I just got into coyote hunting last year, never used a hand call, but I am going to this year, I have been told that after you set up you can start right away calling, I myself wait for about 5 min before I do, and when I do call, I only let the call run for maybe a min. or 2 then wait 3 - 5 min. and do it again, if nothing happens I will change the sound to something soft, like a bird or mouse, but before I pack it up and move, I will try a coyote locator or pup in distress, some times that works, some times it dont, Only been out about a dozen times, and so far only called in 3 at one time using the coyote locator, they came from about a mile off on a dead flat out run right to me, to bad I missed, but I had to shoot through a fence because he spotted me.