Coyote hunting requires a skilled and capable canine companion with speed, intelligence, and endurance. These dogs must possess keen instincts, a strong prey drive, and the ability to track and chase effectively across different terrains.
Additionally, they should have a protective nature to defend livestock or property from potential threats. A well-trained hunting dog assists in tracking and enhances safety and efficiency during the hunt. Whether used for solo hunting or working in packs, these dogs are essential partners in coyote control.
Understanding their traits, training requirements, and suitability for hunting ensures a reliable and efficient experience. This guide explores the best breeds that excel in coyote hunting, highlighting their unique abilities and why they stand out as top choices.
Coyote Hunting Dog Breeds
1. American Staghound
The American Staghound is one of the most effective breeds for coyote hunting, combining a sighthound’s speed with a working dog’s endurance. Bred specifically for hunting large game, it has an exceptional ability to track, chase, and capture coyotes over vast open terrains.
American Staghound relies heavily on its excellent eyesight and acute sense of smell. It uses its vision to spot movement from long distances, allowing it to react quickly. This combination of sight and scent makes it highly efficient in locating and pursuing coyotes, even in challenging environments.
Speed and agility are among this breed’s greatest strengths, enabling it to outrun and outmaneuver coyotes easily. It can reach high speeds over long distances and excels in open landscapes where quick acceleration and sustained endurance are crucial. This makes it ideal for chasing coyotes, which are notoriously fast and elusive.
The stamina and endurance of the American Staghound set it apart from other breeds. While some dogs tire after short bursts of speed, this breed can maintain a relentless pursuit for extended periods. Its lean yet muscular build allows it to handle rough terrain, ensuring that it can keep up with coyotes no matter how far they run.
Beyond hunting, the American Staghound also provides protective instincts, making it a valuable guardian for livestock. Many farmers and ranchers use these dogs to help control coyote populations, preventing losses of sheep, goats, and other vulnerable animals.
2. Plott Hound
The Plott Hound is a powerful and determined hunting breed known for its unmatched tracking ability and relentless pursuit. Originally bred for hunting large game like boars and bears, it has the strength and courage to take on coyotes.
With an exceptional nose, the Plott Hound is best for tracking coyotes over long distances. It can pick up even the faintest scent trails and follow them precisely, making it ideal for hunting in dense forests, hills, and rough terrain.
The Plott Hound’s endurance and stamina set it apart from other hunting dogs. It can maintain a chase for hours without tiring, which is crucial when tracking wily and fast-moving coyotes. Its muscular build and strong legs allow it to navigate harsh environments.
This breed is also fearless and determined, making it well-suited for coyote hunting. The Plott Hound stands its ground and will engage when necessary.
In addition to hunting, the Plott Hound is valued for its protective instincts, making it useful as a livestock guardian. It’s loud, distinctive baying alerts hunters to its location and helps drive coyotes away. With its tracking skill, stamina, and courage, the Plott Hound is a top choice for serious coyote hunters.
3. Mountain View Cur
The Mountain View Cur is a highly skilled hunting dog known for its intelligence, endurance, and strong hunting instincts. Explicitly developed for tracking and hunting, this breed excels in solo and pack hunts. Its sharp senses and unwavering determination make it a versatile, hardworking hunting companion.
With an exceptional sense of smell and keen eyesight, the Mountain View Cur can track coyotes across vast and challenging terrains. It is known for detecting scents quickly and following trails with precision, ensuring that coyotes have little chance of escaping.
The speed and agility of the Mountain View Cur give it an advantage in hunting. It is fast enough to keep up with coyotes’ quick and elusive movements while being agile enough to maneuver through dense forests, open fields, and rocky landscapes. Its well-balanced physique allows it to move swiftly without losing stamina.
One of this breed’s standout traits is its high intelligence and trainability, making it easier to teach advanced hunting techniques. It responds well to commands and has an innate ability to assess situations, making split-second decisions during a chase.
Mountain View Cur is also an excellent guardian, helping to protect livestock from coyote threats. Its loyalty and alert nature ensure that farms and properties remain secure. With its tracking skills, endurance, and protective instincts, this breed is a top choice for hunters and ranchers looking for a dependable coyote-hunting dog.
4. Black Mouth Cur
The Black Mouth Cur is a versatile coyote dog prized for its speed, endurance, and hunting instincts. Known for its ability to hunt coyotes, this large dog is fearless when tracking and confronting wild predators. With a background in herding dogs, it has a natural drive to work, whether chasing down a single coyote or helping manage livestock.
As per AKC, this highly skilled running hound excels in open terrain and dense forests, making it ideal for night hunts. It combines a strong prey drive with intelligence, allowing it to anticipate a coyote stopped or change tactics mid-chase.
