The coyote is North America's most adaptable wild predator and one of the most popular targets for varmint and predator hunters.
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The coyote is North America's most adaptable wild predator and one of the most popular targets for varmint and predator hunters. Unlike the big-game and waterfowl species in this guide, coyotes are pursued primarily as a year-round hunting challenge, for predator management on agricultural and ranch land, and increasingly for their winter fur. Coyote hunting rewards woodsmanship, patience, and a hunter's ability to call game in close. Because coyotes are intelligent, wary, and educated quickly by pressure, success comes from understanding their behavior rather than relying on luck. For beginners, calling coyotes is one of the most exciting introductions to predator hunting — there is little that compares to watching a coyote commit to a call across an open field.
Coyote populations are stable to expanding across nearly every US state, including suburban areas. This abundance, combined with liberal seasons in most states, makes the coyote an accessible quarry. Ethical coyote hunters emphasize clean, humane shots, full use of the fur when in season, and respect for landowners and neighboring properties.
The coyote is a medium-sized canine, typically 20 to 35 pounds, standing roughly knee-high to an adult. It resembles a lean, narrow German shepherd but with distinct differences. Key field marks include a pointed, slender muzzle, large erect triangular ears, and yellowish eyes. The coat is grizzled gray-tan to reddish-brown, with a lighter throat and belly and a black-tipped, bushy tail that is carried low — usually pointing down — when the animal runs. This low tail carriage is one of the quickest ways to distinguish a coyote from a wolf or a domestic dog, both of which carry their tails higher.
Coyotes are noticeably smaller than gray wolves, which can exceed 80 pounds and have blockier heads and shorter ears relative to skull size. Winter coats are dense and full, peaking in fur quality from December through February. Hunters must be absolutely certain of identification before shooting, especially in regions where wolves overlap or where domestic dogs may roam.
Coyotes occur in all 48 contiguous states and have expanded dramatically over the past century. They thrive in prairies, farmland, sagebrush flats, desert, hardwood forests, river bottoms, and the edges of cities and suburbs. This versatility is the hallmark of the species. The richest hunting is typically found in mixed agricultural country — areas of crop fields, pasture, brushy draws, and woodlots — where prey is abundant and terrain offers both cover and visibility.
Western states such as Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and Arizona are renowned for high coyote densities and open terrain ideal for calling. Eastern coyotes, found throughout the Midwest, Appalachians, and Northeast, tend to be slightly larger and favor woodland edges and farm country.
Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on rodents, rabbits, deer fawns, birds, carrion, insects, and fruit. They are most active at dawn, dusk, and through the night, though winter and hunting pressure can shift activity. Coyotes are highly territorial and communicate with howls, yips, and barks — listening for them at dawn and dusk is one of the best scouting tools available.
Sign includes tracks that resemble a dog's but appear in a tighter, more direct line of travel, with claw marks usually visible. Scat is rope-like and often deposited on trail intersections and high points to mark territory; it frequently contains hair, bone fragments, and seeds. Other sign includes well-worn travel trails along fence lines and draws, and concentrations of activity near carcasses and rodent-rich fields.
Coyote regulations vary widely by state. Many states classify the coyote as a furbearer, predator, or unprotected species, and a large number allow hunting year-round with few restrictions. Others set a defined furbearer season or require a hunting or trapping license. Always confirm the current rules with your state wildlife agency before hunting.
The prime time to hunt coyotes is winter, roughly December through February. During this period fur is at its best, foliage is thin, snow aids tracking and visibility, and natural food is scarcer — which makes coyotes more responsive to prey-in-distress calls. The breeding season in late January and February also makes coyotes more vocal and territorial, so howling and challenge calls become especially effective.
Calling is the signature coyote-hunting method. The hunter sets up with the wind and sun in their favor, plays a distress sound (such as a rabbit in distress) or coyote vocalizations using a mouth call or electronic caller, and waits for a coyote to approach. Stands typically last 15 to 30 minutes before moving to a new location a mile or more away.
Other methods include spot-and-stalk hunting in open western terrain, using binoculars to locate bedded or traveling coyotes; stand hunting over bait or carrion where legal; and, in some regions, hunting with trained hounds. Decoys — a small motorized critter or a feather decoy — add visual confirmation and hold a coyote's attention. Many hunters also pursue coyotes at night with legal lights or thermal optics where permitted, since coyotes are highly nocturnal.
