Predator Dispatch #2; Calling coyotes and fox to the gun

DISPATCH #2: Call 'em & kill 'em - How I lure coyote & fox to the gun

Calling coyotes and fox with a mouth-blown call requires some technique if you want to lure predators to the gun. In this dispatch, I'll try to share with you the way I do it and I'm sure if you apply my suggestions you'll put more pelts on the fur stretcher.

First, there are principally two species of predator calls; the open reed and closed reed. Open reed means you can see the reed exposed in the mouthpiece, closed reed coyote calls have a reed that is hidden. It is almost exclusively a metal reed and it will wear out and break over a couple of years depending on how much hunting you do with it. I am in the minority I suppose… I use a closed reed. I LOVE the closed reed. In my opinion, a closed reed gives something that is very difficult to find in an open reed call. RASP. Rasp kills predators. You see, when a big old red-tailed hawk hammers a jackrabbit on a fence line, that jack screams to bloody high heaven. And when a jack screams, especially if he's over a year old, more often than not he's got a coarse raspy voice. Coyotes and foxes who live in the outdoors 365 days a year know this sound well. When they hear it, they come. I have tried to replicate this rasp on a multitude of open reed calls but I just can't get the same sound as closed reeds. To cap this topic off, I have nothing against open reeds at all, I own many. It's just I prefer the closed.

As for my preferred brand , I love the E.J. Sceery predator calls and of those my favorite is the AP-3 Jackrabbit. Nothing else comes close. They are the best closed reeds I've found and they make open reeds too. Enough said, this is not a commercial.

Here's what I do when I get to my calling stand (more about choosing calling stands in an upcoming dispatch) for coyote and fox. I settle down for five minutes once I sit down. I relax, take in my surroundings and then I start to call. I use two things to my advantage to control the sound of the call beyond what the call maker has done. Those are my hand and my voice. You can see what I do with my hand on Winter Magic, our predator hunting DVD. I hold the call up near the end of the barrel and as I call, I open and close my hand with each squall to mimic the effect of the jackrabbit open and closing it's mouth to cry. I will also flutter my hand in front of the call's barrel when I am trying to add a vibrato or warbling effect to the prey in distress sound. As far as my voice goes, I will sometimes add a growl sound which adds a gravelly sound. But mostly I add a warble with my wind to add an authenticity. Again, study my calling on the video and you'll understand what I mean. What I like as far as sets is to cry in short 3-5 second wails repetitively as well as an often changing intonation. Feel the pain that the supposed jackrabbit is going through and give her! Sound like someone just nailed your foot to the floor! I package these short calls into a set that varies from 45 seconds to a minute and a half. Make sure you pause for 5 seconds or so once in a while… a jackrabbit has to breathe too! Remember, the goal is to sound realistic. Between sets I will wait between 2 and 4 minutes. I usually wait up to a half hour on stand before leaving.

Finally, once I see the coyote or fox that's coming to the call, I only generally call if the predator stops coming. Rarely do I ever use the call. That's when I kick into the kissing sound with my lips or on the back of my hand. And have faith, they CAN hear it. I have kissed in predators from 300 yards out with a 30 mph crosswind. It's amazing. To use the call at this point would be like blowing a trumpet… overkill.

So there's my way, give it a try and modify it as experience dictates for your area. I know it will kills coyotes for you and anything else you have walking around with fur on four legs.

John Summerfield