Coyote calling -- Mouth/hand call vs. E-caller

[StickersNKickers]

Ok, I know a lot of guys are using the e-callers of various makes/models, and I'm sure they have some huge advantages over mouth calls, such as being able to be put out a distance from you, easy to press a button and have it call rather than blowing into the call, multiple calls in one vs. having to carry lots of mouth calls, more volume, less movement, etc.

But, does anyone use the mouth/hand calls? If so, any tips on using them vs. an e-caller? Which ones do you use? Any changes to the techniques used, such as time spent on a sit, and how many sits per section due to the reduced volume?

Also, for both mouth/hand callers and e-callers, do you use a decoy of any type? If so, what has worked?

Currently I have a mouse sqeaker and a distress/howler combo (K&H Lead Dawg). I've called one coyote in with the distress call, but it was just before dark and couldn't get on it with the scope. I've also hunted a couple sits with my brother using an e-caller (not sure of the make/model, but probably not high end), but nothing came in.

 

[-iabowhunter-]

I have a FoxPro spitfire with a foxjack decoy on it. First time used it 4 came in. I do like mouth calls they can sound more realistic and not the same sequence

 

[Gundog]

My dad started me on calling coyotes when I was very young and at that time there were not many (maybe 1 or 2) types of E-Callers out there not to mention of the quality there are now. So we used mouth calls. As E-Callers came out we discussed them a lot. The one thing my dad always said was that a rabbit or woodpecker or whatever small animal distress sound we were making only had so much energy and air in their lungs when screaming so it didn't seem natural to set out an E-Caller and just let it blare continuously as you see on TV nowadays.

It always made a lot of sense to me and we have stuck to mouth calls. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes with fooling a predator with the way I blew on the call. Just the way I was brought up hunting them. I definitely have nothing against them and have been with friends that use them. I do think a good mouth call sounds more realistic but that is just my opinion.

With that, I have a Johnny Stewart Cottontail Distress call and just went to using the 3 new calls from Banded. "The Mange", "Hairball" and a Howler and really like the way they sound. I still give each sit a minimum of 30 minutes unless the piece I am calling is very small. The only downside I would say a mouth call has versus an E-Caller would be the amount of carry you get on a mouth call on windier days.

 

[Skully]

I own a Fox Pro and still find myself using several mouth calls. This time of year I like to use wounded woodpecker on my Fox Pro and I will blow a coon squaller to mimic the sound of two coons fighting over a wounded bird. If no yotes are around you will can also bring coon out of the trees. Try it it works!

 

[StickersNKickers]

My dad started me on calling coyotes when I was very young and at that time there were not many (maybe 1 or 2) types of E-Callers out there not to mention of the quality there are now. So we used mouth calls. As E-Callers came out we discussed them a lot. The one thing my dad always said was that a rabbit or woodpecker or whatever small animal distress sound we were making only had so much energy and air in their lungs when screaming so it didn't seem natural to set out an E-Caller and just let it blare continuously as you see on TV nowadays.

It always made a lot of sense to me and we have stuck to mouth calls. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes with fooling a predator with the way I blew on the call. Just the way I was brought up hunting them. I definitely have nothing against them and have been with friends that use them. I do think a good mouth call sounds more realistic but that is just my opinion.

With that, I have a Johnny Stewart Cottontail Distress call and just went to using the 3 new calls from Banded. "The Mange", "Hairball" and a Howler and really like the way they sound. I still give each sit a minimum of 30 minutes unless the piece I am calling is very small. The only downside I would say a mouth call has versus an E-Caller would be the amount of carry you get on a mouth call on windier days.

This all makes a lot of sense to me as well. One thing I've been thinking about the e-callers is they seem very loud. I know this is good for distance, but am wondering if the coyotes ever get to the point of not believing the sound because it is too loud. Like, "that sounds about 100 yds away, but I've already come 400 yds and I'm still not finding the source". Maybe coyotes don't reason like that.


Also, I agree with the sense of accomplishment. I was feeling pretty good about calling the one in. Even tho I didn't get to shoot it, I still got it into about 30-40 yds with a mouth call!

May just have to keep using the mouth call and maybe pick up another for a different sound. Those e-callers are pricey!

How many sits would you do on, say, a 300 acre chunk using mouth calls? I've heard 1 or 2 sits per section (640 acres), but am assuming that is with an e-caller (longer range).

 

[Gundog]

This all makes a lot of sense to me as well. One thing I've been thinking about the e-callers is they seem very loud. I know this is good for distance, but am wondering if the coyotes ever get to the point of not believing the sound because it is too loud. Like, "that sounds about 100 yds away, but I've already come 400 yds and I'm still not finding the source". Maybe coyotes don't reason like that.


Also, I agree with the sense of accomplishment. I was feeling pretty good about calling the one in. Even tho I didn't get to shoot it, I still got it into about 30-40 yds with a mouth call!

May just have to keep using the mouth call and maybe pick up another for a different sound. Those e-callers are pricey!

How many sits would you do on, say, a 300 acre chunk using mouth calls? I've heard 1 or 2 sits per section (640 acres), but am assuming that is with an e-caller (longer range).

I also wonder from time to time as to how they reason. It seems to me that if you get in close on one and turn the E-Caller on and its blaring like on TV they would think that wasn't natural and get the hell out of there but if you control the volume I can see it working.

I typically don't blow my call extremely loud on my first call of the series and build up the volume with each series if nothing comes in. I know Cats can be very sensitive to call volume as well. Probably more so than coyotes.

As for how many sits on a 300 acre piece. For me it would depend on the amount of wind and what the terrain was like. If it was calm and open terrain, 1 stand would probably be enough. If there were a couple ridges or throughout the center of it. I would typically call the first one and then move up over that ridge and call the other one.