Predator Hunters - Learn me something

[CastAndBlast]

I need some help guys. I recently purchased a fox pro game caller, but don't know how to use it. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated! How do I use this thing?

Run time?
Volume?
Position?
Wind?

I have never done any predator hunting. This year I have been getting some pictures of 2 different bobcats at 2 specific locations. So, I am trying to help my odds of getting one. All I do is bow hunt, so is it even possible to call a cat or yote into bow range using a caller?

I did use it this past weekend, but the only thing that I had come in was a hog.


Thank you in advance for your help!

[JakeGraves]

I like using the cottontail and woodpecker sounds. Volume depends on wind but usually figure that if you can hear it at 100 yards, it's too loud. Cats generally take longer to respond than fox but 30 min is a typical sit. If I get an animal hanging up, mute the caller for a couple seconds and then play again at a higher volume fading back down to original. I usually play my hellfire at volume 12. Broadcast the sound downwind or crosswind to let wind carry sound to varmints. Elevated positions looking over clearings are always good.

[CastAndBlast]

I like using the cottontail and woodpecker sounds. Volume depends on wind but usually figure that if you can hear it at 100 yards, it's too loud. Cats generally take longer to respond than fox but 30 min is a typical sit. If I get an animal hanging up, mute the caller for a couple seconds and then play again at a higher volume fading back down to original. I usually play my hellfire at volume 12. Broadcast the sound downwind or crosswind to let wind carry sound to varmints. Elevated positions looking over clearings are always good.

Thank you Jake! I was running it for about 2-3 minutes, then left it off for 8-10 min. Is that about right?

[JakeGraves]

Stay on it for cats. They will lose interest if not constant.

[boh347]

There's a pretty good thread on here by horitexan (I think) with a lot of information.

But this is what I do with pretty good success.
Start off on low volume for a few minutes. At least 1/8 of your volume settings. My first set of sounds first consist of high pitched squeaks, like lucky bird, babee cottontail, rodent and toward the end of the set we change to jack rabbit type songs. After a few minutes on low volume I'll increase it to about 1/4. A few minutes on that I'll lower it, with changing calls in between volume levels. Then I'll raise it again to about half volume again changing calls. The whole set takes about 15 - 30 minutes never going above 3/4 of the max volume.

[Brack]

Coyotes - They don't require a lot of calling. I usually call for about 2 minutes, and I give it about 6-8 minutes or more before hitting the call again. I call each spot for about a half an hour from a position of cover where I can see downwind. They will almost always circle into your wind. I have called them into bow range, but it is very difficult to shoot one with a bow. They don't hold still for long. I also prefer to call them during daylight hours with just before dark being my preference. I used a 12 ga with #2 turkey load or dead coyote rounds. For those that stop out of shotgun range, .308.

Grey Foxes - I prefer to call at night with a dim red light and a spot light. I set up in wide open areas where I can see 75 to 100 yards in all directions. They usually respond within 10 minutes. I prefer a fast paced cottontail, and I call constantly. Grey Fox pup also works well. Most of the time, they do not circle into my wind. For the ones that run straight in, they catch a 12 ga with an extra full choke and #4 turkey load. If they start running side ways, they know something is up, and they get the spotlight and a 22 hornet.

Bobcats - Some will hang up, but I have had plenty run in as well. I use the same ammo I used for foxes. Call time will usually be about 30 minutes.

There are plenty of other threads on here with guys that have some good techniques. Good luck to you.

[CastAndBlast]

Thank you for all of the help guys!

One thing that I am concerned about is drawing back on a bobcat. Should I get a distractor feather or decoy to keep their focus off of me?

Also, should I put the caller at the base of my tree stand, or a little ways out if trying to get them into now range?

[texag93]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265828

[CastAndBlast]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=265828

Great read! Thank you Jason!

[Horitexan]

I need some help guys. I recently purchased a fox pro game caller, but don't know how to use it. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated! How do I use this thing?

Run time?
Volume?
Position?
Wind?

I have never done any predator hunting. This year I have been getting some pictures of 2 different bobcats at 2 specific locations. So, I am trying to help my odds of getting one. All I do is bow hunt, so is it even possible to call a cat or yote into bow range using a caller?

