How to Train Coyote Hunting Dogs

Coyotes are a threat to small livestock like calves, chickens, piglets, goats and lambs.

Many animal welfare advocates object to any form of hunting, but they fail to see hunting as a way of controlling the populations of animals that create losses to farmers by eating crops or killing farm animals. Coyotes are one type of nuisance animal that farmers and ranchers hunt to prevent loss of livestock and even loss of small pets. Hunting coyotes with dogs is a recent trend conducted in two very different methods. While most animal advocates focus on the dog hunting method, in which a pack of dogs attacks and kills coyotes, they fail to recognize the coyote dogging method in which the dogs help to draw the coyote back to the hunter without any injury or risk to the hunting dogs.

Instructions

1. Choose a hunting dog. You want a dog known for attracting coyotes. Breeds commonly used for coyote hunting include the American Staghound, Black Mouth Cur, Greyhound, Mountain View Cur, and Plott Hound. Purchase or adopt the dog as a puppy to build a bond between yourself and the dog and to have longer to train for hunting.

2. Acquaint your hunting dog with coyotes. Present her with coyote carcasses and coyote trail at an early age so she does not instinctively stop when she sees a coyote and begins barking and growling -- this causes the coyotes to run away or attack your dog. You want your hunting dog or pair of hunting dogs to notice the coyotes but seem uninterested so that the coyote follows the dog back to you.

3. Train your hunting dogs to return to you when they see or smell a coyote. This will let you know that a coyote is in the area or effectively draw a coyote back into your gun sights. To train your dogs to return to you, begin by presenting them to coyote carcasses and tracks and standing back away from the dead animal or tracks and offering your dog a treat. Eventually your dog learns that recognizing the coyote scent means he gets a treat, and he returns to you seeking the treat.

4. Introduce your dog to various places you plan to hunt coyotes. Allow the dog to condition her body to the climate and terrain. You want to allow your dog to run for at least an hour each day to keep her body in great condition and acquaint her with the different hunting terrains you plan to hunt. When hunting season comes, you do not want your dog out of shape and unable to bring the coyotes back to you -- the coyotes could injure your dog if she is out of shape.

Tips & Warnings

• Obtain a hunting license and appropriate gun before you set out to hunt. Purchase a coyote hunting license from license dealers if one is necessary for your state or region. To find out if you need a license and which weapons you may use on the animal, seek out your state hunting regulations online or get a free booklet from license dealers. Through this booklet or online, you will also discover the dates for coyote season for your state. One website to consult is huntinfo.org, or check with your local Fish, Wildlife and Parks office.

• Dress your dog in her own hunting vest to protect her from other hunters during coyote season.

References

• Game & Fish: Hunting Coyotes
• Hunting Dogs -- Dog Breeds: Coyote Hunting Dogs

Resources

• Hunting Coyotes: Coyote Hunting-How to Call Coyotes