Hand or electronic calls for coyotes?
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
all depends on your calling experience and the terrain you hunt. an electronic call will turn u into an instant pro caller and you can place the speaker away from you so the animals dont focus on u. a hand call is lighter and cheaper but takes practise and some think its more ethical.
in thick brush i see no advantage for either but in more open areas the electronic call gets my vote.
i use a js preymaster and a custom hand call made by a call maker in the US. forget the name of the guy but i won it off predatormasters website i think. id say that ive called in about the same # of coyotes with each but the e-caller makes it alot easier to get em closer.
in thick brush i see no advantage for either but in more open areas the electronic call gets my vote.
i use a js preymaster and a custom hand call made by a call maker in the US. forget the name of the guy but i won it off predatormasters website i think. id say that ive called in about the same # of coyotes with each but the e-caller makes it alot easier to get em closer.
Finally, I've found someone with experience with the Preymaster. How do you like it and would you recommend one? I was thinking of buying one for my first e-caller and if I really got into predator hunting I would maybe go the FoxPro route in a year or two.canadian hunter312 said:
edit to add....How loud is the JS caller?
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- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Some electronic calls are not even as good as basic hand calls and some are just amazing.
The amount of sounds I can get out of my FX3 are almost limitless. The fact that I can get it away from me is also great. There are no cords like some other models also.
I've been using both now to be honest. Why not. You can sound like two coyotes in two different spots.
The amount of sounds I can get out of my FX3 are almost limitless. The fact that I can get it away from me is also great. There are no cords like some other models also.
I've been using both now to be honest. Why not. You can sound like two coyotes in two different spots.
There is no simple one line answer, because every "stand" is different.
Neither one is a magic pill, as calling is only one component of successful predator hunting. Electronics are not legal in Alberta, but I hunt in several places where they are. I sell both hand calls and Foxpro electronics, so I have access that most hunters don't. I also guide/call about 120 days a year for all predators. I'm not bragging, but rather qualifying what I say.
I really like hand calls, because they give me better control of the predator as he comes in. I can get aggressive on the call or I can squeak, whine, moan or whatever it takes to keep the predator interested and coming in. With open reed hand calls. I can howl, yelp, whine, or make a large variety of distress sounds, and I can do this immediately. The downside is the target is focused on me/sound. I have to remain still and, while some may not agree, be camoed. The other problem that we have in Canada is with closed reeds freezing in the winter. They are much easier to learn to use, but they lack the versatility of an open reed. The open reeds don't freeze.
With electronics, there are several products on the market. I would go with ones that have no moving parts, a remote control, no sound cards, and the ability to load sounds from other sources.
The advantage of electronics is the sounds are very good, and loud, even when the hunter is not. The remote control allows the caller to be placed away from the shooter, so that when the predator comes in downwind, he is focused on the caller. While you can change sounds and volume "on the fly" with the better callers, it is not as fast as with a handcall. It is very effective, just different.
There are so many things that go into a successful stand, setup, wind, sun, approach etc, etc.. The hunter must try to cover as many aspects as he can. Electronics shorten the curve.
Neither one is a magic pill, as calling is only one component of successful predator hunting. Electronics are not legal in Alberta, but I hunt in several places where they are. I sell both hand calls and Foxpro electronics, so I have access that most hunters don't. I also guide/call about 120 days a year for all predators. I'm not bragging, but rather qualifying what I say.
I really like hand calls, because they give me better control of the predator as he comes in. I can get aggressive on the call or I can squeak, whine, moan or whatever it takes to keep the predator interested and coming in. With open reed hand calls. I can howl, yelp, whine, or make a large variety of distress sounds, and I can do this immediately. The downside is the target is focused on me/sound. I have to remain still and, while some may not agree, be camoed. The other problem that we have in Canada is with closed reeds freezing in the winter. They are much easier to learn to use, but they lack the versatility of an open reed. The open reeds don't freeze.
With electronics, there are several products on the market. I would go with ones that have no moving parts, a remote control, no sound cards, and the ability to load sounds from other sources.
The advantage of electronics is the sounds are very good, and loud, even when the hunter is not.
The remote control allows the caller to be placed away from the shooter, so that when the predator comes in downwind, he is focused on the caller. While you can change sounds and volume "on the fly" with the better callers, it is not as fast as with a handcall. It is very effective, just different.There are so many things that go into a successful stand, setup, wind, sun, approach etc, etc.. The hunter must try to cover as many aspects as he can. Electronics shorten the curve.
KDX,
I should add that one thing the hand calls have going for them is that you can easily make slightly different sounds!
I have had a JS in the past..........I sure wouldn't again...........If you don't want to spend the cash on a Foxpro, at least............stick with the hand calls. Redfrog give's bery good advice here too. I have spoken with him at gunshow's and he is tops!
UM
I should add that one thing the hand calls have going for them is that you can easily make slightly different sounds!
I have had a JS in the past..........I sure wouldn't again...........If you don't want to spend the cash on a Foxpro, at least............stick with the hand calls. Redfrog give's bery good advice here too. I have spoken with him at gunshow's and he is tops!
UM
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I prefer my hand calls over my foxpro. I find them louder, versatile and very light to take on those 5 mile hikes to a favorite stand. You also never have to worry about dead batteries or a $600-1000 price tag.
The Fox Pro does have the advantage of getting the sound away from you and being able to get between the caller and the coyote when he circles down wind really makes for an easy kill.
Cheers!!
The Fox Pro does have the advantage of getting the sound away from you and being able to get between the caller and the coyote when he circles down wind really makes for an easy kill.
Cheers!!
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
KDX, the preymaster is a great unit and its great on batteries. super customer service if anything goes wrong either ive had it for 2 years now and im very happy with it. funnny watching crows circle the speaker looking for the rabbit. you can literally call in a flock of crows and they will land in trees or fly around for quite a while.
the wire isnt really a problem. just sit the speaker 50ft from where you plan on sitting so there isnt any extra walking to make noise before you sit and begin calling (wait 10-15 minutes before calling).
the sounds must be very realistic because dogs, cats, coyotes, fox, crows, and a deer (yes, a doe) have been called in multiple times. its plenty loud enough and you can simply add a mini amp if you want it to be even louder. you can also get wireless mic units to make the preymaster completly wireless for alot cheaper than a foxpro.
sound cards are $25 each but i bought all mine off ebay for less than 10 bucks each...
ive had it for 2 years now and im very happy with it. funnny watching crows circle the speaker looking for the rabbit. you can literally call in a flock of crows and they will land in trees or fly around for quite a while.the wire isnt really a problem. just sit the speaker 50ft from where you plan on sitting so there isnt any extra walking to make noise before you sit and begin calling (wait 10-15 minutes before calling).
the sounds must be very realistic because dogs, cats, coyotes, fox, crows, and a deer (yes, a doe) have been called in multiple times. its plenty loud enough and you can simply add a mini amp if you want it to be even louder. you can also get wireless mic units to make the preymaster completly wireless for alot cheaper than a foxpro.
sound cards are $25 each but i bought all mine off ebay for less than 10 bucks each...
