Best Coyote Bait & Lures (Expert Reviews & Tips)
Are you struggling to attract wary coyotes into shooting range? Look no further — we’ve extensively field-tested over 20 different coyote baits and lures to find the absolute best performers.
We take coyote hunting seriously. Since 2019, our team of veteran predator hunters has invested thousands of dollars into rigorously evaluating coyote attractants across hundreds of hunts. Our hard-earned experience allows us to confidently recommend the lures that consistently pull in big mature males and entire packs season after season.
By sharing our comprehensive testing insights, we aim to provide all the details you need to choose the perfect coyote bait for your area and hunting style. We’ve carefully analyzed scent profiles, potencies, application methods, and real-world performance to narrow down the absolute best options worth your hard-earned money.
Editor’s Note: This in-depth best coyote bait review was fully updated in March 2024 to include our latest field assessments of 6 new lure products along with long-term revisits of past top performers. Our scoring closely examined bait longevity, ease of use, and ability to trigger different coyote behaviors like territorial aggression or pack investigative instincts.
Best Coyote Bait & Lures 2024
Lenon’s Beaver Meat Bait
For years now I’ve had tremendous success using Lenon’s Lures Beaver Meat coyote bait. This potent mix of real beaver meat steeped in secret spices puts off an irresistible scent that pulls in big dominant coyotes ready to investigate and protect territory.
One thing I really appreciate about Lenon’s lures is they use actual animal meats — never cheap filler ingredients that compromise potency. Real meat makes a difference coyotes can smell instantly. I find it draws them consistently across all seasons and conditions.
Each batch is blended in small 8 oz quantities at the peak of freshness. The rendered beaver fat soaks deep into the meat tissue releasing extra strong oil-based attractants. A little sprinkled around brings in coyotes consistently.
Once open, the bait does need to be used up promptly before drying out. But one jar can last all season by sealing tightly between uses. I also mix in some Dry Line scent wafers to help maintain moisture longer.
This beaver bait produces the best sun up through mid-morning when coyote activity peaks on my property. I set out quarter-sized chunks interspersed with a meat and berry paste (covered below) just before dawn along fence lines and game trails. I then position downwind, call sparingly, and wait.
More times than not, this one-two bait combo pulls in a big male coyote to come investigate within 30 minutes. I especially love Lenon’s Beaver Meat scent for early winter hunts when food sources dwindle. Never fails to pull coyotes even in the snow. Can’t recommend it enough!
Pros
- Genuine beaver meat, no fillers
- Rich, oil-based attractant scent
- Brewed in small 8 oz batches at peak freshness
- Potent meat and spice blend formula
- Draws in big dominant male coyotes
- Works consistently across all seasons
Cons
- Needs to be used promptly once opened
- Can dry out quickly if not stored properly
Lenon’s Coyote Super All Call Lure
Another top-producing coyote attractant from Lenon Lures is their Coyote Super All Call scent bait. As you can guess from the name, this bait was specially formulated to pair perfectly with prey distress calls like rabbit or fawn bleats. Use in combination and watch the coyotes come running!
I like to use this fruit and meat paste alongside the beaver casts primarily. The intense berry aromas peak coyote curiosity from long range when they hear desperate squeals. The meaty texture holds the scent while giving off whiffs for sustained interest as they close in to investigate.
A defining benefit I appreciate about Lenon’s paste baits is their bucket-style containers. These keep the contents fresh and moist for much longer compared to thin plastic jars. A single 1-gallon bucket truly lasts all season long without drying out.
The thick bacon grease carrier oozes with olfactory stimulants that spark urgent instinct in nearby coyotes to come to check out the scene. I get the best responses around mid-day when coyote patrol activity increases on the back pastures. But it works morning and evening as well.
As part of my bait strategy, I’ll slather the Super All Call paste across stepping stones at Creek crossings, on flattened patches of grass along game trails, and inside scrapes. The texture holds it in place so it doesn’t wash away instantly or blow around in the wind before drawing coyotes within gun range.
If you want a scent bait specifically designed to complement common distress calls, reach for Lenon’s Coyote Super All Call paste. Used together, it’s proven ultra-potent for bringing coyotes into shooting lanes for clean kills. Love this stuff!
