New Coyote Hunter in the NE - Foxpro Patriot/Prowler vs. Icotec G300

B

buenanj

New member
I am a lifelong hunter but am new to hunting coyotes and would appreciate some wisdom on electronic calls. I have an old Icotec 300 with 12 sounds (each sound is a button) and think it could make sense to upgrade to a new call for more sound variety especially if I hunt the same spot a few times a month. My hunting is in NY/ CT during the day. The topography is primarily mature woods with some smaller fields. I anticipate using a shotgun and if a rifle it would be a .22wmr due to firearm restrictions.

It seems like any of the entry level calls should have enough volume for my area and I can't imagine that I'd use more than 25 sounds while hunting. I have never used Foxpro calls but they seem to have a good reputation. That said, I did call a coyote in to 5 yards with the icotec a few weeks ago (unfortunately the coyote snuck up behind me - I have a lot to learn).

Curious if a new call would be a big upgrade or if the icotec should do just as well as a Foxpro Patriot/ Prowler.

Thanks!
 
I have no experience with the icotec but I can tell you those Foxpro callers you mention won't have the volume you need for long range. If you are only concerned with the sound reaching the other side of the bush you are hunting in, then they should be fine but if you are wanting to reach out to distance bush lots or fields then I don't think those will satisfy you. I had a Hellcat and it wasn't very loud a IMO so I eventually moved up to their X24, lots of volume to play with. That said any call is better than no call so don't just ditch the one you are using right away, save up and do your research.
 
In my experience, here in NY, volume isn’t a huge concern. Can’t imagine Connecticut would be much different? Having the extra volume never hurts, but I think it’s a little overblown for a lot of hunts. The critters have incredible hearing.

My largest property is about 750 acres and my old Minaska Bandit and Foxpro Fusion called in plenty of fox and coyotes from several hundred yards away. I haven’t heard the volume level of the Patriot / Prowler calls, but they would probably be okay for the terrain and style of hunting you’re describing. If you can manage the money for a higher end caller, I would say buy once, cry once. If not, I’m sure you will have success with the calls you mentioned.

Don’t underestimate the power of hand calls or diaphragm calls either. They are worthwhile investments and could compliment your current simple caller nicely.

Good luck!
 
I can't give you any advice on those calls, but I will tell you about a hunt I did a while back.

I was hunting a friend's farm and due to near by houses I started off with vole squeaks. My x24 was only about 25-30 yards from me and I could BARLEY I mean BARLEY hear it. I ended up calling in three different house cats from hundreds of yards away. I am still amazed at how far those cats heard my call.
 
I appreciate all the points on volume and mixing in hand calls. It also seems like there is an option to add an external speaker to many of the base model calls (icotec and foxpro) which seems like a good option to increase volume if needed.
 
More speakers means less battery life I believe. Also not completely sure, but loudness will probably be driven by what the caller can push. If it isn’t loud to begin with, not sure an extra speaker will make it louder. Would definitely give yo multi directional sound though. But again, I believe any caller out there should work for you.

Another consideration… If you buy a caller and additional speaker, that speaker will add to your cost. You might just consider a higher end louder caller from the jump?
 
I use a Foxpro Inferno and have never had a problem with volume here in PA. I have had coyotes responded from more than a mile away and not even on full volume, they can hear way better than humans can, that being said I would get the one that you can afford, but like they say, buy once cry once. Have fun and good luck. And one more thing it is addicting.
 
I've been using a Patriot for a couple years now and find it more than adequate for all the hunting I do out west. I have a CS-24, Wildlife Tech, JS Executioner and the Patriot. The Patriot is every bit as loud as a hand call. I'm out west.
 
I really appreciate all of the thoughts! I went with a Foxpro Prowler and will add an additional plug in speaker for a volume boost if needed. If coyote hunting becomes like my other hobbies the gear will accumulate!
 
I have used Foxpro callers with a external speaker or the Shockwave and X-Wave callers that have two speakers. I can adjust them in the directions I want them pointed. It definitely helps spread the sound in the directions you want the sounds to go into.

