Preacher wrote on Dec 1^st, 2010 at 6:55pm:

mastertangler wrote on Dec 1st, 2010 at 6:17pm: predator call Neat! Googled and noticed there's all sorts of devices.  Any advice on what type & how to use or not use?  I'd be curious to include something like this in my kit.

I've had some success using this   (You need to Login or Register, though not for calling squirrels. I've learned that calling squirrels is pretty much useless, you're better off just sitting still and being quiet. I'll give it another go when I get back home, now that it's coming up on their mating season it might help draw them in closer (bow with judo-tip arrows = great fun).

But, if you blow in the open end, it mimics a distress call; essentially turning it into a predator call. I got a rise out of some coyotes in the backyard one night, just messing around, but they never came close enough for me to see them. Which was surprising, because our coyote population back home is leaning over the edge of being a problem. They're usually not hard to find.

I'm not sure if any of these calls would have their place in a ditch kit, given the limited space available. But it probably couldn't hurt, provided you have a way to secure an animal that's been lured in. I hunted with wrist rockets when I was a kid, and it's harder than it looks. Be prepared for lots of frustrating near-misses, and make sure the band is in good shape... don't let it break while aiming so it narrowly misses taking out your eye... we had the best luck with ball bearings and taconite pellets, and even some glass marbles "borrowed" from one of mom's fake plant vases. But small rocks work too.

There are lots of electronic predator calls out there, and I don't know anything about them other than they are illegal to use on some places. Which probably means they are effective.