Another Use for E-Callers

Technique of the Week: It might seem unorthodox, but a good way to learn how to use a mouth-blown predator call is to mock an electronic caller.

Why? For starters, you’ll really pay attention to the cadence, tone and urgency of what most likely is a real rabbit in distress or an actual coyote barking and howling. You’ll discover the nuances in the sounds, and you’ll figure out how to mock it by trial and error.

After you think you have mastered the sounds, tape yourself. Compare it to the electronic version. It’s really no different than a football coach reviewing the game film Monday morning to see how the players performed and where they need to improve.

Keep working at it until you have it down, then add your own twists and flavor to your calling routine.

But why bother to learn if I own an electronic call?

Electronic units are super tools, but having the flexibility to pull out a tube and use it can save your hunt if the e-caller malfunctions. By using a mouth call, you can vary the tone and cadence to make sounds and sequences that differ from those programmed into your unit. You can also blow a mouth call while your e-caller projects another sound.

Today’s predator callers are lucky to have an overwhelming number of electronic units and mouth-blown calls available. Knowing how to use both effectively will enhance your calling success. That’s a great reason to use one to learn the other.

Confirming the Obvious

Here's a shock: Your favorite calling target is the coyote.

OK, OK, so no one is surprised by that. When I made the poll question, I thought maybe more of you coyote killers would be tempted by less common and more vexing predators such as bobcats and mountain lions. For the record, my favorite is the bobcat, probably because I haven't been successful at killing one yet, despite several encounters. This year!

Anyway, the results revealed that 65 percent of you identified coyotes as your favorite animal to call. Red foxes and bobcats tied for second with 14 percent, and raccoons garnered 7 percent. Mountain lions and gray foxes did not get a vote in the poll.

Onto the next poll. Let's look at guns. The question is "What is your primary predator calling weapon?"

As always, thanks for voting.

Where to Rest Your Rear?

Technique of the week: You’ve parked the truck and you’re packing a predator rifle. Now where should you plunk your rear?

Your first consideration should be sight lines. If you can’t see a predator coming, you have no chance to shoot it. If you choose a spot, then discover you can’t see, get up and move before making the first calling sound.

You want cover behind you to break up your silhouette. Don’t sit at the top of a hill. You will stand out, no matter how good your camouflage. Although it might be stating the obvious, don’t sit at the bottom of the valley, either. Simply put, it’s tough to see approaching animals when you’re lower than they are. You also don’t want to spread your scent all the way down the hill.

Another major consideration is the sun. If at all possible, set up with your back to the sun. Even better: Set up in shade with the sun behind you. Predators approaching while facing the sun have a much more difficult time picking out a hunter. By sitting out of the direct light, you’ll eliminate glare from your rifle, glasses and your face. In addition, most camouflage patterns are far more effective in shadows than in full-on sunlight.

No matter where you sit, a padded seat like those on many turkey hunting vests is very helpful for predator hunting. Cactus needles, jagged stones, barbed wire and spiny roots can painfully shorten a productive day of predator hunting. Some hunters carry a short stool. It can help you sit more upright in a more comfortable shooting position, and it certainly keeps your backside dry.

At the ideal stand, you’ll back into a bush partway down a hill in the shade on a padded seat with the sun behind you.

Comfortable? Now scream!

Sound Strategy: Don't Outsmart Yourself

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.

Bobcat Curse: Being a Wisconsin Hunter

Wisconsin is a wonderful state for hunters. We have world-class white-tailed deer hunting, have become a top three turkey state, boast excellent bear hunting, grouse hunting and are blessed with a lot of public land.

However, if killing a bobcat is your goal, your chances are very limited. Wisconsin has a preference point tag system, and only awards 1,000 or so permits each year. More than 10,000 people apply. Essentially, you wait four to five years, dutifully applying and paying a $3 permit fee each year for your turn. Then, when you are drawn, you can only hunt or trap a bobcat in the northern third of the state. If you don’t live in the open area (I don’t), you must plan a special trip, and scouting is difficult because of distance and time considerations. As a result, most Wisconsin bobcats are killed with the help of guides and dogs.

The good news is bobcats are becoming more abundant and expanding their range in Wisconsin. Eventually, that might lead to more hunting area and more permits, just as it has for trappers who want to catch fishers. In fact, a University of Wisconsin Stevens Point researcher is studying the bobcat population using hair snares. Her research is an important step in quantifying the state’s bobcat population and range.

I am currently writing an article about the expansion of bobcats for Wisconsin Outdoor News. When the article is finished, I will post more information about Wisconsin’s bobcats and how it could impact future hunting seasons.

Like most predator hunters in Wisconsin, I hope someday to call in a bobcat in my home state. I sure hope I have a kill permit in my pocket when I do.

Feeding a Calling Affliction

Welcome to Paul Wait’s Hunting Predators, a blog written for you by a professional magazine editor with a decade of experience calling coyotes.

I’ve learned the art and skill of calling predators first-hand by joining some of the best hunters in the country in pursuit of coyotes, bobcats and foxes. In addition, I’ve edited hundreds of predator calling articles from many more experts.

Somewhere along the way, calling predators became an affliction. It might have happened during my first hunt in North Texas, when I singled a coyote from a pack of four that charged to find the sounds of a pig fight. Maybe the first coyote I killed on film in Missouri turned the tide. Or could it have been a midnight encounter with a bobcat that mysteriously melted into the sage and cactus as my finger twitched on the trigger?

To be honest, I’m not sure exactly where and when my affliction took root. It really doesn’t matter. I just know the coyotes, bobcats, foxes and other predators have blessed me with countless encounters and exciting memories. And I'm not stopping now.

In this blog, I’ll write about the fascinating animals we call. I’ll cover encounters, situations and tactics. I’ll share successes and commiserate about failures. I’ll strive to give you a glimpse inside the personalities within the predator hunting industry, take you into the brush across the country and share thoughts on calls, guns and gear to make your hunts more enjoyable. Together, we’ll feed our calling affliction until we get into the field to make the next stand.

Welcome! By all means, please share your ideas and feedback. Good calling to all!