PPHA Forums
Predator Hunting => Gear Bag => Topic started by: uncle buck on December 01, 2015, 03:36:02 PM
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ICOtech this appears to be a real cheap electronic caller.. For those that use it what is the pro and con?... Is there a model that you prefer over the others? I do like my Primos calls... both the old and new... They call in everything.. The Power Dogg is one heck of a coyote calling machine.. The Alpha Dogg now that can call in everything...Been using the newer AD one now about 3 seasons and it's still ticking.. Funny how that little Power Dogg would yank those coyotes chaing bad... So is this ECOtech got nice sounds ?
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UB
I've heard all good things about them. You can now get MFK (Made for killing) sounds on them. At one time I believe you could get free lifetime sounds as they came out. Not sure if they are still doing that. The only downside that I'm aware of is they have a very limited sound library. And with technology the way it is, I was told (don't know 100% for sure) you can't put other sounds on them from other call makers like Primos or FOXPRO . I know all of fox pros sounds are real live recordings, I think some of theirs are man made sounds.
That's my two cents worth. Not sure if it helps any.
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I have the GC500 which is their best and only model to buy in my opinion. Cheap? Cheaper than some. I got the Tony Tebbe edition with his whole sound library and lifetime subscription. I think I paid like $240.00 with free shipping. I also bought about seven MFK sounds. It is a good caller and works great but not all the bells and whistles like the high end FoxPro's. The remote is awesome as you do not need line of site and works much better than my FoxPro (as far as distance) but I have the old scorpion. Mike Dillon says this is because some call manufacturers are not playing by the rules according to the FCC. Word is that some of their new calls and remote are going the same way so they can compete with this. FoxPro is still a higher quality call in my opinion but ICoTec is gaining steam.
As far as sounds go mine holds up to 200 sounds and is easily programmed from the computer. It will play any WAV or MP3 sounds which are store on a removable SD card. You could literally have thousands of sounds and just switch sd cards but there is really no need for that. Most sounds are encrypted which protects them from pirating. FoxPro sounds are also. Because of this you can not play them on other manufacturers callers. Tony Tebbes sounds are not encrypted but MFK's are and will only work on ICoTec calls.
JD Piatt is one of the guys behind ICoTech and is a good guy. The call is not as well made as FoxPro, has an auxilary jack for more speakers and they now sell a decoy that that plugs into the call, Battery life is excellent so far that I have seen. You can't go wrong with this call but I would pay the extra money and buy tony's call package. The guy knows coyote vocalization without a doubt. It does come with 24 ICoTec sounds which are decent also but nothing out of the ordinary.
If your on a budget, ICoTec is the way to go otherwise FoxPro is the best. Just buy Tony's sounds and put them on the FoxPro call.
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WOW That was a great informative review Tim. I'm tempted to buy one simply as a back up to my FOXPRO. Thank you !!!!
Just curious..... Which called were you using when your son killed the coyote???
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I bought an icotec last year as a backup when I sent my foxpro in for repairs. For the money, I cannot complain. Good little unit with better remote range than my foxpro. Nowadays, I use it from time to time just to have different sounds when calling. Most people use a foxpro, and for good reason. It's just nice to have the option of not sounding like everyone else when the calling gets tough. Just my two cents....
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I have 2 GC500's. Both with MFK and ICOTEC sounds. I'm running there decoy on one also. As far as howls, howling, and locating goes u can't get any more realistic than what comes out of that caller with MFK. There pup distress, hurt coyote ,havoc howl and coyote duet are all sweet sounds. No problems with remote range or decoy. For the money there hard to beat.
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;) ;) ;) Great reviews guys...hands on is always the best review :o :o :o...Thank You!!
