Tips on calling our indigenous exotic.

As we started down the winding road that lead into the box canyon, we all said to each other ” this is some foxy looking country ” It had been a wetter then usual season and everything was looking healthy. Our first stand boardered a creek with a good looking little opening up wind from us, Neither of us could belive it was a dry stand. We continued down the canyon with every turn it looked better and better. As we rounded the next bend we noticed somethings out in a little opening, then it clicked; those are coatimundi. We Slid out of the truck and made our way to the edge of the creek where we could set up and start calling. not 30 seconds into it we had a grey fox on a dead run from our right ready to get it on. needless to say he didnt last to long aginst 50 grains of lead. After the shot, Coati’s were running everywhere, So we got back on the call and about 30 seconds later we had a couple of them making there way back to us. That was my first encounter with them and I had no idea they could be called in just like other predators. Ever since, we have been making a few trips a year to target them. It is a lot of fun mixing up our calling trips with something as exotics as they are. Plus calling in Coati country you never know what you might call in, they share the came habbitat as Fox, Coyote, Bobcat, Lion, Bear and Raccoons.

Many people have neither heard of nor seen a Coatimundi (pronounced koʊˌɑːtɨˈmʌndi). Also known as the Brazilian aardvark, hog nosed koon and on the other side of the boarder “Chulo”. The species we have here in AZ are known as White-nosed Coati.

Coatimundi are related to the racoon, but differ in many ways. They are diurnal animals, meaning they are active during the daytime. Which is one of the reasons I enjoy calling them. Coati, like many other predators we hunt are omnivorous, meaning they eat both animals and plants. It is said that they are insatiable, constantly in searching for food. Their tails are long and slender, used for balance and to communicate temperament. Coatimundi have sharp teeth and large claws, with Males being quite a bit larger than the female. Coati typically travel and feed in groups from 3 – 25 and make a ruckus while doing so; a kind of chirping sound. I have seen them in larger groups of over 35. Coatimundi are also regarded as an intelligent animal and are growing in popularity as pets. Being native to South America and southern portions of North America make them a interesting target for southwestern predator hunters. First reports of them in the states came from boarder area ranchers, with scientific reports popping up in the 1920’s. It is believed that they are slowly expanding their range further north of the boarder. Not all states that hold populations allow the hunting of them, so I recommend checking with you local and state laws prior to hunting them, as with any hunting. Here in Arizona they have a season and a bag limit of one per calendar year. I have noticed that when you find a good population of them you can typically locate them in the same areas year after year.

Where to find them,

Here in the states you’re going to want to look for them in the far south western states, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. They range from hot and dry areas to moist rain forests. Try looking for them around permanent water sources with rocky cliffs, dense brushy areas with trees. I have had my best luck around riparian areas and box canyons. Their habitat is going to be very similar to Raccoon and Grey Fox. I have found them nesting under rock overhangs at ground level, up in trees and up on cliffs in rocky niches, they prefer to nest in elevated places safe from other predators. When you do locate Coati habitat, rememder the location, more than likely they will continue to utalize the same area. Also, being as they will generally be found near the Mexico boarder, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings and if you see something that doesn’t look right get out of there and notify the local authorities. Drug running and illegal smuggling is a serious and dangerous problem in most areas near the boarder. Keep your possessions secure in you vehicle while away from it and make sure there is nothing of value that can be seen, even water!

The setup,

I like to setup as I would for fox, they both seem to like the same habitat, fox are a natural predator of the coati. Look for areas with water and shelter, like the areas mentioned above. When setting up for your stand try and make sure you have a semi open area to call them into, they like to feed and sun in the open. I belive they feel more secure with some visability. When ever possible play the wind and sun to your advantage, i dont belive they are as sensitive as other predators to scent but you never know what you will call in; wind in the face or cross wind and sun at your back whenever possible.

The sounds,

Coati are omnivorous but a little shy to the call sometimes. I belive a lot of the time they respond out of curiosity rather then hunger or a lot of both??. So I like to use sounds that arnt as intense as I might use on other animals. Cottontail rabit is a good one but make sure not to over do it if you are using a mouth call, try and keep the emotion down a a little. If you are using a electronic caller, use a mild sounding rabit. Bird distress is also a good sounds to use, again i wouldnt recomend anything to crazy sounding, you could risk just scaring them off. A great sound to use if the wind is down or are in a canyon where the sound will travel would be a rodent distress, It isnt to agressive and it is a sound they have experience with. Coati are meat eaters but you arent going to hear of one running down a jack rabbit, or fawn. So keep the sounds to smaller distressed animals that are there normal prey. Like Birds, rodents and baby rabbits.With mild volume. I haven’t yet, but I am going to do some experimenting with Raccoon sounds, being in the same family and making some similar sounds I figured it couldn’t hurt.

