This is topic My Dog Ate My Homework in forum Calls and Gear forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 06:13 AM:
Im hesitant to post this. As I may take shit about my pups. However, I do have a couple of pups in the house out of a litter I raised this winter.
I guess one of my boys must have been messin with my calls, no matter how many times I told them to leave the damn things alone. They must have left them on the floor or something and the dogs got ahold of my lanyard.
I lost the lanyard, not too big of a deal, but I lost some good calls too. They chewed up my Sceery AP6, which must be replaced ASAP. My favorite call. They got my original Krusty Krier, doubt after recent happenings that will ever be replaced. My Weems Replica by Dan Thompson, which I am indifferent about. Good call but not great. The only one they didnt get is the one I use the least. That Pee Wee that Boddicker makes. Cant remember the name of it.
Anyway, other than the AP6, I dont know what else Im going to get to replace them. Like I said, I doubt Krusty is going to replace the one from him. But, I might as well get some input before I buy a couple of replacements.
Any good recommendations?
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 26, 2010, 06:46 AM:
Dang Andy, that's a bummer. My favorite call is my Cronk Killer Call. You can do a lot of stuff with it. I also like Mark Zepp's Rattler for a closed reed call. It is loud and I have never had it freeze up.
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on June 26, 2010, 09:25 AM:
My new favorite is Zepp's Little Big Horn. Marks new open reed call.
Posted by TOM64 (Member # 561) on June 26, 2010, 09:36 AM:
I can't believe you didn't have a tally ho hanging on there and a tweety, gotta have a tweety.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on June 26, 2010, 10:00 AM:
A Critter Call (standard) is a must have. Anything from rodent squeeks to howls are possible with it.
Another call that is pretty impressive, that you seldom hear much about is the Burnham Mini Blaster. Neat little unit that's worth the coin that it cost.
Something with a dual reed is cool too. Either an original Weems Dual Tone (EBay) or one of Zepps. The Zepps model name escapes me at the moment.
If you run across a Yote Buster from the E.L.K. guys, it's a good call that (to my ear, anyway) improves as the reed end breaks down.
If you want a "Sunday, go to meetin' " call that looks & sounds good, without spending too much $$, get one of Rich Cronk's Antler repoduction open reed calls. It's a neat unit.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on June 26, 2010, 10:43 AM:
I'm surprised that Andy doesn't have a box full of calls? And, more scattered all over, in the truck, in the shop, in pockets, etc. He must be a beginner? Ha Ha Or, more likely, an electronic hunter that doesn't really understand the function of a hand call?
Good hunting. LB
Pulling his pants down, he's about "this close" to shutting this down! Grrr! ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on June 26, 2010, 11:14 AM:
A caller can never have too many calls..LOL
A few good ones that come to mind:
AP-6, AP-9, yote buster, Burnham Bro.s calls, Cronk calls, Wiley one calls, Arky yoter calls, crit r calls...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/TA17Rem/pictures006.jpg[/IMG]] 
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 26, 2010, 11:33 AM:
I really like the Sceery closed reeds, and his split/open reed double barrel calls, can't remember what their called ? anyway if ya want them to be, they are friggin' loud !
As Tom mentioned the Tally Ho and Tweetys are great, the "Phsyco" Tweety works pretty well.
[ June 26, 2010, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 12:00 PM:
I got a few calls, just none I really liked like the ones on that lanyard. Those were my favorites. Only ones I carry that werent on there is my Higgins Howler and a couple of those little antler calls. Some of the others I really liked, I put together for my son on a lanyard. He loves to call.
I really like the AP6 and I always wanted to try the smaller version, 8 or 9 maybe?
As for electronics, I guess I may break down and buy one. After my other one shot craps, I have been having fun with mouth calls. And, I just hate to pay the pricetag these fuckers want for the damn things. I used to think $169 or whatever the JS cost was bad. Then I thougth I struck gold and spent a wad for $269 for a MP3 call. I have been refusing the $600 pricetag, but I guess maybe I will get one? And, maybe not.
Alot of money for a damn MP3 player with a hopped up speaker. And before somebody jumps my ass about that comment, take away the bells and whistles and thats pretty much what they are. And, sounds dont have to be perfect to call predators. Studio grade or whatever it is the bigboys call it dont amount to shit. Many animals have died to a cassette tape and a hiss, hell I had a 8 track call before that. Im not old enough for the record player. They called animals.
