Advice for a newbie

[MuleyFever]

Thinking of buying a Foxpro and doing some predator hunting. I can get a new Foxpro X24 for about $400 or save a $100 and get a Hellcat Pro. Is the X24 worth it?

If you use these what sounds have you had the best luck with from the ones it comes with for coyotes?

I'm in UT so we can shoot lions. From the preloaded sounds which would you use for cats?

I have never used an electric caller. Any tips for calling?

 

[dirtytough]

The X24 is pretty solid. Never used or looked at the features on the hellcat so no comment there.

For coyotes female sore howls, pup 3, bay bee cottontail, snowshoe hair, lucky bird. Raccoon fight. Hard to remember what’s standard and what’s custom without the remote in hand.

For lions I would use the lion whistle, and just spam a new prey sound every 4-5 minutes with volume fluctuation. I would use lots of higher pitched sounds.

 

[eddielasvegas]

Also, unless you're Elon rich, seldom used callers show up in the classified somewhat regualarly so you can save a decent amount over new if that's to your liking.

Good luck,

Eddie

 

[Jtb.kfd]

I have been using ecallers for 30 years, they have come a long way. Currently I own a shockwave and X24, both are amazing. I haven’t seen or used the Hellcat but the remote, decoy and many of the features mirror my shockwave. If you plan to get into calling and go out a lot, I would start with the X24 or the shockwave simply for the cleanest sound and best range for the remote. I have owned various cheaper model FoxPros and they frustrated me when the remote wouldn’t consistently connect at 30yds. The shockwave and X24 have no issue at 70+ yards with clear line of sight. They also have great battery life (Hellcat may as well) giving you two solid days of calling before charging. The best sound quality you can afford makes a difference for sure, especially in pressured areas. The preloaded sounds they come with are more than you will need.

Best sounds for coyote:
1. Lucky Bird
2. Hairy Woodpecker
3. Lightning Jack

Best for cats (never called in a lion, even in high concentration areas).
1. Lucky Bird
2. Baby Bee
3. Tantrum Titmouse

Tips:
- program favorites in your call remote before going out and get familiar with accessing them quickly.
- get the decoy that mounts to the call. Place the call in an area predators can see it when approaching. Turn on the decoy for a few revolutions if they hang up, then turn it off.
- Don’t be afraid to switch sounds up. If one isn’t working or a predator hangs up, switch the sound. It won’t make sense to your brain going from bird to rabbit to gopher in distress, but when you hit the right sound they can come barreling in, they don’t seem to comprehend the switch-ups.
- Watch and observe as they come in, don’t shoot when they hang up 100+ yards out. Experiment and get them close. You will mess some up at first, but once you figure out what works to bring them in to point blank range, the slow or pressured days will become much easier to make successful sets.
- I start calling with one sound, play it for approximately two minutes at 3/4 to full volume, pause for a minute or two then repeat the two minute call sequence. If I don’t see one at the end of that sequence I switch to another sound and do it all over again.
- When you shoot, keep the player/sequence going for another 5 minutes minimum. Its amazing how many will continue to come in after a shot, even without a suppressor.
- I end most sets with a 30 second coyote pup in distress sound. I also use this when one hangs up and I can’t get it to commit after multiple sound changes.
- For cats, turn on a sound and play it nonstop for 45 minutes occasionally varying volume from low to medium/high.
- Set the caller next to brush so the decoy can smack the brush or grass when spinning. That noise really can make a difference. Sounds like wings flapping in bushes and they love it.
This hopefully gets you started, ask away if more questions come up.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have been using ecallers for 30 years, they have come a long way. Currently I own a shockwave and X24, both are amazing. I haven’t seen or used the Hellcat but the remote, decoy and many of the features mirror my shockwave. If you plan to get into calling and go out a lot, I would start with the X24 or the shockwave simply for the cleanest sound and best range for the remote. I have owned various cheaper model FoxPros and they frustrated me when the remote wouldn’t consistently connect at 30yds. The shockwave and X24 have no issue at 70+ yards with clear line of sight. They also have great battery life (Hellcat may as well) giving you two solid days of calling before charging. The best sound quality you can afford makes a difference for sure, especially in pressured areas. The preloaded sounds they come with are more than you will need.

