How To Pick the Best Predator Call For the Best Shot.
Whether a rifle or a camera, predator calls can help.
Coyotes; The great American song dog, to some, it’s beautiful and a pleasure to view in the wild. Others see them as a pain, killing livestock and pets. The coyote hunter sees them in the middle, for sport or to help farmers, and sometimes enjoying their song when they won’t come in. Whatever camp you’re in, there is a group of people with a business spirit to help everyone engage with these animals.
Companies today build a range of predator calls to help get coyotes into view, whether for a camera or a rifle. From large national businesses to backyard custom builders, the decision can be hard to make. But if you want the chance to see a song dog – then – choose you must.
What is the best? What works for you? Or should you trust what someone else tells you to do? Like anything else you buy – research is king – and knowledge is seeing these dogs where they mean the most to all, ready for the shot. Let me help you find what works for you.
What is the best way to call in a coyote, to get the best shot?
There are different ways to call in coyotes, digital callers, hand calls, diaphragm calls, and even making sounds with their mouths. All these come with different skill sets, prices, and the experience you have when in the field.
It’s important to know what you're trying to do and how much work you want to put into calling a coyote in. Are you a nature photographer looking to get some good photos of a dog for a client? Are you wanting the photo as quick and easy as possible? Or do you want to get the full experience of the songs of the coyote and the skill to make a dog believe you're what you sound like when getting that shot?
How to pick the best call to get coyotes coming in.
Choosing the right call, or way to call is not an exact science. The call you decide on might not be good for the place you’re in. You might have difficulty learning how to call with the method that you chose. The most important thing is to know the tons of content online to help you learn how to use these calls. This howler instructional video from Carver Predator Calls,Carver Predator Call Howler Instructions. Is a good start. So, whether you're getting started in the sport of hunting coyotes, or you need to find a way to get that perfect photo. let's figure out the best call for you.
Electronic/digital predator calls: These are the easiest, most effective calls to use. They come with the sounds made by coyotes already downloaded, and sounds made by prey animals. Many of these calls give you the ability to download mp3 files to customize the sounds you can make from them. This type of call comes at a price though, and they fall into the, you get what you pay for kind of product. That's true for all calls. You can find some for as low as $23. A smaller call with the speaker in the unit that you keep on you. As high as over $600, with a remote speaker that can be placed away from you to help conceal your position.
Hand calls: These calls are the granddaddies of predator calling. Losing popularity to the E–calls they still have a firm place when calling in coyotes. Easier than using diaphragm calls or making sounds by mouth, these calls still take practice to master. As I said before, there is plenty of content online to help you learn how. Hand calls have the largest variety of makes, models, and designs. The materials can be molded synthetics or hand–spun wooden calls. They also vary in price from $10 to $40 or more for custom calls. Buying them in sets can give you more options and save a little money in the long run.
Diaphragm calls: This call you hold inside your mouth up against the roof. When done right allows you to make the desired sounds you need to bring in the dogs. It’s harder to get these to sound better than the previous two. When mastered it gives you a better sound and closer relationship with the animals. It is harder to learn and takes practice to keep from making extra noise that can ruin a set. These can range in the $10 to $20 range and also can come in sets.
Raw mouth and voice calling: Not used much for howling and distress calling. Some will practice for many hours to sound like the dogs or prey to call in coyotes. The most useful way to use this is to pucker and create a coaxer sound like a mouse, getting them to close in. You guessed it this one is free.
Get online and start researching the basics I’m telling you here, I’m giving you a head start on what to look for. So, what do you want? If you're looking to get some good footage and photos of the coyote. But not interested in the song and dance of locating and bringing them in. Invest in an E–call. It costs more but after a few videos on how to use them. You can set them up in a manner that brings the focus of the animal where you want it. This will help you get more angles so the dog isn’t always focused on your position when you get the shot.
Don’t think because you don’t want to hunt these animals you can't enjoy the journey. Hunters know that the hunt is the prize the animal is only the icing on the cake, well the good ones anyway. Don’t think because you’re a hunter the only goal is getting the dog. The experience of using a hand call to bring that dog in is second to none. When you send out that first locator call, the quiet valley you’re looking down on erupts into the song of coyotes. They’re telling you they are there, your heart picks up, and you lose your troubles. I’m willing to bet this won’t be the last time you find yourself going out to talk to the song dog. I’m also willing to bet you’re going to want to get a little more personal with them and put yourself to the test and buy some hand calls and get them coming to you.
Using an E–call doesn’t mean you're going to sacrifice this experience either, that’s up to you and what you put into each set. I’ve had many good hunts with my good friend Casey Carver, owner of Casey Carver Predator Calls. https://www.instagram.com/caseycarverpredatorcalls/. The experience is almost as good as using your skills on a hand call. That's right even the pros like to use an e–caller sometimes. Make no mistake watching and calling alongside him using his custom calls is a world–class experience. When you use that call in your hand to get them talking. When you’re able to get them to come into range. You start to feel like you're talking their language and it makes it more personal. It’s something you just can’t explain.
I’m not discounting using diaphragms, or learning to do it without anything at all. I’m saying you should stick to e–calls, and hand–calls when you’re new to talking to coyotes. Once you become a regular, look into the other methods. You might like it but as a newbie, it can be too much, and it could ruin your experience trying to use advanced methods. Maybe later.
A few Reminders for deciding what's right for you.
What is your end goal? Do you want that perfect shot and that's it? Then an e–call is really all you need and there are cheap ones you can get so you don’t spend too much, there is a but though.
Calling in a coyote is not as simple as going into the woods and turning on a caller and waiting for the dog. My biggest tip here is redundant through the article, research, research, research. You need to know where they could be, how to approach the stand you plan on calling so you don’t get caught, how often to call, and for how long.
After you spend this much time and effort, you might find you're wanting to make it worth it to go out. You’ll also find that the call you buy not be up to the task when you get into the field, as I said before you get what you paid for.
The journey is the prize and the perfect shot is the icing. Hand calls are the best way to enjoy the coyote calling experience. E–calls can be exciting but they do not have that final satisfaction that you talk that dog into your position. They are cheaper but still offer higher quality for that price compared to e–calls, don’t skimp on these too. There are many companies offering plastic calls assembled in a factory that sound just like that, plastic. I recommend high–quality custom–built calls like that from my friend Casey. https://www.instagram.com/caseycarverpredatorcalls/. These are built with premium materials and after you take a look at them you’ll know they have great style as well.
One day you might find yourself wanting to push the limits of your newfound obsession. Then it will be time to move on to the other methods, even learn how to use e–calls, and hand–calls together. Creating experiences that will really get your heart pumping. Until then let's stick to the basics.
In the end, don’t miss the journey.
There really isn’t anything like calling coyotes, Elk maybe, but the way your locator sounds out in the silence. When you hear the ridgeline erupt into dogs you can’t and won’t forget it. Take the time to learn how and spend the time experiencing it.
Where you can get the best calls for the money.
https://www.instagram.com/caseycarverpredatorcalls/, https://carverpredatorcalls.com/
A father who had a vision and taught his son everything he knew becoming two of the industry's highest–quality hand–call builders.
