Photographing coyotes

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

Member's gallery
Beautifully done! Love the headshots in the grass; perfect. I lived in Edmonton, Canada for years and the coyotes make appearances everywhere including right in the core as an undeveloped river valley runs through the place and researchers estimate there are 1500 coyotes along that valley within city limits. Makes for lousy coyote shots tho when they're standing on someone's lawn or next to a swing set in a park. I've captured a couple of photos of them in the bush, but those were fleeting shots that never made it off the card. Your shots are so very wonderfully intimate. Thanks for sharing!
 
Member's gallery
Abinoone said:
Excellent advice! Very useful, and I love your head-on shot of the coyote. Incidentally, Point Reyes is on my bucket list of locations to visit, and I may go next Mar/April. Would this be a favorable time to visit? I was there briefly back in 1986, and was captivated by its beauty and abundance of wildlife. Ever since, I’ve been wanting to return.

Thanks again for your informative reply!
Click to expand...

There's always lots of wildlife to see in Point Reyes. March/April you'll have lush greenery, California Quail starting to perch everywhere sounding off with their breeding call, velvety elk, and elephant seal pups. Hawk numbers will be reducing as the wintering population heads back to their summer grounds. Coyotes and bobcats are present year-round, but it takes even more patience and perseverance to spot and photograph bobcats than coyotes.

I've written a bunch more about Point Reyes and Abbotts Lagoon specifically.
 
Member's gallery
I know many of you are too far away but another great place to go is Bosque del Apache NWR and Bitter Lake NWR. I have seen coyotes every time I have gone to these NWR’s. They can be fleeting moments but they can be good ones too. The first time I went to Bosque Del Apache we saw five Mule Deere goes chasing a coyote. They does were lined up across a spread of about 150 yards. When the coyote looked to try to get past them they all moved closer. As the coyote came closer to them they all started running directly at him and the coyote turned and ran away as fast as he could across the field. Too far away for any pics as they were almost a quarter mile away.

This leads to another time when I had got out to shoot cranes and geese late in the evening for their fly in to a playa lake. I had to walk a little over a quarter mile to get to the spot I wanted that was tall weeds and about 30 feet from the water. After the sunset I was about to leave when I saw a coyote jumping to catch a dragonfly or something in the air. After that he started walking straight towards me. When he was about 50 feet he sensed or heard my camera and went around me. When he got between me and the water he stopped and took a dump. So somewhere in my files I have a pic of a coyote taking a dump. I may have to find that pic and post later.

Forgot I had this one, heavily cropped and not very good but I thought it was worth showing.
850_6663.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
@jacquesgt @Doug Herr and others: Some of the best photos I've seen on the forum. Great work.

Around the SF Bay Area the two areas I've seen and shot coyotes most are Point Reyes and Mount Diablo, though any of the numerous parklands with large open fields will work. They're ubiquitous, I've seen then within a hundred yards of my house. You just need open spaces, long sight lines, and a place without traffic to sit and glass the landscape. In all areas, especially Point Reyes, it's good to be out at dawn and hang around until sunset.

Before the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone coyotes were beginning to hunt in packs. I have several photos of packs of coyotes harassing elk from the early 90s. I'm told that coyote numbers have dropped precipitately since the wolves showed up however.
 
Member's gallery
Coyote's have always been a favorite mammal to photograph. I think it is the eyes as at times they just seem to stare into your soul. Most of the time a coyote will run from you but will turn around and look at you giving you time for a shot. Sometimes you have to yell or honk your horn and they will stop nearly everytime. However, they have to feel they are at a safe distance. When they feel a little less threatened they will stop sooner. Rarely ever will they run from the tractor but instead they will move away. Many times I will stop and watch them on the tractor and then honk the horn after a few seconds. If I get out of the tractor and they see me then they will take off. You have to be very slow and methodical for them to not to run. Below are pics I have taken from the tractor, sprayer or even my truck. Same principles apply at Bosque Del Apache, Bitter lake or even Sagurao NP in Az.

