Coyotes are particularly difficult, requiring the utmost in stealth, perfect camouflage and close attention to the wind. Fortunately, there are some outfitters around who can help you take these animals. One of the best is Vern May of Vern's Guide Service, who has been offering coyote hunts in northern South Dakota for eight years. He conducts his hunts on about 200,000 acres of private land east of Lake Oahe near the town of Mobridge. May says coyotes in this area have multiplied to unbelievable numbers.
Hunts are available year-round, but the best time is during the winter, when it is routine to see packs of five to six animals. After a heavy snowfall - the very best time - it is common to see 20 to 25 coyotes per day. May says a realistic expectation for a good shooter would be to get four to six coyotes per day, perhaps quite a few more if things are just right. He calls during the mornings and evenings and drives the back roads during the day. Shooting distances average about 100 yards, but often coyotes come close enough to shoot with a shotgun. May charges $200 per day for two men, all-inclusive of unlimited coyotes, guiding services, ground transportation and pick-up and return to the airport at Pierre or Aberdeen. Lodging and meals are extra. A double room at a local motel costs $32 per night, and local restaurant meals are economical.
During pheasant season (mid-October through December), May also offers guided pheasant hunts, so one can enjoy........(continued)
