To save you time, we recommend the Foxpro Shockwave Electronic Predator Call as the best coyote call overall. It’s easy to use with great sound quality and variety.
Every good sportsman knows that when it comes to hunting and fishing, experience will only get you so far if you don’t start with the proper equipment. Expert coyote hunters don’t want any game call – they want a top rated predator call, so they have a leg up on the competition. That’s why I’ve compiled this handy guide to the best coyote calls on the market.
Here are the top coyote calls we’ll be reviewing:
- Foxpro Shockwave Electronic Predator Call
- Icotec GC320 Call Decoy Combo
- Icotec GC300 Electronic Game Call
- Primos Third Degree
- Foxpro Hammerjack
What are electronic predator calls?
An electronic predator call mimics the sound of the animal you’re trying to attract. Higher-end units throw in a few other sounds (say, a flock of agitated chickens) to draw in animals. When you use an electronic game call, you get consistent results every time—unlike mouth calls, which depends largely on the skill of the operator.
Important Features
Here are a few of the most important components you should look for in a coyote call:
- Able to mimic a wide variety of sounds
- Volume high enough to attract animals that might be a good distance away
- Price that you can afford, with good value for each dollar spent
Types of Coyote Calls: Electronic vs Mouth Calls?
Electronic Game Calls
As the name suggests, these models use technology to mimic the sounds of coyotes and/or other animals. Some of them even allow you to download a range of calls from sound libraries on the internet. When you attach an additional speaker, the sounds can travel for miles, increasing your opportunities for success. They can also be controlled by remote, which allows you to maintain a safe distance from your prey.
Even a novice coyote hunter can hunt successfully using an electronic predator call. They have more variety than their more rudimentary counterparts, but they’re useless if the batteries run down or if they malfunction in some other way.
Mouth Calls
Mouth calls are carved wooden implements outfitted with reeds (like the ones found in certain musical instruments). When you blow into the mouth call in a certain way, you’ll sound enough like a wounded animal to attract the attention of nearby predators.
While these handheld units have the advantage of working without a battery that has to be recharged, some skills are required in order to operate them correctly. The number of sounds you’ll be able to imitate is comparatively limited as well. You’ll need to take care when storing your mouth call. Clean them thoroughly after each use, and kept in a cool, dry place out of direct heat and sunlight.
How to get the most out of your coyote call
Here is how to make your coyote call worth every penny.
Understanding predator calls
When you use the game call to mimic the sound of other coyotes, you’re tapping into the animals’ territorial instincts. As predators, coyotes are also inclined to react when they hear the sounds of an animal in distress – a wild dog will never turn down the opportunity for an easy meal.
Remember that while animals will be intrigued, they may also be wary. Some may even ignore the call altogether, especially if they’ve been hunted often in the past.
These “educated” coyotes have heard plenty of calls before, and will respond only if they’re hearing something they don’t immediately recognize. That’s why so many electronic coyote calls have a wide variety of noises, to attract the call-shy coyotes.
How to use a coyote call
You need to practice. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you won’t be able to fool the coyotes, and they’ll either go to ground or vacate the area.
If you have an electronic call, get familiar with its entire arsenal of sounds and volume settings. That way you can better mimic threat howls and distress calls.
Use the right Game call
What sound you use to attract the coyotes depends on a number of factors. You’re trying to mimic a sound that will draw the animals’ attention, whether due to a perceived threat or the promise of food. Here’s a list of things to consider when determining which hunting call to use.
- Season: In spring, use the sounds of young animals, particularly baby birds.
- Terrain: If you’re hunting in a rural area with an abundance of farms, use the sounds of cows and chickens in distress.
- Time of day: The later it is, the more hungry and anxious predators will be if they haven’t fed yet. Mimic the sounds of wounded and/or very young animals in afternoon and evening.
Most animals give birth during the Spring, so coyotes will be on high alert for the sounds of these easy targets. May and June are good for making deer sounds, as fawns are a significant food source for coyotes as well. In winter, stick to the sounds of easy prey, such as squirrels and deer mice.
Check out this video for a better idea of what the different calls actually sound like:
Calling less (or more)
While you’ll want to call loudly enough and often enough to attract interest, calling too many times in a row might scare the coyotes away, especially if there are a number of other predators in the area. If you don’t call often enough, the animals might not come to investigate. Keep practicing and you’ll get a feel for what works where you’re hunting.
Other Tips for Hunting Coyotes
Coyotes are quick learners, and the ones that you’re hunting have already proven themselves smart enough to keep out of trouble.
How? Because if they weren’t, someone else would have gotten to them already. This is why they’re often so difficult to track. Staying undercover is the first rule of thumb when it comes to coyote hunting. If the animals know you’re there, it’s game over.
In addition to picking a top-rated, reliable coyote call, invest in a high quality decoy to lure them to your spot.
