The New Huntmastersbbs!: Which caller is best for me?

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Posted by The Outdoor Tripp (Member # 619) on December 19, 2006, 07:37 AM:

Besides hand calls I've hunted pretty much exclusively with a JS-512, first by itself and then with the remote. Am still using it today.

I'm now thinking about getting something new. Would like something lighter, must have remote, good volume and be rugged. Don't know that I need hundreds of sounds -- I don't see needing more than a dozen or two at the most.

95% of my calling is done in South Texas brush country. Call coyotes and bobcats almost exclusively.

What do you guys recommend?

Posted by Kelly Jackson (Member # 977) on December 19, 2006, 07:43 AM:

I use hand calls 90% of the time, but I got the older 416 Foxpro - 16 sounds, 15 sec time loops with an adapter to put my sounds on it.
The remote works well...most of the time I have the call within 40 yards of me. It will work out passed 150 if I feel the need to snipe one....good luck with your choice...Kelly

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 19, 2006, 12:15 PM:

Ditto what the gentleman from OK said. 416.....program adapter.....the sounds that you've been using & have confidence in....decent remote.

Posted by Dusty Hunter (Member # 1031) on December 19, 2006, 01:38 PM:

I concur with these two fellas. I used to have to travel 10 hours to get into any good coyote hunting so I bought two 416 FoxPros. I wanted a spare in case something went wrong with one. In the 5 years I was doing that, I never had a problem where I needed a spare. I recently picked up the Big Country Bandit and I must say I really like that one, also. Dusty

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 19, 2006, 02:39 PM:

The Big country is top notch in my book. You have dual speakers can use one or both and the volume to punch through some wind.You can program all 100 sounds or take off what you don't need and your never 3 button pushes away from any of the 100 hundred sounds.

I call big open country and also cedar draws to me volume is very important and the big country gives you alot of that more so than the fox pro IMHO. I also am thinking of hooking up even more speaker to my big country for even more volume on those days when I must call rugged sound eating country when the wind is 10-15mph.

The Minaksa is very rugged, the case is heavy duty and it is backed by a 5 year warranty. I just ordered the side winder decoy as another tool to be used in special situations and when calling MT Lions I think it will help. I'm going to make a white tail topper from the tail of a deer and will add a fawn decoy if needed to give visual to the sound.

I like alot of the foxpro aspects except the unit not carrying enough volume "in house" without having to add another speaker for most of my calling area. I have a WT I like the coyote vocals and volume, otheriwse very undependable and not worht the high price tag. I'm going to add the WT speaker to my big country for those days I mentioned above and see what I get if the volume is the same, then I'm done pissing with callers.

Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 19, 2006, 03:26 PM:

I'm awfully happy with the Bandit M-1 I just got, and that's coming from a diehard mouthcall guy. As has been pointed out, they come preloaded with all of Minaska's 100 sound library and any new sound is only three quick pad pushes away.

Each caller comes with a USB device ( I don't know what you call it) that allows you to plug your flash card in and use the included sound file management software to add to, eliminate from, or re-arrange your sounds as you see fit. Then, when you're done, it even offers the means by which a new credit card-sized directory can be printed out and attached to the back of the remote.

The Bandits can use any sound file in MP3 format and there's no such thing as a proprietary sound with Minaska. If it's in MP3, or can be converted to MP3, it can be loaded onto your Bandit.

Also, as a purchaser, you're guaranteed for life any new sounds that Minaska offers free of charge.

Also, the remotes are extremely user friendly and rated out to 400 yards. That's no biggy for me since I cannot think of a single instance where I would even want the caller 400 yards from me. In fact, at that distance, I'd be calling coyotes away from me rather than to me. Beyond a hundred, my wasted eardrums can hardly hear the thing, so at 200+, I'd be sitting there looking all around totally unaware if the caller was or wasn't working in the first place. LOL

The M-1 is small - fits in the pantleg pocket on my hunting pants. Lightweight, too.