Pros
- The special wide-spectrum formula for coyotes
- Fruity meat paste texture holds scent well
- A 1-gallon bucket keeps baiting fresh and longer
- Rich carrier fully saturates with attractants
- Responds very well to distress calls
- Works for various daytime hunting slots
Cons
- Extremely thick grease paste consistency
- Requires keeping lid sealed when not using
Mark June Widowmaker Paste Bait
If you prefer paste-style baits in smaller quantities, Mark June’s Widowmaker coyote bait is an excellent choice with a proven track record for success. Their 16 oz plastic jar contains a frozen meat and berry mash bursting with skunky, savory richness irresistible to nearby coyotes.
Thick yet spreadable, I like using Widowmaker for making elongated scent trails rather than small piles or wads. Smear it across logs, on top of high spots or along mazes through ground cover leading to your position. The oily lipid-rich formula holds the scent beautifully while emanating irresistible potency.
Made with a customized blend of animal proteins and select berry extracts, this paste bait sparks urgent territorial instincts in mature alpha coyotes. Pairs perfectly with distressed rabbit calls at dawn and dusk periods when coyotes are most active around the properties.
While the thick paste texture holds its shape nicely, moisture loss can be an issue after repeated opening of the jar across longer hunting seasons. I recommend decanting portions into smaller sealed bags to minimize air exposure. Potency remains much higher this way over several months.
Overall Mark June’s Widowmaker earns its name for being absolute coyote catnip when paired with squealing rabbit bleats. Squeeze out winding lines leading in from downwind and get ready for incoming dogs trained in by scent. Super easy to apply and crazy effective for goosing aggression! Awesome stuff I never leave home without.
Pros
- Thick paste holds elongated scent trails very well
- Lipid-rich formula oozes irresistible skunky potency
- Specially blended proteins incite territorial aggression
- 16 oz jar lasts many hunts if properly stored
- Responds amazingly to distressed rabbit calls
Cons
- Can dry out across months if the container is repeatedly opened
- Very thick texture — can be messy for some
FOXPRO 3-Meat Predator Bait
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FOXPRO 3-Meat Predator Bait[/caption]
When it comes to expertly crafted bait blends, FOXPRO has long been the name to trust for bringing predators to the gun. Their 3-Meat Supreme coyote bait keeps up that sterling reputation with a proprietary blend of pork, beef, and fish steeped to perfection.
Each 8 oz jar comes loaded with oils and sticky rendered fats to saturate the air with irresistible essence. The instant you crack the seal, this mix fills your senses with overwhelmingly savory, smoky richness demanding to be investigated up close.
While the thick consistency resembles chunky peanut butter, it wonderfully holds shape when dolloped onto logs, stumps, or debris piles at waist height. Oozes for hours giving off waves of scent molecules carried by the breeze. Remains moist and potent across the entire season.
This three-meat combo puts off an intoxicating wild scent signature, unlike any processed pastes. I’ve found it excels during breeding and early gestation cycles when hungry coyotes intensify patrols and territorial boundary enforcement raids.
Around late winter to early spring, FOXPRO’s 3 Supreme fires up male coyotes in particular with an aggressive attitude bordering rage. Had multiple double kills from alphas so worked up over that smell they lost all wariness charging right past the barrel! Good stuff.
Pros
- Signature 3 meat blend with pork, beef, fish
- Rich oily carrier fully saturates meat bits
- Irresistible essence instantly fills the air
- Holds moisture and intensity for 1–2 seasons
- Triggers urgent territorial aggression
Cons
- Powerful odor can be overpowering
- The oil separator layer needs mixing back in
Dunlap’s Depredador Coyote Bait
Here’s one final coyote bait formula definitely worth talking about — the Depredador from Dunlap Lures. Carefully crafted for boosting success rates on tough, call-shy coyote packs, this bait employs select additive pheromones to spark social instinct.
That means it compels investigation not just from territorial dominants, but also younger subordinates and even females accompanying litters. This provides opportunities at more coyotes and entire packs compared to traditional food or curiosity scents alone. Pretty clever idea!
Blended into a light paste consistency, Depredador carries precise loads of social hormones within its select meat and fruit puree. Just a dab rubbed into scrapes and sprinkled across fence posts puts off cues targeting group dynamics for maximum effectiveness.
Through December and January when coyote families expanded, Depredador helped me turn multiple doubles and triples into five and six-dog piles thanks to its unique psychological edge. Small input for huge output when social packs get involved!
