Technique of the Week: I just read an article that advocates the use of turkey calls and duck calls for predator hunting.
While I’m sure you can call in a coyote or fox using a duck call, I’m equally confident the same coyote or fox will be just as likely to come running if you’re using a predator call. And so will dozens of other coyotes and foxes that will likely ignore mallard and turkey sounds.
Yes, I’m aware that you can make distress sounds on a turkey call or a duck call. You can also get out of your truck and push it down the road rather than get in and push the gas pedal. But why would you?
Using changeup or alternative sounds is a worthy tactic. But there’s a reason rabbit-distress calls are the most widely used tool to fool predators: They work best!
Don’t outsmart yourself trying to be different and offbeat. If you have attended to the other details of the hunt such as a stealthy approach, good concealment and a setup mindful of wind direction, any convincing distress sound should draw a response. By all means, experiment with new sounds to change up your stands, but don’t do it at the expense of proven predator killers.
If your goal is to call turkeys, then by all means, bring your slate and striker. But when predators are the plan, leave your gobbler enticers in the truck. You’ll kill way more coyotes bawling like a bunny on a predator call.
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4 comments:
Actually using these other types of calls is a very common technique surpirsed you didn't know that..my grandpa taught us when we were growing up hunting coyotes in Missouri and Kasnas. Desperate times calls for desperete measures sometimes.
As the writer of that article I feel compelled to respond.
The article was written to convey a few ideas.
First, it was written to inform new callers that they didn't have to go out and buy new calls just to hunt predators. Many hunters might give predator calling a shot if they already have the equipment. As we know, our sport could use a few more voices.
Secondly, if you hunt here in the mid west or eastern states you already know that when the calling season is in, there are hunters under every bush and in every wood lot blowing on a cottontail in distress call.
These hunters like most of us, will win some and lose some. The foxes or coyotes that they let get away will no doubt be a little smarter than the others. After several run-ins with different novice callers the coyotes are all but ruined on the cottontail calls. It is here where other game sounds will bring these educated predators to the gun.
Third, this piece was meant to get people to think outside the box when calling for predators. Not all of us are lucky enough to hunt new coyotes everyday and educated coyotes are tougher then one might imagine.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. Your constructive criticism is appreciated. Please don't lead callers to believe though, that predators are not sharp. Using the same calls over and over can and will educate them if not taken. I'm sure this is not news to you. Like I said in the article, around here several local callers will tell you to leave the rabbit calls in the truck and break out something a little different.
Paul, thanks for helping me get my start in writing. While my writing career is just taking off my coyote hunting passion has been here for a long time.
Best wishes and I will be sure to check in on the blog. It looks like some sound advice for predator hunters could be posted here.
Best wishes,
Donald Wilson
Donald,
Thank you for a very respectful and reasoned response.
My intent was not to discount the use of alternative calls and sounds. The ideas you conveyed in the article are valid. (Mistimed being in an October issue, in my opinion, which I know wasn't your decision.)
I have hunted with and interviewed a who's who of predator hunters during the past decade, and to a man, all of them have expressed exactly my sentiment: Don't outsmart yourself when it comes to distress sounds.
I know that predator hunters often think there's some sort of magic sound they can use to help them kill more coyotes, just like trappers think using some secret lure is the answer to catch more fur.
Trapping lure and predator calling sounds are merely tools, much like a hammer is to a carpenter. It's how you swing it that matters, not so much the brand of hammer. If there was a magic sound, it would be the rabbit-in-distress. Interestingly, rabbit-in-distress cries have proved super effective for calling predators across the world, even in places that do not have rabbits.
One point I missed in the article (maybe I breezed past it) was the fact that in September and October and even November and December, hunters are calling to young-of-the-year coyotes. In fact, most of the coyotes callers are working are best approached by the very best calling sound: bawling bunny.
I know and acknowledge that in some situations and in some locales, the best sound might not be rabbit-in-distress. If you look back at earlier posts in this blog, you'll see that I advocate using crow sounds. I'll also tell you that the first coyote I ever killed was taken over pig fight sounds.
You say in your response to the blog "after several run-ins with novice callers,the coyotes are all but ruined on cottontail calls."
Yes, because they responded to those cottontail calls. And the hunters made mistakes that did not result in the coyote being killed. But those coyotes came in!
For most predator hunters at most times, a caller using rabbit-in-distress will outcall another hunter using turkey calls, duck calls or any other tool.
A novice hunter who tries to call predators with a duck call or turkey call rather than plunking down $10 for a mouth-blown predator call is much less likely to succeed and become hooked on calling.
After the novice has called in a few coyotes, then we can move to the finer points of hunting pressured, spooked and educated coyotes in January and February, when alternative sounds really come into play.
Paul Wait
Wow great site. I love coyote hunting. I just started hunting them here in Indiana about seven years ago. Shot my 100th dog this past winter. I'm sure that's probably nothing compared to Mr. Wait and Mr. Wilson, though. But it is a start anyways. Would like to hear what types of calls others are using.
Sniperman223
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