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I had (have) one ;D my son ran off with it 2yrs ago and I haven't seen it since :( :( The remote was my favorite feature for the short time I had it ;D It worked everywhere 5X better than the Power Dogg and 2X better than my Fox Pro. Being POOR and also cheap I only had a 300 model :o Had all the sounds you need to kill anything I was looking for,JMO. I think I paid around $75.00 for it about the same as the Power Dogg. Like UB I like the Power Dogg but I rarely take it because of the remote. If I was RICH like L$F :P I would not be afraid to buy the better ICOtech caller, again JMO. 8)
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MisterJake23, I was using Cottontail Candy because I was targeting fox. When I saw eyes I went to the bulb squeaker. That did not stop him so I barked with my voice.
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I'm really considering getting one just for coyotes. Not sure what sound library to get, the MFK or Tony Tebbe sounds. I thought you had to purchase one or the other. Is it hard to put other sounds on the call? Do I buy the MFK and add Tony's sounds or vise versa? I wasn't sure if the MFK sounds being encrypted made a difference ?
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Well considering the cost of each sound library and how many sounds in each library, I would purchase the Tony Tebbe library and lifetime subscription. Tony has 75 sounds for 175.00 and I think MFK is up to 35 for 125.00? Most of Tony's sounds are real animals but not all. MFK are all mouth calls but very good also. Very easy to add sounds if you have a computer. You can then purchase individual sounds from MFK to add to your ICoTec call. They are encrypted to only play on ICoTec calls. Very easy and there is directions that come with the call and even a YouTube video from JD Piatt on how to do this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tIknTuc3Ps
When Tony comes out with a new sound you will get notified via email. You go to his website and go through the motions of buying the sound and in the end your balance will be $0 and you download the sound to your computer. Add it to your SD card whenever you want. I can always help you out also.
Just remember you can not put FoxPro sounds on but you can put on any other calls encrypted for ICoTec or in MP3 format. You can put Tebbe's sounds on a FoxPro but not MFK.
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Tim,
Have you tried to download any of the MP3 johnny stewart sounds on the call?
Thanks
Scott
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Yes, I had no problems.
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Thank you all for the out standing pro and con on this caller... I don't use the electronic that often.. Most times if I go myself I will use it if I'm after coyotes... Let me set up in the right spot and lets the caller do all the yanking of their chain...
I do have all kind of calls... I haven't used by FoxPro in years now...I think it's the FX5? The Primos...like Jasper said.. The Power Dogg is best call I ever used for coyotes... Try hanging it in a tree. The Alpha Dogg I have called in fox and coyotes with that call... You have to find the speaker with the remote when using the Alpha Dogg. I have to stand over it and point the remote at the speaker...Then I trigger it and walk to my spot.. This could be a problem since I have actually called in coyotes 20 seconds after using a mouth call for them.. Two Howls and here they come running... This is in Feb time frame..
I like the MFK how they sound.. .They probably would be awesome on an electronic caller.. I will have to keep the ICOtech in mind if I ever decide to get another caller... If you take care of your callers you can have them for years... Remember to do this... When you come back from a hunt.. .Always remove your batteries. Also don't put the callers away wet.. I use to lay all my JS tapes out on the recroom floor if they got wet when calling... I still have every one of those JS tapes from 1986. My favorite caller I use when hunting gray fox is the FP Model 38... I overlaid the JS Grayfox put to that and the JS RED and GRAY fight.. Just turn that baby on and it brings them in... I did overlay the GFP to the FoxPro FX5 too. Truly if there is Gray Fox in your area.. You should get the JS Gray Fox Pup overlaid to your caller not matter what brand it is.. If that will work for you...
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Ive had my GC500 for a full season..love it ...called in 3 coyotes with it...dozen Fox...great volume,battery life excellent..remote ,no complaints...Rusty
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When you buy the additional sounds do they come on a SD card or do you go to their web site and pull them off of there...I guess you just store it on the SD card?
I was out the other night and I was yanking chain with my FX5 FP.. Had a female respond and then I came back later to the area and had a male respond but they just wouldn't step out into my shooting lane..This same farm...when I would trigger the FP.. The red fox would start barking right then and there... I had to revert to mouth calling to out smart them.. wouldn't that be something if predators start to learn the pitch of different callers and know that something just ain't right....To this day I have actually called in many coyotes with the Primos Power Dogg... Something about how it's built.. It's speaker and of course Randy Anderson doing the coyote vocals on there... I was just in awe of the MFK predator sounds done on the mouth calls .. What great sounds..