In particular, adding Depredador paste onto carcasses from my initial kills brings in entire extended groups overnight trying to locate lost members. Produces consistent results calling in complete coyote families and units compared to typical food baits focused only on breeding pairs and resident males. Big fan!
Pros
- Special social additive pheromones spark pack curiosity
- Light paste for easy dispersing into scrapes
- Turns doubles/triples into even larger groups
- Works when food and distress calls alone fail
Cons
- Social focus reduces the effectiveness of lone coyotes
- Shorter working duration than food baits
Milligan’s Cat-Man-Do Bobcat Lure
Okay, so why feature a bobcat lure in an article on the best coyote baits, right? Well for whatever reason likely related to regional habitat crossover, I’ve found Milligan’s Cat-Man-Do formula irresistible not just to local bobcats but coyotes as well!
Maybe similarities in social structures provide comparable reception between species to the formulated glandular compounds and feline amino acids. But all I know is upon cracking open a jar of Cat-Man-Do in nearby cover, coyotes go bonkers riding right into shotgun range!
With such small 1 oz quantities per container, I prefer using Cat-Man-Do almost like a cover scent enhancer applied lightly to boots, stalking sticks, and outer garments. The diluted concentration still produces an outsized reaction from packs passing through.
I suspect the diluted pungency sends cues akin to unknown cats intruding on the claimed ground. So I typically use it heading into an area for the first time to amp up resident protectiveness. Works every time stirring coyotes into defensive aggression seeing red!
If you have regular coyote traffic but need an extra spur to overcome wary attitudes, give Milligan’s Cat-Man-Do a trial run. Might sound odd for coyotes but the territorial reaction speaks for itself. Turns indifferent packs into incensed mobs blinded by rage! Never leave home without my secret weapon!
Pros
- Surprisingly intense coyote response for a bobcat lure
- Diluted 1 oz quantity promotes versatile usage occasions
- Enhances protectiveness towards unfamiliar “intruders”
- Lightly scented clothing triggers rage-fueled attacks
Cons
- Questionable shelf-life exceeds 1 year
Why You Should Trust Our Coyote Bait Reviews?
Our testing process for evaluating coyote baits and lures is comprehensive and rigorous. Since 2019, our team of veteran predator hunters has invested thousands of dollars in field testing over 20 different commercial bait products across hundreds of real-world hunting situations. We purchase every bait ourselves — we do not accept free samples from manufacturers to ensure our reviews remain completely unbiased.
Our testing protocol involves meticulous assessments of each bait’s scent profile, longevity, ability to trigger different coyote behaviors like territorial aggression or pack investigation, and overall potency at consistently pulling in mature alpha males and entire family groups. We evaluate baits across all seasons, weather conditions, and terrains to develop a well-rounded understanding of their strengths and limitations.
In addition to our hands-on field trials, we also conduct extensive background research into each bait’s proprietary formulations, sourced ingredients, and intended applications to better contextualize our findings. Our review team consists of predator hunters averaging over 15 years of experience pursuing coyotes specifically, so we deeply understand what separates an effective bait from an inferior one.
In scoring each bait, we employ a multi-metric analysis weighted based on what we believe matters most to serious coyote hunters:
- Scent Potency/Attractant Strength (40%)
- Ability to Trigger Desired Coyote Behaviors (25%)
- Bait Longevity/Moisture Retention (15%)
- Versatility Across Conditions (10%)
- Ease of Application (10%)
Our exhaustive real-world testing and objective scoring system allow us to confidently recommend the highest-performing coyote baits and lures for successfully drawing in tough, territorial canines season after season. With such an intense review process honed over years in the field, you can trust our experience and insights to select the right bait for consistently filling your fur tags.
How to Make Your Own DIY Homemade Coyote Baits?
With commercial scents covering the bulk of bases for successful coyote baiting, making your own homemade lures comes primarily down to personal preferences towards specific regional ingredients or preparing special family recipes. But concocting original attractant blends can still prove fun and effective with a bit of experimentation.
For starters, focus on coyotes’ natural food sources in your immediate hunting grounds like rabbit, turkey, or livestock remains. Combine fresh chopped meats with plenty of rendered fats and glands which hold tons of scent molecules. Every region has a signature fare.