1st pic. Taken at Saguoro NP in AZ from the car.
2. Taken from the seat of my truck on an oil lease.
3. Taken as i was crossing a canyon in my tractor. He was higher than me as I was going up a steep hill.
4. Taken from my truck as I was following a tractor on near a pasture. He was watching the tractor instead of me.
5. Taken at Bosque Del Apache as i was sitting on the berm on the east side of the pond and he was on the west side. the pond before you go in the entrance of Bosque.
6. Taken from behind the tractor as i was hiding to get this shot. She was a pregnant female and was hunting for food. I got off the tractor when she was hunting further away and had her back turned to me.

Z62_8862.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
coyote.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
500_4436.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
DSC_4891 - 2017-11-28 at 08-58-49 - 2017-11-28 at 08-58-49.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
500_0540.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


750_9681.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 

Attachments

  • 750_9681.jpg
    750_9681.jpg
    946.1 KB · Views: 55
Member's gallery
I saw my first Coyote in broad daylight yesterday. Previously I've only seen them at night from the car. I went out to photograph some migrants (kinglets, etc) behind my residence and saw this Coyote standing right on the path I was going to walk down. I've never encountered one so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was pretty skittish. Also, knowing there are coyotes back there with two small dogs living at home gives me pause about walking them at night!

Not a great photo, but a super cool experience.

CCT_4121-Enhanced-NR-2.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
Abinoone said:
Now home in upstate NY, I’m still hoping to find and photograph coyotes doing interesting things, and I’m wondering if anyone else has suggestions about how to locate and approach coyotes, especially in the eastern U.S. I know they’re here (and almost everywhere) as I see them occasionally while driving, but would like to know how I might improve my chances of success.
Click to expand...
I've been traveling and out of the loop for a bit and just saw this thread. Lot's of good advice above but to me it starts with understanding habitat and where coyotes hunt and perhaps also where they den.

To be honest many of my coyote shots are opportunistic when I'm out with my wildlife kit, perhaps looking for other species when a coyote cruises on through. As others have posted they tend to be less skittish in places where they aren't hunted like national parks or perhaps on the fringes of urban areas. But even the skittish ones often stop for a quick look before showing you their hind quarters and taking off. A lot of my coyote shots are like that, a few portraits as they check me out.

I've only located one coyote den and that was years ago but it happened when I was out in mid summer looking for deer and elk in velvet. I was out in the national forest so plenty of hunting there but over a couple of days observed a coyote trotting across an open field and disappearing into a small grove of trees. The second time it was carrying a freshly killed ground squirrel. The following morning I set up at the edge of that group of trees and after waiting a while saw the pups come out and play around on some downed logs. I was in a lousy position for photos but didn't want to spook them so I stayed put until they disappeared (apparently into their den but I never actually saw the den) and left quietly. I returned the following day and set up with a better angle towards the logs and sure enough they came out again and I captured quite a few images. I came back a few times over the next couple of weeks though I avoid visiting nesting sites or dens on successive days and don't stay real long at active nests/dens. The pups near the den definitely knew I was there but I'd arrived before sunrise and they didn't seem spooked by my presence though they looked right at me frequently but eventually wandered back to their den.

Anyway, that was mostly dumb luck but it helped to be observant and willing to stake out a possible site knowing I might just sit there for a couple of hours and see nothing.

Here's some images of the more typical check out glance and some of the pups near the den.