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i am having problems with my FoxPro again after they fixed it.. I am seriously thinking about getting this call. I have the same question as UB plus I was wondering how the volume is on the call. we use our calls for crows and need the volume.. I have a fury and that has the volume, I have a spitfire also as a backup and that does not, when you get loud with the spitfire you can hear the speaker if you know what I mean.. if I have to replace my fury not sure what I am going to do, either this call or the FoxPro hellfire..
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When u purchase a Icotec u will be given a password and a link to download more free Icotec sounds of your choice. I created a folder and store them on computer. I also have the lifetime MFK sound library, they email the new sounds to you and I store them in another folder on computer. When you want to add or delete sounds you plug the caller into the computer and transfer the sounds from the folder to the sd card in the caller. After that you plug in your remote to the caller and it re programs the remote to match your caller. This is very easy and JD has a you tube video on how to do it. Keep in mind the gc 300 cannot be programmed. The gc 350 can be programmed up to 24 Icotec sounds and on the gc500 you can program 200 mixed sounds from MFK, Icotec,Tony Tebbe ect. As far as volume goes, it goes from 0-7, for distress I use volume 1 or 2. Howls volume 3, no need to go to volume 4 and above for predator hunting.
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Logic... Why many people except a few on here have admitted it they are now using ICOtech... I really do think that predators that have been called before with other machines get to know something.. Be it the pitch of the sounds or who knows maybe even the buzz of the speaker we can't hear... Take the cheap Primos Power Dogg... A few people on here and myself have called in many coyotes with that.. Then you take the real expensive callers and the coyotes just talk to you... "DON"T GIVE ME ANY OF THAT TALK BACK!" " YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH!" that sounds like my mom.. LOL LOL So I can tell you one thing.. Should I buy a caller again it will also be a ICOtech.. Who knows down the road maybe the buzz of that speaker will start to be known by the predators. One thing for sure... I just think back how we used the JS cassette players that used the big D batteries and wow did we call in predators with that... You go to the new chip type and it seems like you do call in some but not like the old days.. Of course that could be that there are 999 hunters in Cumberland county now and back then I was the only one... Some of you now where playing with your rattle in the play pen.. :) :) I want to say thank you to everyone that made comment on here... This is how we learn and it saves you experience in the learning curve and even $$$$$$$$ Merry Christmas and have an outstanding Happy New Year!!!
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Uncle buck, u won't regret buying a Icotec. The caller not having to be in direct sight of the remote is a huge benefit in my area with the hills and valleys. I have one gc500 just with MFK coyote vocals, a gc500 with Icotec and MFK distress sounds on it with there decoy and also a gc300. For anyone else buying one Ohio paracord and bow works makes a great call and remotes sling for $25 and your choice of color for it.
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Wow I was listening to all the MFK calls you can get for the ICOtec.. The Gray Fox MFK sound and the coyote pups are just awesome... I purchased the ICOtec GC 500 with the decoy. Some of the YOUTUBE videos on it... Awesome how it works in the deep woods without having being in the direct line with the antenna. Wish I could see what sounds are in their free. I will have to get me a 32 SD card now. So I there any benefit of putting the extra sounds on the card instead of right on the GC 500? I have played around with decoys now and then but have seen how if I would have had a decoy out this year it would have helped ... Coyotes honing in on the decoy instead of me... As you all know...You got to make sure it's not a deer... Called in so many coyotes.. I keep records... 114 now in Pa... However wow if I would have harvested 114 I'd be known far and wide as "Far and Wide!" :) :) Most coyotes I do call in are with my mouth calls.. However when the coyotes come in to mouth calling ....they are looking right at you...Looking forward to try some of the deep woods calling. This ICOtec might be just what one needs.