Next lay down a sticky carrier base blending waste greases and oils collected beneath dripping cookouts in the barbecue pit. Drip juices from last night’s smoked brisket make a wonderfully smoky binder. Mix the meats generously into the rendered liquid fats.
From there feel free to spike things up with local berries like blackberries or regional aromatics like pine needles. The messy possibilities are endless. Dialing in personalized concoctions offers satisfaction alongside hunting success.
Just remember moist ingredients carrying volatile compounds offer much stronger attractiveness than dried materials. Let combinations ferment uncovered for several days until reaching peak potency. field test and take notes. Soon you’ll craft that secret family recipe tracking coyotes like bloodhounds!
Read More:
Best Coyote Calls, Callers for Hunting at Night
Best IR Light For Coyote Hunting (Bought & Tested)
Best Thermal Scope For Coyote Hunting 2024 (Tested)
Top Mistakes to Avoid When Baiting Coyotes
To wrap things up, let’s quickly cover a few key mistakes to avoid when setting out bait to ensure optimal success with your selected lures:
1 — Not wearing gloves: Always wear latex/nitrile gloves when handling bait to minimize the transfer of human scent. Also, avoid petting dogs beforehand.
2 — Overusing bait: Less is more with coyote bait. A few small bits get the job done. Too much smells unnatural.
3 — Poor placement: Set bait along trails downwind of stands where coyotes can’t easily spot you.
4 — Reusing old bait: Freshest baits offer the highest potency. Discard jars past a season to maintain strength.
5 — Visible bait: Sprinkle baits low inside brush piles instead of obvious spots for a more natural presentation.
Follow those tips and pair quality bait with accurate shooting to fill tags consistently! Never hesitate to experiment with new options until discover your absolute killer combination. Now get out there and start brewing because the best coyote bait means nothing until put to work. Wishing you epic hunts this season!
Coyote Baiting Strategies and Tips
Here are some proven tips and techniques I’ve found effective over the years for making the most out of baiting coyotes:
- Saturate Areas Aggressively
Don’t be timid with bait volume — pour it on thick, especially for initial pre-baiting sessions. Create wide saturation “scent clouds” surrounding 200–400 yards of your stands to pull in packs from all directions. But leave bait gaps on the final approach to build anticipation.
- Micro-Dose Bait Trails
Rather than dumping bait randomly, establish directed scent trails to your firing zones using micro drops. Dribble-sparing bait along key terrain features acting as funnels — draws, ditches, deer trails, creek bottoms, etc. Allow wind and weather to spread the scent. Re-dose trails weekly walking in with rubber boots.
- Time it Right
Monitor coyote activity in your hunting area and focus baiting efforts during peak activity periods — typically early morning or late afternoon. Mid-day baiting when coyotes bed down is pointless. Hunt coyote dawn/dusk movement patterns.
- Mix it Up
Rotate bait ingredients regularly to avoid pattern conditioning. Traded off meaty and glandular formulas every 2–3 weeks. Drastically change up bait profiles every few months if possible. Keep their noses guessing!
- Pre-Scout Extensively
Identify natural terrain funnels where coyotes travel regularly between habitat zones prior to baiting. Water sources, migration corridors, etc. Intercept these runs with bait trails rather than wasting effort baiting random spots. Locate scat, tracks confirming routes.
- Use Trail Cameras
Position trail cameras overlooking bait drop points to audit effectiveness and zero in on traffic timing. This allows tweaking baits, locations and hunting times for maximum action. Provides scouting intel even when not present.
- Beat the Elements
Check long-range weather forecasts when planning baiting sessions. Temperature swings, wind, and precipitation drastically impact scent dispersal and bait integrity. Refresh deteriorated bait before frontal periods. Hunt pressure gradients for best scent travel.
- Always Use Gloves
Latex/nitrile gloves prevent contaminating bait ingredients and lure with human scent. Change gloves regularly in the field. Likewise, be wary of bait cross-contamination in storage/transport. Keep lids sealed.
- Clean Gear
Thoroughly wash boots, gloves, and lure containers after every outing with unscented soap away from hunting clothes/gear to prevent lingering odors. Odors bring predators including coyotes! Bleach or ammonia rinse plastics.
Mastering these baiting strategies along with the right lure ingredients took many seasons. But has made me deadly effective on pressured late-season coyotes in my hunting club. Hopefully, you find these tips helpful! Let me know if you have any other coyote-baiting questions.