Overall, I think it's a great piece of equipment, well built, and durable as hell. (My older brother builds custom covert surveillance equipment for the DEA and law enforcement and uses the same style boxes to house his infrared remote sensors and tells me that they aren't cheap/ best available.)

Best of all, Steve and Todd Borland are all about customer service and if I ever have a problem I foresee no issues with getting things fixed up right away.

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 20, 2006, 05:54 AM:

Coyote Whacker,
I think the Bandit is probably a great caller, and I don't want to start a board war about e-callers, but the statement about the Bandit being louder wrong. At least compared to the FX3 and FX5. They are putting out far more wattage than the Minaska. They are coming out with a comparison soon and you will see that for clarity of sound and total wattage put out the FoxPros wins hands down. You do have to compare speaker to speaker.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 20, 2006, 06:08 AM:

Cal Taylor,
I finally had the opportunity to hear an FX-5 the other day. Sound quality was very good. What caught my attention however, was the fact that there was no static or "feedback" noise coming from the speaker when the unit was turned on. I heard no crack, pop or static. No sound at all until the button on remote was pressed and the calling sounds began. Very impressive. Louder than a Bandit? I don't know because a lot depends on which speaker you choose. I do know that it was loud enough to call coyotes, and that is what really matters.

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 20, 2006, 09:12 AM:

Rich i have a D.K. caller that makes a loud Humming sound before i turn on the tapeplayer, but it dose'nt seem to bother the coyotes. I have listen to the fox-pro and the bandit and i would say they are close to being the same as far as how loud the sound is comeing out of the caller. I do know that the D.K. is much louder than the two callers mentioned above. But like you said rich they all well call coyotes.....

Posted by Jrbhunter (Member # 459) on December 20, 2006, 09:39 AM:

TA17REM
Rich i have a D.K. caller that makes a loud Humming sound before i turn on the tapeplayer, but it dose'nt seem to bother the coyotes.

Aren't you the guy that hasn't called a coyote in Minnesotta for 15 years? I wish we'd known that a couple weeks ago when we were trying to diagnose your lack of success. [Big Grin]

Sound quality does matter, more in some areas than others.

Posted by Nahuatl (Member # 708) on December 20, 2006, 09:55 AM:

Think about getting a Minaska M-1 and adding an external 10W Toa horn to it. You get something that fits in a coverall pocket and sounds great. On a windy day add the horn for a kicker. Ask LB what he thinks of his M-1.

I have two Big Country models with the same speaker permanently attached and in a little bigger case, but the guts of the thing are same.

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 20, 2006, 10:12 AM:

Cal with all respect I had an fx3 and it was not as loud as my big country with the 10w TOA speaker, nore was it as loud as the speaker on the WT. This was to my ear and distance and not measured with a Db device.

I don't know what watt the foxpro speaker is? I just know it wasn't as loud to my ears. I need/want as much volume as one can get from a unit running on 12v and also the biggest AMP one can get in a caller as well.

I noticed with the FX3 when I hooked up the WT TOA the sounds where distorted, I will be trying a 25W or 30W TOA with the bandit and see what happens.

Maybe rich knows the particulars as to what size AMP the big country has in it?

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 20, 2006, 10:18 AM:

I have a big country bandit and have been useing it the last two weeks with the same results.. (nothing) Of course you are more than welcome to come up here, room and board and transpertation furnished once you arrive. And bring the WT along.One of two things can happen, you can become famous or you can go back home with youre tail tucked between youre legs.. [Big Grin]

Posted by stevecriner (Member # 892) on December 20, 2006, 12:11 PM:

LMAO!!!!