Best sounds for coyote:
1. Lucky Bird
2. Hairy Woodpecker
3. Lightning Jack

Best for cats (never called in a lion, even in high concentration areas).
1. Lucky Bird
2. Baby Bee
3. Tantrum Titmouse

Tips:
- program favorites in your call remote before going out and get familiar with accessing them quickly.
- get the decoy that mounts to the call. Place the call in an area predators can see it when approaching. Turn on the decoy for a few revolutions if they hang up, then turn it off.
- Don’t be afraid to switch sounds up. If one isn’t working or a predator hangs up, switch the sound. It won’t make sense to your brain going from bird to rabbit to gopher in distress, but when you hit the right sound they can come barreling in, they don’t seem to comprehend the switch-ups.
- Watch and observe as they come in, don’t shoot when they hang up 100+ yards out. Experiment and get them close. You will mess some up at first, but once you figure out what works to bring them in to point blank range, the slow or pressured days will become much easier to make successful sets.
- I start calling with one sound, play it for approximately two minutes at 3/4 to full volume, pause for a minute or two then repeat the two minute call sequence. If I don’t see one at the end of that sequence I switch to another sound and do it all over again.
- When you shoot, keep the player/sequence going for another 5 minutes minimum. Its amazing how many will continue to come in after a shot, even without a suppressor.
- I end most sets with a 30 second coyote pup in distress sound. I also use this when one hangs up and I can’t get it to commit after multiple sound changes.
- For cats, turn on a sound and play it nonstop for 45 minutes occasionally varying volume from low to medium/high.
- Set the caller next to brush so the decoy can smack the brush or grass when spinning. That noise really can make a difference. Sounds like wings flapping in bushes and they love it.
This hopefully gets you started, ask away if more questions come up.

What decoy do you use when using the X24?

 

[Jtb.kfd]

What decoy do you use when using the X24?

I use the Foxjack 3 that connects directly to the Foxpro. I haven’t used any of my other spinning decoys since purchasing that one. The benefits are you can turn it on and off with your FoxPro remote, it runs off the callers battery pack and its one less thing to carry and set up. I have several Mojo spinning decoys as well as silhouettes. I use the silhouettes in late winter/early spring when calling can get tougher. If you buy a caller and decoy mounted remote, that will get you started and will likely be all you need unless you really get into it.

If you zoom in on the attached pic, you can see the remote attached to my shockwave on the top of my son’s pack.

 

[JeffP_Or]

Was in a similar boat almost ten years ago; wasn't sure I would be dedicated to it so I bought a FoxPro Inferno on sale at All Predator Calls. I told them what I was doing and had them preload it - paid maybe $100 for it then? I supplement that with mouth calls and a Primos decoy [$35 on sale]. Never felt a real need to upgrade and still kill. Does it have some shortfalls - sure, but I'm not selling fur or relying on it enough to spend big $$'s. I'm in the game and although X24 etc are great, they are not required IMO.
The only thing I might do different is add in the Rainshadow sounds for cougar; that guy is dialed on cats here in PNW. He used to post here but google will get you to the website.
All that plus lunch, coats, face mask, golves etc packs into my MR Pop-up 28 so is convenient and easy.

Lightning Jack and DSG Cottontail have been my biggest producers but rabbit sounds can get old to pressured coyotes.
Fawn Distress, Fawn Bleats and Antelope Fawn distress are my next producers.
Coyote Yips, Female Coyote Challenge and Pup Distress have worked.

The rest is mostly trial and error based on the area and pressure from what I have experienced. I usually set up, wait 10-15 mins, hit the caller for 5 mins [quiet], wait another 5 mins, call for another 5 [higher volume] wait another 5, call another 5 [highest volume], wait for another 5 mins and bail. Volume depends on terrain and wind; they have great hearing so louder is not always better. I'll also do a 2-3 minute alternating sequence occasionally. Seems most mine either come right in within 2 minutes or I get them on the last call sequence or just before I pack up at around 20-25 minutes.

Open terrain, I'll move a 1/2 mile between sets minimum. Lots of hills and draws I'll often just pop over the top and start again.

Cats can take longer - stands up to an hour or more from my understanding. Watch for them - they'll sit and watch forever.

It's a challenge and fun - enjoy!

 

[flyfisher117]

I have successfully used every single level of call. Even an old Foxpro Model 48. They all worked fine.

I still say it's best to buy the most expensive one you can justify. They do offer more or better features, they also have better volume. Windy east Idaho or eastern MT days it was always nice to have a little extra volume.

I also feel like it's best to buy it from a company that will custom program the calls you want onto it. That way you aren't getting sounds you'll never use. Example the ungulate sounds that came factory are useless to me.

Decoys help sometimes. Sometimes they do more harm than good. I would say I have 50/50 luck running mine. It gets left home often just to save weight. I have the Foxpro one attached to my call.

When you are done calling and ready to move take a knee and scan the area. Don't just stand up. I've had a few occasions a coyote held up and I couldn't see. Taking a knee was enough for me to see it and react.

 

[Skerhunter]

I have successfully used every single level of call. Even an old Foxpro Model 48. They all worked fine.

I still say it's best to buy the most expensive one you can justify. They do offer more or better features, they also have better volume. Windy east Idaho or eastern MT days it was always nice to have a little extra volume.

