A coyote call is a vital tool for hunting these and other predators. Having the right gear is critical to the success of any hunt, whether it’s a coyote hunt or some other animal. Predator hunting, however, can be a little different since most predator animals are omnivores and often nocturnal. What does it take to be successful in hunting predators?
Best Predator Calls
The Expert:
What is a Predator
First, let’s look at what is considered a predator. There are a variety of animals considered predators in the United States. Merriam-Webster defines a predator as “an organism that primarily obtains food by killing and consuming other organisms.” With this definition comes the inference that feral hogs are included by the fact that they are opportunistic omnivores.
With their voracious appetites, feral hogs are classified as nuisance predators because of the extensive damage they cause to farmland, crops, and ground nesting animals. In fact, the three most sought-after predators are coyotes, bobcats, and feral hogs. All three of these can be hunted at any time, but more success is often found during late afternoons, dark of night, and early mornings. Having a coyote call in your hunting tool arsenal will increase your chances of success.
Know Before You Go
Understanding the life cycle, habitat, food sources, as well as what prey animals are available in the area you will be pursuing predators, will aid in a successful hunt. With this intel, a hunter will know which call sounds will work the best. For instance, distressed prey or young pup sounds will work best when hunting coyotes near a rearing den, which is the type of sound you’ll want coming from a coyote call. If you’re hunting feral hogs near a bait pile, feeding sounds and social calls can entice sounders (read: a herd of wild pigs) to come into the bait.
What to Consider in an Electronic Predator Call
There are two types of calls for predator hunting: mouth calls, also called manual calls, and electronic calls, also referred to as e-calls. E-calls are very useful and far superior to mouth calls because the sounds are often actual recorded sounds of live animals. With e-calls, you can set the unit at a distance from you, which helps to deter a predator from pinpointing your location.
E-calls also leave your hands free and will minimize movement. The only drawback is that some e-calls are large and cannot be stashed in a backpack to carry into the field. However, e-calls come in a variety of shapes and sizes and offer a diversity of sounds. Many e-calls are designed for hunting a variety of predators, while others are more specific to one or two species.
Sound Library
E-calls use stored pre-loaded sound libraries, and some offer the ability to add to the sound library by purchasing sound packs or individual sounds that can be uploaded to the device’s library. The sounds are stored onboard or in a sound library on a Bluetooth device such as a smartphone.
Control and Range
All the devices reviewed have an on/off switch to engage power. Playback of sounds on devices while hunting is controlled either by remote control or with an app on a Bluetooth device. Most e-callers offer at least a 100-yard range, with others offering up to 300-yards or more. It is key to know whether that is line-of-sight (LOS) yardage. With LOS yardage, you must keep in mind the maximum range as well as having an unobstructed view to the call when placing your call. The ability to mute or play two sounds at once is a valuable feature.
Speaker System
The sound quality and clarity of the speaker system are critical in enticing the intended target. The sounds emitted must be crisp and clear at a variety of levels. Having a vast range in volume is useful in a variety of different scenarios and terrain types.
How I Evaluated Electronic Predator Calls
I based my recommendations on my experience in the field with several of these calls and the guidance and advice of successful predator hunters. I considered the essential features when deciding on a top selection of electronic calls. I compared minimalist units to hunt only one or two species and units with all the bells and whistles with an expandable sound library for multi-game pursuit. I compared specifications, features, and reviews on each unit, and the following electronic calls were the ones that rated well. This selection includes a variety for every budget and use.
