Crow Busters Forum

Gibbo · Member

Electronic callers

Mainehunt · Guru

I bought the FoxPro Spitfire last summer and used it quite a bit for crows. It works great, I like it a lot. $199.00 everywhere I look. Holds 25 sounds. If you buy it through www.allpredatorcalls.com, you can choose any 25 sounds from a very large list of sounds.

Kev
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Mike27 · Senior Member

It depends on your budget. $200 to $700. If it allows I would step up. More volumn, more sounds and a big improvement over cassette is wireless remote. It might come down to are you infected already. confuse

Gadget Bob · Guru

Hi Hal,

Welcome aboard! I would recommend one of the various FoxPro models based on my personal experiences. It is nice to not have to wory about your caller, beyond having to charge its batteries. Their website is www.gofoxpro.com.

The Spitfire Kev suggested would be a good model. I like the Fury for all around calling and its small size, too. I also use and recommend the Prairie Blaster and Snow Crow Pro. Those will really pump up the volume to pull in crows from over the horizon.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,

Gadget Bob

Saul · Veteran Member

MA-21 from Wildlife Technologies.

Mainehunt · Guru

Gadget Bob wrote:

Hi Hal,

Welcome aboard! I would recommend one of the various FoxPro models based on my personal experiences. It is nice to not have to wory about your caller, beyond having to charge its batteries. Their website is www.gofoxpro.com.

The Spitfire Kev suggested would be a good model. I like the Fury for all around calling and its small size, too. I also use and recommend the Prairie Blaster and Snow Crow Pro. Those will really pump up the volume to pull in crows from over the horizon.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,

Gadget Bob

Good point Gadget Bob,

My only complaint about the Spitfire is the volume, but it is loud enough 95% of the time.

I have had numerous people tell me that there are external speakers that would raise my volume. I can't remember the model of the speaker that most recommended, but I remember that it cost around $55.

Kev
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Mdflyfish · Veteran Member

I love my foxpro firestorm. It is easy to use, lightweight, portable and brings in the birds. IMHO go foxpro, you will not regret it.

Mike27 · Senior Member

Maine,

I have the FX3 and I still want more volume. I can't exactly remember but, I didn't think there was enough change for the external speaker.

Mike

Kevin Burroughs · Veteran Member

Foxpro all the way. I have a Fury and a Prairie Blaster. Fury is light and easy to carry, the blaster is big and loud, real loud.

Foxpro has the best after sale service. They have been extremely helpful will all my programing issues. Great callers.

-------------kevin------------

Mainehunt · Guru

Mike27 wrote:

Maine,

I have the FX3 and I still want more volume. I can't exactly remember but, I didn't think there was enough change for the external speaker.

Mike

Mike,
Here is the link to the speaker that was recommended to me.

http://nativeoutdoors.stores.yahoo.net/fpsp55.html

The guys that are using it on their Spitfires claim that it would double the volume. I haven't bought one to try yet. So I have no personal experience with one.

Kev
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-- Edited by Mainehunt on Friday 7th of January 2011 06:18:06 PM

Big Honkers · Guru

Mike27,

I also own a FX3 and wanted a little more volume for windy days. I called foxpro and they recommended the SP-55 external speaker for the FX3. Its a little over $50 bucks. Its a good buy. The speaker is similar in loudness as the FX3 horn speaker. It is also nice to have the unit and the external speaker facing in different directions.

If you run an external speaker it may be wise to look into an external battery also.

Good luck!

JD

PS to Gibbo: I would also look hard at the CS-24 unit from foxpro.

Mainehunt · Guru

Big Honkers wrote:

Mike27,

I also own a FX3 and wanted a little more volume for windy days. I called foxpro and they recommended the SP-55 external speaker for the FX3. Its a little over $50 bucks. Its a good buy. The speaker is similar in loudness as the FX3 horn speaker. It is also nice to have the unit and the external speaker facing in different directions.

If you run an external speaker it may be wise to look into an external battery also.

Good luck!

JD

PS to Gibbo: I would also look hard at the CS-24 unit from foxpro.

Honkers,
We were typing at the same time. smile

The link I posted above is for the SP-55. How much did that speaker increase your volume?

Kev
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Big Honkers · Guru

That is a tough question to answer specifically.

In general, I'd say the SP-55 doubles your volume. It is like having two FX3 horn speakers blasting at the same time when both the unit and speaker are playing at the same time.

Hope that helps.

BH

-- Edited by Big Honkers on Friday 7th of January 2011 06:34:37 PM

Mike27 · Senior Member

Big Honkers,

How much extra battery are we talking.

Mike

Gibbo · Member

Does anyone outhere use the CS-24

Big Honkers · Guru

To be honest, I dont know how much would be required OR how long running both the unit & the external speaker on AA's would last.