_D2X1731.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


dMLCACE0349.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.



dMLCACE0324-web.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


dMLCACE0316-web.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.



dMLCACE0335-web.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


dMLCACE0309-web.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


dMLCACE0330-web.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
The key is to find their hunting grounds. I've found one in the hills near Stanford University, where there are 5+ coyotes around at sunrise that hunt in the hills. I have to shoot from the road because of the lack of trails, but they aren't scared. Also, in the city parks of San Francisco, all of them are super habituated. I myself haven't gotten any good shots of them since the main male I photographed was shot for aggressive behavior to people near his den, but I know of others who have great pictures.
DSC_0013 1.06.47 PMs-3.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
DSC_0014s-3.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
View attachment 71977
 

Attachments

  • DSC_0008s-2.jpg
    DSC_0008s-2.jpg
    994.9 KB · Views: 56
Member's gallery
raptor photo said:
The key is to find their hunting grounds. I've found one in the hills near Stanford University, where there are 5+ coyotes around at sunrise that hunt in the hills. I have to shoot from the road because of the lack of trails, but they aren't scared. Also, in the city parks of San Francisco, all of them are super habituated. I myself haven't gotten any good shots of them since the main male I photographed was shot for aggressive behavior to people near his den, but I know of others who have great pictures.
Click to expand...

Nice shots! I've seen coyotes running in the hills/fields along 280, but haven't taken the time to investigate yet.

At least in San Francisco, I know of some people who've had bad experiences with other photographers who are very protective of the coyotes. The urban coyotes get a lot of pressures, and folks who appoint themselves guardians of their neighborhood coyote pack get a bit jaded after seeing a lot of bad behavior. Not saying don't go out and shoot them, but definitely keep it in mind and be prepared for potential conflicts.
 
Member's gallery
jacquesgt said:
Nice shots! I've seen coyotes running in the hills/fields along 280, but haven't taken the time to investigate yet.

At least in San Francisco, I know of some people who've had bad experiences with other photographers who are very protective of the coyotes. The urban coyotes get a lot of pressures, and folks who appoint themselves guardians of their neighborhood coyote pack get a bit jaded after seeing a lot of bad behavior. Not saying don't go out and shoot them, but definitely keep it in mind and be prepared for potential conflicts.
Click to expand...
Definitely, a lot of people get to attached to them. Try Page Mill next to Stanford Dish in the early morning for consistent sightings, or just the Stanford Dish trail itself.
 
Member's gallery
raptor photo said:
Definitely, a lot of people get to attached to them. Try Page Mill next to Stanford Dish in the early morning for consistent sightings, or just the Stanford Dish trail itself.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the South Bay coyotes are fairly crepuscular? One of the things I really like about big national park coyotes is that they're out and about during the day. They'll take the occasional nap, but I've photographed them at all hours of the day, mostly not napping.
 
Member's gallery
jacquesgt said:
Sounds like the South Bay coyotes are fairly crepuscular? One of the things I really like about big national park coyotes is that they're out and about during the day. They'll take the occasional nap, but I've photographed them at all hours of the day, mostly not napping.
Click to expand...
Definitely out in the day too, I've seen that at noon in the dish. It's just that at this certain spot, it seems they only hunt in the mornings, then move on to hills far away from the road later.
 
Member's gallery
You might buy a coyote call, such as those used by predator hunters. The mouth-blown kind is not expensive and easy to use. Tons of different ones available online through sporting goods stores and individual retailers. If you want to invest more, there are electronic callers that do the work for you. These calls are intended to imitate the sound of a panicked or trapped rabbit, which makes surprisingly loud squeals. In areas where coyotes are pressured by hunters, many of them have become wise to the calls. A less sophisticated coy dog, though, will often come running at top speed in anticipation of a free meal. Some will approach warily, giving you more time to click the shutter. I've had coyotes pop up 30 feet away, but you must be well hidden and preferably downwind of where you think the animal might come from. You really have nothing to lose by trying a call; on rare occasions it works on a bobcat, too.
 
Member's gallery
I have solitary coyotes that come across my property but my best shots of one were outside of Yellowstone around Mormon Row where one fellow was intent on his quarry and ignored me completely. I did get a sequence of his pouncing but my prized shot was of him with the rodent in his mouth. This was desert sage country and many more rodents to eat. Being away from human habitation he was comfortable with my proximity in full sun.

Fox & Rodent 3328.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top