Close your eyes and imagine a perfect wintertime hunt for coyotes in the snow: The sun just broke on the horizon, and you notice a coyote busting through the snow in response to your sounds from across the frozen terrain. The coyote pauses just long enough for you to anchor it with a well-placed shot. The image you just created is the essence of the sport.  

There is something about snow and predator hunting that goes together like peanut butter and jelly. But as good as this pairing is, the presence of snow can challenge hunters. In this article, we provide proven strategies to help hunters succeed when hunting in various snow conditions. 

Too Much of a Good Thing 

When it comes to snow, you can have too much of a good thing, but what is the optimal amount of snow on the ground? Two to four inches of fluffy snow is perfect. Any amount beyond four inches can cause problems. Hunters should employ specific snow strategies to overcome the presence of deep snow.  

Accessing Hunt Setups 

First, you want to find manageable pathways to access hunting locations. Follow any farmland tractor trails, logging roads, and snowmobile trails that are present. Do not fall for the notion that coyotes avoid these man-made trails because they equate them to human activity. All animals need to conserve energy in winter months, and walking on such trails is one way to do so.  

One of the biggest concerns of predator hunters is how to effectively hunt when the snow is crunchy; indeed, it is almost impossible to be stealthy when each step sounds like you are walking on a bag of potato chips. Under such conditions, I employ two specific strategies:  

• One is to make a shorter setup than normal. There is little sense in walking hundreds of yards across a landscape when any step can potentially alert coyotes. It’s better to take the shortest approach possible and let the coyotes come to you.  

• Second is to wait longer than normal before starting your call sequence after you get to your setup. By waiting longer, letting the environment settle back down, you will give the impression that the perceived threat of danger has left the area. Any coyotes that may have been initially spooked may still be susceptible to your calling efforts.  

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Avoid the Snowpack 

Another tactic for hunting in deep snow is to find areas that are protected from the deeper snowpack, such as near large stands of pine trees. The canopy of these coniferous trees allows for an almost barren ground below them — this allows for excellent living conditions for rodents like rabbits, mice, and squirrels. As a result, coyotes gravitate toward these areas. Calling along windswept hillsides also has merit.; here, the snow will be shallower than in other areas. Coyotes will likely cruise here for mice and rabbits because it is easier to find them.  

Adjust Your Calling for Coyotes in the Snow

You may also have to alter your calling tactics in addition to your setup strategies. Pay attention to how your e-call sounds during your stand. If you plunk your call in the ground, the sound may be muffled by the thick blanket of snow in front of it. You may have to use more volume than normal in this circumstance. If possible, try to elevate your call by hanging it on a branch or by using a tripod.  

Plan on staying on stand longer than normal while hunting in deep snow by about double your usual call time. The reason is simple: You want to give coyotes extra time to make their way to you.  

Thus far, we have been discussing snow that is already on the ground. What about falling snow? A few flakes will not ruin a hunt; however, a blinding snowfall does little to make a hunt pleasurable. Falling snow decreases your vision to the point where you may question why you’re out there in the first place. I generally wait to hunt until after the snow has already fallen. If a pop-up snow event takes place, I usually return to my truck to wait things out or end the hunt altogether. 

Final Say on Calling Coyotes in the Snow

If you hunt in a region that gets blanketed with snow you have two choices: Stay inside and wait for the snow to melt or employ these strategies and hammer down on some snow dogs. 

Read more about calling coyotes in the snow on iSportsmanUSA.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Lewand.