A poll about what about the calls you take with you to the field?

[ivarhusa]

I was wondering if the old hands take out more calls with them than do us "new guys" or rookies.   Perhaps rookies have shot fewer than 10 coyotes, and called during three or fewer winters?  Feel free to classify yourself either way. 

In your remarks, feel free to expound on your general call selection, or perhaps on specific favorites. A one-question poll doesn't allow for getting much detail!  Does anybody carry only distress calls or only coyote vocalization calls?  I presume most or all would carry both, but I could be surprised, eh?

How many calls do you own (and don't use?!)?

[rasbo]

I carry 4 calls,cotton tail and jack,coaxer..and a foxpro3.32 calls

[billythekidrock]

I didn't vote as I am note sure if I am a rookie or old hand. I have probably killed less then a dozen coyotes calling and really have only been hunting dogs for a couple years. BUT I have been predator calling for much longer.

As for coyote hunting. I take at least two hand calls and my FP Scorpion. The calls I use are typically rabbit and fawn distress. Mostly custom calls, some closed reeds that I made, some by Bearmanric, Rainshadow and ArkyYoter. I still use a Burnham Bros. production call as well. Nothing worse then setting up and having dead batteries.

For bear I take the same calls, but also add cow/calf sounds.

[boneaddict]

kind of in the same boat, been doing this a long time, but wouldn't call myself a pro by anymeans. 

[Bofire]

 :)Well I think I am an old hand, old for sure! I put 3-6, I carry a custom Krusty call double open reed, a second open or closed distress that is raspy depending on the game, and a tiny call I call a Peeper, closed reed. usually have my scorpian. In my truck I keep about a dozen calls, 2true howlers, 3-4combo howl/squall/bleat, distress4 or so. usually have a call in my pocket all the time.
I probably own 100 calls, mostly customs, some one of calls, I just like them.
I dont see where it says "pro"??
anyway
Carl

[ivarhusa]

I am a rookie, for sure, somewhat enamored with the Randy Anderson line of Primos calls.  I wasn't aware of custom calls until I started participating in this forum (Bearmanric).  I have two howlers (Lil Dog and a Johnny Stewart) and several squallers: Tweety, Catnip, and Tally-Ho.

I haven't called in enough dogs to know if one works better than another, but I like the idea of presenting a variety of sounds, if one doesn't bring them in.

On second thought, perhaps a more interesting question might have been: Have you bought more calls than coyotes shot?! Rookies start out "behind" (having to buy calls before the first coyote is shot), but will we ever catch up?  I doubt it.

[rainshadow1]

Lately, I've always got a lanyard knife too!

I put the last option because I usually have the e-call, unless I'm doing a desert style quickie stand 200yds from the truck.

I have multi-drop lanyards, and I carry a squeaker, at least one open reed, and one or two closed reeds. The closed reeds are usually one deep and one high, but around here I do one distress and one Cougar vocal.

[tlbradford]

I usually just have three calls around my neck, but a pocketful of a few others.  Around my neck is a small open reed for bird and cottontail distress, a raspier open reed distress for fawn and jack, and the primos ki-yi with the reed exposed for pup and wounded coyotes or the Lady d.i.e. that does the estrus chirp.  In my pocket I have a long range howler and a high pitch howler, a couple of closed reeds in jack and cottontail, and the old lohman wood call I first learned on 20 years ago.  I also carry a couple of extra pieces of reed material, and some bands.

[Big10gauge]

Well I guess I know now why my pack is always so heavy. The center lanyard is always around my neck, the others are in my pack, I do switch lanyards ever so often. About the only one I just can't seem to get right is the Red Desert Howler. I do have quite a few more that usually just stay at home like some old Weems and Circe.

[jdb]

I kinda play it by the day. Sometimes I'm not in the mood to mess around with the foxpro so it stays home I always carry a kiyi and my howler from rick. and a open reed call of unkown origin.

[AWS]

Long time caller, new to coyotes, only about 10yrs calling them.  I carry a JS PC-3 or Sceery AP-6, a Tweety Syco and a Sceery Howler with the bell removed and a Minaska M1 or Foxpro 416.   I like the bite type call and the totally different sound of the Syco, the Sceery Howler is agood call for me.  I prefer the M1 but keep the 416 around as a back up so I take it at times just to stay familier with the unit.

