What To Do After Deer Season Ends: Coyote Hunting

Avid hunters understand the importance of maintaining proficiency, working just as hard in the offseason to keep their skills sharp, engaging in new pursuits, and exploring new locations. One of the best ways to keep those skills sharp and maintain a point of contact with the hunting world after the deer season ends is with coyote hunting.

Not only will you be hunting an adaptive and challenging predator and playing a crucial role in population control, but you'll also help maintain the ecological balance by removing some destructive creatures. So, today, we look at the benefits of coyote hunting in the offseason and some expert strategies to help you enjoy a successful coyote hunt. 

Updated December 10, 2025

When to Hunt Coyotes

Knowing the best times to hunt coyotes helps you have a more successful hunt, which can be especially helpful during the cold winter months after deer season wraps. 

Coyotes are what they call "nocturnal" (or crepuscular). This means they are often active at night, dawn, and dusk. However, they will hunt during the day when feeding pups. 

In many areas, coyotes can be hunted year-round as they are considered non-game animals, but winter offers peak activity and the best pelts. This makes the timeframe after your last deer hunt of the season an ideal time to get out for a coyote hunt. 

Why Hunt Coyotes After Deer Season? 

Coyote hunting is not just great for the hunter but also for the natural environment and the deer population. Left unchecked, predators can upset the ecological balance and herd numbers of certain species, including deer. 

Population Control 

Coyotes prey on deer, particularly vulnerable deer such as fawns, in the early stages, essential to their development and longevity. This can significantly impact the overall numbers, as a decline in fawn numbers impacts generations of deer, contributing to a massive mortality rate of the species. 

If coyotes overrun the game population, far less hunting will be available when the seasons open. This will not only impact the enjoyment of the sport but also have economic consequences, as local communities and wildlife departments will see a decline in their revenue from hunting tags and related costs. 

Conservation and Disease Management

Coyotes not only hunt game species, but they also carry a range of diseases, including canine hepatitis, canine distemper, rabies, tuberculosis, and tularemia, which can be transferred to canine species and humans.

They also carry parasitic fleas and, in a higher concentration of numbers, can spread these unwanted diseases and bugs rapidly. 

Predator Management 

Coyotes are predators, and hunting them helps protect wild game, land, small livestock, and more. They are adaptable and have a highly developed sense of hearing and vision. 

Unless you purposefully hunt or come across them by accident (especially those comfortable around human population centers), they are an extremely challenging hunt. Their adaptability and lack of natural predators are all the more reasons why hunters must step in to ensure their numbers are manageable and balanced. 

Female coyotes can reproduce at twenty months of age, and a litter can typically range from 4 to 12 pups. They can give birth to up to 120 pups in their lifespan. If left unchecked, there is the possibility of an almost exponential growth in coyote numbers. 

Protect Agriculture and Private Land 

Problem coyotes view the calving season as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Speak to any cattle farmer, and they'll undoubtedly have a story about the destruction and nuisance that coyotes pose to their livelihood. 

Coyotes also target smaller species, such as chickens or pigs. Offering to remove some of these nuisance coyotes can be an excellent strategy for building an ongoing relationship with landowners, opening opportunities for hunting during game seasons. 

Stay "Hunting Fit" During the Off-Season

Coyote hunting is a great way to stay involved in hunting all year round and maintain a point of contact with many of the skills required for a successful hunt. This includes studying and mastering wind direction, stalking, practicing shooting techniques, and using specialist equipment such as calls.

At the same time, you're further developing soft skills such as patience and perseverance, and developing your understanding of animal species and how they relate to the natural environment. 

How to Hunt Coyote: Tips and Techniques

With the timing of your hunt in mind, it's time to get into some tips and techniques that can help you optimize your time in the field. The right strategies and knowing how to hunt coyotes will help you be out in the cold for less time while improving your chances of getting that coyote you're after. 

Use Technology (aka HuntWise)

Technology is a game-changer when it comes to finding and hunting coyotes. 

The first step to finding coyotes is to switch your species preference on the HuntWise app to "coyote" to access coyote-specific insights with a particular focus on coyote animal movement and weather forecasting. 

