As I said, to each his own pard. I just consider pitting my own skills against the predators the ultimate experience in predator hunting. Since I call alone, it has also been the biggest "rushes" of my life on some occassions as well. Have called in a couple of lions, and they really get the juices flowing when you know they are there and close but you haven't been able to pick them out of the scenery yet. Have also had coyote and fox come in from behind me and get so close before I knew they were there that I could have smacked them on the nose with my barrel. Try an unsuspected coyote bark 3 feet behind you sometime to get your attention fast! Now thats fun! I wouldn't call using the machine "cheating" if that's within the ethics of the gent using it. Opinions vary, and the 'tronics user is also entitled to his. I just wouldn't use them myself, any more than I would shoot a deer from an elevated permanent blind with all the conviences of home over a feed lot planted just to lure the deer in. Same with "hunting" lions with dogs and horses. Shooting, not hunting IMO. :oops:
On the electronic do-dad, if you don't have a remote, get one. Biggest problem I've seen with them is most guys just turn them on full blast and let them run non stop. Same short sequence over and over - same volume. Not true to life, as anyone who has spent enough time in the outdoors to have heard it for real knows! As I said, I learned a long time ago that when calling, less is better. And, you can imitate and control the real life sounds of a dying/tiring prey animal better with a mouth call. Yes, you better be rock motionless using a hand call - the predator is focusing right on you with them instead of the area where the speaker is on the machines. But you get your chances to get ready when they pass behind trees or brush and can't see you too.
Techniques vary, and it sounds like you have just not hit one that works for you in the areas you've been trying the mouth calls. Even a newbie gets a dumb or young coyote sooner or later despite his mistakes in calling if he gets out and tries enough times. Lost chances can be from blowing a sour note, too much movement, or more likely a huge error in picking his setup and getting winded long before he has the chance to see one coming in. Another big one is calling in areas that will not be productive because they are not holding any predators, regarless if you see lots of sign - might just be a travel area. More often than not, howling will prevent wasted time at those places.
I personally like howling - has worked well for me for over 30 years here in the west. I have learned a pretty good selection of howls that I use with several calls I made for specific howls, and do use them along with the distress calls if the situation calls for it. The golden hours for howling for me are in late evening to after dark, but "locators" do work at night and howling is usually also good in the silver hours from pre-dawn until the sun gets a good grip on your world. On overcast days following a few days of bad weather howling can also be good. Do I always get a reply when there is in fact coyotes within earshot of my howls - no! But I do more often than not. Sometimes they come in silent, or not at all. When I don't get a reply after a couple of attempts, after a few long minutes I will do a short series or two of distress. That usually gets those held up headed my way to see who that coyote is that's eating their prey.
Gad, books could be written on all the different situations and what to do in them. But way more fun than reading about someone elses trails and tribulations is getting out there and living your own. Anybody can become an efficient predator caller with practice and learning what works and what doesn't in your area. But you have to do the time before you can do the crime. :wink: Would be a great help to you if you could locate an experinced caller in your area and tag along on a few hunts. Most who have figured it out are more than willing to share. Could lead to a pefect partner to team up with if you don't prefer hunting alone as I do.
HTH, and yes, I know YMMV. As I said, to each his own and best of luck with what works for you. Just enjoy your time in nature however you chose to spend it. Biggest thing is just get out there, and treat every experience as a learning experience (I'm still learning)!
Ladobe