Most southern AZ mountain ranges contain coati and I have heard reports of them being sighted into northern AZ. But biologists arnt sure if they are expanding there breading ranges or if they are released animals. A few mountain ranges and general areas to start your hunt would be;

Santa Rita mountains, Patagonia mountains, Huachuca mountains, Dragoon mountains, Chiricahua mountains and Peloncillo mountains. Most of the southern AZ mountain ranges have good accsess and a lot of them are national forest land. Start by looking for perennial creeks and lush areas along with medium to large drainage’s as they provide great habitat for them and great sceanery while hunting them.

Rabbit
I have good success using both cotton tail and jack sounds. I do slightly favor cotton tail over jack, but that is just personal preference. I like a smooth, repetitive, mildly aggressive sound, while others prefer wild, loud aggressive sounds. Like I said, its personal preference and has a lot to do with confidence. The reason I prefer a milder sound is because in my eye it will call aggressive animals in and still have a good chance at bringing in a more timid animal. I recommend getting out there and finding what works for you, try a little of everything.

Bird
Bird distress is a great sounds for cats, coyotes and fox. It is usually a more busy sound, which I believe cats prefer. A bird sound is typically a great sound to use in areas that receive pressure and most likely it wont scare off or intimidate sub dominant animals.

Other distress
Sounds like fawn, chicken and exotics are good sounds to use in pressured areas and for bigger targets, like lion and bear. I will rarely use these sounds (Deer/ fawn), almost only when I am targeting lion and bear. There are a lot of guys that swear by them and use them often, I am just not one of them. Give them a try and find out what works for you.

Vocals
Whether it be coyote, bobcat or fox vocals, they all will work. But some will work better at other times and in other situations. I have never really been a big vocals kinda guy. I do call a lot of coyotes in with howls, but I almost always use non aggressive howls.

Targets distress
Great sounds to use for the animal in question and sometimes other predators will come too. A few of the sounds that I use often are, coyote distress/ pup distress, fox distress/ fox pup distress and kitten cries. They all work well for me and I call a lot of animals with each every season. Coyote distress is a great sound to use after the shot, a lot of times it will bring in a second animal or bring back a missed coyote. Grey fox distress is a very good sound to use when calling in foxy areas, it works great and really brings them in. Plus you have a good chance at calling in anything from Lion to Bobcat.

When choosing your center fire rifle the first thing to decide on would be the action. Each action has its pros and cons, depending on your style of hunting and personal taste will determine what suits you. Whether you prefer both action, semi auto, single shot, pump or lever action, a lot of the particulars will stay the same. Like barrel length, weight and caliber. I prefer a short barrel, and wouldn’t have anything say longer than 20 inches. Barrel length has a direct link to the weight of your rifle. It is also linked to the speed in which are bullet travels, and in predator hunting most times faster is better. As for caliber there’s no shortage of them out there, and a lot of them perform similar. In deciding a caliber one thing to consider would be if you’re going to reload for it or shoot factory ammo. There are more than a few great calibers out there that will require you to reload for, but if you do not reload you won’t have a problem finding a suitable round.

With that let’s start with action, I personally enjoy most actions out there. But there are a few that I’m more partial to, bolt action and semi auto are my two favorite actions. It is hard to beat the semi auto when you’re out coyote hunting and are expecting multiples. In semi auto I prefer the AR 15 platform, these days it can be had in an assortment of great calibers. On my personal AR 15 I run a 16 inch barrel which is lite and easy to swing. And in my honest opinion it is hard to beat the 223, ammo is readily available and it is very easy to reload for. In a bolt action rifle my personal preference is either the Remington 700 or model seven, both are reliable and inherently accurate. The 700 is more readily available and hard to beat, but the model seven is basically a lighter scaled down version of its big brother. Both can be had in an array of effective calibers. Your decision will come down to terminal performance, recoil, availability of ammunition and of course affect on fur. Now if you’re not going to be saving fur than your decision will be that much easier.

Here’s a short list of the calibers I use.

.243

A great multi use caliber with a lot of knock down power, good wind and brush bucking abilities. But a little hard on fur. It is a good caliber to own, best for game up to deer size. With ammo being readily available.

.223

My favorite of them all right now. Good stopping power and average wind and brush bucking abilities. The .223 or 5.56 is a good compromise on fur and stopping power. Most states will allow you to hunt deer with it, but I feel it is a litle lite. Ammo is also easy to come by.

.221 fireball

The .221 fireball is a great round with just enough stopping power for coyotes yet just light enough to be fur friendly on fox and cats. It is a good round but does have limits, you need to limit your range and be sure of your shots. This round is the easiest on the ears.

.204

This is a peppy little round, and just like the fireball has its limits. It is quickly gaining popularity in the predator hunting community. Being an alternative caliber for the AR 15 has helped.

Now on to a shotgun, just like the center fire rifle you probably already have a shotgun you use on clay’s or upland game. It will work just fine to use what you have already, but there are shotguns more suited for predator hunting. But I prefer a shorter barrel on my shotguns, my personal dedicated predator shotgun has an 18 and half inch barrel, and more than likely I wouldn’t use anything over 24 inches. Just as in the center fire rifle the shorter barrel makes for a lighter gun that’s easier to swing. As for actions I use a semi auto, but the pump action will also do the trick. I use a 12 gauge 3 inch loaded with either number four buck or anything from BB on up. There are people out there that have good luck with a 20 gauge, but you will need to limit you range and be picky on shot placement.