As you can imagine, state environmental departments and similar organizations, such as agricultural departments, monitor coyote movement and population with great interest and specificity, making them a great source of knowledge, too.

Check the Rules

Before heading out for a hunt, it's crucial to check the local regulations regarding coyotes, as some states allocate coyotes as unregulated predators, meaning they can be hunted or trapped by approved methods at any time.

Be sure of the rules in your area and follow them as you would with any species you hunt.

Start With Landowners

Regarding hunting areas, a good place to start is with landowners, especially those who raise cattle or smaller species such as chickens. You can use the HuntWise app to access landowner contact details and go from there with an introductory letter or email.

Reaching out to landowners can be an excellent strategy for accessing insider knowledge about coyote movement patterns. From there, you can set up decoys or your hiding spot—if possible, close to poultry farms. Be bold and frequently use more than one stand or move, as coyotes are cunning and can quickly determine your strategies or become call-shy. 

If you plan on hunting public land, you must focus on food sources. This could be an area close to an agricultural field or a zone with clear markings of prey, such as tracks or a known deer birthing area. 

Mind (and Prepare for) the Temperature

Temperature control is a massive consideration, especially on a long coyote hunt, so focus on moisture-wicking base layers and more insulating outer layers.

A cold-weather face mask and high-performance hiking socks made of merino or similarly insulating materials can make a massive difference. 

Choose the Right Weapon

Regarding firearm choice, keep it simple. A .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, or .243 Winchester for more extended range capacity and enough velocity to ensure a clean kill. 

Use Calls and Decoys

Yes, you can use calls and decoys to attract coyotes. However, it's not quite the same as calling deer. 

Decoys can include animals coyotes typically consider as prey, like a fawn or small animals (rabbits, etc.). The most effective calls mimic the sounds of wounded prey. A distressed rabbit call can be particularly effective. 

Use coyote calls strategically, and be open to various distress calls beyond the simple rabbit distress noises. Successful calling is more about frequency and sound, including whines, sharp yelps, and silence in between.

HuntWise and Coyote Hunting Keep You in the Field for More Hunts

The hunting season doesn't have to end with the closing day of deer or waterfowl season. Coyote hunting is one of the best ways to keep your skills sharp and contribute to the ecological balance that supports our great sport. 

Knowing how to hunt coyote successfully starts with HuntWise and the tips we shared today! Whether you're new to the world of coyote hunting or have been out on those long, cold mornings for a few seasons now, the mapping insights, weather forecasting, and contact details for landowners are just a few of the many ways the HuntWise app will put you onto some big coyotes. 

Using HuntWise keeps you in the field throughout the year, which means it's always a good time of year to give it a try. 
Download it for free today, then use it for your after-deer-coyote hunt (also free) during your first week! 

Content most recently reviewed and updated December 10, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to common questions about coyote hunting!

Q: What is the best way to hunt coyotes?

A: To hunt coyotes, most hunters rely on calling (using prey-in-distress or coyote vocalization calls) and setting up at a distance with good visibility. Always follow local laws and prioritize safety.

Q: Is it legal to hunt and eat coyotes?

A: In many U.S. states, coyotes are legal to hunt with few restrictions, and eating them is generally legal. Regulations vary widely, so always check your state’s wildlife rules before doing so.

Q: What is the best state for coyote hunting?

A: States with large coyote populations and generous seasons—such as Texas, Kansas, and Arizona—are popular, but “best” depends on access, terrain, and regulations.

Q: What attracts coyotes the most?

A: Coyotes are strongly drawn to food-related scents and sounds, such as prey-in-distress calls, livestock smells, and small-animal activity.

Q: What do hunters do with killed coyotes?

A: Hunters commonly sell or tan the pelts, use the animal for taxidermy, or leave the carcass where regulations allow. Some people eat the meat, though it’s less common.

Q: What month are coyotes most aggressive?

A: Coyotes tend to be more defensive during breeding and denning seasons (typically late winter through early spring) when protecting mates or pups.

Q: What does it mean when you hear coyotes yipping?

A: Yips, howls, and group vocalizations are usually communication for coyotes (marking territory, coordinating the pack, or responding to disturbances). However, these sounds are not signs that they’re close to attacking.