Author Topic: Length of calls  (Read 3964 times)

Offline foxtrot

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Length of calls
« on: November 08, 2010, 08:14:21 AM »
I've been noticing that the fox seems to be taking their good old time coming to the call this season.On almost every occasion they show up on what I call the last call or even after the calling is finished and I start to stand up.Got busted a few times like this.It pays to scan 360 before you stand up or do much moving.What do you guys think the length of time should be for a stand? 

Offline stickbow

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2010, 10:32:03 AM »
That could be different at every set. First if you are hunting where there is a decent population of coyotes we have learned to make fox sets longer using very low volume on the calls. Remember a fox can hear a mouse under 2 feet of snow. There was a video on Youtube of this. Too loud of a rabbit or bird call may have a red thinking old Wiley coyote got himself a rabbit and I'm next. Also lights, i use as dim as possible. A friend was out hunting with a buddy, we talked yesterday and seems he broke all the rules he taught me not to do. You want to call in a fox that is why it is called calling. Using a huge light seeing eyes at 200 yards and shooting is not calling as i reminded him. That would be getting there attention and shooting. Calling them is easy i use a shotgun most of the time a rifle works as well. A very dim headlamp and a medium red light attached under the shotgun barrel near the end. You cannot beat a headlamp spotting a field it keeps the light steadier and far less movement to be busted. Using a hand light did not work as well for us. First you may be 2 foot from your partner and see the eyes and he cannot see them. I'm in the west i give them 35 to 40 minutes but we use a calling system that brings in coyotes or fox. We use a bird sound low on a electric call for about 5 to 10 minutes. We break about a minute or 2 and use a rabbit still mind you on low. Note are low is you can not hear it at 50 yards my partner and i signal each other with our headlamp. Not many fox want to tangle with a 150 pound rabbit. We play the rabbit about the same duration of time then use a red fox bark. One or 2 times and wait. After we do not see anything we will howl a couple times on a howler. And wait about 10 minutes. The key is the setup,the setup, the setup and the way you use your light. You want to be able to spot the field without back lighting.
« Last Edit: November 08, 2010, 10:38:51 AM by stickbow »

Offline bigben

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2010, 10:41:12 AM »
IDK foxtrot.  the only fox I have called this year have all came in within a minute.  haven't had any late comers but I have only been out two times so far. 
“If you want to know all about a man, go camping with him. Probably you think you know him already, but if you have never camped on the trail with him, you do not”. Eldred Nathaniel Woodcock. “Fifty Years a Hunter and Trapper.”

Offline Lookn4Fur

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2010, 10:46:54 AM »
my fox stand usually consist of  minutes but I can't say I had any late comers this season yet.  Could it be pressure or just full bellies and they finally have to check you out of curiousity?  Thats what I'm thinking.
"Predators are either active & feeding, semi-active & callable, or utterly inactive & then practically speaking, no call is needed; we're just taking our guns for a walk. We can & should get used to it, & follow their leed cuz they just ain't eager nor apt to follow our’s any time soon!

Offline stickbow

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2010, 10:49:53 AM »
Ben we are not counting those 2 you said they even came into a white light. We are thinking they were wanting to commit suicide. I got out for 2 hours at my house because my friend did not want to pick me up. I called in one red and it was 38 minutes exact. Got a text from my girlfriend right at the begining of the set. We have killed a couple fox their fur is thin yet though. Should be ok this weekend after these cold nights.

Offline stickbow

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2010, 10:53:41 AM »
Also we do not have many fox over here.  >:(  May be why they do not charge in. If you see 2 fox a summer in fields while driving its a good year. I was uncertain where the original poster was from.

Offline foxtrot

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2010, 11:14:36 AM »
There is differently competition in my area ,in 5 hours of calling I saw and heard two other guys calling.It use to be they responded in 5 minutes or less and they still do at times but it seems like 15 minutes is more the norm.

Offline bigben

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2010, 11:20:54 AM »
Ben we are not counting those 2 you said they even came into a white light. We are thinking they were wanting to commit suicide. I got out for 2 hours at my house because my friend did not want to pick me up. I called in one red and it was 38 minutes exact. Got a text from my girlfriend right at the begining of the set. We have killed a couple fox their fur is thin yet though. Should be ok this weekend after these cold nights.

actually it was three.  with the way they acted I didnt think it hurt not using a red light but like I said it was only one night.  Gonna have to try more to know for sure.  Doesnt your buddy BP use a white light a good bit? 
“If you want to know all about a man, go camping with him. Probably you think you know him already, but if you have never camped on the trail with him, you do not”. Eldred Nathaniel Woodcock. “Fifty Years a Hunter and Trapper.”

Offline stickbow

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2010, 11:43:42 AM »
Not sure i don't have a friend BP. I never went to any meetings. Just the long haired guy and P77 at the checkin.

uncle buck

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2010, 04:08:45 PM »
So far I have called in 4 fox with electronics and 4 with mouth calls or own voice (lip Squeal)... Fastest with a slip squeal was 10 seconds... Longest was about 25 minutes...I have notice that I have been playing my FX5 to loud.. There were periods of time it was not working for me..Then I went to mouth calling and that worked.  However I started to turn down the volume down a bit and they started coming to the electronics faster and actually coming to them.. Things like this you have to stumble on during the new season.. correct them adjust your calling and things get better. Truly when I am now playing riflemen I use the mouth calls.. When I know coyotes are there I will stay up to 45-even 60 minutes on stand... Sometimes it takes a bit of yanking of their chain before they commit to the calling...  Coon are coming in at about the 20 minute mark to all kinds of sounds on electronics. Namely the GFP...

Offline Bees OBrien

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2010, 05:36:12 PM »
the gfp has been working wonders for me UB called in coyotes, reds, grays and even an 8-point buck no coons have come in yet but everything has been under a minute but the coyote i missed the other night took about 25 minutes

Offline Brushwolf

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2010, 05:41:27 PM »
I been noticing the same thing here Foxtrot. Seems like the greys are taking thier time and not charging like they have in the past years.

uncle buck

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Re: Length of calls
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2010, 07:20:00 PM »
Your going to find that the GFP works great on coyotes.. However the negative thing is if your hunting alone your going to be hunting gray fox.. Close to the speaker... However the coyotes are going to get in line with the GFP and the speaker down wind at about 250 yards.. Your going to see them for 10 to 20 seconds.. They will wind you and it's over. Good if your hunting with a partner... Maybe put someone out a bit from the speaker too.. I have seen grays come into the GFP too from 100 yards down wind of the speaker so the shooter there can still get the gray and if they are aware and fast enough they could get a coyote.. You could have the shooter get cross wind of the main GFP sound beam and they might be able to shoot a coyote and Gray Fox as it comes toward the GFP sound.. SO......if your hunting coyotes and not Gray Fox at the time... Don't post by the speaker.. Set up cross wind of the down wind side of the speaker at a considerable distance. Coyote will make you think a bit on where is the best place to post... Don't rule out the path of least resistance too... A ravine...They will come down the ravine or the trail...You got to start to think like if I was a coyote where would I come to the call from..So you best know the property or land your hunting on...That is a plus when hunting coyotes..
« Last Edit: November 10, 2010, 07:23:30 PM by uncle buck »