I call against the wind over 90% of the time so I use more volume to buck that wind.

2017-01-14 15.04.13 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

IMG_7048 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

IMG_5057 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

Having two speakers will get your sounds into more area than one speaker will.
 
@derbyacresbob Am I correct in thinking the extra speaker will put more drain on the caller batteries? Are there speakers that have their own power supply to mitigate depleting the caller battery?
 
hunt0168 said:
@derbyacresbob Am I correct in thinking the extra speaker will put more drain on the caller batteries? Are there speakers that have their own power supply to mitigate depleting the caller battery?
Click to expand...
I have never had a battery power problem from using 2 speakers.

For the last 3 months I have been using a Foxpro X-24 along with a Foxpro SP-XHD speaker and have not had any battery problems.
IMG_3147 by Robert Morris, on Flickr

IMG_2897 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/156463377@N08/, on Flickr
 
Thanks Bob. I figured you would be the guy to ask. It was just a theory I had that it would take more to push two speakers. If that was true I could see the newer callers running high capacity battery pack as being advantageous over an older callers running multiple AA’s or similar.

Thanks for answering!
 
I can’t help but wonder what becomes of ICOtec now that JD has left. MFK—and later Bustin’ Fur—made the smart move by making their sounds compatible with other callers. I killed plenty of coyotes with ICOtec sounds, but I’ve killed more since switching back to the FXP and MFK sound library.

I eventually got tired of lugging around the Outlaw’s bulky size, so I grabbed my old Fusion one day. That hunt really highlighted the sounds I missed while using ICOtec—Baybee Cottontail, Cagie Cottontail, Dave’s Jackrabbit, and Pup Distress 3. Baybee, Jackrabbit, and Cagie are still some of my go-to distress sounds today.

I’ve seen enough coyotes hang up past 500 yards that now I’ll cycle through sounds like pulling a slot machine handle until I hit the right cadence, pitch, and tone to get them to commit. That alone shows me the value of having the right sounds available.

Sure, I could grab my old Spitfire with twenty-some sounds and still call coyotes, but I honestly believe there are coyotes I’ve called in with my current setup that I wouldn’t have called otherwise.

back then;
IMG_6009.jpeg
 
@Infidel 762 Are you sure JD left Icotec? I just listened to a podcast with him the other day talking about the newest Icotec caller and how he still records sounds for them as well as sells his BFA sounds.

Not sure what the new caller name is. They added a tweeter or something and spread out the volume jumps to 30 for smoother volume control or something. I forget what he said the amount of calls were on the new caller, but he said it comes with 20 BFA sounds and 20 Tony Tebbe sounds and they dumped all of the sounds nobody really wanted. African animals I guess? I’m not Icotec savvy so just relaying what JD said.

Edit to add pic…This Podcast
IMG_7794.jpeg
 
hunt0168 said:
@Infidel 762 Are you sure JD left Icotec? I just listened to a podcast with him the other day talking about the newest Icotec caller and how he still records sounds for them as well as sells his BFA sounds.

Not sure what the new caller name is. They added a tweeter or something and spread out the volume jumps to 30 for smoother volume control or something. I forget what he said the amount of calls were on the new caller, but he said it comes with 20 BFA sounds and 20 Tony Tebbe sounds and they dumped all of the sounds nobody really wanted. African animals I guess? I’m not Icotec savvy so just relaying what JD said.

Edit to add pic…This Podcast
View attachment 26459
Click to expand...
Yes

IMG_6011.png
 
I don’t have anything negative to say about ICOtec or any call manufacturer. That said, the previous GM made some decisions around the MFK partnership that didn’t work out well. JD is a proven coyote killer who was heavily involved in recording and selecting sounds for ICOtec, maybe input from some of their killer prostaffers could help guide future sound selection, maybe. TT has been intentional about keeping his sounds formatted in a way that isn’t tied to a single proprietary system. Knowing that he values that independence makes me curious about how ICOtec plans to approach sound selection moving forward.
 
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