Early training is crucial, as this breed learns best from an early age. Many hunters and ranchers in the forum community dedicated to hunting discuss its effectiveness in both solo and pack hunting strategies. Whether tracking deer or ducks or working as a decoy dog, it adapts to different roles, making it a favorite among the forums’ top contributors.
Beyond hunting, this breed is a protective owner companion, guarding houses, horses, and livestock from threats like wolves and most coyotes. Its loyal and hardworking nature makes it a reliable working dog for various outdoor tasks.
It is respected in its family tree, whether used for shed antler hunting, farm security, or as a hunting breed. With the right guidance, this breed remains one of the best choices for those looking to shoot or control coyotes in the wild.
6. Coonhound
The Coonhound is a relentless hunting dog with a strong drive to catch and track yotes across rough terrain. Known for its powerful nose and loud baying, it can trail scents over long distances, even through sagebrush and dense forests.
Britannica states these dogs are known for their endurance, making them ideal for long chases in winter when coyotes are more active. A well-trained Coonhound can track for hours, using its keen instincts to follow faint trails.
While males can be slightly larger and more aggressive hunters, both sexes excel in tracking. They are loyal, hardworking, and seldom distracted from the task. Whether on a walk through the woods or an active hunt, a Coonhound remains focused, ensuring that yotes don’t stand a chance.
With a deep, booming bark, the Coonhound alerts hunters to its location, even when out of sight in the sagebrush. It has a strong chase drive and the intelligence to know when to push forward or hold back. Hunters and guys who rely on these dogs appreciate their ability to drive yotes toward an open area for an easy shot with a gun.
Beyond hunting, this breed has a bold personality and a strong protective instinct, often keeping an eye on cats, livestock, and property. It will not back down when facing threats, making it a useful farm and ranch dog. Some neighbors even rely on these dogs to help control local predator populations.
7. Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound is an exceptional breed known for its sharp tracking instincts and unwavering determination. With a keen sense of smell, it can follow a coyote’s scent over long distances, making it a highly effective tracker.
This breed possesses outstanding night vision, allowing it to track and hunt coyotes even in low-light conditions. Its ability to stay on a scent trail for extended periods gives it an advantage in covering vast terrains.
According to PetMD, speed and agility are key traits that make this dog a top choice for coyote hunting. While not the fastest breed, it has the endurance to sustain long chases and navigate rugged landscapes. Its strong, muscular build allows it to handle rough terrain without slowing down.
In addition to its hunting skills, the Bluetick Coonhound has a courageous and protective nature. It can stand its ground against aggressive coyotes, making it a reliable partner for hunters. Its intelligence and trainability also ensure it responds well to commands, improving overall hunting efficiency.
The Bluetick Coonhound is an ideal coyote hunting dog due to its exceptional scent-tracking ability, stamina, and determined nature. Whether hunting solo or in a pack, it remains a valuable asset for tracking, chasing, and keeping coyotes at bay.
7. Treeing Walker Coonhound
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a highly skilled breed known for its sharp instincts and relentless drive. Its keen sense of smell allows it to track coyotes over long distances with remarkable accuracy. This breed is particularly known for its ability to pick up a cold trail and stay locked onto it, making it a dependable tracker in the field.
Speed and agility set the Treeing Walker Coonhound apart as a top hunting dog. It is exceptionally fast and quickly closes the gap on a fleeing coyote. Its ability to maneuver through dense woods, open fields, and rough terrain makes it an adaptable and effective hunter in various environments.
One of its standout traits is endurance. This breed has the stamina to chase for long periods. This endurance is crucial in coyote hunting, where tracking and pursuing can last for miles.
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is also known for its intelligence and trainability. It responds well to commands and can work efficiently both alone and in a pack. It’s loud, clear baying helps hunters locate it easily, ensuring better communication and coordination during the hunt.
With a fearless and determined nature, this breed is highly effective in coyote hunting. Its tracking ability, speed, stamina, and obedience make it a reliable choice for hunters looking to keep coyotes under control.
Conclusion
Choosing the right coyote-hunting dog breed is essential for a successful and efficient hunt. Breeds like Foxhounds, Mountain Curs, and Blue Heelers are prized for their endurance and tracking skills, while the powerful Rhodesian Ridgeback adds strength to the chase. Even intelligent herders like Border Collies can contribute by assisting humans in managing and directing hunting efforts.
These dogs are not limited to coyotes—they also excel at hunting rabbits, foxes, and raccoons, showcasing their versatility in the field. Some, like the pit bull, bring power and determination, while others, such as the Grey Fox-tracking Foxhounds, rely on speed and scent. Whether flushing prey from a pit or keeping their head on the trail, these breeds prove their worth in various hunting scenarios.
For those looking to discuss experiences or refine their hunting strategies, engaging in related threads allows hunters to share, sort, and learn from others. With the right dog, whether chasing coyotes or herding geese, the results can improve a lot, making every hunt more effective.
