A Combo to Crow About

Technique of the Week: Today’s predator hunters are blessed with the availability of an incredible number of calling sounds.

The latest digital game call units hold dozens and even hundreds of sounds hunters can employ at the touch of a button. And many units allow callers to mix two or more sounds together.

While I don’t know any callers who advocate using all of the sounds on your electronic caller at a single stand, you can – and should – try a couple of combinations when other sounds aren’t working. My favorite combo is a cottontail rabbit distress and an excited crow sound.

I like to play crow sounds for coyotes because they attract crows and ravens. I’ve found that having the black birds circling overhead adds appeal for coyotes. Essentially, birds act as confidence decoys that are visible from long distances. The more of a ruckus you can create at a stand, the more likely a coyote won’t be able to stay away. Crows squawk about fresh meat, and coyotes know it.

Some callers I’ve hunted with play one sound on an electronic unit and use a mouth-blown call to make the other. Another option is to alternate using mouth calls, or have a partner blow crow sounds while you wail away as a dying bunny.

No matter how you produce the combo, try a few crow/cottontail stands this fall. It’s a killer.