Here is what I DO know. I was never that impressed with battery life of AA's in the unit and adding an external speaker would just take more juice and decrease my satisfaction level even more. I run my unit off of a motorcycle battery (or some sort of gel cell would be good too) and I recently ran both the FX3 unit and the external speaker for 4 hours at full blast and it was just as loud at the end as it was at the beginning. I am pretty sure I could run it all day with no service quality issues.

BH

Big Honkers · Guru

Gibbo,

I know Bob A uses that unit from time to time and I know Chip purchased one last year and is loving it. There may be others.

Mike27 · Senior Member

B H ,
I have rechargeable AA's and I'm not impressed with the life either.

Thanks for the info

Mike

wheelie · Member

I have a Foxpro Spitfire and like it. Good for coyote and other game as well. I didn't but now I buy assessories from Foxpro and when it comes time for another caller I would buy direct from Foxpro. I got the 10 Foxpro sounds from Bob A.

Pat B · Senior Member

Mine's a firestorm. Bought it this year. No luck on coyotes yet but it does work on crows. Went out a couple of times so far and it did pull birds in......

Pat

Bob · Guru

Check out "First shoot of 2011" there are two good photos of the two speakers (30 watt each) that were used in a 589 bird shoot.

The reason I like the CS24L unit is because in cold weather you don't have to worry about the wires kinking!

I'm trying to sell Fox Pro on the idea of having a battery made the size of the plastic unit that holds the 10 AA batteries. This way you could plug in a charger like the old Johnny Stewart model 512 and 612 units without having to always mess with 10 little AA batteries.

Bob A.

Saul · Veteran Member

My ma-21 is extremely, extremely loud lasts all day on my rechargable aa's. I went with a friend last weekend he had a foxpro with the external speaker it lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Bob · Guru

Hello Saul,

I have a few questions for you.

What model Fox Pro unit was you're friend using? It sounds like you're friend went out without charging up the unit the nite before.

Just roughly, how many times did you mute you're MA unit (and for how long) that day? How many hours were you using these units?

Can you get dual speakers with you're MA unit? If so, how many watts are each speaker?

This is whats nice about this Bulliten Board with all the differen't input.

Bob A.

Saul · Veteran Member

Bob i will get back with you. I cant get ahold of him, i tried befor i replied last time cause i knew i needed to know all those answers.

Bob · Guru

Saul,

Thanks for taking the time.

Bob A.

crow commander · Senior Member

i have a johnny stewart wireless remote game caller. it costs $199. i have a love hate relationship with it. theres times i go out & it works great. then theres the times im all set up & it will take an act of congress to get the thing going. ive learned to keep alotta advanced lithium batteries on hand also. lol when it works though its priceless. i get any stray crow hollering from afar or the bands of 5 & 6 coming off the roost.

SHANEDOG · Guru

Saul wrote:

My ma-21 is extremely, extremely loud lasts all day on my rechargable aa's. I went with a friend last weekend he had a foxpro with the external speaker it lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Saul
Your right on the money,I own a MA-21 and a KAS-2030 and run them both for crows,its a deadly combination.I have never run out of power,and I use my callers almost every day weather for crows or dogs.Have you done any hard calling for dogs?? Wildlife Tech is a great caller. smile

I have a friend who bought the brand spankin new SnowCro Pro with two speakers and his caller was not 1/2 as load as my my older KAS-2030. If someone wants the FoxPro,a great company,with great features,they should get the CS-24 with the 30 watt Kracatoa speaker,just ask Hammer or Chip!!

Saul · Veteran Member

Shanedog, i have never tried to call anything but a crow with mine but that is going to change at the end of the month. I'm going to Mississippi and i'm taking my call to try Coyotes and Bobcats.

8fishermen · Guru

Saul wrote:

Shanedog, i have never tried to call anything but a crow with mine but that is going to change at the end of the month. I'm going to Mississippi and i'm taking my call to try Coyotes and Bobcats.

Where in Mississippi are you comming to??

8fishermen · Guru

I just finished the wiring on a home-built E-caller. It is not wireless yet, I may add a wireless mic to it later. It is unbelievably LOUD and CLEAR!!! If you are standing in front of it, It will make your eyes cross!!!! I'll post pics at a later time when I have a chance to paint it.

Gadget Bob · Guru

Hi guys,

A couple of observations:

- I have had good luck with rechargable AA's by using the Powerex 2700's, the Duracell 2650's and the newest generation Eveready's. The other trick is to use a "smart charger" like the Maha M808 Professional for charging. It works fast, but does not overcharge and cook your batteries. I have used this approach with a FX3, FX5 and Fury with good success and the ability to call, at high volume from sun up to 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon virtually non-stop.

