Coyote University

By Dave Freeman

It was a cold clear January night and two southern Columbian County men were fox hunting in Beaver Creek State Park. The men were introducing a teenager to electronic game calling. They were using the latest in calling equipment, a Johnny Stewart 45RPM-photograph predator caller.

The young trainee placed the photograph arm on the 45 and a scratch sound of a distressed cottontail filled the Ohio night. In what seemed like only 60- to 70 seconds two bright eyes appeared into view of the hunter’s red light. The next sound was that of a Browning 12-gauge magnum and when quiet returned a beautiful male gray fox lay 40 yards away.

Many years have passed since that January night. Many gray foxes have come and gone in the Ohio River Valley and most recent they have been joined by an ever-growing population of coyotes. With that night and a few other attempts at predator calling in mind, I gladly excepted Hunter’s Specialties invitation to travel to Waco, Texas and spend a few days at Coyote University. I refer to it as Coyote University because the invitation was to spend time with Gerald Stewart, the son of the late Johnny Stewart, founder of the company bearing his name.

The goal for me on the trip was simple, to gain as much coyote calling knowledge as I could in a short period of time and to then share it with Ohio Valley Outdoors’ readers – and, armed with that information -- try it out on some Ohio Valley fox and coyotes.

Johnny Stewart Game Calls was established in 1961and was acquired by Hunter’s Specialties in 1999. Gerald remains with the company as a consultant and promoter for Hunter’s Specialties. Part of our studies at Coyote U would include the introduction of the new Johnny Stewart Promaster Caller. Quite a far cry (pardon the pun) from the 45RPM phonograph from long ago. This digital analog caller is a compact, lightweight unit that is easy to set up and use. It features a four sound cartridge and will play one or more of the sounds for 60 seconds on and 60 seconds off. This allows the hunter to change sounds or play combined sounds without the movement and noises associated with CDs or cassettes.

We began our education at a deer lease a few hours west of Waco. Gerald’s instruction on our first set centered on the proper set-up in regard to wind direction. Coyotes and Red Fox, with Grey Fox to a lesser extent, generally circle to approach the caller from a downwind direction, even though the caller has set up into the wind. Therefore, when setting up you need to have that fact in mind. If you are hunting with a buddy or if the caller is not the shooter, the shooter should be positioned 40- to 50 yards downward of the caller. The coyote will circle and then focus on the sound, allowing the shooter a chance to spot the animal before being spotted by the coyote. A single hunter can place his Praymaster 50 yards upwind of himself, and through the caller’s 30 second start delay system, move downwind and get set up. The speaker on this unit has a 10-foot cord and can be aimed forward to provide a directional type stand or be placed up in a tree or bush to cover a greater and non-directional area.

We also spent time working on human scent control. Gerald explained the Hunter’s Specialties scent control system, which places emphasis on a complete program of body, hair and clothing wash. Scent cover and elimination sprays and scent-free clothing bags provide storage for your hunting clothes until they are put on in the field. Gerald also uses small film canisters with skunk scent in them and places them on 45-degree angles further downwind of the hunter.

At that location our calling was mainly for fox, and after our lesson and within 60 seconds of the beginning of the calling a beautiful gray fox appears just 10 feet from Gerald and the Praymaster. Gerald explained that often fox or coyotes, expecting a quick meal, come to the call quite quickly when they are in the vicinity. With our first semester over, we headed several more hours west to Benjamin, Texas, where we would be joined on our university field trip by world renowned wildlife photographer and friend of Gerald’s, Wyman Meinzer and his brother Rich. The two brothers, whose love of coyote hunting is exceeded only by their love of the coyote, have harvested more than 3,000 coyotes. Wyman and his wife Sylinda live in a converted historic jailhouse constructed in the early 1800s. Their unique home was just featured on HGTV.

Our education continues the next day as we traveled to a 20,000-acre ranch with Gerald, Wyman and Rich. In addition to more scent control and hunting using wind direction, we were instructed in sight control. Setting up in the shade with the sun at your back makes it more difficult for an approaching coyote to spot you. Wyman also pointed out that you should set up below the crest of a hill to avoid being skylined by your prey. Wyman also pointed out that you should set up in such a way as to see the greatest distance to both sides of you and straight ahead. And if possible, when hunting with a buddy, have the caller position himself lower on the hill to have the coyote’s attention aim there as he approaches.

Gerald then pointed out the need for proper equipment. Your firearm or bow of choice should be appropriate to the type of terrain or cover you are hunting. For close in brush hunting (required by game laws) a shotgun should be used. A three-inch magnum, 12 or 10 gauge with a tight turkey or full choke is the recommendation. Open country hunting might be served best by a small caliber long distance rifle such as the 17 cal. Remington, and a 243 or 22–250 might fit the bill in more brushy country where a distance shot might be made.

Rick Meinzer pointed out the need for practice in distance shooting, so that one feels comfortable with his gun and can make fast, braced and accurate shots. With coyotes one very seldom gets a second shot.

After two very exciting days of hunting with Gerald, in which seven gray fox and seven coyotes were called in, the school shifted to the differences in hunting western Texas to hunting western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia.

Gerald explained that in addition to limited open areas, there are several other factors effecting the eastern coyote hunter. These include limited areas to hunt, a smaller density of coyotes, and in many cases, greater calling pressure on the animals.

As to the limited hunting area, Gerald emphasized scouting, scouting and then scouting. Know your hunting areas. Look for coyote signs, both fresh and older tracks and droppings. Talk to farmers, landowners and wildlife offices where coyotes have been spotted. Scouting will help you have an idea where you might set up based on changing wind directions even before you go into a hunting area. As to a smaller number of coyotes, again Gerald talks of scouting. Know where they are and you’ll have plenty

of animals to go after. As to the animals being pressured, Gerald’s teaching tells us that the use of a variety of calling sounds -- and in some cases combinations of sounds -- will improve your odds.

When to hunt is another subject that Gerald likes to lecture on. The period of time just before and after the dark of the moon is a time that both Gerald and the Meinzer brothers agree has always provided the best action for them even when hunting the daytime.

As we headed back to Waco, Gerald finishes his schooling by saying coyotes are not as difficult as some people would have you believe, but basics have to be followed. Most hunters have called in far more predators that they will even see. Proper attention to scent, wind, scouting and a variety of sounds will increase your chances.

As school was over and I departed Texas for Ohio I had one question in mind. Did I pass?

While I did harvest a beautiful Texas gray fox and my first coyote, I guess the real final exam will come for me when I enter a Pennsylvania game land or Ohio wildlife area with call in hand to test my knowledge against Canis Latrans

Before I went to the university, I couldn’t even spell that name.

I would like to thank Gerald Stewart, Johnny Stewart Game Calls and Hunter’s Specialties for making this trip possible. View products from Hunter’s Specialties at www.hunterspec.com. We would also like to thank Sylinda, Wyman, and Rick Meinzer for their hospitality and patience. To see some of Wyman’s famous wildlife photos, log on to his website at www.wymanmeinzer.com.