Successful coyote hunters think about prey density, travel corridors, and approach routes. Look for areas with abundant rodents and rabbits — picked crop fields, weedy fence rows, CRP grass, and pasture edges. Brushy draws, creek bottoms, and timbered fingers connecting feeding areas serve as coyote highways.
When choosing a calling stand, position yourself so you can see the downwind side, because a circling coyote will almost always try to wind the call before committing. Use a slight rise, a fence line, or brush to break your outline, keep the sun at your back, and have a clear shooting lane toward the most likely approach. Elevated terrain that lets you glass surrounding country before and after a stand is invaluable.
A flat-shooting centerfire rifle such as a .223 Remington, .22-250, or 6mm class cartridge is the standard choice, with shotguns loaded with heavy predator loads favored for thick cover and close calling. Quality binoculars (8x or 10x) are essential for glassing, and a rifle scope with a clear, bright reticle helps in low light.
Other key gear includes a mouth call or electronic predator caller, a decoy, full camouflage matched to the terrain (including a face mask and gloves), a shooting stick or bipod for steady shots, and a comfortable seat or cushion. A wind-checking powder, warm layered clothing, and quality boots round out a winter setup. Where night hunting is legal, a hunting light or thermal/night-vision optic may be used.
Aim for the vital area behind the front shoulder for a broadside coyote, or the chest for an animal facing you, to ensure a quick, humane harvest. Avoid marginal shots at extreme range or at running animals when you cannot guarantee accuracy.
If you intend to save the fur, handle the carcass carefully to avoid soiling the pelt and keep it cool. Pelts are skinned, fleshed, and stretched for sale or tanning. Most hunters who pursue coyotes for fur learn to skin "cased" — pulling the hide off inside-out over the body. If you are not keeping the fur, dispose of the carcass legally and responsibly, away from roads and water, and never leave animals where they will be a nuisance to landowners.
Coyotes are not traditionally eaten in the US, and coyote meat is not part of the table fare associated with this hunt. Coyote hunting is justified instead by predator management, fur use, and the sporting challenge. Ethical hunters make full use of what they can — typically the fur — and treat the animal with respect rather than wasting it casually.
Beginners often set up with the wind at their back, allowing approaching coyotes to scent them long before a shot is possible. Calling too loudly, fidgeting, and giving up on a stand too soon are also frequent errors. Skylining yourself on a ridge, wearing inadequate camouflage, and choosing stands without a clear downwind view all lead to missed opportunities. Another common mistake is over-hunting one property — coyotes learn quickly, so rotating areas and calls keeps them responsive.
Coyote regulations differ dramatically from state to state; some require a license and set seasons, while others allow year-round hunting. Always verify current rules, license requirements, hunting hours, legal calibers, and night-hunting and light/thermal restrictions with your state wildlife agency. Get permission for private land in writing when possible. While coyotes are abundant and not a conservation concern, ethical hunters still practice restraint, take only clean shots, identify their target with certainty, and use the resource responsibly. Predator hunting, done well, is a legitimate management tool — but it should always be carried out lawfully and respectfully.
Coyote hunting suits hunters who enjoy a mental, skill-based challenge and an off-season pursuit when other seasons are closed. It is excellent for those who want to develop calling, glassing, and woodsmanship skills, and for hunters interested in fur or in helping landowners with predator management. Because seasons are long and access is often easier than for big game, it is an accessible and rewarding pursuit for motivated beginners.
What is the best time of day to hunt coyotes? Dawn and dusk are the most productive daylight periods, since coyotes are naturally most active then. Many hunters also pursue them at night where legal, because coyotes move heavily after dark.
Do I need an electronic caller, or will a mouth call work? Both work. Mouth calls are inexpensive and effective and teach you sound control. Electronic callers offer realistic sounds and let you place the noise away from your position, which can help with wary coyotes.
How long should I stay on a calling stand? Most stands last 15 to 30 minutes. In open western country, coyotes may come a long way, so giving each stand at least 20 minutes is a good rule before moving on.
How do I tell a coyote from a wolf or a dog? Coyotes are smaller, with a narrow muzzle, large ears, and a bushy black-tipped tail carried low when running. Wolves are much heavier with blockier heads. Always be certain of your target before shooting.