn't be to tough to do. But 300-400 coyotes thats a different story all together.That's just plain crazy.Kudo's to the Heid Brothers for there accomplishment.

When it gets tough is like bearhunter said,you have to put alot of miles on and can only hunt the area for a few days before you have to head back home.

That's why we usually plan those road trips at a time when we feel we can get the highest number of coyotes as possible.(early fur season)

Good Hunting Chad

[ February 28, 2012, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: UTcaller ]
 

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Posted by DanS (Member # 316) on February 28, 2012, 05:26 PM:
 
Calling and killing 300-400 coyotes over a season is just freaking amazing. What is that, around 60-70 average per month?

I wouldn't have the time, money, or energy to do that, if I could.
 

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Posted by JeremyKS (Member # 736) on February 28, 2012, 07:31 PM:
 
That's what you call dedication or maybe just plain work? Hats off to them sounds like somebody I would like to hunt with and see them work.
 

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Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on February 28, 2012, 07:45 PM:
 
To me, it's even more impressive than it first appears. Dan just made the point that that's, what? 60-70 a month? A lot depends upon where they're hunting and how much pressure the coyotes are under. Every coyote you kill is one less to try for the next time you hunt. Thus, the odds of killing any decrease each time you go hunting, both due to coyotes being removed, and those that survive today being a bit more cautious tomorrow. I don't know where the Hydes hunt, but I know that around here, most guys will kill over half of their season take in the first third of the season, with subsequent numbers being harder and harder to make with each day. My pard and I had 40 by Christmas, and the remaining 23 were scratched out one at a time, cussing and swearing all the way. In other words, looking at just the basic numbers there, assuming they hunted four months, or 120 days, and took 400 coyotes, and assuming that everything else was equal, you're falsely assuming 3-4 coyotes a day. I'm sure that they had a few days considerably better than that, but there were days that took a lot of work to get that daily rate (even sometimes being just one coyote), days the weather shut them down, and the average per day would drop considerably for each subsequent day. My guess is that they killed most of the first 200-250 before the end of December and the remaining 100-200 over the next two months, at least, one hard earned coyote at a time. Even harder to do than it would first appear.

[ February 28, 2012, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
 

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Posted by Az-Hunter (Member # 17) on February 28, 2012, 07:48 PM:
 
I can't wrap my mind around that number either, that is one hell of a feat! Ive had several 100 coyote winters, but I can tell you I felt like it had been a marathon, more than an enjoyable hunting season.
They must put absolutely everything they have to do for four months on hold, as well as maintain the drive and ambition to keep at it.Just amazing.....
 

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Posted by J_hun (Member # 872) on February 28, 2012, 07:59 PM:
 
If you have ever seen the Heid boys, there isn't much fat on them two. They are "mean, lean, killing machines, and can walk for miles. They take it pretty serious. Them numbers are very possible and I never would doubt their word. Their achievements speak for themselves.
 

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Posted by TundraWookie (Member # 1044) on February 28, 2012, 08:11 PM:
 
I figured they were hunting machines based on those numbers. You're not going to be an overweight couch slouch and get that much killing in for sure. It's good to hear that guys are capable of such feats. I figured secluded Mexican hunts or aerial assaults would be the only way to rack up those kinds of numbers.
 

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Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on February 28, 2012, 09:25 PM:
 
Numbers are numbers, nothing more, nothing less. It's all relative to what you have or don't have, $$$, and time available.

Heid boys hunt like hell!!
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on February 29, 2012, 08:15 AM:
 
Interesting thread. Confirmed some things I knew, and learned some thing I didn't know. Simple math would suggest them boys are looking at somewhere in that 40k range for the 550, not to mention the other 650. That's pretty impressive fo shizzz.
 

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Posted by TOM64 (Member # 561) on February 29, 2012, 09:31 AM:
 
Wow! Impressive for sure but I see those results as a job not a hobby.

I do this for fun and only get Saturday mornings for the most part. That equals to I don't kill much at all but my "measuring stick" is killed vs number of stands.

I don't envy those guys with high numbers, I respect them but I don't want to and can't put in the time and effort it would take to even reach 100 much less 400. And putting all that fur up, that's crazy. There's lot's of easier ways to make money.
 

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Posted by J_hun (Member # 872) on February 29, 2012, 10:22 AM:
 
I don't know what you based your $40,000 on but it might be low. You have to remember they hunt in North Dakota where the coyotes are exceptionally good. If the sell at auction, they might average $70.00 or more. They earned every penny of it, that is for sure.
 

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Posted by Jeff Rheborg (Member # 2551) on February 29, 2012, 10:36 AM:
 
I hope they post a picture. I have the one from last year and thought that was impressive, this year's should be out of this world...
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on February 29, 2012, 10:44 AM:
 
Yeah, until Mercer checks in.....
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on March 01, 2012, 01:45 PM:
 
Ursus, Now you have sparked my curiosity. These 100 plus coyotes you speak of, was that this year??
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on March 02, 2012, 07:46 AM:
 
sak81 if you are referring to me and what I've called in, the time frame would be between Sept 1st and now. Calling in and getting are two entirely different things in my opinion. That is why I thought Koko's comment was interesting. Anyway calling in 100 coyotes over 6 months really isn't that impressive. That's only rougly 16 coyotes a month.
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on March 02, 2012, 09:12 AM:
 
I a year where the wind blew not just for a couple hrs. here an there, but for 2 an a half months straight, I find that very impressive. That is until I read where you were a tiny fraction under your normal 30 killed for the year. Then I didn't feel so bad about this year.