Im not sold on all the top of the line with Foxbang or whatever the fuck you wanna call it. It has gotten plumb stupid over the last few years. I wish you could buy a good MP3 based call with a decent speaker and decent volume that you can program your own sounds on and a remote that will work at 50 yards reliably at a reasonable price. That would be more than enough.
[ June 26, 2010, 12:10 PM: Message edited by: Andy L ]
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on June 26, 2010, 01:07 PM:
Nice collection of calls for sure.
Sceery AP6 is a must to have, and I like the smaller Sceery bite reed called the "Secret Weapon" I think? Great little call.
Mark
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 26, 2010, 01:42 PM:
Andy, I'm also kinda kickin' the idea around of an electronic caller myself. Never had one and don't know shit about 'em.
Up until lately I've been anti electronic callers, mostly because of the bullshit, world class pissing contests, banishments, hard feelings, ect..
However, last year I went with an out of state friend of mine, he has a FP "scopian" it was pretty cool to go set that thing up on a piece of sage 50 yards or whatever away and sit back and watch, he has Cal's "lightning jack" on it, its pretty impressive sounding.
Maybe I'll surf later on and see if there's a semi basic caller out there ? I don't wanna' spend $600 bucks either..
Posted by TOM64 (Member # 561) on June 26, 2010, 02:02 PM:
I have a bag of hand calls too, even make a few myself but if electronic works then I'm pretty lazy.
Kelly may have to help me out but Arky or Joe Bradshaw makes a few calls that I like but I don't know what they're called. Another guy who makes a good simple call is Aaron ? down on the river, maybe red river calls? I can't remember. Ol bearmanric makes a good acrylic call too.
As for electronics, I like the FP CS24 and it's $500. I like the light weight, loud volume, change any sound and it's got a good remote. All I need.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 26, 2010, 02:19 PM:
The revised X-1B Scorpion with the new TX-9 remote costs around $349.95. Comes with 50 sounds of your choice. The remote has two custom presets, a recall button, and will reliably operate the caller. The caller also has two external speaker ports if you want to hook up a speaker like the SP-55 for more volume in high wind conditions.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 02:38 PM:
Al, is there a problem with the Spitfire for 200? It has plenty of sounds. My last call, I cut it down to 4 sounds so I wouldnt get confused and that was two too many most times.
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on June 26, 2010, 02:54 PM:
Andy,
Geeze, don't count me out so soon, I think I deserve a little bit more credit than that. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
I've warranteed a call eaten by a dog, before. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
I think a quick and dirty solution would be for TA to just send you the call I made him, that he's always bitching about!
That'd be a gesture of goodwill that would go across the board, between TA and you and me.
Barring that, because I kinda doubt TA's got the balls to step up like that, I can't do it anytime soon (because college is eating up anything I might have resembling a real life), but (when and if I can) I would gladly make you another call ...if need be.
*I'm actually dying to make calls again, and could desperately use the money doing so could generate, but I have no place to work. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
TA,
C'mon dude, man up!
The only thing you'd lose by sending that call to Andy, is a way to take cheap shots at me (like you did in the sound meter thread).
You've already stated that you don't think that call is useful, to you, anymore.
Show us you're as big a man as you make yourself out to be, and send that call to Andy, huh? ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I'm callin' ya out! Can you rise to the challenge?
Krusty 
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 26, 2010, 03:23 PM:
Andy, nothing wrong with the Spitfire. A lot of people think highly of them. It is surely a good buy for that kind of money. It can't compare to the Scorpion overall though. The remote, the amplifier are all just a better bargain.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 03:47 PM:
I was hopin to talk you into it Krusty.
I would be afraid to use TAs call. He might have used it for a butt plug or some shit. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 03:49 PM:
Hows the volume on the Spitfire? I see you can hook a bigger speaker to it. Along with all the other gadgets they came up with.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 26, 2010, 03:54 PM:
I haven't field tested one, but I understand the 5 volume steps are adequate for most hunting situations. Zack Beam made a post on another forum where he and his brother tested it out to 240 yds and the remote worked well. If you do need more volume for windy conditions, the external speaker hookup would do that for you with a SP-55, a TOA, etc..
