Caller - Predator Hunting – Coyotes & Fox - Predator Hunting – Coyotes & Fox

Tom, Quality or clarity of sound at all volume levels is what you are after. After that, it is features that you desire.

I am a Fox Pro User (Not affiliated with or on a Pro staff with them). I have used a many different e-callers and always go back to my fox pro. I have a FX3 and a Firestorm. Both are great units and have great sound clarity.

I call in very often in 3 different regions of WI. Of the 3, I have noticed very specific preferences in rabbit sounds that coyotes respond to. Here near Watertown, I do much better with a higher frequency or higher pitch sound. In the western part of the state around Richland Co. I like a rougher or rasper sound. Up around Prentice (west of Tomahawk) I like a deeper sound when comparing a squeeling rabbit. So for my style, I like to be able to manage my sounds specific for where I am going. The fox Pro allows me to easily connect to my PC and download various sound files. I also like like to have a variety of odd sounds to use as the season progresses and I’m in competition with other hunters for the same educated K9s.

Also, at $10 to $30. for good hand calls, a guy (not that I have a lot…. ) can add up a fortune in calls. The large investment in an e-caller allows you to add additional calls at a reasonable cost.

If your savvy with electronics, you can make your own for a minimal investment and use a MP3 player. I know of a few guys that have some outstanding sounding equipment that have made their own. Again, its the convenience of purchasing quality or investing into making your own.

I love the features of the remotes and the distances I get. I can hang a scrap muskrat pelt on a limb or fence and get 100 yards away form it. Its easy to get my scent as far away from my potential calling zone as I need to.

During my guided hunts, I try to explain a lot on calling sequences for hunting the same places over again and again. That is by far the most challenging because coyotes are like beaver. Once they get educated, they are extremeley weary animals for anything that is similair to what they relate as a bad experience. It’s not uncommon for me to hit a field and have a coyote come out at 400 yrds and sit down and start barking at us…usually a tell-tale sign of being busted. But the educated ones will often go back in the brush out of site and suddenly show up 10 minutes later just as you want to stand up to leave.

I like the combination of hand calls also with my e-callers. Ecspecially when adding in rodent sounds. My favorite is the cheap squeakers from the cheapest pet toys you can find in a store. I buy the clearence dog toys for the little plastic squeakers, and keep them in my top left pocket. Fast and easy to slip one into my mouth, and use it while holding a rifle up.

Set up – KEEP IT SIMPLE
A few rules to follow
1. K9s will almost always come into a sound with their nose into the wind.
2. Your position should always be located to have the wind quarted at your back yso they need to cross a clearing to get down-wind to smell you.
3. Solid backing – Their eye sight is great. Keep your outline or silhouette blocked by something behind you.
4. Mornings are great for ambushing them between hunting areas and bedding areas
5. late afternoon/ evenings should focus on drawing them from a den or bedding area
6. If you know a very good coyote trapper, take lessons from him/her on behavior. I can not express how much I have learned over the years from trapping.
7. The higher the vantage point on your set, the better…but remember, as it gets dark and colder, your scent will sink down hill when there is little to no wind
8. The colder it is, the more they need to eat.
9. If you get a buddy to hunt with you, split apart and keep your blind spots covered. I can not tell you how many times I have gotten up from a stand to find a coyote came in on my tracks, danced back and forth, and blew out of there while hunting alone.
10. All the shows you see on TV are edited to show you the highlights. Be realistic. Sometimes they come in fast and furious…and sometimes not at all. If I get a close range coyote on pressured land in 1 out of 4 sets, I am doing great. Sometimes I make 10 sets with nothing, and then get 3 in a row with easy shots. Its always a little different.
11. Change your calls to match the season. Fall, YOY are running plentiful and they are stupid. Old females are tough to call in. Dominate males respond ok to a challange call.
Mid winter – they are all hungry – give them a sound of a prefered dinner.
Late winter (breeding season and on) Distressed pup calls work great for old females, challenge calls get increased responses, and they aren’t as drawn in by rabbit /rodent calls. Also, other hunters will aid in getting them educated as the season progresses. Constantly develope your calling skills throughout the year.

Hopefully your able to find something in here that was useful