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You can not put any sounds directly on the caller UB. They all have to be on SD cards. Although you could put thousands of sounds on one card, I think the remote can only display 200 max. Still very easy to switch out a card and who hunts with 200 sounds anyway.
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And a little birdy told me in the near future....icotec will be comming out with a new and improved remote for the GC500 with more features ;) so their just getting better and better....Also checkout the covers boonedocks is making for the icotec...to protect it from the weather...I ordered one comes in alot of camo patterns...at a fair price.
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Thanks L4F! It arrived today. Awesome. Good quality plastico made into call and decoy. The Cadillac of calls cost me $600 in 2007. GC 500 $179.00. This is going to be an excellent call when I hunt alone and want coyote to go to caller and decoy not come to my lone mouth calling.
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For the money you can't beat the gc500. I love that I can put it in my coat pocket. Very easy to use and download new sounds. The mfk sounds are great! Definitely a great buy in my opinion!
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L4F was correct...It was so easy to load all the sounds I put on disc from my FX5 FoxPro... I now have 65 sounds on the GC 500. I have already called in a coyote with it the first time I tried it and I have killed a red fox with it.. .The coyote came in 20 seconds after I activated the factory installed cottontail distress sound.. The red fox came in about the 15 min mark starting off with the rabbit distress and using red fox distress sounds on the caller.. The red came right to the call and I shot it off E , W Rifle Range Rest with my Encore rifle and my E W Carnivore light.. The coyote got right in front of the farmers house. He got in line with my scent and it was all over....
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UB, I'm glad to hear you're having success with the icotec. They are a great caller for the money.
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I recently got the GC500. I ordered the one from MFK with their sounds and the Icotech sounds, so it came with 35 sounds or so preloaded into the caller.. The sound quality is very good, although when I pick a sound I hear a slight noise coming from the speaker, like it is loading, I don't think it is enough to spook an animal and I don't think it has so far. I loaded my Randy Anderson MP3 calls and my JS calls to the unit, it was very easy to use, it is the same as the FoxPro spitfire to load sounds. I did try to load some FoxPro sounds on it and it didn't even recognize them on the remote.
I was a little concerned about the size of the text on the remote so I renamed all of the calls using CAPITAL letters and it helps some. IMO the remote could be improved. the light only stays on for a couple of seconds and then shuts off, I wish it stayed on the whole time.. the display could be bigger even with all capital letters they are tough to read sometimes.
Over all the call is a good one, and for the money probably the best buy of all the calls out there.. ICOTEC would benefit from making more calls available. Once they do and if they make improvements to the remote they are going to be tough to beat.
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I to wish the light wouldn't go out so fast. However once you use it in the dark you can almost see or anticpate the next sound you want to use... Hey figure $179 VS $600.. Look many ICOtec GC 500 you can buy for $600.00. Yes they are a coyote calling machine... That is real important...Like the decoy right on them big time.. I mean big time...
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I agree with what you are saying about the small font and light. Something that I do may help you also. I hunt with a headlight and just lower my head so the halo of the light hits the remote. It works for me and I have not spooked anything off because of it. Unless you are using the presets, you have to look at the remote anyway.
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I tried this L4F and you are correct... it worked great... I did notice however wow when I added my own calling to it I have to make sure that the vol is set on # 2 setting... Some of my favorite add on that worked well on fox is Dennis Kirk doing the Open Reed distress. The JS Lip Squeal, JS Baby Red Fox, Kirk Gray Fox Pup 2. I am just in awe how that decoy does bring in the red fox and the coyotes...I have been using the decoy with the bird simulator on that and that has been working great... Who would ever think that the predator could see that decoy for long distances with the light that illuminates it.. I have noticed that I do have to play around with the AA batteries just getting the decoy to work just right... However it seems to work with a bit of adjustment. Once the batteries are in place just right it never malfunctions out in the field...
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I was just looking at MFK's version yesterday and what they offer. Now after reading this thread you guys are going to make me go out and get one.
You're all a bad influence!!!!! :D