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on June 26, 2010, 03:58 PM:
I was one of the lucky ones that got to field test the Spitfire. Nice, easy to run, handy sized caller. I think you would do fine with one Andy.
[ June 26, 2010, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: 3 Toes ]
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 04:38 PM:
Thanks Cal and Al, I may put one on my birthday list.
Al, why the hell would anyone want a call 240 yards away? For god sakes, I caint see that far no more unless its movin! Very seldom will I get it over 30 yards, never over 50 yards away.
That mister thing, I dont understand that either. My feelings on misting is to keep them from smellin ME, or at least confusing them. I dont care if they smell my call. Unless your holding the call, the mister dont amount to much.
I think that Spitfire would work great. Cal, maybe you can help me pick out some sounds. Does Foxpro have some coon sounds? I want a handful of them. If they count in their contest, I will make a run at that. LOL
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on June 26, 2010, 05:13 PM:
Andy,
I'm as tight as they come, son, but I can honestly say that an electronic call - regardless of who makes it - is worth the money once you learn how to use it. Don't think of it as costing $600 all at one time. Rather, think of it as a tool you'll use for many seasons, thus the cost per year goes way down, and once you learn to incorporate it into your tools list, it'll become as essential to the game as your go-to gun for calling.
I'm with you, Krusty. Haven't even turned the lathe on for most of two years, but I have a shelf full of blanks just begging to be turned. I'm ass deep in writing and taxidermy right now, and the heat of summer has the temps in the part of my garage where I do calls at about 140-degrees most days, but I intend to get busy and have three or four dozen turned, tuned, and ready to disperse before killing time this Fall.
So, Andy, e-mail me your snailmail address and I'll send you one of the first of the next run.
BTW, Sceery's AP-6 is good. I have one of those little AP-9's. Just as good as the 6, but higher pitched and a dandy little c-tail distress call or bird distress. Great on 'cats. I also strongly recommend the Tweety.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 26, 2010, 05:13 PM:
Andy, I am sure Zack was just showing the reliability of the remote. When I was testing the TX-500 when the Fury first came out, I did a series of tests from distances starting at 50 yds out to over 300 yds, over ridges, etc., and it never failed to operate the Fury. If it works reliably at distances like that, you can bet it will work at practical distances. I don't know anything about the Mister but assume it would work well for dispersing an attractant scent, i.e. red fox while using red fox sounds. Foxpro does have some excellent raccoon sounds.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 26, 2010, 06:16 PM:
Ok didn't get time to surf this afternoon, I got busy at work, dang ! well now I'm home and naturally cracked open a Miller Lite of course !
As mentioned I don't know shit about these callers, I checked my mail and sure enough here's a Cabelas catolog, I see the Fury, Prairie Blaster,Spitfire and FX3.
Normally I try to plan long range, and as Lance mentioned the $600 bucks when considered as a long time investment probably isn't so bad.
But I just can't justify that, I can on other things equipment wise, but not on a caller, maybe I'm wrong ?
Hell I don't carry a cell phone ! and can barely operate a tv remote, I'm just not a "technology" sorta' guy.
So I think the top dog callers are out for me.
From a beginners aspect I noticed the Spitfire runs on four AA batteries and the FX3 runs on eight, so I assume the FX3 is louder, because it requires more power ? (Edit) I just noticed the FX3 has dual speakers. Duh its gonna' need more power.
Al I'll research that scorpian in awhile.
Sorry to bore or aggravate anyone, with my stupidity ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
[ June 26, 2010, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 06:43 PM:
I dont care how many years you spread it out over. 200 calculates better than 600 any day of the week. It looks to me like it will serve well for what I want.
Lance, thank you for the offer. I will send you my addy. Very nice of you.
Krusty, If and when you fire up again, the lathe that is, , I would like another Krier. I gave my other one to my son and he loves it too, so I would never take it back from him. Anything that will keep him in the woods calling predators rather than hangin around with the homies is money well spent, IMO.
My wife done told me she will get me a Spitfire for my birthday!
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 26, 2010, 06:45 PM:
BTW, I have been on a run of luck. My wife and boys got me a crossbow for fathers day. Since I cant pull my bow anymore due to back, neck and shoulder problems. Wednesday, I traded a guy a Bushmaster AR15 for a bond that I got a total of $250 tied up in and it is in great shape.
