Solo Hunting with mouth calls

[Scooter]

Having issues using mouth calls and being ready for the shot. I hunt alone mostly and I've been "jammed" on two dogs now, both within 30 yards of me upwind just over my right shoulder. I couldn't swing on them or switch to lefty before they got into the thick brush... and I know I darn sure can't just sit out in the wide open field that I keep in front of me and get them to come in...

 

How do you mouth callers work your setups so you don't get jammed by coyotes coming in upwind and danger close?

[biglakejake]

 

shotgun, #2 buck.

 

if you mouthcall enough you will eventually have one in range of a lasso.

 

lee

[Scooter]

I am seeing twice as many animals since switching over from using e-callers, but I keep getting jammed up by animals coming in too close and upwind where I can't shoot 'em because of the brush!

[oz31p]

Welcome to varmit calling. The only answer I've found is to put my back against the steepest hill I can find. Preferably were it over looks two or more washes come together. I refer the these areas as the valley of death. As they normally come crusing down the wash only to stop to get a better bearring on the noise and are instead met with the report of my rifle.

[trphyhntr]

i just sit with the gun in my shoulder, call in my trigger hand, opposite hand under the gun. that way all you have to do is get the gun pointed in the right direction with while you drop your hand with the call to the trigger. i can usually keep calling while theyre coming in and never hardly adjust.

[twowindy]

Try running your e-caller with the volume real low while you mouth call.Put the e-caller about 30 to 35 yards in front of you.Sometimes when they come in this will take their attention away from you.

[ThomC]

Use a decoy with scent.

[nlacost]

I am solo 98% of the time,use hand calls and try to set up where the quarry has to expose themselves in order to circle downwind..I recently welded up a predator pod about 5 feet tall and its lightweight...I can tell you that being up that high is like treestand hunting for predators..alot of guys use 4 ft camo'd stepladders...use one and you immediately see the benefits...you can literally see them coming in from a hundred or more yards and raise the gun long before they even begin knowing you are there..they are looking low,you are up high yes,but backdropped against a saguaro or mesquite and you are invisible until its too late....try it and its a indispensable tool....I still have been surprised even with the pod,but they still didn't see me until the gun was on them at 35-50 yards....it happens a lot less I assure you...hope this helps..but a good decoy(turkey feathers on an arrow shaft),(jack attack) works great too...the allure of pitting yourself against a hunting predator is a lot of fun!!!

[Scooter]

Try running your e-caller with the volume real low while you mouth call.Put the e-caller about 30 to 35 yards in front of you.Sometimes when they come in this will take their attention away from you.

 

Nah- even for me that seems too complicated running two calls. Good idea though! Maybe one of the decoys that squeaks will do the trick...

[Scooter]

I am solo 98% of the time,use hand calls and try to set up where the quarry has to expose themselves in order to circle downwind..I recently welded up a predator pod about 5 feet tall and its lightweight...I can tell you that being up that high is like treestand hunting for predators..alot of guys use 4 ft camo'd stepladders...use one and you immediately see the benefits...you can literally see them coming in from a hundred or more yards and raise the gun long before they even begin knowing you are there..they are looking low,you are up high yes,but backdropped against a saguaro or mesquite and you are invisible until its too late....try it and its a indispensable tool....I still have been surprised even with the pod,but they still didn't see me until the gun was on them at 35-50 yards....it happens a lot less I assure you...hope this helps..but a good decoy(turkey feathers on an arrow shaft),(jack attack) works great too...the allure of pitting yourself against a hunting predator is a lot of fun!!!

 

 

...and that's why I love CWT.com right there. I never would have though of that! Get a cheap stepladder and rig it for calling, heck I bet I could even bolt a lightweight boat seat on there with a swivel if I got creative!

[Kaffer62]

We would spray paint a 6ft ladder camo and varmit call from it, especially in thick areas where visibility is low.

[bonecollector]

I saw a video on youtube where guys use a step ladder while calling. See if I can find it.

[nlacost]

here is a pic of my predator pod I welded up- it weighs about 8-10 lbs.....

[Matt Meyer]

That's sweeeet. Nice job

[PRDATR]

No matter how hard you try there are just going to be those stands where animals will come in behind you making it next to impossible to get off a shot. I sit with my rifle in my lap on a little fold up stool I bought @ Larada's in Mesa about 20 years ago to keep my feet and ankles from falling asleep after 10 or 15 minutes. The plus is it keeps your butt dry and off the stickers while allowing you to stay low.

I have been using a mouth call since about 1985. My routine is call for 10-20 seconds, stop for 10 seconds or so and repeat. When I stop I rest my hands in my lap so I can grab the rifle is I see a dog coming in.

I won't shoot until he slows way down or stops. If he busts me and puts on the afterburners then he's done but that usually only happens on doubles after I shoot the dog that is further away. I use a 22-250 but will also use a 12ga with 3" in #4 buck for thick stuff where shots are under 40 yards.

I use an earth cover scent but I don't worry much about the wind. If there are hungry dogs in the area they will come in.