Anyone use animal calls?

[ben4633]

Im planning a trip to montana and wyoming this spring and really want to get some cool shots of coyotes. I was just wondering if anyone has ever used animal calls to attract any wildlife, and is this such a good idea. Is it smart to attract wild animals to a location where you really have no defense? I know some hunters use distressed rabbit calls to attract coyotes. Im sure there are other things that would work as well also. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[PBeeee]

In the National Parks, animal calls would probably be considered harassing the wildlife and would bring you some attention from a ranger. I would certainly turn anyone in I saw doing it. On other public lands, you would want to know about the predators in the area, you are not at the top of the food chain here. Grizzly bears, for example, are believed to have begun to respond to rifle shots during hunting season as opportunities for an easy dinner. Mountain lions have stalked hunters rattling in deer. Coyotes are relatively widespread, unless you have prior knowledge of their location most shots arise from happenstance.

[gasrocks]

There are rules about taking pix in a National Park now. In general using a call or recording is looked down upon. You're affecting the animals behavior, changing what they do and where they'd go.

[300SM]

Calling is a great way to get wildlife in close enogh to get some great pics. The first thing I would do is check and see what kind of predators are in the areas that you'll be shooting in. If no bears, mt. lions, etc. are known in the area then you should be safe to do some distress calling. An other way to bring them in is howling. I do a lot of coyote hunting and this works great. The will respond to this type of call almost year round, plus it doesn't sound like a free meal to every predator in the area. As the other posts stated you need to check local wildlife regulations.

[Tom Reichner]

Hi Ben
The others are right, that if you are in a NP, then technically calling is unlawful. But anywhere else it should be fine. I actually use a call quite a bit - mostly just to get an animal to look up. So many animals (especially ungulates) have their heads down feeding all the time, so a brief toot on a predator call is a great way to get them to look up for a moment.
-Tom

[Dave 1942]

I agree with Tom... I use Animal and Bird calls quite a bit to get the animals and birds in close. I think in an NP you would be in violations of their regulations and could be removed from the NP if caught..

Dave

[Tom Reichner]

Ben, if you are going to Wyoming & Montana, and you really want good coyote shots, then I strongly suggest Yellowstone. Many of the coyotes there are habituated to humans, and will allow you to get quite close. Of course, you could drive & hike around for days and still not see a coyote that lets you get close, but the odds are certainly in your favor in Yellowstone. Try to find a carcass of a bison or elk - the coyotes will be around it. -Tom

[RikWriter]

I've seen coyotes every time I've gone to Yellowstone in the Lamar Valley, early morning.

[chauncey]

Why not use that call, makes it a whole lot easier on us without the ability to hike around.
So what if your actually caught with it in your hand and asked to leave. Not the end of the world here folks.

[Mike55]

Why not use that call, makes it a whole lot easier on us without the ability to hike around.
So what if your actually caught with it in your hand and asked to leave. Not the end of the world here folks.

Very disappointing comments. Calling animals to the busy roads of Yellowstone is illegal and unethical. You would porbably be banned from the park for a year as well as receiving a substantial fine.

And secondly, Yellowstone is *perfect* for those who can't hike around because much of the wildlife is very near the road. There's no point to have any kind of calls there - or in Grand Teton National Park (six miles south of Yellowstone), or in Glacier National Park(six hours north of Yellowstone).

If you're disabled and want good chances of seeing wildlife while driving the roads, make these parks your highest priority:

1. Yellowstone National Park - Montana/Wyoming
2. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming
3. Glacier National Park - Montana
4. Badlands National Park - South Dakota
5. Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Dakota
6. Custer State Park - South Dakota
7. Wind Cave National Park - South Dakota
8. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

All of those parks offer easily viewed wildlife from your car. The first three offer *everything*, the rest offer a good selection of ungulates.

[Mike55]

Im planning a trip to montana and wyoming this spring and really want to get some cool shots of coyotes.

Yellowstone - morning and dusk along the roadways, especially Lamar and Hayden Valleys

Glacier - Many Glacier valley mornings along the road. Northfork burn areas in the mornings.

Rocky Mountain Front, Lewis and Clark National Forest - Mornings near Blackleaf Wildlife Management Area

Grand Teton - Meadows and flats along roads in the mornings.

Big Timber Montana - East side of Crazy Mountains up into the Gallatin National Forest

Start at sunrise in every place and work around.

[snowyowl13]

I was going to try using a predator call to attract wolves last year when i was in the North West Territories. When I went to buy the call, the guys in the store warned me against it because was spring and the Black Bears were just coming out of hibernation and would almost certainly come looking for a meal. I still want to try calling coyotes with one. The coyote is the top predator here so no worries.

[snowyowl13]

Yesterday I downloaded a series of coyote calls and now I'm looking forward to trying them out.

[Tom Reichner]

Yesterday I downloaded a series of coyote calls and now I'm looking forward to trying them out.
How cool! Let us know how it turns out.

[snowyowl13]

Sure. It will probably be next week though before I can try them.

[S.Horton]

In the National Parks, animal calls would probably be considered harassing the wildlife and would bring you some attention from a ranger. I would certainly turn anyone in I saw doing it. On other public lands, you would want to know about the predators in the area, you are not at the top of the food chain here. Grizzly bears, for example, are believed to have begun to respond to rifle shots during hunting season as opportunities for an easy dinner. Mountain lions have stalked hunters rattling in deer. Coyotes are relatively widespread, unless you have prior knowledge of their location most shots arise from happenstance.