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 20, 2006, 12:44 PM:

[ December 20, 2006, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: coyote whacker ]

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 20, 2006, 03:45 PM:

Coyote Whacker, the amp is the interesting part. I have some information that may surprise you. The FoxPro is running 2 7.5 watt amps and the Bandit is running 1.5 watt so there is actually no comparison in power out put. FoxPro basically has 10 times the power. Cranking a smaller wattage amp just creates distortion, so for sound quality and output the Bandit isn't even close. I'm not into alot of tech stuff and I know that all of this is coming out in better terms on FoxPros website soon so that will be the place to compare all the facts and figures, but this should give you some comparisons. I do know that the FoxPro can handle the big speakers well, I use a large external speaker alot here on my FoxPro for locating and in the wind. I get no distortion and it is loud. But again you have to use a speaker to speaker comparison. The smaller built in speakers on the FoxPro are great for most calling, but if you want the big output, you have to use the big speaker.

[ December 20, 2006, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Cal Taylor ]

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 20, 2006, 05:22 PM:

Cal interesting and I dropped steve and email on this subject as well. I'm guessing if that is the case then if he where to put a 7.5 amp into the big country sound would be even better? I'll find out hopefully soon.

I'm wondering what the cost differance is in the amps as well and why would anyone under power what could be better?

I don't hear much sound distortion in the sounds from minaska even with both speakers playing at once? I have yet to hook up the big speaker I do know on the fx3 it didn't sound near as good going through it as it did with the built in speakers?

I will be reading when Foxpro does come out with this comparison, I feel it will push others to keep building better and more powerful callers for sure.

maybe that is the reason the battery life on the Minaska is so good?

Posted by The Bandit (Member # 960) on December 20, 2006, 08:05 PM:

quote:
maybe that is the reason the battery life on the Minaska is so good?

BINGO........through testing we chose a very efficient amplifier circuit that we feel has adequate volume without being hard on batteries. You can always go bigger at the cost of battery life. We designed the Bandit Series calls to be as small as we possibly could utilizing two different battery sources ( 8 - AA's on the M-1 and the 12 volt 1.3 Ah SLA battery on the regular Bandit and Big Country ) To this date we have not received a single complaint from anyone complaining about battery life or our calls not being loud enough to call in wildlife.

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 21, 2006, 07:59 AM:

Todd by going bigger what could one expect from the big country with a bigger amp? More volume from the 10w TOA and better sound yet?

Or would it be a minimal amount of both or either?

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 21, 2006, 09:29 AM:

coyote whacker,
I have a 30 watt TOA speaker from Minaska, just in case I wanted to call some coyotes from your favorite honey holes. I think maybe I could turn it on here in Iowa and make the Arizona coyotes respond. [Smile]

No need for a bigger amp on this here Bandit.

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 21, 2006, 10:03 AM:

Rich so the amp in our bandits have plenty of juice to power the 30 watt speaker to great sound and volume? I notice they don't have those 30w speakers anymore? Wondering out of stock or no longer carrying them? Thanks for the reply.

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 21, 2006, 11:04 AM:

Once again, not trying to start an e-caller war, just trading information. But my understanding (as the experts tell me) is that when you crank the smaller wattage amps you are creating more distortion. It sounds louder and hurts your ears due to that. Kind of like a el cheapo car stereo. With the bigger amps and heat sinks like in the FP you get the volume without distortion and you can actually stand to listen to louder sounds without hurting your ears. Whether or not it has any effect on coyote calling success I can't answer for sure. I'm sure battery power usage is more with the FP, but I seem to do OK. I can get a long contest day without running out of juice, and I recharge that night. I can get several days of a few calls a day, which is more my normal M.O.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 21, 2006, 11:49 AM:

coyote whacker,
To be honest, I haven't yet turned the big ole 30 amp speaker up to full volume. Even at medium volume, it is too loud to play here in the house. When I get a bit of time, I will go oudoors and play with that speaker a little bit and let you know what I really think. I have the 15 watt horn speaker built in to my Bandit right now. When out calling coyotes, I have never felt the need to even turn that little horn up much passed half volume. Even so,I am still playing around with the notion of maybe sending my Bandit in for an upgrade. When I send it in, I am thinking of swapping the horn for a ten watt TOA, and have them leave the large bell on the TOA just like one of those ornery Borland Bros. built his own personal caller for calling coons. Them there Borland's just LOVE to call them coons. The only reason I would swap my horn for the little TOA is that some folks in the know have stated that a TOA is capable of playing the higher pitched sounds better than a horn. I am rambling now, so I will get to the point. My 30 watt TOA may be for sale soon, and if it plays so loud that my neighbors call the law----well you just might be interested in buying that speaker.

Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on December 21, 2006, 01:54 PM:

Cal,

How do you like your new remote for the FX5.I have been thinking of upgrading from my FX3 for more sounds and the new remote,after the fur season is over.Good Hunting Chad

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 21, 2006, 02:07 PM:

Let me know rich.

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 21, 2006, 03:08 PM:

Chad, the new remote takes a little getting used to after running the other ones, but overall I would say it is better. It has 4 pre sets for your favorites and it has a timer that lets you know exactly how long you have been on stand. Switching sounds and mute work instantly and it even has volume control from 0 to 40 so you know exactly where your volume is. So far mine has worked perfectly. I'm glad I switched.

Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on December 21, 2006, 03:15 PM:

Cal,

That's exactly what I'm looking for, especially the volume indicator.Thanks Good Hunting Chad

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 21, 2006, 05:26 PM:

Hopefully I can post this link. FoxPro

[ December 21, 2006, 05:27 PM: Message edited by: Cal Taylor ]

Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on December 21, 2006, 05:55 PM:

Cal,

quote:
If you operate a caller this way, your success rate is sure to tumble.

Speculation? Or proven fact?

Dennis

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 21, 2006, 06:53 PM:

Dennis, Obviously I didn't write that, so I'm sorry I don't have that answer for you.

Posted by Norm (Member # 240) on December 22, 2006, 05:46 AM:

Tripp, I hope you were able to get the information you needed.

I would say that there are plenty of callers out there that will meet your needs.

All of the manufactures have people that love them and then don't. All are continually looking to improve their callers as technology becomes affordable for them to do so.

It is like any given Saturday. All football teams are created equal. they all have a chance to win and loose. But then everyone seems to have their favorite and a list of reasons why.

Good luck in your decision making.

Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 22, 2006, 07:14 AM:

All true, what Norm pointed out, plus you may want to consider this...FoxPro has the 'new, improved, double speaker, all of the bells & whistles' model out. A fine unit, I've been told. So.....there should be some used 416 FoxPros around for sale by people who have upgraded. If you're not in a hurry, it might be worth your while to look around ebay & other sources for a 416 w/remote and the recording adapter.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on December 22, 2006, 10:46 AM:

Sorry Cal, Just had a question. Wasn't nessacarily directed at you.

I'm a little confused on this amp clipping, and if it really has an effect on calling coyote. or is the concern about burning up a speaker with a under-powered amp?

What gets clipped out of a ARROOOO.WAAAAAA or an OOWWWWW? Do they become a loud arrooo,waaaa or oowww? Will it greatly reduce my success if the top and the bottom of that sound wave are missing.

[ December 22, 2006, 10:47 AM: Message edited by: Greenside ]

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 22, 2006, 11:39 AM:

Greenside,
Click on the foxpro link that Cal posted. I don't know how true that the statements found after clicking said link are actual fact. I can tell you that I will be finding out real quick though. [Smile]

Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on December 22, 2006, 12:33 PM:

Rich, I have alot of questions on that one also, especially the part about playing one to loud and seeing your success rate tumble.

Does a 7:1 power advantage mean that one would be 3.5 times louder with the same speaker? Or in the case of two speakers running on the foxpro would that make it 7 times louder at max volume.

How concerned would I really have to be about the clipping and distortion?

Wouldn't all callers have some clipping or distortion and if so, do some handle it differently? Thinking that an amp pushing a mid range speaker might be clipping differently that one pushing a high range speaker?

Do most prey distress sounds have mid range harmonics?

