Any of you find it harder to call in adult coyotes when they are raising pups? Or to somehow get the pups to leave the parents? What tactics work best for you?

I know this can be VERY controversial-as I found out by posting it on another site. But in some areas of AZ (and other states) ranchers love you and Game depts. do too, because you're saving antelope and deer.

Personally, I don't have a problem hunting young coyotes. I do stop hunting coyotes all together at the end of March, calling gets really slow then. I take the time to tune guns and reloads, do any nessecary work on equipment. I take a three to four month break. Mid to end of July, I can't stand it anymore and have to make a few hunts, by end of July the pups are out with parents and may even respond to the call alone. They are dumb as fence post, not much of a challenge but that has never stopped my shooting. I target the adults, but if a pup comes in, I will take it. I start the set with a lone howl, wait and watch 5 minutes. The purpose of this is to set off the territorial instict in an adult. If she doesn't show, I give it 10 to 15 minutes of prey distress. I use a wide variety of different distress cries, too many to list, but you can try the rabbit. This will attract pups or adults, kind of opening the door to the next generation. Pups tend not to respond to the howl, probably for fear of getting whipped. After I have called using the distress for 10 to 15, I wait in silence for 5 minutes then hit them with a pup distress. Keep your eyes peeled, this is when the adults really get to going, pups will come in too, but the adults really go nuts when they think their pup may be getting whipped. Shoot any adults first, the pups will be following close behind. Best advice I have is to take your time, pick the best possible set, be sneaky, and leave the same way you came. That, being very quietly.

Sounds like very good advice. I have not done any calling for about three months (too hot, even up north). I will try that sequence next time out. But not this weekend; Fri, sat, sun we are going to shoot prairie dogs .

Was just talking to a friend, and some of his buddies were up near Clints Well last week and called in 8 coyotes (only got 3), so it may be time to head up there again (I'll avoid the archery elk hunters though).

Thanks for the informative info.

The approach you choose will depend on whether you believe that "every dead coyote is a good coyote" or whether you have a certain empathy for them. Killing a nursing female will usually result in the starvation of the pups or making them more vulnerable to coyote male attack and killing.

I avoid such issues by suspending calling from Memorial Day to Labor Day and shoot any coyote responding to the call. By Labor Day, pups have been weaned and are being taught increasingly to be self dependent.

My opinion is that varmint callers have little effect on coyote populations, except as it may be localized and, then, the effect is temporary.