How remote is remote?

GS

GS

New member
I am curious to know how you feel about remote capabilities of callers. I easily understand the advantages that remote control gives you in a typical calling stand. I have felt that 100 yard capability is probably ideal for the average calling scenario with an occassional 200 yard need occurring in more windy or open conditions.

What I have a harder time understanding is why one would desire 400+ yard capability. Isn't that self defeating? Have we slipped into a mind set where we feel that if 100 yards is good, then 400 must be really good....but do we need it?

Maybe some of you would be willing to describe some of the scenarios you have used the callers under that needed 400 yards. I would think most places east of the Mississippi could get by with far less capability compared to those further west.

Additionally I would encourage you to share your thoughts about the philosophy of the use of remote capabilities. When we came out with the RC-1 years ago for our 512 caller I used it all the time because I did not want to have to wrap up that "damned" speaker cord. I would use it at 20yards in many spots simply for convenience sake. As I used it at further distances, for me it got to where I felt a degree of the fun go out of calling. I came to rediscover, and value, the excitement and challenge of getting them "in close". Some of that could have been caused by the fact that I am a real bad rifle shooter and really enjoyed more taking them with shotguns.

That leads me to ask the question "just why do we want to use remotely controlled callers"? I am not trying to create a "taste great...less filling" debate so check your emotions at the door please. :)
 
I have never hunted with a remote controlled caller but for me you said it best:

because I did not want to have to wrap up that "damned" speaker cord

The ability to go out and drop the caller off a little ways away from the stand, return to the stand, call, then simply pick the caller up and go means more stands in a day. Simple as that.
 
Maybe there is a reason for using a remote out to 400 yards, but I can't think of one. To be honest, I don't think I've ever taken a shot at coyote that far away. 400 yards = 1200' that's almost a 1/4 mile away, I'd think it would be alot easier just to sit the remote out at 100 yards and take your chances lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Good Hunting
 
I don't know about east of the Missisppi BUT in Montana, I have seen many and I mean many coyotes circle down wind and approach from at least 400 yards. If you are hunting alone these coyotes aren't going to be shot, with a partner he can stage himself down wind that far and maybe do most of the shooting. none the less it happends more than a guy might think, most of the time he don't even know a coyote winded him and left the scene
 
I can only speak for me. But the reason I like the remote is the fact that it is easy to use. Takes up less room in your pack. Plus you are not limited to the length of the wire. Having a remote makes the hunt more fun and enjoyable! Wires are a pain in the butt.

As far as distance goes, I find for me and my hunting methods go, 100 yards is about right. I can count on one hand where I have placed the call more than 100 yards. And not in line of sight.
 
OK for starters I don't have a remote caller. I do have an e caller and sledome use it because I hate wires, and I fell I have more control over a hand call then a casette tape. Also being a student (read; no money)I would rather buy gas or shells then an e caller right now.

I can think of a few situation were I would want a LONG range remote. Some stands I make I would love to drop the caller off half way between me and the car. Simply because if a coyote comes to the call he has to walk over me to do it. And i find coyotes don't like to go onto an open stuble field. Having the caller in the stubble field and me in the cover takes care of this. We've done this but rather a person with a hand call stays behind and makes the call.
Suppose you have the caller in 100 yards front of you and a coyote come in from behind. You shot it and walk to finish it off and see another working his way in. Now your 200+ yards from the caller and the extra range of the remote is a life saver.

I guess I could say this. If you don't use the range of the remote so be it. But in the few instances in which you can use it you'll be glad its there. I guess the extra range comes from trying to make a product that appeals to all hunters.

PS In freezing weather, rain, fog, snow etc... That 400 yard remote might become a 150 yarder.
 
Where I hunt 150 yds is a looong shot. but I still like to have the capability there if i ever should need it.
according to our local game warden there are no panthers around here, but at 50 yds, in the wide open shooting lane, that was one hell of a housecat I saw in Nov. They are protected, and I like the longer remote capabilities.
 
I went to electonic callers (JS and a Kirk) a number of years ago because of hearing loss but I do not put the caller very far away. I am only trying to get the loudness away from my ears by a few yards. I've tried setting the caller a long ways up wind on windy days and tried to have them swing down to my position. The trouble is that you make the shots hard on the stupid ones that run straight to the electonic caller! I have just ordered a new remote caller for two reasons. One is that I like to have the caller on full volume on windy days but would like to be able to lower the volume after I see them coming in. A lot of the coyotes pull up at the 40 to 50 yard range and I think it is because it is so loud. The other reason is for the ones that give you the "go to h**l bark" and hold up out of sight. I would like to give them a howl or two from the area the wounded rabbit is at and see if I could get them moving again. Like GS stated, I like to have them coming at me as if I am using a hand call even when I am not using a hand call. Most of the time I have the caller within 5 or 10 yards of me and I still plan to do this when the remote caller arrives.
 
GS

I was interested and happy to read your announcement of a new caller with a remote coming out soon. I'll certainly check it out as I've always wanted a e-caller that I can place some distance from my stand.

As many have stated before, in this thread, the light weight aspect is attractive as is the wire wrap up gripe. Certainly would speed things up in getting to another stand if time is limited as is late in the day.

