For an exciting and rewarding hunt, match wits with Canada’s top predators

COYOTES

Equal parts game animal, furbearer and agricultural pest, coyotes have been confounding hunters since the first European settlers began raising livestock on the prairies. Highly intelligent, coyotes are also timid by nature. While wolves are considered cunning, coyotes are more appropriately described as sneaky. Many times, in many places, there have been significant efforts to eliminate local populations. All have failed, however, as coyotes are the ultimate survivors, able to live on whatever food is available, from insects and vegetation to deer and carrion.

Over the past century, these adaptable canines have expanded their range considerably, and can now be found in every province and territory. And because coyote fur prices have recently dropped, it’s expected their populations will only increase.

Coyotes are most successfully hunted using calls, particularly during the coyote breeding season in the late winter months. Remotely operated electronic calls, often coupled with a rabbit or fawn decoy, are the tools of choice, with the shooter sitting camouflaged and well-hidden 100 metres or so away. At times, coyotes will run in with almost reckless abandon. Most often, though, they’re extremely cautious, so hunters must remain as quiet and inconspicuous as possible.