Coyote "Seasons"

[TheBig1]

Ok, so we all should know by now that I am totally new to coyote/predator hunting.  As for predators other than coyotes I know that here in PA there are established seasons, but as it pertains to coyotes we can hunt them 24/7/365. This was my biggest motivation to begin coyote hunting, because I love to be in the mountains.

As I've been reading on various forums and hearing from Randy Anderson,  I continually hear things that refer to a "Coyote Season".  Since we in PA can hunt them year round, why do I hear about a "season"?

Are they only good to hunt from October to March? Is there anything wrong with hunting them in the spring and summer months or are they tremendously harder to hunt due to foliage and an abundance of food?

Chad

[Bigcat]

Some don't hunt them when there fur is not prime that could be what you are hearing. I've heard that when the pups start coming out of the den they are easier to call. Never made it out much in the spring but I plan to. I'm pretty sure other states have closed seasons on coyotes.

[Misterjake23]

It's always coyote season for me.  "Off season" for me is the best time.  Not much pressure.  In late summer the pups are starting to wonder from the den and are more gullible for responding.  This time of year many coyotes have been either shot or at least shot at from deer hunters and predator hunters.  I love hunting the hound dumb ones !   My success rate goes up .....

[TheBig1]

Thanks fellas.  Jake, in the spring and summer is day hunting as productive or is it mostly restricted to nighttime success?

[Misterjake23]

I love daytime hunting!!   I've killed more dogs in the daytime than night.

[TheBig1]

Thanks for that because if I had to buy a light for nighttime hunting I'd be getting served some divorce papers I'm sure.

[dreamcatcher]

Later Septemmber/October , is my favorite, because the pups are out and looking for their own terrain. Much easier to hunt.
 Most of us have 2 lights , one on the head for scanning and one gun mounted light, made legal just a few years ago through the efforts of the PPHA.

[Hern]

TheBig1 says-
I continually hear things that refer to a "Coyote Season".

I think most Pa. folks are referring to "Fur Season" aka Furbearer Season.

TheBig1 asks-
Is there anything wrong with hunting them in the spring and summer months or are they tremendously harder to hunt due to foliage and an abundance of food?

Hunt Spring & Summer- Early Spring, you may get a crack at the Alpha Male or attending female.
By late June, early July you will get a crack at Alpha Male, Alpha Female, attending female and whole litter of pups. Around July 4th, pups are around 12 lbs.-15 lbs.
Tough hunting in heavy foliage with lightweight clothing, sweating, poison ivy, mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, nats, Snakes, thick brush, high weeds and such. 

[TrappinJohn]

Late August and September can be a lot of fun.  The young coyotes will be "mouthy teenagers" around that time.
They can be very vocal and respond aggressively

[TheBig1]

Thanks guys, these are the opinions and assurances that I was looking to hear about.

[QUATTRO]

Late August and September can be a lot of fun.  The young coyotes will be "mouthy teenagers" around that time.
They can be very vocal and respond aggressively

I have shot two coyotes in August and I agree with what TrappinJohn has said..in the one instance the coyote was out the evening before, giving my brother in law, who was out mowing , an ear full from a knoll on the opposite side of the lane..he fetched a small hand held call from the house and played some barks from the porch...I was not present at the time but he told me the coyote would trot back and forth on the knoll and give him a tantram of barks and yips every time he played the call..they went tit for tat for quite a while until my brother stepped off the porch and onto the lane to get a closer look.. early the next morning around 6 am the neighbor spotted what he thought was a doe running with two smaller deer in tow..turned out it was two blonde coyotes tailing the doe.. my brother called me and I came out after work and set up about 7 or so on a nearby powerline..it was me and the neighbor sitting together and bro in law and nephew set up watching our six...8 minutes in the show was over, one blondie down...in his excitement the neighbor got up to celebrate a successful hunt instead of staying put!! Can't lie I was stoked too but I often wonder if the other blondie wasn't close behind and may have responded to some immediate coyote cries..guess we'll never know..one is better then none I suppose..