- For maximum volume, the FoxPro Snow Crow Pro puts out 50 watts of power all day long on a charge. I have never depleted the battery in a day. And I use it at "40" a lot. With a sound like JS's Death Cry of the Crow, it will literally wake the dead - crows laying motionless for a 1/2 hour or so will sometime arise and run off trying to escape this ear piercing sound. I don't have any experience with the WT products and would like to check them our sometime, but FoxPro gear has performed very well for me over the years.

Regards,

Gadget Bob

Bob · Guru

Gadget Bob,

I have a charger that charges the AA's 10 at a time, but even after 10 hours of charge time they are not 100% fully charged. I use the green colored AA 2700 series myself. I use two sets so the caller will last all day.

At full volume # 40 on the CS 24L unit it will run for 4 hours and you can tell when the batteries are starting to wear down because the clarity drops off in the two speakers. Now this is without muting it from time to time, just letting it play until the batteries go down. This was in 40 to 50 degree weather.

Gadget Bob, my question to you is about this professional charger for the AA batteries, can you order a charger that will charge 10 at a time and if so, how long does it take (hour wise) to fully charge a set? Who do I contact to order this charger? Does Radio Shack carry them?

Sincerely,

Bob A.

Saul · Veteran Member

8FISH, i;m coming to Greenwood but we will be hunting ducks north of their don't know the name of the town but it is over by O"Keef wildlife refuge.

Saul · Veteran Member

Bob, just talked to my buddy.

He has a FX3, the batteries he is using is what foxpro recommended, and the external speaker is the sp 50 that foxpro recommended. He also said the batteries was charged. All of this came from foxpro.

As far as my MA-21 i don't know if i can hook up an additional speaker but i don't know if i would want to.

I muted my call some but not a bunch. It was snowing and extremly windy so it was full blast most of the morning.

Skip · Guru

I am not an e-caller expert, far from it. But in reading all these informative posts on electronic crow callers: battery life, cost of equipment, sounds, weight, type of callers and "tricks to use"I thought of a "trick" myself: the use of a mouth call. I hasten to add I am not suggesting one use a mouth call exclusively, but rather a mouth and e-caller together. No one has mentioned that here and I promise the proper use of an e-caller in conjunction with a mouth caller pays dividends. There are at least two reasons that is true.

First, the finest most expensive e-blaster with the most pure reproduction of crow sounds cannot make the proper crow sound.. at precisely the proper time. I think most of us will agree that when engaged with crows there are certain crow calls that are more effective at certain times than others. For example: using the rally call the instant after you fire a volly at crows and they turning tail the rally call is effective in getting them to turn around. Turn off or down your e-caller and mouth call the "rally". There are other applications of this "combo" as well.

Secondly, for those who enter your blind or woods or whatever and turn on your e-blaster and sit there and await the arrival of crows, consider this. Use your mouth call first. Blow it for several seconds.. 10-20 seconds and then listen. Do that again if you like. Listen for crows to answer each time so you can get an idea of their direction and distance. Then use your e-call all you want. This gives you the opportunity of re-arranging your set up.. which direction you are facing..etc. which I think gives you an advantage by taking the element of surprise..away from the crow. How many times have we seen posts or experienced this ourselves of a crow bursting into your killing zone and escaping before you can get a shot off.. much less an aimed shot. Verdict: you had no idea where the birds were coming from and you were not ready.

If using a mouth call is out of the question then consider the intermittant stopping of your e-caller so you can listen ( I cannot hear oncoming crows over the e-caller ) for their replies. Do this especially during the early part of your calling. Once you establish contact, stoppage is less necessary unless you are calling more than one group of birds that arrive at different times.

Bottom line: the proper application of both mouth and e-callers will increase your TBC. No doubt about that.

Skip

-- Edited by Skip on Saturday 8th of January 2011 07:36:30 PM

jonthepain · Guru

Couldn't agree more, Skip.

When making CDs for use with my foxpro, I always put breaks between calls for just those reasons you specified above.

A typical, ten-minute sequence will start with 2 minutes of silence (so I can get back into my hiding spot,) then some soft calls with 30 second breaks in between. Eventually the calls get closer together, then on some sequences next I'll go into a crow fight for a few minutes, then into crow distress with breaks.

The breaks not only help me to hear them coming, they offer spaces for me to call back to them with my hand callers.

But definitely hand call to start off with.

Great advice Skip, thanks!

shotgunshooter12 · Veteran Member

anybody tried one off the johnny stewart attractor CROW 1 e-calls? costs around $39.its nice and compact has a remote.just dont know if the amount of volume it gives u would make it useful for anything more than a paper weight.although most of u guys say u dont want alot of volume once the birds get in close anyway?