Dennis

[ December 22, 2006, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Greenside ]

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 22, 2006, 12:45 PM:

Greenside,
The foxpro guy who wrote that information you find after clicking the link is talking about what can happen if you try to crank an AMPLIFIER higher than it was designed to handle. I have new knowledge that I can not reveal just yet. What I can tell you is this----Never underestimate the wonders of evolution. Long live Minaska callers! [Smile]

Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on December 22, 2006, 12:59 PM:

Well Rich, You might say that I was only a phone call away from owning one. I called them last week and got the answering machine stating to leave a message and number and they would call back as soon as possible. My message was I wanted to order a BC. So far no return call.

Dennis

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 22, 2006, 01:07 PM:

Greenside,
Sorry to hear that Dennis. I called them today and had no problem getting through.

Posted by coyote whacker (Member # 639) on December 24, 2006, 07:01 AM:

Rich you have "new information" but can't post it yet? Come on the answer to many questions are in those words? [Big Grin]

Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on December 24, 2006, 08:01 AM:

The Foxpro is a good unit, I have one. The down side of Foxpro is they want your money every year when they bring out the new model. The 532 was the state of -their- art model in 2004, in 2005 it was their FX3 and you guessed it, in 2006 it is the FX5. They say you can convert the FX3 to an FX5 for 200+ dollars. What does 2007 hold for the varmint callers. What ever it is it will be 200+ dollars, if you have a FX5 and 400 if you have a FX3 and 1000 dollars if you have a 2004 model.

Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on December 24, 2006, 09:06 AM:

There are not to many companies out there anymore that would let you upgrade from one model to the next years,for the price difference in the new model.You don't have to do it if you don't want to but the option is there.I think that's just good business on Foxpro's part.

Plus I like the fact that they are continuing to upgrade the technoligy and making a better unit year after year.I guess it's all in how you look at it "the glass is half empty or the glass is half full."LOL Good Hunting Chad

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 24, 2006, 09:23 AM:

Yep, they all do it, car companies, gun manufacturers, call makers etc. etc....

I think the e-call business will just keep upgrading just like the rest and that is great for us. Some, like Loudmouth will fade away but it seems like FoxPro and Minaska are here for the long haul and will have new products every year. That doesn't mean that last years model still won't work. I'm driving vehicles that are several years old, but they still get me where I want to go and a 532 will still call coyotes. So will a Tally-Ho. I really don't understand why some people complain about advancements in technology. I don't see the need to upgrade vehicles every year and can't personally afford it. I would love to have a brand new Toyota Tacoma double cab for a trapping and coyote hunting truck, but as of now I have a 96 Dodge Dakota. But I don't mind that Toyota has a new model Tacoma with 4 doors out. The bow business is another and some guys have to have the new model every year. I'm shooting (gasp) a 4 year old model BowTech. I'll trade up one of these days, but I'm not going to worry about my 4 year old bow being able to kill stuff, it seems to do fine. My favorite rifles are still built on old Sako actions, even though they have newer ones out that are supposed to be improved. I'm gald I have an FX5, it has some really neat features, but I could go back to a 416 or 532 FoxPro tommorrow and still be perfectly happy with thier performance.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 24, 2006, 10:20 AM:

coyote whacker,
I have been sworn to secrecy. One of those trade secrets that Field Staff learn about before the hottest new gizmo hits the market. [Smile]

I agree with Cal Taylor. Upgrades are good for the consumer. My old Bandit works just fine the way it is. Electronics is one area where advancements in technology are happening very quickly. There are a few upgrades that I plan to have them install in my old Bandit that will make it even better than it is now. I may just drive down to Lincoln and drop it off. There is always the chance that I can talk Steve or Todd into buying my lunch while I am there. [Smile]

Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on December 24, 2006, 11:55 AM:

Cal,

You don't want a four door double cab for hunting and trapping, the wheel base is to long, you'd drag and get high centered everywhere you went.

I want one of those little Toyota or Datsun mini trucks, the things go anywhere, and last forever.

