Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Est. Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOXPRO Inferno Electronic Coyote Call | Best Overall | ~$180-240 | 4.7/5 |
| Primos Alpha Dogg Electronic Predator Call | Best Budget | ~$130-180 | 4.6/5 |
| FOXPRO X2S Electronic Game Call | Best Premium | ~$380-480 | 4.7/5 |
| ICOtec GC300 Electronic Predator Call | Best For Beginners | ~$80-120 | 4.5/5 |
| Lucky Duck Revolution Predator Call | Best Compact | ~$160-220 | 4.6/5 |
December Is Prime Time to Call Coyotes
Coyote calling peaks in December for the same reason deer hunting peaks in November. breeding season changes behavior. Male coyotes that spent the fall in predictable, low-key patterns suddenly become aggressive, territorial, and vocal. They cover more ground, respond to more sound types, and commit harder to calls than at any other point in the year.
The hunter who understands this shift and adjusts their calling strategy accordingly will have their best results of the season. December is not just a good month to hunt coyotes. it is the best month in most of the country, and the window lasts only a few weeks before the full rut peaks and behavior shifts again.
These five calls target pre-rut and early breeding responses specifically, using sounds that match what coyotes are actually communicating to each other during this period.
Top 5 Picks
- Female Coyote Invitation Howl. The most powerful December call available. A lone female advertisement howl pulls breeding males from extraordinary distances and triggers immediate responses in resident pairs.
- Coyote Challenge Howl. Tells a resident male that an outsider is moving into his territory and his female. Produces aggressive, committed responses from dominant males who will not tolerate competition.
- Coyote Pair Howl (Male Response). A sequence that simulates an established pair, which can provoke curiosity and investigation from lone males searching for unmated females in the area.
- Cottontail Distress. Remains highly effective in December as coyotes are burning maximum calories in cold weather. A prey distress call combined with a vocalization sequence extends each stand’s productivity.
- Pup Distress. Less seasonally obvious than the breeding-sequence calls, but consistently produces responses from adult females who retain protective instincts through early winter.
What to Look For
Seasonal sound selection is everything in December. Running the same cottontail distress sequence you used in September is leaving results on the table. Breeding-season vocalizations. invitation howls, challenge howls, and pair sequences. trigger responses that prey distress sounds simply cannot reach during this window. Stock your caller or practice your mouth calls with December-specific content.
Stand duration and patience matter more in cold weather. Coyotes may be covering miles, and a dog three ridges away responding to your howl could take 20-30 minutes to appear. The hunters who quit stands after 15 minutes are educating coyotes and missing the late arrivals. Commit to 30-45 minute stands in December.
Wind management is amplified in December because coyotes use wind more aggressively during breeding season to locate potential mates and rivals. Set up with the wind in your face relative to expected approach routes, and use terrain features to funnel approaching animals into predictable lanes. A coyote that winds you before you see it will circle back to report you to every dog in the county.
Shooting light extends with clear cold skies, and December days are short. Plan stands to maximize the first and last hour of legal light, when breeding-season coyotes are most active. Midday can also be productive in December as coyotes pushed by cold seek food at unconventional hours.
Final Thoughts
December represents a genuine skill advantage for hunters willing to adapt their approach. The coyotes are cooperative; the challenge is matching your technique to their behavior rather than defaulting to summer habits in a winter context.
Lead with vocalizations, extend your stand durations, and hunt the edges of food sources in cold clear weather. The combination of breeding aggression and winter hunger makes December coyotes both predictable and responsive. exactly the conditions serious predator hunters wait for all year.
Frequently asked questions
Why is December a good time to call coyotes?+
December marks the beginning of coyote breeding season in most of North America, typically running from late December through February. Male coyotes are actively searching for mates and defending territories, making them far more responsive to howls, challenge sequences, and female invitation calls than at any other time of year.
Should I use distress calls or vocalizations in December?+
Both work, but vocalizations outperform distress calls in December more than any other month. Female invitation howls and coyote challenge sequences trigger breeding and territorial instincts. Use distress calls as a secondary option if vocalizations fail to produce a response within 15 minutes.
How does cold weather affect coyote calling in December?+
Cold temperatures actually improve hunting conditions. Coyotes are more active during daylight in cold weather to meet higher caloric demands, sound travels farther in cold dense air, and scent dispersal is reduced. Dress for extended sits and focus on food-source edges where coyotes concentrate during winter.