I feel the biggest obstacle for beginner predator hunters is stand selection. A lot of new guys are more wrapped up with the sounds they are making than where they are making them. I’m not saying that sound choice isn’t important, but successful calling has a lot to do with being in the right place at the right time. You can’t call what isn’t there. If you aren’t within ear shot of your target you can call until your blue.

Predators have the same basic necessities that we have. They require water, food and shelter “Habitat”.

Water,

Every living creature requires water from some source, whether it be moisture from the food they eat, or a tank or spring. During drought conditions or in areas where water is scarce, it’s a good bet that there are predators in the area. If you’re going to set up a stand on public land I recommend not setting up directly on the water source, as more than likely it has been called several times prior. I find that I have better success setting up a short distance from the source and calling towards habitat likely to hold animals. Whenever possible playing the wind and sun to my advantage.

Food,

Predators, just like all living creatures have to eat. Most predators are creatures of opportunity, they will utilize any food source available. Sometimes it is obvious what is on their plate other times require a little detective work. It is always a good idea to scout the area for your selected preys food source. Constantly keep your eyes out for sign, whether it be tracks or scat. Tracks will show travel routes, routines and availability of your prey in that area. Scat will give you a good idea what they’re currently feeding on and what they have been feeding on. Fresh scat will help you in deciding good locations for stands. Sometimes scat is used as a territorial marker, so keep your eyes peeled at road intersections, trail intersections, on ridges and in washes. And remember most predators are omnivorous, so don’t discount such food sources as fruit, seeds, bugs, carrion and their typical diet of rabbits, rodents and birds.

Shelter/ habitat,

Can be a lush river bottom or wash to a lone group of trees or bushes. Just like any other animal predators need cover from the elements. Sometimes it is very obvious, a brushy drawl winding down through the prairie, or cover between a few agricultural fields. Other times not so obvious. Once you develop and eye for your preys habitat, stands selection will become second nature. The more time you spend in the field, the greater the acceleration of the learning curve. It will be like a switch being flipped and your success level will rise. Then you will find yourself picking the route they will take to respond, in-turn setting yourself up for the optimal shot.

When you can get all three basic necessities in one area it will greatly improve your odds. Just like hunting any other animal, with trial and error your stand selection will improve and with that your success! But try not to get too picky with your stand choices, they won’t come if you don’t call. And remember, the game is to call them to you, so try not to intrude to deep in their territory. Work on finding that happy medium, one where they are close enough to hear your call and be motivated to respond, yet far enough not to be spooked while you set up.

Two up your odds try picking stand locations with natural and unnatural barriers that will help funnel them into your shooting Lanes and keep them from circling downwind. It can be anything from a rock ledge or cliff, a water source, a roadway or fence. By keeping the wind in your face and you’re back to an obstacle it will detour your prey from circling and help entice them to present themselves for the shot. This technique can also be used with a cross wind situation.

Also another important factor of stand selection is your viewpoint, whenever possible try to set up with an elevated position. While elevated you will be in a good position to ensure you see anything approaching, plus more than likely you will be out of the line of sight as they advance to the call. Also setup with something to break up your outline, you don’t wanna be sky lined, or silhouetted. That will make it much easier for your prey to pick up any movement that you might make. And always make sure before you commit to your stand location that you have shooting Lanes, and remember things always don’t look the same after you sit down.

The recreational area is located on the Oconoee Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.

Two people were hunting coyote with a high-powered rifle equipped with night vision and apparently mistook the officer for game, after the shooting, the hunters dialed 911 and reported a hunting incident, according to a Georgia DNR news release.

The release said the shooter, Norman Clinton Hale, 40, of McDonough, GA, and an observer Clifford Allen McGouirk, 41, of Jackson, GA, are being investigated.

“This is a tragic incident where the loss of a Federal officer’s life could have been avoided,” said Steven Ruppert, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Southern Region of the Forest Service, “This is a devastating loss for Chris’ family, our agency, other law enforcement officers and his friends and neighbors in Monroe.”

Hill said Upton was shot one time, in the head and died immediately.

“The standard procedure for a hunter is to identify your target and then shoot,” said Homer Bryson, Law Enforcement Colonel for Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, “The hunter failed to do this and mistook the officer for game. He then shot and instantly killed the officer.”

“The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Forest Service and Georgia DNR,” said Hill.

Hill said no charges have been made.

According to the release, Upton was a 4-year veteran of the Forest Service and had previously worked as a game warden for the Department of Defense, US Marine Corps, at Beaufort, South Carolina, and as a conservation officer, game warden and pilot with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

He is survived by his wife, Jessica, and a 4-year-old daughter, Annabelle.

Scott and Randy in AZ from cgmartin on Vimeo.

How To Skin A Coyote from On Stand Productions on Vimeo.