Debating on whether to get an upper for it, or my other AR, in 204 for calling or 50 BMG for playing and the war when it starts, of course.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 26, 2010, 09:01 PM:
Look's like the Scorpian X1A and X1B are pretty much the same ?
The remotes are different, and the X1A comes with 100 sounds and the X1B with 50.
Is the remote better on the X1B ? I'm only guessing, hell I feel like a PMS guy..Lol !
(Edit) I'm not very good at internet research, been to FP's site and allpredatorcalls.com
My head hurts ! information overload !
[ June 26, 2010, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on June 27, 2010, 12:29 AM:
Andy,
My records show that your "original" was a little mesquite job, fairly cylindrical, like a long CritR Call... does this thing look familiar?
I dunno if I have any mesquite left, but I thought that once before, and I did.
And if I'm correct, then, the one the boy has is the plum wood call;
Let me know one way or the other, and I'll see what I can figure out, I'll have almost five weeks off before the fall quarter starts.
Krusty
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 27, 2010, 03:54 AM:
You are spot on Krusty. I liked them both. Like I said, I wont take the boys. If you get time to make another, out of any wood, please do so and let me know what I owe.
Very good calls. I use mine for a howler as well as other sounds.
Posted by Kelly Jackson (Member # 977) on June 27, 2010, 08:54 PM:
Tom that is Aaron Glenn and the red river bandit. Nice prouction open reed call. I use quite a bit. Joe Bradshaw will bulid you what you want.
$500 for a CS24 - make 500 plus stands a year and that price don't hurt at all.
stay after them
Kelly
PS Miller Lite rules...
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 28, 2010, 07:10 AM:
Kelly, its not so much the actual money. It just burns my ass these guys charge so much for a glorified MP3 player. Keep puttin bells and whistles on it and people will pay the price.
I guess maybe I look at it wrong? Lots of people are gettin rich on hunters and fishermen. Mainly because they know we will buy the latest and greatest, hoping it might give us an edge, for whatever reason.
Ill use fishing as an example. For years, in the winter and early spring, we used stick baits around here to catch bass that would suspend. Smithwick Rogues were the main bait of choice. I literally still have hundreds of Rogues in my little storage house. Right before my back quit and I had to quit fishin in 2003, some Japanese companys came out with a bait called the Pointer. It threw a little better than a Rogue in the wind and you didnt have to have any knowledge or skill to weight the bait to make it suspend, it would do it right out of the box. People bought them damn things by the handfull. The kicker was it was $17 each compared to $4 for a Rogue, but like I said, anyone could fish them, no skill required. I bought a few, but the old Rogues still caught fish. Now I guess there is even a better one, so Im told, that costs $35. I dont know what it does that is so much better, but I guess it does cause people buy it. Notice eary on I changed from calling them Fishermen to People. I have a couple of friends that still fish and they tell me the old Rogues still catch em just fine.
That long winded explaination is kind of the way I feel about these electronic callers. Build it and they will come and buy it.
Posted by Kelly Jackson (Member # 977) on June 28, 2010, 08:02 AM:
Andy - I do understand.
Pointer 78. Yep they work better than the rouges I spend WAY too much time on getting them to "hang" just right.
I have not had my bass boat out in 3 plus years.
Still have a little tourny bag made up and fish one from time to time when one of my old partners call.
On another note I drew Larry Nixon one time in a BASS mega bucks tourny. Sure did enjoy that day.
Catch you later
Kelly
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 28, 2010, 08:23 AM:
Kelly, the beauty of the Rogue was the weighting. Every one was different, so it took some skill and observation. Some I would weight to sit flat and still. Some nose down. Some tail down. Some to rise slightly and some to sink slowly and some to sink fast. They would all suspend at the thermocline so if those fish were deeper, you could weight one of those suckers to sink fast and stop at the thermo.
That was the skill involved. Some days they wanted them doing different things. Figger it out and it made a difference in going to the pay window and a trip to the stage and loading up early.
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on June 28, 2010, 10:37 AM:
Hey Andy,
Sent you an email...
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 28, 2010, 10:55 AM:
Dave, sent you an email.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 28, 2010, 11:08 AM:
Thanks Al, I'll read it when I get home tonight.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 28, 2010, 11:26 AM:
Booger, I sent you a email back. Thank you.