I did use it this past weekend, but the only thing that I had come in was a hog.


Thank you in advance for your help!

It's possible to call a cat into bow range but it's not probable. Take your bow if you want, but I wouldn't pass up a shot with a rifle/shotgun on a predator if it hangs up anywhere outside bow range. I would encourage you to take a firearm. If you call a coyote and don't shoot him when you have an opportunity, you'll have a 10X harder time calling him again; and then you'll have a deer killer that you can't get. I'm all about the bowhunting but, for predator control, it's neither effective nor smart. At least have a shooter with you than can take care of business in case you can't. Predators are a scourge for hunters and ranchers and they're not animals you want to "educate."

For cats:

Keep the sound running constant. At most, 10-15 second breaks occasionally. I run something constantly although I may alternate some sounds. My experience is that cats like the constant attention.

Wind is of little concern with cats. It's always preferable to have them upwind ; but I can't tell you how many cats I've called in that came in directly down wind of the truck. Coyotes are a whole different ballgame, though!

Call cats at night - they're MUCH easier to get at night than during the day. I don't intentionally try for cats in the daylight.

Volume, for cats, is of little concern. Most of them will come in even with a sound blaring. Of course, use a little common sense but they just aren't very particular. They will either be interested in your sound or they won't - the volume is the least of your concern.

Sound selection: it's kind of hit or miss. You just can't be sure what a cat will respond to. I've called them on just about every type of sound from rabbit distress to bird distress to fawn distress to calf distress. They just either seem interested in an easy meal or they don't. I'll usually use 3-4 sounds during a cat calling set; but I do stay with the same genre. If I start with a rabbit distress I may switch from cottontail to jack to snow shoe but I'll stick with rabbit for that set. The single exception is that once I have a cat coming I will usually switch to a rodent coaxer; but be prepared for them to stop and, if they do, switch back to the distress they were responding to.

30-40 minute sets for cat. If you don't have eyes by that time it's time to move.

Hope this helps

[westtexducks]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=265828

Beat me to it. Lots of good info in this thread.

[CrookedArrow]

Fence lines, I love fence lines

[CastAndBlast]

It's possible to call a cat into bow range but it's not probable. Take your bow if you want, but I wouldn't pass up a shot with a rifle/shotgun on a predator if it hangs up anywhere outside bow range. I would encourage you to take a firearm. If you call a coyote and don't shoot him when you have an opportunity, you'll have a 10X harder time calling him again; and then you'll have a deer killer that you can't get. I'm all about the bowhunting but, for predator control, it's neither effective nor smart. At least have a shooter with you than can take care of business in case you can't. Predators are a scourge for hunters and ranchers and they're not animals you want to "educate."

For cats:

Keep the sound running constant. At most, 10-15 second breaks occasionally. I run something constantly although I may alternate some sounds. My experience is that cats like the constant attention.

Wind is of little concern with cats. It's always preferable to have them upwind ; but I can't tell you how many cats I've called in that came in directly down wind of the truck. Coyotes are a whole different ballgame, though!

Call cats at night - they're MUCH easier to get at night than during the day. I don't intentionally try for cats in the daylight.

Volume, for cats, is of little concern. Most of them will come in even with a sound blaring. Of course, use a little common sense but they just aren't very particular. They will either be interested in your sound or they won't - the volume is the least of your concern.

Sound selection: it's kind of hit or miss. You just can't be sure what a cat will respond to. I've called them on just about every type of sound from rabbit distress to bird distress to fawn distress to calf distress. They just either seem interested in an easy meal or they don't. I'll usually use 3-4 sounds during a cat calling set; but I do stay with the same genre. If I start with a rabbit distress I may switch from cottontail to jack to snow shoe but I'll stick with rabbit for that set. The single exception is that once I have a cat coming I will usually switch to a rodent coaxer; but be prepared for them to stop and, if they do, switch back to the distress they were responding to.

30-40 minute sets for cat. If you don't have eyes by that time it's time to move.

Hope this helps

Thank you Nick! That helps tremendously.