Here's a Controversy!

[Steve Gappa]

Electronic callers or handheld?

Both have their place?

A few years ago, a man took me out into the badlands, stopped beside the road, and within a munute, had 5-6 coottes responding to his MOUTH CALLS. No call- him. I was impressed.

I have to say, that as a rookie caller, I like the concept of the hand call. I remember my dad, when I was young, calling fox by squeaking on his hand. Hand calls appeal to me. I have a handmade antler call by Rich Cronk, that I enjoy using.

Would like a nice handmadehowler.

Comments?

[SteveCraig]

Like I have always said, it takes far more knowledge to use an e-caller PROPERLY than it does a hand call.
New callers would be wise to learn how to call with hand calls first then go on and try the e-callers.
Hows that for controversy?!!!!!!

[M35]

I like both.
E-calls are probably the most "ready to go" caller there is. Pop in the tape and keep your eyes peeled..
Hand/ mouth calls require practice, practice, practice.. Getting used to and simply how to make it "talk"..

I have more pride in calling in a fox w/ my hand/ mouth calls vs. e-calling, but I'll take the fox any way I can them to come in..LOL

[ToddMiller]

OK Steve, I'll bite on that one.

I assume your talking about what sounds to use when and when to play the caller and when not too.

The E-caller gives a novice caller quality sounds at the touch of a button. The only thing he needs to learn is what to play and when to play it.

On the other hand, the hand call takes a bit of practice to master the right sounds.

As a competitive (contest) caller for the last 14 years I only use open reed calls. I will say it takes very little skill to use a E-caller compared to a hand call.

[trappnman]

two opposite opinions from 2 good callers? Why?

Different styles, methods, country?

[SteveCraig]

Todd,
It is my experience that e-callers tend to give new callers a false sense of all you have to do is set'er down on the ground and stand back and blow the critters away as they pour in to the caller.
Few take the time to really learn about the animal they are after. They tend not to learn about good stand selection, playing the wind, sun, etc. Soon when they are going 100 stands in a row with no success, they blame the e-caler just about every time. I can tell every student/client that comes to me if he uses an e-caller or hand calls, just by how he sets on stand. Hand callers move very little, because he learns that is what he has to do to be successful. Guys that started with the e-callers tend to move alot, and squirm, change positions......constantly moving on stand. They just do not learn the basics of what make a successfull caller when they start out using e-callers as opposed the us who learned how to use hand calls first.
Again just my experience.

[trappnman]

that makes sense. I totally agree that in todays world, many want instant success and electronic gadgets make one aspect of calling easier, learning how to call.

I agree with the learning curve. All us kids learned to ride w, and ride well bareback, before Dad let us use saddles. He believed you learned to move with the horse, etc that way.

And thats why I got a hand caller, and why I got an antler caller. I wanted the basics, the simplicity of the sport.

but in a way- aren't you saying then that those that use callers, if inexperienced, get more results than those starting out with hand callers?

Heres a scenerio- take 2 new callers. one is using a hand call to learn on, one is using an e caller to learn on.

Give averages- in 6 months of regular calling, who would be taking more coyotes?

I know its a "what if", but am curious.

Assume the hand held guy knows coyotes...LOL

[ToddMiller]

Steve, You are correct. Location (proper setup) and movement (Lack of) is the key to success.

Also having the Coyotes in the area your calling is key.
(Can't call whats not there)

[SteveCraig]

"but in a way- aren't you saying then that those that use callers, if inexperienced, get more results than those starting out with hand callers?"

Yes, that does tend to happen......initially. But, as time goes on and one hunts the same farms over and over again, success rates will plummet and the caller will begin to blame the caller instead of himself. Plus, he has no idea of why his success is dropping or how to go about fixing the problem.

Given your scenario of an experienced hand caller, and a new-be e-caller. And allowing all over variables being equal( they usually are not), My money will be on the hand caller every time.

Given another scenario of an experienced hand caller and an experienced e-caller, I will take the e-caller over the hand caller every time. He will simply call more critters over time. There is a very good reason most varmit clubs will not allow e-callers in their calling contests.

[trappincoyotes39]

I use both, but tend more toward my WT as I can set it up and make realistic setups and I like to be in a prone postion and I can postion my caller so more often than not I can be prone and have a far better shooting stance and also be less detected in this manner as well.

I like to setup with a soapweed as my outline breaker or just needing tuffs of bluestem or indian grass when laying down and I can shoot much better from that postion as well.

With the remote aspect I can make the bunny screams seems natural comming from the side of sage or what ever or I can hide the speaker and force the coyotes in for a closer look to see who is howling in there territory, or keep it close when I have my dog with acting as a decoy. I can imiatate a killing seqence and mix in some mobbing crows and the such.

If I have long hauls into a calling spot then alot of the times I pack my cow horn holwer and a distress call. I think they each have there place, but with a coyote being the downwind masters they are a good electronic and setting up right leaves them comming right through the kill area and me undetected.

[Wiley]

I use both. I also agree with Steve Craig that you owe it to yourself to become proficient with hand calls before you move into electronics. Electronics can cover some mistakes but you need to learn what those mistakes are first with hand calls to know how to properly use electronics.

There is a place for each.

Steve may disagree with me but I'll put a good diaphram call or rabbit call using natural vocal chord vocalizations up against any recording out there for "QUALITY" of sound. All recorded sounds have a certain level of "distortion" to them particularly at the higher volumes required of most callers but as Steve Craig has said and knows better than anyone, there is also a big difference in the quality of sound from one electronic caller to the next.

For authenticity and distance, I'll put a good voice howl up against any recorded sound out there. Bar none! I've proven it to myself time and time again. There is no comparison between actual vocal chord sounds and recorded sounds with a degree of distortion and/or poorly made sounds on a rabbit call.

The beauty of electronics is the remote capability of getting the sounds away from you. Like I said, I use both and there is absolutely a place for both. If forced to choose, I would go with hand calls due to convenience.

T'man,

Here's another one to archive under "hand calls vs. electronics". Thanks!


~SH~