AWS

[Bullelk]

I keep it simple, I carry 3 to 4 calls, the Psycho Tweety, Carlton Call open reed small version,  and the Primos Mini Howler.  The reason I carry only 2 distress calls is that I can make many different sounds with the carlton call ( cottontail, jack rabbit, bird, rodent, and some coyote sounds).  My opinion, calling is third on the list, I think # one is calling where their is evidence of coyotes in the area. # two is setup, get in quiet with good vision ( get away from the roads, yotes aren't stupid). Third use a call you have confidence in, bird distress is good because their are birds everywhere.  Last and final is the mouse squeaker mounted on the gun. Soon as you see a dog use the mouse squeaker, it is killer.  Only my opinion guys.   












s

[firecrotch]

i carry a total of 5 calls 3 are primos, a circle, and one homemade

[JoshT]

I could carry one call, a standard size Crittr-Gettr... and never feel like I was undergunned, or there was a situation I couldn't handle. Howls, Barks, Whines, Pup distress, Estrus chirps, Fawn bleats, Small critter blues... you name it, it can be done with a mid-size open reed.

I usually have two calls with me: The Crittr-Gettr (or a custom open-reed of similar size) and one of Bearmanric's "Magnum Squeakers". I don't use my calls like most guys though...

[tlbradford]

This could start another debate, but I don't like to use the same call on the same stand for coyote vocals and prey distress.  I think the tone of the call is too close and it may trigger a red flag for a responding coyote.  I have talked about this with successful callers and some say it is a valid theory, and some say it doesn't matter. 

I don't know if "tone" is the right word for it.  Maybe BTKR who is a recording techie can comment on what the digital signature looks like for two different sounds coming from the same call?

Here is another handy tip for my fellow callers.  I have a call on my lanyard that I use specifically to try to stop running coyotes after I have blasted their buddy.  Either a ki-yi, a chirp, or a warning bark.  This is if a coyote is still visible.  If I called in multiples, and one is down and the other has dropped into a draw or is around a hill, then I will start back up with the distress call that brought them in the first place.  Anyway, if the coyote is visible still I want to try to stop them for a shot.  I need to be able to grab that call immediately and without looking down.  To do that, I have it on one of those retractor reels with my call on it, clipped high up on my lanyard.  It is always in the right spot and I can get to it instantly.  Here is an example of what I am talking about.

[ivarhusa]

Below is my take on the poll results, but first let me thank those who participated.  Your comments beyond the vote were interesting and valuable as well. Special thanks to those old hands who shared their whole lanyard(s) with us.

Half the voters claimed rookie status, and most of them carried between 1 and 3 calls with them.  About one in five reported either a *censored*load of calls or an e-caller.  It stands to reason that the old hands tended to have more calls and were twice as likely to own an e-caller (as best I can infer).

It is perhaps interesting to note that a third of the old hands carried three or fewer calls.  That suggests that it is possible to resist the temptation to keep buying more calls. Actually, the poll only asked how many we carried, not bought, so there is some wiggle room in that conclusion. I haven't resisted very well (and am lusting for an e-caller).

Ivar

[JoshT]

I think a lot of it depends on how each individuals style of hunting has evolved, and what sounds they feel the most confident using.

20 years ago I carried 5 or six calls with me, and I did a lot of the 20 min. on the stand then move kind of hunting. That was long enough ago that the dogs heard very little calling so they weren't nearly as call shy... I just changed calls so I could find out what worked best. I figured out the Crittr-Gettr worked the best for me... then after that it was the only call I took.

Once I moved to Gunnison, CO and there were guys out calling, I figured out I needed to change up the sounds now and again... so I learned how to use 'coyote talk'... still with the Crittr-Gettr, and killed quite a few dogs in areas that were well hunted.

Now... I'll sit in one spot for hours... glassing and throwing out a howls or a few pup distress calls then watching what happens. For the guys who call a lot... and move a lot... and hunt areas that are called a lot... you'll need a lot of calls. E-callers are cool... and effective... I just won't hunt with one, it takes a lot of the fun out of it for me. I'd rather kill one dog that I glassed up, than 3 that were called in by a machine.

[deaddog]

I didnt vote as I carry my e-caller and 3-4 handcalls.