Kelly, the circuits I fished, Central Pro Am and Heartland Pro Am, along with Midwest Outdoors Team Trai, only fished one lake in Oklahoma. Grand Lake. One of my favorites. It is almost identical to here, Lake of the Ozarks, only much smaller. It fishes the same, minus the willow trees.
My favorite lake to fish is Tablerock. If you pattern fish on that lake, you can do it anywhere on the lake, almost, and they are pretty easy to figure out. Dont know why?
Anyway, I always wanted to fish more OK lakes. Ive heard good things.
Posted by RagnCajn (Member # 879) on June 28, 2010, 11:44 AM:
I can agree with Andy, all the bells and whistles aren't needed to call in a coyote.
But then again, I don't need Sirius in my truck. I was reading this post while on a trip to Colorado this weekend and had a lot of time behind the wheel. sometimes I just drive. Sometimes I drive and "thunk". During one of my "thunkin" moments I began to ponder where will E-Callers be in a couple years.
Electronic callers have been used since before I began calling back in the mid 80's. Even the "old pros" (Burnham, Stewart, Carlson, etc )recognized the purported advantages to electronic callers.
In the 80's when I began calling I was driving a truck with a standard shift, AM/FM radio, and hoped the AC would work during the summers. If I wanted to call home, I had to go find a pay phone. I owned one hand call, a rifle, and one set of camo. The boots I wore were the same ones I worked in and they would leak when I stepped in dew wet grass.
Contrast that to this weekend. While on the trip, I had a GPS mounted on the dash of my 4WD pickup, listening to Sirius Radio, my cell phone which has internet capabilities and could read this thread while at a truck stop getting dinner. Instant updates via Text with my wife back home so she knew I was OK. When I went through Colorado Springs, I used Facebook from my I-Phone to make contact with a guy (served as best man at my son's wedding)that served in Iraq with my oldest boy and we met for dinner at a restuarant he told me to meet him at. Used my GPS to get there. All of this ahppening with an ease that was unthinkable back in the 80's.
This whole trip was made with the express purpose of meeting guys I become acquainted with via the internet and hunting forums. Just imagine without advancements in technology, very few of us reading this would even know the others existed and sure would not have forged the friendships without places like this.
Now back to E-callers-Will there be updates next year that we hav to pay for in order to call coyotes? NO
Will there be updates we CAN pay for to call coyotes? absolutely
Will any of these updates help a novice ourdoorsman become a better coyote caller? probably not
Use the items you want to use that fit your techniques and needs.
Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on June 28, 2010, 04:19 PM:
I never thought I would have the $$$ I have invested in shooting a coyote.
Pickup, calls , caller, rifles, optics, camo,etc etc.
Andy, don't waste money on an E caller, I don't care what brand you get and get something less. From an old school, old guy, you will find it worth it.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on June 28, 2010, 05:22 PM:
I know that advice is directed at Andy, but I'm nosey anyway and sitting here scratching my head? What exactly are you saying Randy?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 28, 2010, 05:26 PM:
Al,I didn't get it for some reason ? If ya wanna' try again I'd appreciate that.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 28, 2010, 05:41 PM:
Yeah, that went over my head too. Please clarify Randy. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 28, 2010, 05:43 PM:
BTW, whats your advice Uncle Elbee? I value your opinion very much. Should I spend the big bucks for the fancy model that cooks breakfast or go for the bare bones that makes the same sounds, minus the breakfast?
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 28, 2010, 05:50 PM:
Dave, the email was hung up in my Outbox for some reason. You should have it now.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 28, 2010, 05:56 PM:
Andy, I don't think an ecaller is a magic wand for coyote hunting. I do think that it is a valuable tool that will enhance your hunting experience. I think you need to be proficient with hand/mouth calls, and if you use them in conjunction with your ecaller, good things will happen. Basic hunting skills are still the most important, especially the set up. Good hunting at ya!
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on June 28, 2010, 06:01 PM:
Andy, are you against buying second hand. Seems like guys buy and sell'em without even breakin'em in. SOme darn good deals can be had if ya look and ain't in a hurry to buy.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on June 28, 2010, 06:49 PM:
quote:
Will any of these updates help a novice ourdoorsman become a better coyote caller? probably not
Getting back to the statement I made on the other thread for which Cal thought he would bust my chops, the point was, at what point do guys who rely upon all the technology cease to be what we who have used hand calls and done so successfully regard to be true coyote callers, "better" or otherwise?
