p.s. coyotes are one of the smartest and most adaptable animals out there, but they are still stupid, thats why we can shoot them. if they were smart they would think logically and form a plan and use all their great senses to investigate something, but they can't and because of this we are able to shoot them. Just like every other animal.
I disagree with you there. They do form a plan and use their senses to investigate. That's why they don't run straight in, but go downwind for the approach. Not to say there aren't stupid ones that run straight in, but most of them seem to have a plan. They trust their nose more than anything, and rightfully so, because it is the only sense they have that we can't fool. Hunting them is a matter of us knowing their plan, and figuring out a way to defeat it to get them into range.
Howler, I've noticed the same thing here. Anything close to a gunshot, and the coyotes are gone in a flash. Maybe because there are so many deer hunters around here that hurl lead at them all the time?
I've had some that were very, verycall shy. One this summer appeared across a field from me on three different occaisions, and on two, barked atother coyotes trying to leadthem away from me. It would come out just to the edge of the field (over 700 yards away the first two times), and it would bark at me. There were coyotes all over the place, and that one would bust on me every time I set up. Third time, it finally made a mistake, coming out of the woods only 250 yards away, but that coyote was about to drive me crazy.
After I finally got that one, that field is now easy pickings.