This is very interesting -- I heard something similar from a fishing guide in W. Yellowstone.

It sounds like they're learning to hunt differently.

@OP - I used small prey distress call for birds a few times -- It brings in dozens of Blue Jays. Only once did I get a nearby hawk to come by, and the bird to one look from pretty high above the call and moved on.

[AdamJL]

Yesterday I downloaded a series of coyote calls and now I'm looking forward to trying them out.

where did you download them from?

[Grafixwld]

Be careful in some states electronic calls are illegal whether you're in a national park or on public lands. If you can get a recording of some kittens mewing. I mean really crying kittens. Don't make em cry but if you know someone whose cat as had a litter record it on a cd or both sides of a cassette. Don't buy special electronic game caller use a battery operated cd/cassette with a remote instead. Set it up away from you and if you have some fur or feathers hang it above the player with a string attached. Movement attracts the eye and if the winds calm you can create a ferver by jerking the string. Use the remote to lower the volume as the yote nears.

If electronic calls aren't allowed here's a few mouth calls that are extremely effective. The deer stopper by e.l.k. inc if you tighten one of the bands it sounds like a distressed fawn, the poor thing is crying and yotes, bobcats, birds of prey will hear it if within earshot. Another one is the Carlton bear call you need some lungs for it especially at higher elevations. The idea behind it is it sounds like somethings being murdered and murder in the wild is food.That call is capable of bringing in everything that eats meat.

If calls aren't an option the advice regarding populated areas of rabbits are sound. Another tip, look for areas that held a healthy population of rabbits or prairie dogs that have met a steady decline in the past few years. Whatever you do pay attention to the wind, camo up, and be scent free.

[snowyowl13]

Today I headed into the woods until I found lots of rabbit and coyote tracks. I couldn't find a good place to hide where I could still see the area that I needed to see so I ended up sitting in fairly plain view relying on camo and stying still to hide me. I played a 20 minute long CD of rabbit screams with no result, then tried a CD of coyote howls but still no luck. I will try another area soon where i hope to be less visible. I may snowshoe back to a blind that I have beside the river at the back of our place. The next couple of days are going to be nasty weather but I will try soon. The technique works for hunters so it should work for photographers.

[TheFilter]

I am new here and wanted to respond to this. ( hello all ) I use animal calls. I just got mine last fall.I have used them for hawks & owls
That said I do have ethics, I won't use them until after the young are fledged this year. I have used one this past winter twiced, once in November and then in Janaury. I left a meal for it both times when I left.

[Ronnie H]

:)Calls are a great tool, but be careful, you may not like what you call in...LOL Ron;)

[snowyowl13]

Coyote is the top predator here so I'm not worried.

[Ronnie H]

???Did you ever see what coyotes do to a deer??? LOL Ron:)

[TheFilter]

Plus 1 for Ronnie H's last reply. A few years back I got to see that from way to close. It was not good.

[peter nap]

If calls aren't an option, you can use my "Be the bait" trick I use during Bow season (Bear).

Spray yourself down with sweet smelling stuff. I like Vanilla Extract. Pour some on a drag rag and walk around for a while and get in your blind. Brings them running but you'd better have something to shoot with other than your camera....The park service might not like that either. Scratch that idea.:rolleyes:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa57/peternap/mikes%20bears/van1.jpg

[Mike55]

Sounds like a very lazy way to hunt.

[AdamJL]

Only in the US of A

[peter nap]

Sounds like a very lazy way to hunt.

Well...I'm always open to new ways to hunt, especially from experienced hunters. How do YOU hunt them? Dogs? Bait piles? Xbox?

[snowyowl13]

The coyotes in my thread "Eastern Coyotes" were drawn out using animal calls.

[avan]

I call one time wolf, that I know there are there close. Fortunatly One respond immediatly and after a couple minute of 'talking" he come see me. When he realize is new friend was an human, he fly away back in the bush, but continue to talk. A second one come to the party and with some respond from a third one, but far away. The second one was very close but out of sight, as he approach my spot a a fisherman car pass on the road so everybody fly away. I have not take any picture, but Howling with two other wolf, was the most gorgeous experience I ever made. With Moose I don't call them a properly talking, but when I make an encounter, I make some gentle "wharf" to calm the beast. Usualy they come to see me closely, this is great for portrait!

[res]

The coyotes in my thread "Eastern Coyotes" were drawn out using animal calls.

Not sure of your times for calling but in Michigan here we call at night. I would suggest with the camera that you spend a bit of time at night listening and see if you can find a pack "singing". Then, early in the morning, slip into the area at first light and try a few calls. Depending on the area, many coyotes in the wild are VERY wary and can be a bit difficult if they are practiced at dodging humans. Early morning will often get them close and you can hope the sun breaks the horizon at the right time. During the day light, most coyotes are going to come in slowly and circle to see if they can catch the wind of the "distressed" animal you are mimicking. I also know we often bath with baking soda to help cut the human scent. Just a few suggestions. ;) Rick

[snowyowl13]

Thanks for the suggestions. We have coyotes singing here on the farm at times. Pulling them out during the day seems to work quite well.