electronic game callers?

local_hooker · 01-01-2003, 06:22 PM

I ordered the Lohman model that plays CDs. I have yet to buy any CDs, but will probly start with a coyote CD, and possibly the rattling sequence for next fall's whitetail trip.

Does anyone have any experience with these, good or bad??

Thanks for the input.

skein · 01-01-2003, 06:47 PM

Hooker,

I started with an electronic call, but quickly found it lacking. I couldn't control the sequence, the volume, or the amount of "desperation" like I can with a mouth call. It wasn't long before I started leaving the caller in the truck and finally, at home. It *is* a good way to start, and helped me learn to call and set up for coyotes, but don't neglect practicing with a good wounded rabbit call or howler.

Things to watch for include scratches or dirt (fingerprints, even) on your CD's which will make them skip or sound funny - like really funny. Tapes are just as bad or worse, since you pick up *noise* from dirty heads. Another thing is fragility - CD's don't take kindly to being banged around, and I never got to where I could be as careful as I needed to be. One other reservation is weather. Cold will sap the batteries and nothing is more frustrating than getting into a good setup only to find your caller won't work. Moisture is the other side of the weather equation. Rain will allow your caller to produce sounds that they haven't even invented animals for. More than once my buddy and I have wondered what the heck was on that CD, only to find it was just a raindrop or two in the wrong jack. We finally put electrical tape over the unused jacks.

Have fun with your new toy, but don't invest too heavily in CD's until you find it's going to get used enough to justify it.

And don't leave home without your mouth call.

Skein

elkaholic · 01-02-2003, 06:04 AM

Ditto what Skein said

More stuff requires more movement, means more chance to be spotted or heard before calling even starts or worse yet, when they are halfway in. :smile:

local_hooker · 01-03-2003, 11:09 PM

Thanks for the reply.

I knew it wouldn't be trouble free, and killer effective or it would have been outlawed by now.

thanks

Sean

skein · 01-03-2003, 11:28 PM

How true.

Quote:

I knew it wouldn't be trouble free, and killer effective or it would have been outlawed by now.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">BTW, did you get the remote control model?

Another thing I forgot to mention was volume. It's sometimes hard to tell the actual volume, especially if it's turned away from you. What sounds reasonable from your setup can actually be blasting animals that are coming straight into the speaker.

Where do you usually hunt - your profile covers three states.

Skein

local_hooker · 01-04-2003, 08:07 AM

yes. I think it will allow me to get 25 feet from the speaker. I will have volume control in the blind with me, but I can see a problem with the speaker pointed away.

Born in Oregon, grew up in Alaska and Idaho. Eligible for full retirement in 19.5 years and will be moving back to Idaho that evening when I get off shift!

I live in Western Oregon, But hunt East. I hunt Idaho as well, but not often enough.

thanks again.