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 24, 2006, 04:23 PM:

I know that the short wheel base is great Tim, but I have too much junk. And seems like coyote hunting more often I have 1 or 2 other people along. That and then rifles etc. it is hard to have too much room. I have a 3/4 ton Dodge diesel double cab for guiding hunters and pulling a horse trailer and it is a hell of a truck, but way to much for trapping and calling. I hunted this summer alot out of our old 4 runner and like it pretty good but it's not much of an outfit for trapping. I have all my trapping stuff loaded in my Yamaha Rhino and have been pulling it around to trapping spots, and am going to have to figure something new out soon because my county got some extra money and I am officially hired for some trapping and aerial hunting from now into the forseeable future right on through denning so I am going to be putting on a ton of miles in the near future.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 25, 2006, 06:43 AM:

"I am officially hired for some trapping and aerial hunting from now into the forseeable future right on through denning so I am going to be putting on a ton of miles in the near future."
---------------------------
Shut the hell up Cal. I'm as jealous as a tom cat that just lost his pussy to the cool cat on other side of the tracks.

Lord I apologize for that right up there, and please be with the starving pygmies in Africa--Amen

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 25, 2006, 07:31 AM:

It's not all that big of deal Rich, I have denned for them for several years. They just got a little extra money to spend and wanted me to do a little other work. It will mostly be snares and M44s till den time. They also contracted a pile of helicopter time.

[ December 25, 2006, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: Cal Taylor ]

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 25, 2006, 07:55 AM:

Cal Taylor,
I think that it is nice that you can scratch out a living by doing the things that you like to do. Not many men are able to do that.

Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on December 26, 2006, 09:42 AM:

Chad, just to chime in and agree with Cal on the new FX5 remote... I am REALLY liking this new remote. For me and how I use my Foxpro, I think it is a big improvement. I use most of the new features on just about every stand. The presets are great, and I love being able to see whether I am muted and what my volume level is on the screen. Range and responsiveness seem improved too. I give it two thumbs way up.

- DAA

Posted by UTcaller (Member # 8) on December 26, 2006, 09:48 AM:

Thanks Dave.I think I will send my FX3 in after February for the upgrade.From what I've seen in the advertisements that new remote is very imppressive.Thanks again Dave and Cal.Good Hunting Chad

Posted by Kelly Jackson (Member # 977) on December 27, 2006, 10:40 AM:

Tripp - what did you decide on?

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 27, 2006, 08:06 PM:

Cal Taylor,
I swapped my old black Bandit in for a brand new camo model. This one has all of the latest upgrades. Don't tell foxpro, but the amplifier in mine has a really fine heat sink device on it. I am thinking of placing a warning sign on my new Bandit. Something like "Warning! I Kick foxpro Butt!" LOL [Smile]

Posted by The Bandit (Member # 960) on December 27, 2006, 08:27 PM:

Rich,

The heat sink is nothing new only the earliest models like your old one didn't have it. Steve said I missed you by two minutes today [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 28, 2006, 06:14 AM:

Todd,
Oh, just two more minutes and you would have bought my lunch huh? [Smile]

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on December 28, 2006, 07:58 AM:

Rich, I'm glad you got a new Minaska! I really think it is a great coon caller. [Big Grin]

When you decide you want to become a coyote caller, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you in a FoxPro! It takes more power to call coyotes in Wyoming. [Razz]

All this time you been promoting those big old Cronk cowhorns to be louder and then when you get an E-Caller you go for less power? [Wink]

[ December 28, 2006, 08:00 AM: Message edited by: Cal Taylor ]

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 28, 2006, 08:34 AM:

Cal,
There probably isn't anything on this planet that will call coyotes as well as my cow or buffalo horn howlers. My neighbors would tell you that there ain't anything louder than the screams and howls they hear coming from the Cronk house either. [Smile]

Those Minaska brothers sure do know how to call them coons alright. I believe they are the first in the industry to call coons in broad daylight on a regular basis.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 28, 2006, 08:13 PM:

"It takes more power to call coyotes in Wyoming."
--------------------------------------
Cal,
Not necessarily more power is needed,just better technology. The little 12 volt lead/acid battery that is housed securely inside my bandit really does it's job well. Since you are a good friend of mine, I will probably let you hear the superior sound quality of a REAL electronic caller one day soon. Minaska does ir right. Good hunting to you. [Smile]

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 30, 2006, 02:53 PM:

I got back today from my hunting trip and i'm very pleased with the way my big country bandit performed. The temps were in the high 20's to low thirtys. I was able to call in a pair of coyotes that where 3/4 of a mile away and behind a large hill. I was useing my sounds that where down loaded into the bandit. Anyway its a nice unit and i'm happy with it. Thanks Minaska Outdoors..

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 30, 2006, 03:01 PM:

while i'm at it i should thank Rich C. also. I took the cronk howler and the screamer along and tried them out. I could'nt get the howler to howl the way i wanted so i used the screamer instead. The screamer performed very well for me, i was able to get the howls way out there and have the coyotes respond. When i was'nt useing the bandit i was useing the Cronk screamer as my main hand call. Anyway thanks for a great product Rich C.

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 30, 2006, 04:35 PM:

TA17Rem,
I am glad that the screamer is working well for you. Let me know what problem you are having with the howler and I will help you fix it. [Wink]

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 30, 2006, 06:28 PM:

Rich the sound on the howler is to high for me, sounds more like a Elk buggle.. I have some time now and i will go out and practice a little more on it and see what developes.. Thanks

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 30, 2006, 06:36 PM:

Some pic's from my hunt.. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/TA17Rem/IMG_0316.jpg[/IMG]]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/TA17Rem/IMG_0307.jpg[/IMG]]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/TA17Rem/IMG_0323.jpg[/IMG]]

[ December 30, 2006, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: TA17Rem ]

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 30, 2006, 07:13 PM:

TA,
Nice coyotes and very good looking terrain. I may have to come see you. If you want to send that howler back to me, I'll either fix it or send ya a different one. Shucks, I might just send you a different one to try anyhoo. Which model do you have that is too high pitched? Buffalo or cow, reed protector or no. One piece model with voice carved into the horn? You name it T.A., I will fix ya right up and have fun doing it. [Smile]

Posted by TA17Rem (Member # 794) on December 30, 2006, 09:59 PM:

Rich; i have the cow horn howler, with seperate mouth piece and reed protector. Like i said i will take it out and work with it first, if i can't get it right then i will send it back and you can look at it. I was makeing 20 to 30 stands a day with continus calling and it could of been me, getting soft mouthed.
The area i hunt has been seeing alot of callers in the last two years, and i don't see to many young ones, just the old smart ones and i believe they have heard just about every thing. I used to go out there for the numbers, but now i'm just happy if i can get a couple of the old coyotes.
As i was heading west i passed through an area that has a high coyote population and the coyotes in that area get chased around alot by the pick-up cowboys. Just out of curriosity i thought i would make a couple of stops and see if the coyotes there were callable. On the first stand i used the screemer and after 15 min. i had one comeing in. I spotted him at 500 and comeing hard, the only thing between me and him was a stock pond with a burm around it. If he came around the burm i was going to stop him and take the shot. Well just as the coyote was comeing according to plan, he comes around the corner of burm and hits the brakes and does an about face and takes off. At the same time i have a pick-up truck comeing down the road, end of game..Well any way they can be called here i just have to be a little more selective as far as stand placement goes....

Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on December 31, 2006, 06:28 AM:

TA,
I know what you mean by getting "soft mouthed". [Smile]

I have tuned more call this season than ever before. Now and then my lip muscles become so tired that my lips sort of collapse around the mouthpiece. Odd feeling ain't it? Speaking of the "screamer", I have known ever since I blew that very first one, that this little call was going to be a real killer on Iowa coyotes.

Posted by The Outdoor Tripp (Member # 619) on January 01, 2007, 10:37 AM:

Kelly,

I'm still taking notes.

Keep it coming!

It's obvious we have no homers here at Huntmastersbbs!

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