My need (real or imagined) for a remote stems from the region I call in...Illinois and Iowa, where many times I can't see all that far and it's tough to cover all possible directions. Many times, when I'm by myself, I've had coyotes come in close and at a bad angle where I just can't get a decent shot at them. Also, many times here, there's cattle to watch for or farm houses in the line of fire. If I could place the sound where I want the target to go, I can control the direction of fire.

I think the 200 yard capabilty is more than enough for my use here. I may never place it at 200, but it's nice to know it'll work that far. It's like the 400 yard laser range finder I bought when they first came out. Seldom will it read a small target (like a coyote) at 400 yards. I wish I had an 800 or 1000 yard model. Not that I'd shoot that far but, so I may get a definate reading on a small target at ranges I would shoot at.

Hopefully you can sort through my rambling and understand my point of view. For some, 200 is plenty, for others out West, probably not. I would imagine that with greater range, comes greater cost and that's the whole idea.

Keep up the good work and I have enjoyed and used your company's products for many years with good success.

Terry
 
I have LEARNED to use that long range remote to MY advantage. I have always said that it takes MORE knowledge to use an E=caller PROPERLY, than it does to use a hand call. This is NOT an attack on anyone that uses hand calls, so lets not go there. I use hand calls all the time in situations when they are called for. There are places and situations where using a remote long range is a plus, Howler pointed out one such instance. There are many, many others.My remote will work flawlessly to over 3/4 mile if I so choose.( I have clients that regularly use my caller at half mile for photo reasons) And, not necessarlly for calling coyotes. Eastern calling tends to require less remote DISTANCE than does western calling. There are situations where I have used my remote capabilities long range for eastern coyotes, but those situations are rare, but they do happen. Western calling can provide one with some very long shots and having a remote that has long range capabilities is a plus. Yes, the goal is to call them in close, and that is what I like to do.(my average shot on coyotes is under 50 yards). But, there is some country,(termed "unhuntable" by a member of another board), where a remote that works from 100 to 400 yards reliably, will get you animals that others are missing. An entire new world of predator hunting awaits those that learn to use that remote to it's fullest capabilities. This is only one of the things I teach my students/clients when they come for instruction. Using a remote is only one small part of the overall concept of our goal of calling more animals, but it is a very important part. Good post, Gerald
FWIW
Steve
 
I will not repeat what was said about the distances for remotes. Being in Montana I sometimes like a little extra distance for different situations. What I would comment on is what I believe callers are after today. I agree with GS that alot of the thrill we used to get with the non-remote callers is gone with the remote versions. We are into numbers these days. I know I catch myself being very dissapointed when I come home empty rather than enjoying the time afield. I know I expect to actually bring home fur home each and everytime I go calling. Maybe the WT has spoiled me in that regard. Oh the thrill of having a yote almost run over you is gone with the remote versions for sure. But like I said above, we expect numbers these days. Just my take on it guys. Happy Holidays from Montana
mtrames@bresnan.net
 
The yardage range for remotes is the distance the signal can reach in ideal conditions. That is; full battery charge, line of sight and no obstructions. In cold weather the batteries discharge at a rapid rate. I often put the call in a bush and out of my line of sight. Put one over a hill or on the other side of a rock and your range will be cut drastically.

I use an Azden or Nady remote and seldom do I place the caller over 50 yards away. As the day wears on and the sun comes up I have to hide the caller in tigher locations and close the distance between me and the call or I'm out of range.

GS, I'd say to make your remote work as far away a possible. Where I call the conditions are never ideal.

tomtool

PS, anyone who uses an electronic caller without having a hand call is bound for disappointment.
 
The remote question is well answered already. However one thing in your post, GS. "real bad rifle shooter" give me a break!
On the video you shoot real well. (Operation Predator)
Hope you read this, I was admiring the handgun, is that a single action Ruger? What kinda holster is that?
Carl
 
Remember Bofire. We only put in the ones I made. You did not get to see the ones I missed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Guess my response is more in the form of a question. I have a remote caller and rarely place the caller beyond 50-70 yrds from my location.

One item that I have been more attentive to this year is my approach and being stealthy in stand setup. Wouldn't walking 200, 300 or 400 yrds from your stand more then likely bring greater challenges in being seen or smelled then what the advantages would be? In a lot of areas I hunt here in UT, I would be totally busted by tromping out a few hundred yards and then back to setup.

In my limited experience I would have no reason to want to be 400 yrds from my caller. Not in that shooting 300-400yrds at a coyote is easy by any means, but whats the sense of calling then?The real challenge is to get them in your lap and then shoot! Thats what calling is all about.

My $02's....
 
For years my JS with 75' of cord served me well. Although the cord was usually about 3' short of allowing me to put the speaker in that bush where I wanted it.

With my DK, I usually set it about 50 yards, more or less, depending on conditions. The practical limit seems to be just how far you want to walk to set the unit, then to go back and get it later.

I have never exceeded the range, but then I have never tried to. The longest I remember setting up was about 300 yards, from one ridge to another in Arizona. THAT was EDUCATIONAL!! On that one stand, I saw a fox approach until he saw my decoy (a motionless thing like a rabbit), then he just turned and left. A couple minutes later, a coyote approached from the opposite direction, looked things over, turned and left. The brush they were in prevented me from getting a good shot, so I just watched and learned.

If I had been with the call, I would never have known that anything came near........

PS: That decoy was immediately and permanently retired!
 


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