Call for predators ?

[doninva]

I live in Virginia so it's not the meca of predator hunting. I want to try for a few coyotes and have a place that has several bobcats.I can't afford an electronic call. Can I learn a mouth call easily and which would be the best to buy. Something with a CD or good instruction would be good for a real rookie. Thanks, Don

[Lazermule]

I have a cheap Cass Creek and a Preymaster and they both work well.

[trotterlg]

Coyotes will come to anything that remotely sounds like something that is about to be dead and is making lots of screaming noise, so I don't think you can go too wrong with any of the $5.00 mouth blown preditor calls.  Get something that makes a lot of noise and have at it.  Larry

[calling4life]

As you may be after some cats too, I would get a good rabbit in distress call.  I have a lohman circue I think it is called, cheap, but all you have to do is blow into it, simple as simple gets and it sounds like something dying. 

It is the model that has long range, med. range and short range, all you do is turn the barrel.  The short range is actually something like a mouse peep sound.

Good little call for really cheap. 

If you want a Howler, you'd be surprised that there are a lot of custom predator callmakers that sell their custom calls for as cheap as store bought production calls.  This goes for their rabbit in distress calls as well. 

I've done some business with Will Horting of NCK predator calls, and he has gone well beyond generous with me, his howlers are fantastic sounding, easy blowing and get responses. 

[buckshooter]

I have the Randy Anderson primos predator calls.  I own all the calls except one, however, they are great calls.  It takes some practice to get used to the calling, but once you get the hang of it you will like them. 

hope this helps

buckshooter

[sachel.45]

pick up a dvd called coming to the call or something like that by randy anderson (or any dvd by randy anderson) you can learn alot by just watching his dvds i usually watch them again before hunting season. I like open reed calls better than closed reed (although i use them both) because you can make all sorts of prey sounds with them

[calling4life]

I agree with Randy's videos, I have his most recent, a mainly howling video, I believe he did it really to prove that howling is very effective.  Fantastic, great, intelligent, and all sorts of other positive adjectives.  I thought it was a great video, and I love that he hand calls, none of this press play and wait BS.

The responses he gets, the dogs they kill, it would be hard to argue against the calls.  I agree with liking open reed calls more, I just happened upon that little closed reed call, liked the sound, liked that it was versatile and had to get it. 

The open reed calls are generally a more versatile call, able to get a bigger range of sounds, which means less calls hanging around your neck. 

[SD Handgunner]

Over the years I have used more different mouth calls than I care to admit to. Some have stayed while others have went away.

One favorite is the Sceery AP-3 Jackrabbit Call. This is a closed reed predator call with a raspy sound and is super easy to blow. I have probably had the best results with this call of any I have used. However it really cold weather this particular closed reed call does freeze up easily.

I also have and use the Lohman / Circe 3 way adjustable closed reed predator call previously mentioned by another poster. I have had some success with this call as well and it does not seem to freeze up as easily as the Sceery AP-3.

I have sort of replaced my Sceery AP-3 with the Sceery AP-7 Open Reed Predator Call. it takes more practice to get proficient with an Open Reed Call, but once mastered they are capable of producing more and different sounds than a typical closed reed call. In a pinch the Sceery AP-7 makes a decent howler as well.

I also like the Crit'R'Call Song Dog (for both distress sounds and howling) as well as the Crit'R'Call Mini Open Reed Predator (again for both distress sounds and howling). I have a Crit'R'Call Mini Open Reed Predator that I have mounted in a Megaphone (a plastic transmission funnel cut down to the size that produced the best sound to suit my needs) for my main howling caller. The megaphone totally changed the volume and tone of this call and it is probably the easiest to blow howler I have ever used.

I also have a WoodsWise Open Reed Female Howler that I use with a megaphone attach for howling (a plastic transmission funnel cut down to the size that produced the best sound to suit my needs). On this one I made a different reed out of bulk reed material I picked up from Rocky Mountain Wildlife Products (Crit'R'Call).

I have tried the Tally Ho Open Reed Predator Call on several occasions and I never have been able to blow this call like it should be blown and have kind of given up on it.

The very first predator call I ever used was an old Scotch Bellows Style Predator Call. I had some success with this call but feel it requires too much movement to be totally effective unless the stand selection is perfect. 

Lastly a MUST HAVE is a mouse squeaker. I have used the Scotch Bulb Type Mouse Squeaker but found that the material they are made of doesn't stand up in cold weather and all of the ones I have had eventually cracked. I am now using an oval shaped (can't remember the name of it) Mouse Squeaker that has stood the test for a couple years now. The one I am currently using is made of a white material for the squeaker that is surrounded with black rubber that has a loop on one side of it for a holder. Of the 5 Coyotes I have called in and taken this fall, all but 1 were called in with nothing more than the Mouse Squeaker.

I have one of these Mouse Squeakers and a Crit'R'Call Mini Open Reed Predator on a lanyard in every vehicle I ever drive so I always have calls with me.

Larry

[Glanceblamm]

I also have and use the Lohman / Circe 3 way adjustable closed reed predator call previously mentioned by another poster. I have had some success with this call as well and it does not seem to freeze up as easily as the Sceery AP-3.

That Lohman call is a very good one. The Coyotes (in my area) really seem to like the center reed. This is what it is all about, finding that right sound. Basic's are to not use the same sound in the same area too many times.

[billythekidrock]

Lots of great advice and as you found out..there are lots of ideas and opinions.

My advice is to go with something simple at first. I like a Burnham Brothers C-3 Long Range, but any closed reed rabbit distress will work.

Then focus on learning how to convey pain and emotion in your calling. Emotion will win out over call brand any day. Good luck.

[doninva]

Thanks for all the advice. Don

[Glanceblamm]

Emotion will win out over call brand any day

Very well said billy...Sometimes I wonder how the elect calls even work, just very good recordings I guess.