My point there, as well as my point here is that the business of calling is dumbing things down so much that scarcely but a small minority of today's coyote hunters can actually tell you why something they do works, and worse yet, why something they do is screwing them out of fur. Maybe we're the minority, but I cited what I though is a very sincere truism about calling coyotes in a recent article and only a few folks caught it - If you spend the majority of your time trying to become a better coyote caller focusing your attention on learning about the coyotes rather than on the calling, things will work themselves out much faster.
An e-caller is only as good as the guy using it, and getting the most out of an e-caller is no different than getting the most out of a hand call. You need to know why it works to know when it works best. What they do is very simple, so buying what you need may involve buying a basic unit and being quite happy with it. It depends upon what you want to do with it and how quickly you can learn when and how to use it to its full potential.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on June 28, 2010, 07:18 PM:
Al, E-mail recieved !
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 28, 2010, 08:15 PM:
TR, hell no I aint against used stuff.
Where do you look for these deals? If you see a good deal on a caller, let me know please. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on June 28, 2010, 10:19 PM:
Andy;
Check out EBay under 'Predator Call'. I've seen FoxPro 416s w/remote go for under a hundred bucks. You just never know what's going to be offered, but if you're not in a hurry..........
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 06:20 AM:
Im way behind the rest of the world, always. I have never looked at, let alone bought or sold, anything on EBay. No idea how it works.
I have recently figgered out Craigslist and that is pretty kewl. I have bought and sold several things there.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on June 29, 2010, 06:54 AM:
Same here with EBay. No idea how it is supposed to work. What works pretty well for me is when I see an old call that I'm interested in, I pass the item number on to my evil daughter who then does the bidding thing, and may or may not win the auction. This is an ongoing thing........then when Xmass, birthday, father's day, etc. comes around I may not know for sure what I'm going to get, but I know that it'll be something that I want.
Posted by Nikonut (Member # 188) on June 29, 2010, 07:49 AM:
quote:
Check out EBay under 'Predator Call'. I've seen FoxPro 416s w/remote go for under a hundred bucks.
A 416b with a 610TOA speaker added works great!!!! You will have to have the little additional unit(PGA1 adapter)to change your own sounds, though.
Here's the one I put together using a small pelican waterproof case. Does everything I want in an ecaller! Very loud and clear.
Nikonut
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on June 29, 2010, 08:36 AM:
Is that treebark? On the speaker, that's treebark, ain't it?
Andy, you want to haul this one into the back room, he's all yours.
They never learn!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on June 29, 2010, 08:38 AM:
Oh, let him go, I was just feeling a little mean, this morning....
Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on June 29, 2010, 12:05 PM:
Yea rereading that it didn't make much sense.
Kind of short on sleep lately, working the night til it gets to hot to hunt schedule.
Andy, I think once you get an E Caller you will wish you had gotten the higher end ones. I would wait and save for that.
It's only money!!
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 12:31 PM:
Thanks Randy. Not the saving part that is a problem. Just hate to pay for crap I dont need. But, maybe I do need it?
Just to be clear. I have called with a E Caller a lot. Ive owned a few differnt ones over the years. Not new to that at all.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 29, 2010, 12:58 PM:
Andy, if you have experience with ecallers, you'll quickly recognize how good the CS-24 is. From the remote's dependability to the crystal clear 24b sounds, you'll be good to go. Pay for quality and only cry a little one time.
Posted by R.Shaw (Member # 73) on June 29, 2010, 01:19 PM:
I have busted Mike Dillon's balls over the years, but I made a point,at the expo, to tell him and Steve what a great caller the CS 24 is.
Having owned a WT,JS,Misaska, and now the 24, it is much better for my purposes and that is exactly what I told Mike.
Possum Al out
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on June 29, 2010, 02:09 PM:
I agree with that. I actually have a perfectly good Minaska but I'm going to pick up a CS24 soon. And, I'm going to check with Cal and find out exactly what sounds he has on his and which are his and that's what I want on mine.
