For me, there aren’t many things as depressing as waiting another 8 months for elk season to kick off. A guy can only watch so much football and check so many items off the to-do list before the itch to get outside takes over. Winter provides the perfect opportunity to scratch that itch by hunting predators, all while giving local game populations a hand by targeting the clawed and fanged critters that prey on them.
What You Need
Coyotes and foxes roam nearly every corner of the United States, making predator hunting one of the most accessible options for hunters. All you need to get started is your standard hunting gear and access to public or private land with permission.
Public land is open to everyone, but gaining access to private land might take some effort. Don’t let that discourage you, though. Landowners are often more willing to grant permission to hunt predators, especially those threatening livestock, than for big game. If you secure access, being courteous and respectful of the landowner’s property goes a long way. It is the right thing to do and might even open doors for future hunting opportunities. Sometimes, those small gestures of gratitude or care can turn into big rewards down the road.
Gear
Regarding gear, your regular deer rifle will work just fine, along with your usual camo, pack, boots, and optics. The only specialized item you’ll need is a predator call. Handheld calls are inexpensive and a great starting point, while electronic calls (E-callers) offer more versatility but come at a higher price. Either way, getting into predator hunting doesn’t require a massive financial investment—perfect for someone looking to stay active during the off-season.
Dogs
When it comes to winter hunting fun, coyotes are hard to beat. As I mentioned, they can be found nearly everywhere, and calling them in is one of the most exciting challenges. If foxes are more common in your area, they’re just as huntable. Even better, if your region has both, you never know what might respond to your calls. That unpredictability only adds to the thrill.
When setting up, find areas where either topography or vegetation, like trees, brush, or ridges, help conceal your approach. This includes hiding your vehicle as well as walking to the stand. Avoid skylining yourself at all costs. While predators may seem abundant, they are far from careless. Once you’ve chosen your spot, make sure you’re fully camouflaged, including covering your hands and face. Movement should be kept to an absolute minimum, as even the slightest motion can spook a predator long before you’ve seen it. Besides whatever movement is necessary to call, I try not to move during the first 7-8 minutes of calling. After that, if I can see a long way, I will use my binoculars to glass, but even these movements are at a snail's pace.
While on stand, I like to call for at least 15 minutes, with each sequence lasting 30 seconds to a minute, followed by a few minutes of silence. If nothing shows after 15-30 minutes, it’s best to sneak out like you came in. Staying stealthy is crucial, as educating predators about human presence can make them even more challenging to hunt next time.
Nowadays, like most forms of hunting, predator hunting has seen a surge in popularity. With this increased pressure, predators can often become call-shy, making it more challenging to lure them in. One way I’ve found to combat this is by putting more distance between myself and the road. The farther you’re willing to hike, the less likely you are to encounter predators that have been overexposed to calls. Treating a predator hunt like any other hunt—incorporating hiking, glassing, and thoughtful calling—can make a big difference in your success rate.
Before heading out, I like to use OnX to plan my route. Mapping out a loop with multiple calling locations helps me stay organized and ensures I’m always setting up in fresh areas, ideally within earshot of predators other hunters haven’t educated. I increase my chances of success by spacing out my setups and focusing on areas that others may overlook. Each stand becomes a strategic opportunity to cover more ground and find unpressured predators, adding a layer of excitement and challenge to the hunt.
Cats
A different approach is necessary when targeting cats—whether bobcats or mountain lions. Most hunters pursue these elusive animals with the help of a houndsman and their pack of well-trained hounds. If your primary goal is to harvest a mountain lion, I highly recommend this method. However, I’m not suggesting you run out and buy your own pack of hounds. Owning and training hounds requires more money, time, work, and commitment than most people are willing to give.
Houndsmen are a unique group of individuals, and they’ve likely heard every request imaginable from hunters wanting a lion treed for them. They often have a list longer than Santa’s naughty list of people who’ve asked them for favors. Simply reaching out to someone you don’t know and asking them to tree a lion for you isn’t likely to work. Instead, I recommend taking a more genuine approach.
Start by getting to know a houndsman in your area. Let them know you’re interested in lion hunting and ask if they’d be willing to run their hounds on a mountain lion track that you locate yourself. If they agree and you put in the honest effort to find a track, you’ll have a good chance of getting in on a lion hunt. Building this kind of relationship requires patience and respect but can lead to rewarding opportunities.
I met my now-good friend Tyler while deer hunting many years ago. We stayed in touch, and eventually, our conversations turned to lion hunting. Tyler and his hound’s tree multiple lions each year, but he lets most of them go. Since we live a couple of hours apart, we worked out a plan: when our schedules align, I join him to search for tracks in his area. It took a few years and several treed cats while searching for the right one, but eventually, I harvested a great tom, thanks to Tyler and his dogs.
You can take a similar approach to hunting bobcats as you would with mountain lions by using hounds, but bobcats can also be called in, which adds an exciting element to the hunt. However, targeting bobcats often requires heading into more rocky, brushy, or cliffy terrain than you might frequent when coyotes are your primary focus. Bobcats are fascinating creatures, known for their solitary lifestyles and secretive nature, which makes pursuing them all the more rewarding.
When targeting bobcats, hiking into rugged, cliffy areas with plenty of cover is usually the best strategy. These habitats provide the ideal environment for bobcats to thrive and are more likely to respond to calls in such locations. Additionally, your calling stands should be much longer than when hunting coyotes. For bobcats, I recommend calling for at least 30 minutes—and up to an hour sometimes. Patience is key, as bobcats are notorious for being easily distracted and taking their time approaching a call.
From my experience, most of the bobcats I’ve called in have appeared during times when the season wasn’t open. This has given me a unique opportunity to observe their behavior up close without any pressure to harvest them. Typically, bobcats will sit and watch the source of a call for extended periods, then cautiously move a short distance closer before stopping to observe again. Unlike some hunters’ accounts of bobcats charging right in, I’ve found them far more deliberate and calculated in their approach. It’s not uncommon for them to seem almost indifferent, taking their time to decide whether or not to commit.
Calling in bobcats requires extra patience and persistence. Long periods of waiting, combined with carefully selected setups in their preferred terrain, are crucial. While the process may take more effort than hunting other predators, these unique and elusive animals make it all worthwhile.
Get out there!
Predator hunting is a great way to break up the long wait for elk season, get outside, and stay sharp. There's plenty of adventure, whether you’re calling in coyotes, hiking into rough country for bobcats, or teaming up with a houndsman for mountain lions. Each hunt is different, and the challenge of outsmarting these predators makes it even more rewarding. Plus, you’re helping the local game populations while doing something you love. So, grab your gear, hit the field, and make the most of the off-season!
Zach Bowhay is known as a hunter and writer who has successfully hunted many species all across the western states and beyond. Specifically he is highly regarded in the western hunting community as an expert in DIY elk hunting on public lands. For 15 years he has been a well-published writer, sharing his love of the outdoors and expertise in both gear and tactics through his writing as well as video and photos. When not spending time with his wife and three kids he can be found roaming the mountains of the west in the pursuit of adventure.
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