Homemade electronic caller???

mudbug

mudbug

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Meadow Lake
Does anyone have one, or has built one? I was thinking of trying to build a cheap caller for coyotes.
I was going to use an old walkman (cassette) and use a horn speaker...Here is were the problem is. What kind of small amp is there that would be powerfull enough and small enough and won't require hauling around a big battery that I could use for this application?
Any info or combinations you guys may have used would be appreciated.
 
There must be a redneck camo hunting Ipod with built in game calls... If not the idea is mine and the rest of you bastards must pay me to use the idea ;)
 
I had the iPod idea first...

An iPod and a small ghetto blaster with a line in cord.

The line in cord goes into the iPod headphone jack.... or to make it simply... use an iPod with an FM transmitter attachment and use a cheap little transistor radio... dial in to the transmitter attached to your iPod and have at her. Then you can put the radio 50 yards away from you and tuck the iPod in your pocket so you can change the call if you want... You could also take the stuffing out of a stuffed animal and cover the radio with now "skinned" animal.

The litte FM tansmitter for the iPod usually isn't that expensive, it can be used to transmit music to your car radio, and eliminates cords. My buddy uses his for house parties... tucks the iPod into his pocket and then he can change the tunes from anywhere in the house... or in the backyard.

Multi-taskers rule!
 
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Check out varmintal.com - he's got a ton of interesting tid-bits on his site, including plans for a home-made caller and about 30Mb of downloadable MP3's for it.

I wish we were allowed to use them here (Quebec).
 
I built one a couple of years ago with the plans on North Dakota Outdoors forum (nodakoutdoors.com). They give you a complete list of parts from radio shack (US) to build one. It cost about $50 plus the cost of the MP3 player. They now have plans to make a remote version as well. It works rather well. In cold weather (-20C or colder), the volume drops off considerably. The fix that I found that works the best is a small chemical hand warmer in with the battery and amp. It corrects the problem. I'll try to get a few pics up of my caller sometime today. Cheers,

-Jason
 
a friend of mine has been using digitally recorded sounds and playing them through an old ghetto blaster for years. He put them on a cd long ago, and now he uses an mp3 player.
works like a charm.
 
casterpollox said:
Oh man.. that sucks. Is that just electronic calls or all calls? I had never heard about that.
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Electronic. Only allowed for crows.

I get a kick out of seeing them for sale in Canadian Tire - I wonder if they are selling and people just don't know that they are illegal (for hunting) or if the CTC store manager is scratching his head wondering why they aren't moving.
 
I used an mp3 player and a megaphone for a while. It worked well but not the handiest thing to use.

I finally broke down and bought a FOXPRO. They are clearing out the 416lr's for $299 with a camo case.
 
looch said:
Electronic. Only allowed for crows.

I get a kick out of seeing them for sale in Canadian Tire - I wonder if they are selling and people just don't know that they are illegal (for hunting) or if the CTC store manager is scratching his head wondering why they aren't moving.
Click to expand...

Here in Ontario they are legal for everything except waterfoul and turkey, I asked the MNR before I built mine.
 
In Alberta, we all know that electronic calls are not legal. But, if they were, I wouldn't bother one minute trying to build one myself. Why?, because the Foxrpro's and others like them have remote capabilities...something that you'd have a tough time building yourself unless you're an electronic geek (I hope no one is offended here). I'm working on the mouth calls and having plenty of fun and "some" success at it.
 
gitrdun said:
...something that you'd have a tough time building yourself unless you're an electronic geek
Click to expand...

That's why I came up with the iPod, fm tansmitter and small radio idea. The fm transmitter is a small little thing that clicks right on the iPod. You can be a fair distance away and it will still work.

I always thought the Foxpros were nice but I can't justify 300 bucks for something that only calls coyotes...
 
casterpollox said:
That's why I came up with the iPod, fm tansmitter and small radio idea. The fm transmitter is a small little thing that clicks right on the iPod. You can be a fair distance away and it will still work.

I always thought the Foxpros were nice but I can't justify 300 bucks for something that only calls coyotes...
Click to expand...


Agreed, but if huntin' coyotes is your game, then why not? Especially if you sell a few hides and can justify the extra cash.

I just downloaded some 'yote calling instructions and a video into the iPod that my wife bought me for Christmas...I never thaught I'd see the day when....:D;)
 
If you do a search on the forum here - you will find a few posts on this. This is one I built, ditched the CD and now have an MP3 player. Hooked the MP3 to an FRS radio (transmitter) and to a FRS in the cooler (receiver) and now its remote control. Instructions on how do it are on this forum.

This is the one I built with directions from another web site, and how it looks with a coating of granite stone finish:

29561100_0753.JPG
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Made up of 4 peices, a Coleman cooler, a PA horn, an amplifier and a CD player. I will be upgrading to a MP3 player when I can find a cheap one that suits my needs.

29561100_0754.JPG
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The amplifier is a Radio shack unit #277-1008 - ordered it from the 1-800-223-8344. Came from Fort Worth Texas - paid about $14.00 US.

The Speaker is a Speco SP 5 unit - cost me $14.04 each to get two of them here as the company had a $15.00 minimum order - so two came to $14.75 US or so, by the time I added on the postage and duty, jacked the price up. Specs on the speaker are at this location and this is where I purchased them from - good guys to deal with:

http://www.wallcoinc.com/Speco_SPC_5...p-fslash-4.htm

Cooler cost under $6.00 from CTC.(Model # 5205A753G).
I painted it with white Krylon Fusion paint, but for whatever reason, it isnt sticking all that well - so redid it with Tremclad flat white - no worries now. Also did the PA horn. Heres how it looks all closed up (am going to add some grey and black tones later):

Attached the speaker to the underside of the cooler flip lid so it can store away while in transport. When in use, flip it over and the electronics are inside and the speaker on top. I am going to throw a hand warmer in there as well to keep the battery in the amplifier warm:

So when its all set to go, will be like this, amplifier in the cooler and cable to the MP3 / CD player. A buddy of mine has 30 feet of wire and we will splice and solder it together and will be all set for wolves & coyotes:

Some other ideas on putting one together:

http://www.arkansaselkhunter.com/E-Caller.htm
http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/forums/...ic.php?t=20626

Digital sound files:

htthttp://www.ewcalls.com/call-sounds-single-files.
htmp://www.western-rivers.com/sound.htm
http://www.fws.gov/video/sound.htm
http://www.varmintal.com/ahunt.htm#Calling
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looks good I have a few that i have made , I still have my old Johhny Stewart tapes from my first ones which should give you an indication as to the age.
 
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