Hunting for Coyotes in Open Plains: Reviews and Tips

Hunting for Coyotes in Open Plains: Reviews and Tips

The open plains offer vast, scenic terrain — and some of the smartest predators you’ll ever pursue. Hunting coyotes in these wide-open areas requires patience, skill, and a deep understanding of how they use the landscape. Without the cover of trees or brush, both you and your prey are exposed. Success depends on visibility, stealth, and smart use of wind, calls, and terrain features.

This guide reviews the essentials — from gear and calling tactics to positioning and wind strategy — so you can outwit these elusive predators in the wide open.

1. Understanding Coyote Behavior on the Plains

Coyotes thrive in open country because they use the land’s natural contours and vegetation to their advantage.

Key insights:

• Travel routes: Coyotes often move along creek beds, fencerows, and low ridges that break up the flat terrain.

• Wind use: They almost always approach from downwind — a strong nose is their main defense.

• Time of day: Dawn, dusk, and moonlit nights see the most movement, especially when prey like rabbits and mice are active.

• Territory size: Coyotes in open plains have large home ranges — sometimes 10–20 square miles — meaning mobility is critical for hunters.

Pro Tip: Watch for coyotes circling downwind of your setup — they rarely charge straight in.

2. Scouting and Reading the Land

Scouting is essential in wide-open country where coyotes travel miles daily.

Look for:

• Tracks and scat along two-tracks, dirt roads, and cattle paths.

• Scattered bones or fur where coyotes feed on carcasses.

• Distant howls or group yips at dawn and dusk — good indicators of territories.

• Fresh dig marks near prairie dog mounds or gopher colonies (feeding sites).

Pro Tip: Use binoculars or spotting scopes to locate coyotes from long range before you call. They’re easier to spot against snow, dry grass, or crop stubble.

3. Setting Up in the Open

Without cover, your setup is everything.

Do:

• Choose elevated spots like knolls or gentle ridges for maximum visibility.

• Use natural breaks — rock piles, sage clumps, or fencelines — to hide your silhouette.

• Sit with the sun at your back to blind approaching coyotes and give you an edge.

• Always position so that the wind blows across or slightly into your face; never at your back.

Don’t:

• Set up in depressions where you can’t see incoming coyotes.

• Overexpose yourself on ridgelines; use the skyline to your advantage without silhouetting.

Pro Tip: Mark landmarks at known distances (100, 200 yards) for accurate shot placement on fast-moving coyotes.

4. Calling Strategies

Effective calling separates successful predator hunters from the rest.

Electronic Calls:

• Use a remote e-caller placed 30–50 yards upwind to draw attention away from you.

• Start with low-volume distress calls (cottontail, jackrabbit, or rodent squeaks) for 2–3 minutes.

• Increase volume gradually if no response — plains wind can carry sound away fast.

• Try coyote vocalizations (howls, pup distress) later in the season when coyotes are territorial.

Mouth Calls:

• Great for mobility and flexibility.

• Use short, realistic bursts rather than constant wailing.

Pro Tip: Silence can be as powerful as sound. Many coyotes commit after a pause of 3–4 minutes, thinking the “prey” has calmed down.

5. Shooting and Optics

Long-range shooting is often the norm in open plains.

Recommended Gear:

• Rifles: .223 Rem, .22-250, or .243 Win — flat-shooting, accurate calibers with minimal pelt damage.

• Scopes: 3-9× or 4-12× with good light transmission.

• Bipod or shooting sticks: Stability is critical on uneven ground.

• Rangefinder: Distances are deceiving on flat ground — 300 yards may look like 150.

Pro Tip: Zero your rifle for 200 yards; most coyote shots fall between 100 – 300 yards.

6. Managing Wind and Scent

Coyotes trust their noses more than their eyes or ears.

Tips:

• Always set up crosswind; never with the wind blowing toward where you expect coyotes.

• Use scent-elimination sprays or ozone generators if available.

• Approach quietly and park your vehicle far from the setup — human scent lingers in open air.

Pro Tip: If coyotes keep circling downwind and busting you, adjust your stand 50–75 yards crosswind from the caller next time.

7. Field Reviews: Common Plains Setups

• Prairie draws: Great wind cover and natural approach routes for coyotes.

• Hay fields and stubble: Offer feeding zones and rodent activity.

• Cattle pastures: Coyotes frequent them for afterbirth or dead livestock.

• Snowy flats: Easier tracking and visibility but harder concealment.

Review summary: Setups that combine visibility, crosswind position, and distant call placement yield the most consistent results.

8. Seasonal Tactics

• Early Season (Fall): Focus on food-based calls like rabbit distress; young coyotes are easier to fool.

• Mid-Winter: Coyotes pair up — territorial howls and challenge calls work best.

• Late Winter to Early Spring: Pup distress and mating howls trigger strong responses.

Pro Tip: Avoid over-calling in one area. Coyotes learn quickly — rotate call sounds and locations regularly.

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Walking across open ground to your setup in full view of nearby coyotes.

• Calling too loudly or too soon after arriving.

• Failing to account for the wind.

• Skipping concealment — even in sparse grass, movement gives you away.

• Not waiting long enough — many coyotes respond after 15–20 minutes.

10. Ethics and Conservation

Coyotes play a key role in ecosystem balance, controlling rodents and scavenging carrion. Responsible hunters respect that role while managing populations to protect livestock and small game.

Good practices:

• Make clean, ethical shots.

• Avoid shooting family groups with pups in late spring.

• Use the pelts — many are valuable when properly cared for.

Final Thoughts

Hunting coyotes in open plains blends precision, patience, and planning. The combination of vast visibility and fickle wind forces you to refine every move. But few hunts match the satisfaction of seeing a coyote trot in from half a mile away to answer your call.

Plan your setups, play the wind, and use the terrain — and the next time a shadow streaks across the grass, you’ll be ready.

For expert-tested gear, calling tools, and guided predator hunts, visit Find A Hunt — your trusted resource for hunting reviews, outfitters, and field strategies.

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