We are new bear hunters, so our experience is pretty slim with calling, though I have called my fair share of coyotes with rabbit calls. I chose an e-caller to trial last year for several reasons.
1.) You can put the call farther away from you and focus the animal's attention to a desired shooting area. Plus, I think it lessens the chance that I'm going to turn around and be face to face with a lion while I've got my kids with me. If they choose to carry weapons next year, then I will be all over one of bearmanric's hand made's -- they look awesome and I have no doubt that they sound better than a foxpro.
2.) My boys sometimes get bored sitting and glassing and handing the remote to either of them gives them something to do and helps them participate. I will select the call to use, hand the remote, and then nod at them when they need to activate the calling sequence. They love it. I guess I could teach them to blow a call as well and have the same effect - but, with the young guy moving around quite a bit, I feel like my chances are better if the bear is not focused directly on where I'm hiding. IDK... maybe the bear would see the movement as being a food animal and it would make him come even faster...!
I do agree that the sound sequences do not sound as realistic as a mouth call would be and can be pretty repetitive after 15-20 minutes. Last year we used a foxpro and after almost an hour of calling when we were done hunting, we started screwing around with the call. We selected a wolf howl and the howl hadn't been playing for 2 seconds when the trees 150 yards away absolutely lit up with coyote barks and yelps! They were TICKED OFF that a wolf had moved in on their trophy... Sounded like we had called in an entire pack with the fawn calls and if we'd waited another few minutes, should have had shot opportunities. Surprised the heck out of us and made us laugh really hard.
