ROAD HUNTER

the closer the electronic call is to me, the better chance I have of seeing cats.”

Ayres also likes using a batteryoperated decoy placed by his e-call, both to attract the attention of predators and keep their sharp eyes off of himself.

The Shot

Ayres is a thinker, and one thing I’ve noticed during my years of hunting with him is that he likes moving when in the field. Some might judge this as fidgety, but I attribute it to his knowing the land and the animals exceptionally well, and optimizing the opportunities to close the deal.

“I’m not one to sit for 45 minutes or an hour waiting for a cat to come in,” Ayres smiles. “Most of the bobcats and cougars we’ve called in over the years have shown up within the first 15 minutes of calling, and many in the first five minutes. If they’re close, they’ll likely come in right away, and this is where I think hunters need to set up with that in mind, and be ready to shoot before even offering a series of calls. When it comes to predators, it’s all about being in the right place and catching them in the right frame of mind.”

When calling in brush country throughout the West, many predator hunters carry both a rifle and shotgun. Having the rifle set up in shooting sticks with the shotgun by your side is the norm. If you catch sight of a nearby predator moving through brush, grab the shotgun.

Ayres spends a lot of time glassing for predators, too. This is more indicative of what predator enthusiasts envision when thinking of hunting out West. On my last hunt with Ayres, we glassed up a pair of coyotes in a canyon, which we were able to move closer to before setting up. I ended up dumping both yappers.

“In big, open country, you can see predators moving from a long way, throughout much of the day,” confirms Ayres. “Covering ground with your eyes is a great way to locate predators, then you can figure out a game plan from there.”

While coyotes range from the top of the Rocky Mountains to the beaches of the Pacific Coast – and everywhere in between – don’t overlook habitats that hold other predators when hunting the West. In sagebrush country and farmlands between the Rockies and the Cascades, badgers can be targeted. Like coyotes, badgers love bird distress sounds.

As you move into river drainages,