I'm just getting into coyote hunting and was wondering what kind of call to get. I don't want to spend a fortune right away. I have seen some calls for $400-$500. Anyone have some good advice?

Foxpro hands down :)
I have the FX3 and I love my baby LOL....

You really don't need to go out and spend that kind of money on a caller. My advice is to start out with a mouth blown call. You'll only have a small investment and any veteran caller can tell you they work. In fact, I'm a veteran caller and I'm telling you...they work. You can get into this game for under $10, not including a rifle or shotgun, of course.

Later, when you get old and lazy like me, you can get an Ecaller. They work, too. LOL Some members here on this board have killed hundreds of critters called in with a mouth blown call.

I have the same call with the jack in the box. I love it also. I have killed 90% of my dogs with it. You may want to start with some hand calls. They make a lot of calls that are extremely easy to blow. They usually run $20 or less. One thing I absolutely swear by is a decoy for daytime hunting. Once they see it, thats all they focus on.

Yep hand calls are great too... And much cheaper.. BRAZ is a member here and makes some awesome calls.. I have several of his LOL..

Is calling by hand more rewarding?

That's a personal choice.

I would say that calling by hand has it's place, as does using an e-caller. I don't own an electronic caller, so all mine is done by hand. However, my hunting partner owns a Minaska and when it's his turn to call we usually use that. Lately though, we've been using nothing but hand calls. For me, it's just easier to work them in cause I fumble with the remote at night.

A kill is a kill. But there is nothing like when you down your first animal on a hand blown call. I would have to say it is more rewarding, because the sound you produced is yours and thats what that paticular animal wanted. Even with all that in mind, Im still going to use me Fox pro

I realize what this is going to sound like but I'll go ahead and say this anyway...

When I first started calling the only electronic caller was the Johnny Stewart machine that played a 45 rpm record. It worked very well but I couldn't have afforded one. I only owned one call. A Weems Wild Call that cost me $3. That one single call was used to get me all of my pins and trophies and win or place in a bunch of CVCA club hunts.

Don't get me wrong.... I really enjoy the Foxpro and I've used it a bunch this year with some great success but I've also used a Weems call and a Dan Thompson Weems knockoff and managed to fool a few dumb coyotes at my advanced age. I read posts by newbies they seem to think that they need an Ecaller to have any success and I know it just isn't so. There's so much stuff out there that we want but really very little that we need. Thank god for that because when I first started I couldn't have afforded any of it. Most mouth blown calls are easy to blow. Lots easier than a duck or goose call. This really isn't rocket surgery. Even though some would have you believe otherwise it's one of the easiest sports out there. You don't need anything but a call, gun and some camo to get started. I even started without the camo.

This post has been edited by Moe: Jan 29 2008, 05:07 PM

I totally agree with Moe... On all of it...

I too started out with the old Weems call back before the invention of the airplane... Still have a couple (weems/not airplanes) today & they work as good as ever.

Anyway, give ole "AllPredatorCalls.Com" on the net a call. A.P. Jones will fix you up. Buy some Randy Anderson dvd's or video's if you haven't already done so along with some calls. Dan Thompson Weems Replica is hard to beat, as are Sceery calls. AP-2 & 6 are good. "Calling All Coyotes" AND "Mastering the Art" are excellent dvd's by Randy.

No need in paying a bunch of $$$ on an e caller just starting out. Unless you want to of course; just not necessary is all. Otherwise check out Foxpro's classified website for some good used e callers. The 416 w/remote is excellent & a lot more affordable than their higher FX-3 & 5 models.

As far as "rewarding" goes, that is another whole subject... It personally doesn't really matter to me, but that is just me. The gig to me is, just getting the dog to come in, & the closer the better. Mouth or e caller is really personal preference on how rewarding it is.

All The Best
Frank

Yes.......and that's another thing..... I guess because I've called in and killed hundreds more critters with a hand call than I have with my Foxpros it doesn't make it more or less rewarding for me either way. At this point I'm just tickled pink to get a dog or two down. But I know for sure that I can get just as many in with a hand call because I've done it. For the little night calling I did this year I only used the Foxpro a couple of times and it was mostly for the coyote sounds. Funny thing is I've had the Foxpro running for maybe 20 minutes and never got a set of eyes. Then before leaving the spot I blew on the Weems and got eyes after about 2 minutes. I have to wonder why. It's happened a couple of times.

One topic of discussion on another board is that so many guys are running the same sounds, like Lighting Jack and Utah Jack, that the critters are ignoring them. But since each guy has his own technique with a mouth call the hand calls are outdoing the Ecallers. BS? Maybe...... but it makes a little sense.

It makes perfect sense to me. Most younger people have never used a mouth call.

When you howl with a hand call and one those suckers answers you, I tell you, it is an experience like no other!!!

i agree, i used a double wammy and the coyotes went crazy, it was a rush.

If you don't want to spend alot try buying a used older Foxpro 416B, 532.

There's nothing like laying in the grass early morning watching a fox 4 or 500 meters away rummaging about , pursing your lips and giving a low gentle squeak slowly raising the volume till you get his attention. You see those ears prick up and the nose test the air. One or two short squeaks and let him search for you , he circles round to the right and you give him just enough to search your corner of the field then you lose view of him in a hollow. He appears 250 meters away searching , purse your lips and coax him slow and easy, he gets your direction . You only have your .22 hornet with you so again you purse and give him a couple of sharp piercing squeals and he gallops up the hillside toward you . He's coming head on and your following him through the scope, he's 200 out 1&1/2 mill-dots down , Keep come'n boy just keep come'n 150 1/2 a mill, 120 , a loud squeall to slow him up and BANG the rifle gently sways in your clasp but you keep the sight picture (I love the little hornet) and you watch the energy shudder down his flanks , then he tumbles to the ground. The adrenaline starts the fire work in your head and your chest swells with pride, the guy beside you says "f**k yeah" and slaps you on the back .

Now you tell me is calling by hand rewarding

I STARTED HUNTING BEFORE MOE AND THERE WERE NO ECALLERS AND WE HAD GREAT FUN WITH THE HAND CALLES YOU CAN CHANGE THE SOUNDS AS THE CRITTER GETS CLOSER. i ALSO HAVE THAKEN MANY CRITERS AND NEVER HAD OR USED A ECALLER, I ALSO PLACED AND WON MANY CONTESTS IN THE C,V,C,A,

Very well said.