I also feel like it's best to buy it from a company that will custom program the calls you want onto it. That way you aren't getting sounds you'll never use. Example the ungulate sounds that came factory are useless to me.

Decoys help sometimes. Sometimes they do more harm than good. I would say I have 50/50 luck running mine. It gets left home often just to save weight. I have the Foxpro one attached to my call.

When you are done calling and ready to move take a knee and scan the area. Don't just stand up. I've had a few occasions a coyote held up and I couldn't see. Taking a knee was enough for me to see it and react.

Great advice right here!

Remote range, volume, and custom sounds are a must in my book.

PM me if you want tips on sounds - the factory ones posted here are great, I used them 15 years ago with great success BUT so did everyone else and they quit producing in pressured areas.

 

[waspocrew]

I have the X24 and it's been great. Works well, easy to use, good volume, and remote range.

I've killed some coyotes (mostly at night with thermal) and still learning. It's a lot of fun!

 

[M44]

Half the coyotes are afraid of a decoy and you don't need one to kill the other half.

 

[turbo406]

1. Always know what the wind is doing no matter how slight
2. If you miss a coyote and he doesn't have his ass under him running but is instead hopping away, more than likely he is gunna stop so don't go throwing rounds at a runner
3. Don't jump up after you shot the first coyote, reload and continue to call there could be a second one coming in
4. Don't be afraid to make longer set if you have the time, everyone and their brother calls in the general area I live so I find I have a decent success rate at the 30 to 35 minute mark
5. If you can find someone in your area that has experience and can teach you it will rapidly accelerate your learning

 

[dirtytough]

Great advice right here!

Remote range, volume, and custom sounds are a must in my book.

PM me if you want tips on sounds - the factory ones posted here are great, I used them 15 years ago with great success BUT so did everyone else and they quit producing in pressured areas.

Interesting about the sounds. Since 70% of coyotes in the fall are new coyotes and have never heard lightning jack, pup 3, etc you would think they would still work.

I do know I had a custom sound and I killed 80%+ of my coyotes over it one year. The next year I “upgraded” calls and that sound was not as effective. 3 years later it still isn't as effective.

I attribute it to changing calls. I’ve tried it in so many areas that I never called the first year I had it and I still don’t have the same type of success with it as the first year.

 

[Skerhunter]

Interesting about the sounds. Since 70% of coyotes in the fall are new coyotes and have never heard lightning jack, pup 3, etc you would think they would still work.

I do know I had a custom sound and I killed 80%+ of my coyotes over it one year. The next year I “upgraded” calls and that sound was not as effective. 3 years later it still isn't as effective.

I attribute it to changing calls. I’ve tried it in so many areas that I never called the first year I had it and I still don’t have the same type of success with it as the first year.

Well your not wrong!

I’m in nebraska - most of the state has a road every mile. Since those sounds are on every foxpro it doesn’t take long to educate them multiple times, hell maybe even 5 days in a row. I would guess that the average caller here educates at least 9 coyotes for every 1 they kill. So we aren’t calling to dumb pups on most stands. I have also observed a difference in the time of year. When everyone is out calling (harvest has to be done) November-February they are a lot more cautious and most distress sounds don’t produce (unless you have a lot of land to yourself).

Up to around 2010ish I was using lightening jack, baybee contontail and the two snow shoe sounds (high and low) to kill all of my coyotes and cats. It was almost too easy if you had continuous tracts of land to hunt. It was like a light switch when it changed. Pup distress 3 still worked for a while, but not for long.

Since then I have had change it up a lot depending on where I am at. In the high pressure areas I have to rely on setting up close and using vocals to get them in range. Fights and pup distress also work, but usually not on their own. Anything that sounds remotely like rabbit distress and they will just bark at you or run away.

 

[dirtytough]

A 1-9 ratio is horrible haha. I’m not perfect myself though. I definitely educate more than I would like.

 

[blackpowder72]

Most guys in my area use Foxpro and I believe we have educated a lot of dogs. I bought a Icotec last year and we killed a lot of dogs. Just sounds different. Buddy of mine switched to a Lucky duck this year and it is also very good . Also watch Facebook there are calls on the for sale time to time . Get out there and good luck!!

 

[dfhutton]

Most guys in my area use Foxpro and I believe we have educated a lot of dogs. I bought a Icotec last year and we killed a lot of dogs. Just sounds different. Buddy of mine switched to a Lucky duck this year and it is also very good . Also watch Facebook there are calls on the for sale time to time . Get out there and good luck!!

Interesting data point

 

[blackpowder72]

Interesting data point

Well I believe it is something to think about. All three of those callers sound different. Not saying one is better than the other just different.