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Brent, I wish I had read this post a little closer yesterday. I spent the day scouting for coyotes within 15-20 minutes of your place today! I would've enjoyed meeting you and talking coyotes if you were up for it... sorry I didn't get to make the connection in time.
Anyways, your region is very unique! I'm glad you mentioned what are you are from... because that is some interesting calling out there. I hunt most of our state, top to bottom and east to west. That region in extreme east central Indiana is a lot like the northern extremities in that it is VERY open. This is about as far from my personal "Comfort zone" as I care to get... it just blows my mind to look across 5-6 acres of bean stubble!!! I'm used to 50 yard visuals in a hardwood thicket.
Your region makes for what I call "big stands". This means you can see a lot of territory from you location- theoretically there should not be a coyote in eyesight when you start calling (Otherwise you'd just shoot it). Given that you KNOW you don't have a coyote within 200-500-1000 yards in most cases- I start my stands out with BIG vocals. Loud, very loud. Practice with that howler so you can get their attention on those big stands.
Also scout out some areas that offer a little cover in the middle of those big open spaces. Maybe a sinkhole or even a strip of beans missed by the combines. Grassy ditches work great, set up in them and call the coyotes from a structure such as a woodlot or drainage swale. Getting out in these areas cuts down on the amount of dead space between you and the dog... that extra 500 yards of wide open walking may be what keeps the coyote from committing. Get as close as you can and again- be loud.
When it comes to distresscalls you should try to find a jackrabbit in distress call.... perhaps a PC3 from Dan Thompson. This has a loud voice in it, very affective in that big open country with winds and long range stands. Use the volume of a howler to get their attention, use the volume of a jackrabbit to keep it.
Hope this helps, I'll shoot you an email next time I'm going to be in the neighborhood. I got 5,500 acres to hunt over there today- so I will be back!