Gadget Bob · Guru

Bob wrote:

Gadget Bob,

I have a charger that charges the AA's 10 at a time, but even after 10 hours of charge time they are not 100% fully charged. I use the green colored AA 2700 series myself. I use two sets so the caller will last all day.

At full volume # 40 on the CS 24L unit it will run for 4 hours and you can tell when the batteries are starting to wear down because the clarity drops off in the two speakers. Now this is without muting it from time to time, just letting it play until the batteries go down. This was in 40 to 50 degree weather.

Gadget Bob, my question to you is about this professional charger for the AA batteries, can you order a charger that will charge 10 at a time and if so, how long does it take (hour wise) to fully charge a set? Hi Bob, My Maha 808 Professional Smart Charger only charges 8 batteries at a time. The regular "fast" charge takes under an hour and the soft charge takes about 2 hours or so for AA's. It will also "condition" your batteries for better perfomance as they are used over the months. Who do I contact to order this charger? I brought mine from Thomas Distributing over the internet. Here is a link - http://www.thomasdistributing.com/shop/-p-517.html?value=frontpage Does Radio Shack carry them? I don't think so.

Sincerely,

Bob A.

Gibbo · Member

Bob A,

I take it you use the CS-24 by Fox Pro? If so are you very happy with it?

Bob · Guru

Hello Hal,

The CS24L unit is a very good idea, especially with no wires to mess with in cold weather!

The battery life on the AA batteries do not run as long as I would like so I bought a second set of rechargable AA batteries and I keep them in the same bag that I carry the two Krakatoa speakers in. If the first set goes down later in the day I pull them out and put in 10 more that are fully charged. Takes about a minute to change them "if you have another battery holder with ten AA batteries in it ready to go"

On the whole, yes I'm happy with the unit, I just had to make an adjustment to it for my type of hunting.

Bob A.

Gibbo · Member

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I have found that the area I am in it takes mouth calling & e-calling to be effective. I am in Statesville North Carolina. I sure would like to hunt with you and learn it from a pro, but the quanties you kill we do not have that here. If we get 50-70 in a morning it is a very productie I think. I would like to get in on a 250 bird shoot. If you are ever in North Carolina i would like to take you hunting one morning. Take care and again thank for taking the time to post your message.

Bob · Guru

Hello Hal,

Glad to help out.

I don't slaughter them all the time! There are some shoots that are so bad I don't even record them! Example: Dick & I had a day last week where we only shot 19 crows between us, all day! I just as soon forget that one! lol

Bob A.

Kevin Burroughs · Veteran Member

When I got my Prairie Blaster I got it with the optional battery pack. The battery lasts all day on high, perhaps more but I always charge my batteries after using them.

The blaster has a built in Jack in the Box decoy also. The blaster weighs just about the same as my Fury and my Jack in theBox decoy together and is more manageable than than the other 2 together.

-----------kevin-----------

Dpettyjohn · Newbie

I found this electronic game call in an old barn, logo says

chesapeake electronic game call, worton Maryland.

came with a 45 record with owl and crow calls.

its very heav, browsed thru a few posts and I'm guessing there is a car battery in the box.

i hav searched the net and can find nothing on it.

if anyone has info on this please respond.

boba · Guru

R.D. , what exactly are you trying to find out when searching on the internet? I am guessing that you want to know what powers this unit?

Dpettyjohn · Newbie

Boba

That's correct I have not pulled apart yet but it has what appears to be a cigarette lighter you used to see in cars.

im also pretty certain there is a speaker missing there is a quarter inch speaker plug in On the box.

just really looking for some documentation on the box, can't find a thing about it.

thought at first it was just a homemade device but with the elaborate logo on the box pretty sure it was mass produce.

also wondering how old it is.

sorry for the rambling brain dump.

boba · Guru

If you can put a pair of alligator clips on the negative and positive cables of that unit you could run it off a 12 volt marine battery very easily. The 1/4 inch speaker plug more than likely was used for at least one external speaker.

These are two units that I used for over 30 years and were powered by a 12 volt marine battery. One was a backup unit; you can see the speaker cords wrapped up in these photos.

Dpettyjohn · Newbie

Thanks boba I will try that. So the units you have there play 45's?

boba · Guru

No they are both cassette players.

Here is a 45 RPM crow caller in my crow museum in Kansas.

Kiloroo · Newbie

I use a Johnny Stewart caller, however, most of the other guys I hunt with use a Foxpro call.

If you're looking for some decent models to buy then you could try catchthemeasy.com/best-electronic-crow-call-reviews/

Plenty of decent calls out there, just depends on how much you will use it and what your budget is.