This is a rather large complicated subject. Learn how to call in the day and then worry about the night. I wrote a book entitled EYES FRONT that will give you more information about calling critters than any other source that I am aware of.
Adios,
gary

I’ve been calling coyotes for about a year pretty much exclusively at night with thermal. I use a foxpro electronic call. What I can tell you is that this time of year during breeding and denning season (like February through right now), coyote vocals work by far the best for me. I mix in some pretty distress in the beginning but that’s mainly to see if there are any bobcats around. There is plenty of food for them this time of year, they aren’t struggling to eat. They are protective of their dens and pups however, so I’ve found that a nearby coyote almost cannot resist pup distress or some long non threatening howls this time of year. I saw a group the other day and flipped on a rabbit distress for 5 minutes and they couldn’t have cared less. Switched to pup distress and they came barreling in. I’ve even called them in this time of year, been spotted, spooked the coyote which ran into the woods, and brought the same 2 coyotes right back to the call 10 minutes later with pup distress.

In the fall and winter, obviously things change and you’ll find out what works best for you. I’m certainly not an expert and am still figuring it out. The most important thing though is where you hunt. If you hunt. If the property is called all the time, most likely none of this stuff is going to work and you’ll have to get lucky. I try not to call the same spot too frequently but it helps to write down what sounds you used so you can go back and make sure to not use those same sounds the next time you call it.