What Separates Winning Teams in Coyote Hunting Tournaments

Lessons Learned From Running the Alpha Games Predator Hunting Tournaments

By Chad Annon

Predator hunting tournaments are a little different than regular hunting.

A lot of guys can kill coyotes all year long, but when tournament time rolls around things change. By then the season has been in for a while. There are fewer coyotes around, the ones that are left have seen some pressure, and you’re dealing with smarter, more cautious animals. That’s when every stand and every decision really starts to matter.

From running the Alpha Games tournaments and talking with a lot of teams over the years, you start to notice some patterns. Hunters will hang around after weigh-in or shoot me a message later and talk about their night — what worked, what didn’t, and what they would have done differently.

After hearing enough of those conversations, a few things start to stand out.

The teams that consistently end up near the top usually do a lot of the same things.

Fresh Ground Wins Tournaments

One of the biggest advantages a team can have is access to fresh ground.

The first sit on a property is often the best one. Coyotes that haven’t been pressured are much more likely to respond to a call.

A lot of the teams that do well in tournaments spend time throughout the year gaining permissions and lining up new spots. They also try not to burn their best properties before the tournament starts.

If a farm has already been called several times that season, the odds of it producing during a tournament drop pretty fast.

Fresh ground usually means fresh coyotes.

Have a Plan Before the Night Starts

The teams that consistently do well usually have some kind of plan before they ever leave the driveway.

They’ll map out the properties they want to hunt and figure out the order based on wind direction and travel time. Knowing where you’re going next keeps you from wasting time driving around trying to decide.

Tournaments move fast, and the more organized you are, the more stands you can make.

Time Management Matters

A lot of tournaments are won or lost in the time between stands.

The teams that consistently place usually have a system. Everyone knows their role when the truck stops. They get out, get set up, get to the stand, grab the dogs, and move.

Little things start to add up.

• Parking where you can get in and out quickly.

• Packing gear the same way every time.

• Not wasting time standing around.

Saving just a few minutes per stand can add up to extra stands over the course of a night.

Don’t Sit Too Long

In tournament hunting you’re usually looking for multiples.

Doubles and even triples are what move teams up the leaderboard.

Sometimes a long stand will eventually produce, but the next property might have had two or three coyotes that would have come quickly.

Every area is different, and teams have to figure out what works best for their ground. But a lot of the teams that do well keep things moving and focus on making as many quality stands as possible.

Play the Wind

Coyotes rely heavily on their nose, and the teams that consistently do well take that seriously.

Most winning teams plan their stands so incoming coyotes have a predictable downwind approach that can still be covered by a shooter.

They also try to have multiple properties lined up for different wind directions so they can adjust the route if conditions change.

Trying to beat a coyote’s nose without using the wind usually doesn’t work out.

Quiet Entry

Something that gets overlooked a lot is how a team enters a property.

Slamming truck doors, walking skylined across a hill, or talking loudly while setting up can ruin a stand before it even starts.

Experienced teams usually move quietly, park where they won’t be seen, and get set up quickly without making a bunch of noise.

Educated coyotes pick up on those little things.

Keep Your Circle Small

Most of the successful teams have hunted together quite a bit.

Everyone knows their role. One guy runs the call, everyone scans, and one hunter usually covers a direction a coyote shouldn’t be coming from.

When multiples come in, there’s usually a plan.

Teams that hunt together regularly tend to stay calmer in those moments.

Shooting Wins Tournaments

At the end of the day, shooting is what wins or loses tournaments.

You can have great ground and a solid plan, but if shots are missed it doesn’t matter.

When doubles come in, good teams usually stick to a simple countdown.

Something like:

“Ready… one… two… three…”

Shooters take their animal on the count.

Typically the shooter on the left takes the left coyote, and the shooter on the right takes the right one. If there’s an odd number of hunters, the center shooter usually goes with whichever coyote he’s most comfortable with.

Things don’t always go perfectly, though. Coyotes cross, circle, or change direction. When that happens, shooters have to stay on the same page and switch animals if needed.

Staying calm and sticking to the plan is what turns doubles into two coyotes on the ground instead of one missed opportunity.

Over the course of a tournament, that can make a huge difference.

Gear Reliability

The last thing you want during a tournament is equipment problems.

Dead batteries.

Loose mounts.

Rifles that aren’t zeroed.

Most of the teams that take tournaments seriously check their gear before the hunt starts and carry extra batteries or backup equipment just in case.

You don’t want to lose a tournament because of something simple.

Hunt Until the End

One thing I’ve noticed running tournaments is that some teams give up too early.

They might have a slow start or hear another team checked in dogs and assume they’re out of it.

Meanwhile, other teams keep hunting until the last possible minute.

A late stand can change everything.

What I’ve Seen at the Scale

From running Alpha Games and talking with hunters at weigh-ins, the teams that consistently place usually aren’t the ones doing the most talking.

They’re the ones that show up with a plan, manage their time well, and make their shots count when coyotes show up.

And maybe the biggest thing is they keep grinding even when the night isn’t going their way.

Most tournaments aren’t won with one lucky stand. They’re won by teams that stay organized, make their shots count, and keep hunting until the clock runs out.

If you're interested in competing in future Alpha Games predator hunting tournaments, follow the Alpha Outside Facebook page for upcoming events and announcements.