Predator Call

Lately there have been reports of some almost unbelievable numbers of critters being called in one night.  Several folks have asked me if these numbers are possible.  Let me begin by saying, that I have never called more than 40 critters in one night.  Come to think of it, I can’t remember when I called up more than 20 critters in a night but if I did, it would be because I was counting raccoons, ring-tails, fox and every other fur-bearing critter that may have stumbled by when I was calling…I normally don’t keep records of anything but bobcats and coyotes.  

I have not called after dark for a number of years for I have found if I hunt all day, I want to sleep at night.  There are several other reasons that I concentrate on hunting during the daylight.  One is that we video most of our hunts and  since hunting after dark with the aid of an artificial light is illegal in most states, the majority of hunters want to see hunts that are shot in daylight.  Two, I feel that calling critters in the daylight is more challenging and is a greater test of the hunter’s skills.  Three, I have found that calling after dark educates predators, especially coyotes quicker than any other hunting method. 

Back to the best calling day or days of calling that I have ever experienced.  Three years ago, I met Richard Hurt at the ranch near Dilley, Texas just before noon.  I had looked at the so-lunar tables and they said that is was to be a major feeding period at noon.  I suggested that we grab a bite and go hunting to take advantage of the active time.  We called that day until dark, all day the next day and from daylight until noon on the third day.  We called 68 coyotes and two bobcats in that two and a half day period.  We did not have permission to shoot the cats, so they got a pass.  The coyotes were not so lucky as 43 will not be able to answer another predator call.

If you start at daylight, walk to every stand, make the call and walk back to the truck, you will find that you will generally average making 12 to 15 calls per day.  If memory serves me correctly, we made 32 calls over the two and a half day period.  This is an average of two and 1/8th coyotes on every stand…that 1/8th of a coyote is not much of a target!  I guess that calling can be better than this but I have not seen it before or since.