Fox pro volume?

[Scrapper]

Anyone use a fox Pro firestorm? I looking for insight on how much volume to use. The scale for the volume goes for 1 to 10.

Thanks, Mike

[lb]

It doesn't matter. Start low and increase to midrange, or start with max volume if you feel like it. My personal feeling is that a coyote isn't scared by a 500 pound rabbit. Low works too. It's up to the individual, there is no wrong answer. LB

[marcus]

good question Scraper, I have been wondering the same thing? I have been only play up to volume 6-7 because any louder it really echos off the trees and hills. Wondering the if more coyotes would hear it if I would play full volume for a while. I am always afraid the loud volume echoing will scare them so it would be nice if someone with more experience could help.
Thanks

[tweedledumb]

More experience than who? LOL

[lb]

Just risk it, fellas. Experiment, don't be afraid to fail. I have had full, maxed volume on a remote speaker and had a coyote run in so fast and actually stick his nose in the speaker. It was actually too dark to start calling, which was why I didn't see him right away, that and a depression he showed up in.

On the other hand, I had a pair of coyotes charge my caller that I had turned on, but with zero volume. I couldn't hear it holding the speaker to my ear, (of course, I'm practically deaf) yet these coyotes heard it from over 200 yards away.

As I said before, it really doesn't matter, at some point you will be wrong but that's how you learn. And, you gain a bit of perspective. And, if you are still too timid, play safe and go with right in the middle.

But, volume is a very deep subject, we have hardly scratched the surface here. But, you can do everything wrong and it still works. Form your own opinion.

[Scrapper]

Thanks lb. I was like Marcus, wondering about the echos and being louder than an actual animal.

[lb]

That's another frequent mistake. Thinking these animals can figure it out. They can't. They will respond to coyote pup whimpers in the middle of winter when all the pups weigh at least 20 pounds. Some people want realistic pauses, low volume, etc. But, as far as I am concerned, they respond best to continuous high volume. Within reason, of course, but do not worry that your volume is louder than an actual animal. Also, the real dying rabbits I have heard, it's a pathetic little whimper, like a baby lamb, not at all like most recorded jack rabbit sounds, which are extremely loud and constant.

One thing to remember. When playing loud sounds, and you see an animal approaching....resist the temptation to turn the volume down. That is almost guaranteed to cause a coyote to hang up. Whatever you started with, leave it alone and let them come.

You know, realism is much overrated. For instance, there are many coyotes back east that will eagerly respond to a jackrabbit sound, where they don't have jackrabbits. I like to use a few African sounds and none of these animals out west have ever heard a "springhare" before, but it works great. Distress sounds have universal appeal, it doesn't have to be authentic to the specific country you are in.

[trappnman]

thats interesting lb on the dying rabbit. my experience has been the opposite, in that more times than not, esp with jacks, that dying scream is very loud and even ear shatterring. but having said that, I need to qualify it- it was in lightly shot rabbits, not ones dying that made the loud noise-

as far as your advice to just "do it" it reminds me of something Wiley once said- and that was it was hard to be too far off to matter (concerning volume, tones, etc)

so let me ask a question to lb, and generally as well, as experienced callers, do you find that where you once played with things like volume, tone, etc- that now, unless special circumstances, have a set routine at each stop?

[lb]

Well, I was speaking of a dying rabbit, not a terrified screaming rabbit.

And, yes, I usually do not fiddle with volume, I survey the locale and select a volume based on wind and how close the cover is. If it's wide open and I can see forever, I might crank it up for the first couple minutes before settling on a more sensible volume.

At night, I generally start a stand with lip squeaks as I pan the light around because sometimes, you just get lucky and stop close to where they are. Well, it's not always very lucky, but something's going to happen in short order. Anyway, then it makes sense to begin at low volume if you can see more than 100 yards in any direction. On a Foxpro 24L, max is 40. I usually call at 24.

[Scrapper]

Thanks for all the insight lb. One more question for ya, do you let the sound play constant or do you play them for a minute or two then pause it?

[lb]

Forget the "realistic" pauses. I know it is counterintuitive but constant sound works much better than pauses. Some people don't believe it and some are hardheaded, but trust me, continuous sound produces the most eager responses. Don't give them the chance to stop and look around. That's what they do with pauses. They tend to stop and observe and sometimes you don't want a cautious approach....after all, they aren't stupid.