Good hunting. LB
PS I'm not really predisposed to push Foxpro, either, but I think they have a good product at a good, or at least competitive price. If they want to send me one at a deep discount, I'd use it. Not too proud.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 03:33 PM:
Well, I guess I might as well bite my lip and give the bastards the money.
I guess all those coyotes that died with that old JS tape player and that cheap assed WR and all the other calls must have been dipshits. LOL
Funny thing. Everyone makes fun of Tim and his way of calling spinning the call around his head. (I cant believe I am saying this.) One of the two best callers I have ever made a stand with, one guy on here will know exactly who Im talkin about, does that. He has a cheapy Cass Creek call that sounds like shit, hooked to a big horn speaker of some sort with a short cord. He sets up and turns that loud SOB on and turns it 360 around his head for about 30 seconds and shuts it off for a good 10 minutes. If nothing comes, he does it again. Then before leaving blows a Pee Wee call a few licks and waits about 5 minutes before moving on. We killed a few coyotes, under tough conditions, the week I hunted with him. But he kills more coyotes than anyone I know, save the ADC guys like Cal and Randy, and probably about even with Q.
Anyway, he is another reason that Im not totally sold on the biggest and best. Ill quit arguing, however this has been a good off season discussion and I got a good lesson and some great opinions. Thanks guys.
And Im sorry for making the statement that kinda sorta validates Tims way. That hurt bad.
[ June 29, 2010, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Andy L ]
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 04:28 PM:
I wanted to add something. The fella I was talking about above told me something. After watching each other pick stands, or sets, or whatever it was we decided to call them, told me something I took to heart. He said the reason he kills so many more coyotes than most folks are for a few reasons. His job allows him to be off in the winter and he makes lots of stands in an area that has a lot of good furred coyotes. He hunts hard, makes good selections for stand locations and is an above average shot. He claims those things are much more important than the sound.
I think there is a lot of merit to that. But, thats just a mans opinion. I give it a lot of weight because he does better than I do, even though we dont hunt that much different.
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on June 29, 2010, 04:53 PM:
Where to buy used, well hell...that's PM you bone head Used ecallers come and go as fast as members over there.
If you're not set on any one brand, here's a pretty good product for the price, and it's on craisglist, so I know you can handle from there.
http://lincoln.craigslist.org/spo/1814634286.html
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 05:31 PM:
TR, I know I may be ignorant to that, but I havent spent enough time on PM to even know what goes on. Never looked at their classifieds. I just went there to watch train wrecks. LMAO
Thanks for the Craigslist link. That does look like a hell of a deal.
Posted by Randy Roede (Member # 1273) on June 29, 2010, 06:41 PM:
Excuse me, I must have logged into the FP website by mistake!!
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on June 29, 2010, 07:12 PM:
Andy,
It's pretty much the consensus of this crowd that sound is secondary to everything else you mentioned, and to that I agree, with one exception.
One advantage an e-caller gives you that no handheld call can do is reproduce true coyote vocalizations. I ran a MAD Minaska Ultimate One through the wringer this past season and was asked, once the dust cleared, for my input on what were its pluses, its minuses, and what I would like to see done to make the unit and product line better. I'm not that big on all the various and sundry whistles and bells. Like Randy, I want it to go when I say "go", and whoa when I say "whoa". Beyond that, I try to keep it simple and logical. I did make some recommendations to address what I thought were needed improvements to the remote and to the caller itself, and am aware somewhat of some pretty impressive tech changes to be released in upcoming new models, but the very first thing I told the guys with whom I was working that they needed is that they absolutely MUST get a source for coyote vocalizations, regardless of what doing so would cost them. True honest-to-God coyote howls, etc., will make the cost of any good e-caller worth the money. Probably one of the most enjoyable and impressive exchanges I had with a group of coyotes came this year when I had my UltOne running an mp3 of a real coyote challenge barking while I did frantic pup distress on a Power Howler. Had the entire damned group just going nuts in front of us.
As an aside, here's how to work Ebay and get what you want. It's called "sniping" and it requires the fastest possible internet connection you can get.
One every item, there is a list of bidders showing what they've bid since the item was first listed. They don't put the entire name any longer, but you can easily discern who is who from the list and if you study their bids, you can easily tell what kind of spender they are. Guys that bid a buck at a time are in it for the short term with little strategy.