Variety is also important—you don’t want to keep returning to the same area over and over, because this could make your presence obvious. Visit more than one area, changing it up to avoid getting into a routine.
Finally, don’t get too restless. Once you’ve scouted the area and are certain that there are coyotes nearby, there’s no reason to give up just because you aren’t successful right off the bat. Sit in your covered location for at least 30 minutes before moving on.
Buyer’s Guide: Reviews
Best Call Overall: Shockwave by Foxpro
The Shockwave features a four-speaker system with the ability to manipulate a wide range of pitch. While this unit includes a remote control, it also allows for a hands-free operation. Note that it requires 10 AA batteries.
This is my favorite model for several reasons. First, its technology is advanced enough to allow it to mimic the sounds of moving prey, by fading in and out from one speaker to the next. Second, it automatically resets itself to a predetermined setting every time your firearm is discharged.
Best of all, it comes with 100 preloaded sounds, and has the capacity to hold a whopping 1,000, giving you a broad spectrum of calls to work with.
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality and storage capability
- Remote control and hands-free operation
- “Fox Bang” resets the unit after your firearm is discharged
Cons:
- High price point
- Manual is long and sometimes difficult to follow
Best Electronic Coyote Call: GC320 by Icotec (Gen 2)
This Icotec GC320 can play two different calls simultaneously, which gives it high marks in my opinion. The 300-yard range and high volume are impressive as well—you may end up attracting more than just coyotes, so be prepared to deal with a few uninvited guests.
A small decoy is included. If you hunt coyote at night, the GC320’s remote includes handy backlit buttons to make it easier to operate in the dark. Its small size makes transportation a snap, and the instructions are refreshingly easy to follow.
Pros:
- Easy to transport
- Great volume and remote range
- Decoy included
Cons:
- No separate shutoff switch for the remote
- Relatively high price point
Best Call For The Money: GC300 by Icotec (Gen2)
This is a budget alternative to the Icotec GC320, as it clocks in at nearly half the cost. The features are otherwise quite similar with a much lower price-tag – making it the best electronic game call for the money. It has:
- a 300-yard range
- decent volume,
- can mimic the sounds of two different types of prey at one time
- and includes a remote with backlighting for night hunting.
The most noticeable difference is the lack of a decoy, which you could easily purchase yourself with the money you’ll save by investing in this unit instead.
The remote on this model has an impressively long range, especially considering its small size. The battery life extends for about 8 hours in normal weather conditions, another huge plus.
Be aware that, while the GC300 is rain-resistant, it’s not waterproof. Consider packing up for the day if those storm clouds look overly threatening.
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Good volume and remote range
- Easy to transport
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Lacks some of the features available on higher-priced models
- Some calls are distorted or insufficient for attracting predators
Best Coyote Mouth Call: The Third Degree by Primos
This handheld call is advertised as a “Cottontail Predator,” as it’s most effective at mimicking the sounds of rabbits in distress.
In the right hands, it produces an impressively loud, accurate, and high-pitched sound. Even novices should get quick results with a little practice. Primos products have a solid reputation as far as craftsmanship goes, so you will get a good return on your minimal investment here.
With so many advanced options available, some hunters might scoff at the notion of using a handheld call to attract their prey. Still, as mouth calls go, this one delivers. If you’re looking for a durable and effective coyote call that you can tuck easily into your vest pocket, then the Third Degree is the answer.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
- Requires no batteries
- Small and easy to transport
- Good sound quality
Cons:
- Doesn’t perform as well in warm or humid climates
- Lacks the advanced features found in digital predator calls
Best Foxpro Call: Hammerjack
Aside from the Shockwave, the Hammerjack is the best predator call that Foxpro has to offer. Like that model, this game call has “Fox Bang” technology that will reset your unit after your firearm is discharged.
It also includes 100 sounds, but its overall capacity is significantly lower at 300. The dual-amplified speaker system will help you make the most of those 300 calls, though.
There’s a decoy included with the Hammerjack, but it’s not the most realistic one you’ll ever see—especially considering the high price tag. Still, I appreciated the hands-free technology and the user-friendly remote.
Overall, this call is less complex and easier to operate than the Shockwave, which might give it the edge for you.
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality
- 100 sounds included and capacity for 200 more
- User-friendly
Cons:
- High price point
- Unimpressive decoy
- Short battery life
In Conclusion
The Shockwave outmaneuvers the competition on just about every level. It mimicks a wide variety of sounds. Sound carries over great distances with its exceptional speaker system. It’s not the cheapest coyote call, but its high price tag is totally justified.
When you compare its sound quality and design to the comparable models on this list, it comes out with the highest marks in every category. Unless you have your heart set on a handheld call, you should be happy with the quality performance of the Shockwave.