and $25.00 per call, depending on the size, quality, type of sound delivery, and material they’re made of. The small metal voices or larger plastic reeds used in bigger calls are modest in cost and generally available in most sporting good stores, big box stores, and bow shops, not to mention on the Internet. This kind of ease of availability is some- thing well worth considering if you’re away from home and in back country areas with stores few and far between. Freezing cold weather or just long use can split a metal reed call, making them instantly useless. Replacing one quickly can make or break a well-planned hunt. I carry extra voices in a small plastic container with a twist opener. They’re safe, dry, and don’t get bent or dinged up as they can in pants pockets. A packet of four metal voices plus a push rod to remove and insert them goes for about $11.00. Extra plastic reed replacements should be purchased from the manu- facturer of your call because each one is made to the length and thickness of that particular call. One size does not fi t all. Hands down, mouth calls win the question of cost.
VARIETY A mouth caller should always
carry more than just a single call to rely on for success. First, even though all rabbit distress calls, either jackrabbit or cottontail, may sound alike to you and me, they do not make exactly the same sound, pitch, tone or volume. That can make a real difference to varmints hearing and coming to your calls. There will be those days when one call brings in coyote, fox or bobcat, when another one simply will not. Exactly why this is, only the critters themselves know, but it is a fact. A certain pitch or cry can reach out and ring the bell of authenticity, when another one or two do not. This is why I carry at least three different calls on my neck lanyard when afi eld. I can switch from a high, piercing delivery to a softer or a more muted tone instantly. I often start out my calling series using the highest, loudest pitched call I have, then switch to one with less volume for the rest of the calling cycle. The fi rst one acts as a locater reaching out as far as possible, then the pleader keeps them coming in after they start my way. I also would add this point. It’s been my experience that most mouth blown rab- bit distress calls, either jackrabbit or cot-
Three essentials that mouth call users must carry: extra voices, push stick, and container to protect them.
tontail, produce a higher volume than entry level electronic calls. That means in thick cover, up and down country and on windy days, mouth calls can reach out farther and cover more ground. That’s a big plus. Mouth callers also can introduce
other calls into their repertoire besides the standard rabbit screams. Larger
howler type calls that mimic coyotes calling to each other for long range work is a good choice, and also a solid opener before going to rabbit distress calls for the remainder of your stand. When a varmint comes close but hangs up or gets suspicious, squealer type calls that squeak or chirp like small mammals or birds are a good backup. In this situation
Digital callers use nine volt, double AA, and even 12 volt battery power packs. Whatever yours takes, always carry spare backups in the fi eld.
www.varminthunter.org Page 99
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