Look...I'm not trying to get into a pisser. Just trying to figure out what it is I can do to have a more successful season. Maybe I need to come to terms with the fact that the area I hunt don't have the populations it once did? It would make more sense, giving the fact that every dickhead with a day off, an a gun, is out road hunting now a days.
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on March 02, 2012, 09:58 AM:
 
Sak81, September was really good. October was better than crazy good. In November I only called in 10. December pretty much sucked, and I didn't call in any. In January I called in 8. February was crazy good. October was the best though. I don't know where you live in MT, but from Central MT to the eastern border there are a rediculous amount of coyotes. My 2 best days in the last two years is one day I had 17 coyotes come in and that was bested a few months later, by a day when I had 19 respond. The sad part is the most I've ever killed in one day is 5. While it's really cool to see them come in as a group of 3 to 5, it's pretty low percentage odds of getting more than one or two of them. Well at least I can't anyway. Sure exciting though. One of my partner's this year called in 21 just 30 minutes from my home. One thing to keep in mind I call a lot, but don't do the majority of the shooting. I only count the kills of what I shot. So yes, I'm under 30 for myself, but if you add what my partners have killed when I was doing the calling it's over 30. I would have to guess you live somewhere West of Great Falls as the coyotes numbers drop off really sharp going that direction.

[ March 02, 2012, 10:10 AM: Message edited by: ursus21 ]
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on March 02, 2012, 11:21 AM:
 
Fair nuff....
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on March 02, 2012, 11:26 AM:
 
sak81, what part of Montana do you live?
 

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Posted by sak81 (Member # 3706) on March 02, 2012, 11:45 AM:
 
Sorry, but I don't real all that great about giving out my exact where-abouts. Kinda like asking a guy where he caught all the fish? East Of Great Falls if that helps.
 

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Posted by ursus21 (Member # 3556) on March 02, 2012, 12:04 PM:
 
No problem. You'll note I don't give out my exact location either, so I get what you mean. If'n you are east of GF and not too close to Billings I would expect you'd be in coyote paradise.
 

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Posted by jimanaz (Member # 3689) on March 02, 2012, 12:24 PM:
 
I'll say this, Troy. I sure admire honesty in a man and there's enough of it in that post that Ray Charles could see it.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 02, 2012, 01:25 PM:
 
Yeah, I agree. Maybe I need to reevaluate my policies? I not only list my location but will happily give you my exact ADDRESS if you want to send me bundles of cash. I don't understand the need for this type of security; "east of Great Falls".

But. I'm considering changing my location to: "somewhat east of Santa Monica".

Good hunting. LB

PS I have "called" over thirty in a night, many times.
 

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Posted by jimanaz (Member # 3689) on March 02, 2012, 02:50 PM:
 
Maybe I should clarify...
I was talking of the longer post above.

You give out your location? I call bullshit. One of your locations used to be censored so it looked like this, *****.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 02, 2012, 03:47 PM:
 
I don't know what you are talking about? My location has always been Upland, California and was never *****, whatever that means? I don't know where you got your information but you sure as hell have no reason to call bullshit about where I live? I don't know what you mean by, "one of my locations"? I have lived at the same address for 37 years, and I'm in the phone book. What more can I do? At the bottom, where it says "from" for the last ten years, it has always said Upland, CA. You are mistaken and I call bullshit on your bullshit. You are being weird today. I don't get it?

Good hunting. LB
 

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Posted by jimanaz (Member # 3689) on March 02, 2012, 04:52 PM:
 
Haha, you know what I meant, and it wasn't your address.
 

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Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on March 02, 2012, 04:53 PM:
 
Before this turns into a train wreck, can we be aware of the difference between living location and hunting location???
As in; El Bee lives in Upland, but hunts on the ***********.
 

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Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on March 02, 2012, 05:01 PM:
 
Hell, I'm east of Great Falls and I haven't seen either of you around.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 02, 2012, 05:48 PM:
 
Maybe you should call bullshit, Lance? I haven't seen them either and I'm west of Great Falls.

Jim, I am not getting you, today? No I do not know what you are talking about?

PAUSE/

UNLESS. Maybe you mean when the word McNeal used to be censored because a few of the local residents were squawking because their town was identified as "coyote paradise". And, with good reason. But, in an effort to protect the locals, I took positive action and for that, now I am being vilified and denigrated from the back row of the Peanut Gallery? <sniff>

Nobody likes me! <sniff> ¿El Beeño?
 

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Posted by jimanaz (Member # 3689) on March 02, 2012, 06:05 PM:
 
Eureka!! Actually, I was talking about Sells, but close enough.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 02, 2012, 07:33 PM:
 
Okay, I get it. But see? You can write Sells without using the dollar sign, $. And, I never lived there either, which is a distinction perhaps lost on you with the elegant mustache.

Really, don't you think it a bit rude to scream bullshit when I am just your average innocent and weary traveller on the Intergalactic highway?

Good hunting. El Beño
 

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Posted by jimanaz (Member # 3689) on March 02, 2012, 11:00 PM:
 
"innocent and weary"?

OK, I'll give you weary, innocent... mmm I dunno.
 

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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on March 03, 2012, 11:38 AM:
 
....don't know how you've lasted so long?

My innocence is totally obvious, dude! Ask anyone.

Good hunting. LB

edit: just kidding. OK?

[ March 03, 2012, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
 

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