Look at the item and determine just how much you're willing to pay, maximum. Include the shipping listed in your bid. Note the time when the item's auction will end and make a note of it near your computer, date and time. Note that the times listed are in Pacific time, so do the math so you don't show up 2-3 hours late.
Now, with your max bid in hand, mark the item where noted for "watch this item" so you can get back to it in a hurry when the time comes.
Fifteen minutes before the auction ends, go back and see where it is. If the current bid is past your max, move on. If it isn't, log in (you need to register on the site) and stand at the ready. I watch the bid listing and refresh every thirty seconds until I get into the last two or three minutes, then I refresh as often as my computer will go. Make sure you're watching your own clock or watch to know the very second the auction will end. This is critical. When I'm about a minute out, I enter the max bid I've determined and hit "submit". Ebay will ask me to confirm my bid and I watch my clock until there's only about ten seconds left in the auction, then hit "confirm". On my cable internet connection, it only takes about three seconds for my computer to talk to theirs and my bid is confirmed and logged into the auction record, often as the winner. I just sniped all the other bidders and they didn't even know I was lurking.
An example, let's say an M-1 is up for auction and the current high bid is $195.00 plus $14.00 S/H. I know the unit is probably worth $250, so I'll go as high as $236 as my high bid. Five minutes from the end, the bid is still $195, so I enter and submit $236. AT ten seconds, or a minute or wherever you feel comfortable, you hit "confirm" and your high bid of $236 is logged in. If no one else is fighting for it, and the bid increments are, say, $5, your bid of $200 (their 195 plus your 5) will enter in and that will be your winning bid. Your high bid is how high they'll bid as proxy on your behalf, but they won't automatically submit that bid unless it is needed. This works really well if the other guys are only bidding, say $5 up at a time. They won't have time to knock you out inside that last ten seconds. Yes, it's ruthless, but I've yet to lose an auction doing it this way, and I was taught this by an Ebay master. LOL
[ June 29, 2010, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
Posted by Nikonut (Member # 188) on June 30, 2010, 01:40 AM:
Lance,
That's a fun way to bid but if you want something just bid your highest possible bid on the last day and watch it... if someone wants it for more than you are willing to bid that's fine, let them have it! LOL
I post my maximun bid and just let it happen... you can't snipe someone that posts their maximum bid! If you bid higher you could have done that right from the start.
Nikonut
Posted by Nikonut (Member # 188) on June 30, 2010, 01:50 AM:
quote:
Is that treebark? On the speaker, that's treebark, ain't it?
Hey Leonard! If you get a CS-24 I'll send you some of my stash of treebark material to cover your speaker... Then you can be COOL like me!
The CS-24 uses the same speaker as the one shown. I used 3-M spray adhesive to put it on. Does a nice job of deadening the tinny sound if you bump the speaker on anything walking into a stand.
Nikonut ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Posted by DanS (Member # 316) on June 30, 2010, 07:55 AM:
Andy,
I'm not a FoxPro spokesperson by any means. I had a FX-3 for a couple of years and Mike Dillon had it for a while on and off at his shop. There wasn't anyone madder at FoxPro's equipment than me. It seems like every time I would drive 1500 miles and plant my ass on AZ sand, that damn caller would quit working. Happened once when Vic took me calling too.
Mike told me to send it back and he would give me any model they made for an even trade. I had a used Scorpion and a TOA speaker which worked well so I decided that the CS 24 should fill the ticket. It has been to AZ twice and still works, imagine that. Someday I'll have to actually read the manual and figure out how to program it, and how to work the dern thing other than just playing a sound or adjusting volume.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on June 30, 2010, 05:03 PM:
Niko-
That's a sound strategy, but if the other guy is willing to go higher than you are, but hasn't posted his absolute max (that's where studying the bid history comes in handy), you might trigger a bidding rally that runs the price up when the other bidders panic. By sniping them in that last few seconds, you tend to avoid that. I don't bid on anything unless I really want it anyway, so I'm not interested in getting into a bidding war in the last hours.
Posted by Nikonut (Member # 188) on June 30, 2010, 10:32 PM:
Good point Lance...
I'm pretty much the same way. I've seen some crazy bidding wars! I've been on ebay since their beginnings.
I only bid as much as I'm willing to pay including shipping. Sometimes it's cheaper to just go to the store and buy new! LOL
Nikonut
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