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Old 08-08-2011 | 11:33 AM
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Nomercy448
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Kansas
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If you own the property, or have a good relationship with the landowner, consider doing some tree and brush thinning in the area you think you can call them into. Don't totally wipe out the trees, like clear cutting, but clear brush and smaller trees from the mix of older, established trees so you can have longer sight lines.

Landowners are generally agreeable to the thinning of trees, especially if you cut them in on the firewood sales (work out a sharecropping split, 50/50 or 2/3:1/3).

Taking out 1/2 of the trees in an area can drastically change the visibility and line of sight in the area. Cut the trees in a rhythmic pattern, leave several trees and some brush in a line, then space out an opening for 30-50yrds with a new line off to one side or the other. Essentially, you can cut the trees in a somewhat checkerboard style, which will let them feel comfortable following a good line of cover, then force them to cross the open to a new line of cover as they approach. Each of the lines should be thin enough that it won't quite conceal the target (deer or coyote), but still offer them a bit of security so they'll come in more confidently.

If you CAN'T reduce the brush/trees, then you'll have to get creative. Find natural clearings and edges that you can force the coyotes to cross. You'll have to play the wind to know that they'll be coming across those areas. Be sure to identify where the animals will be coming from. Find a topo map (if available for that area), or make a topo map for yourself, labeled with all of the low-lying land forms, edges, ridges, creeks, crests, etc etc. Coyotes don't need much cover to hide in a shallow valley and cover hundreds of yards before coming within range to wind you, and then escape along the same path. You'll need to know where these landforms are so you can play them to your advantage.
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