13 replies to this topic

[Broncowilly]

Fellas, I've only ever called with closed reed mouth calls. After reading some of your posts and visiting Braz's site I have to ask, which is better, harder, easier to use? I've heard open reed calls call for a certain amount of skill. I have one open reed call that was given to me by the man who taught me to call, Bill Lawrence from Twin Oaks. He made it out of a piece of ½” PVC pipe and a thin sheet of hard plastic and it is held together with a rubber banding ring. He could make that call sound just like a coyote but I have had little to no success. I also have all of Bill’s closed reed calls. One is hand made by him and I really like it. Does the situation call for one or the other? Or, is it just another tool for the tool box? The calls on Braz's site look almost too nice to even use but I see there are a lot of you that do. I need to place an order. Open? closed? What mouth calls do you use?

[ShooterJohn]

Open reed are mostly used for howling and coyote vocalization call. Closed reed are normally used to imitate injured animal sounds. You can make more varieties of sounds with an open reed call but closed reed are easier for the beginner to use.

[OrneryOlMofo357]

For Me I can get a much broader ammount of sounds and pitch with the open reed. I can also get more volume. Sometines a closed reed will lock up with too much air pressure. JMO

[Broncowilly]

I've been using closed reed mouth calls for 25 years and have had good success with them. I have found that if you blow too hard on them they will lock up or make a very un-natural sound. It has only been in the last year I started using an e-caller. I have to say I'm not all that impressed with it. I've called one coyote in with it compared to many dozens with the mouth call. I'm going to go back to mouth calls so I'm looking for the opinions of you guys. Braz made a comment the other day about his calls being priced the same as store bought calls. I would rather support here than Big 5 or Wal-Mart. Thanks for the replies so far

[Frank]

Bronco, I agree with you on your assessment of mouth call vs e callers. IMO, mouth calls definitely sound more real. I also agree that it "seems" like I've called in more coyotes with a mouth call, possibly due to their more realistic sounds. However...

I've had lots of coyotes called in with mouth calls, mostly by beginners, that sounded gawd awful. Plus, I used to make a LOT more stands than I do today & mostly with mouth calls, so this (higher # of stands) may have contributed to the higher # of dogs with mouth calls(vs an e caller). Maybe?

And yes, mouth calls crap out, some worse than others. The double reed (vs single) seems to be worse, but also could be my imagination on that. I personally prefer the closed reed due to their simplicity and ruggedness. Plus they still sound good! Open reeds have to be semi-pampered or the reed can be destroyed. At least in my case. lol

Open reeds are indeed more versatile & I always have at least one on me, but I seldom use them. And while I agree on the versatility of the open reed, I do not need that. I have excellent coyote vocals & other sounds on my foxpro, & only need a mouth call for rabbit distress. Also, some of my closed reed calls are very loud, & can't imagine an open reed being much, if any louder. But hey?

So, I guess what I am trying to say is, than while you may, or may not have called in more dogs with a mouth call, it may also have something to do with other circumstances... bad luck, no coyotes in the area, educated-tough to call coyotes, moon, wind, poor stand selection etc.

Anyhow, I always have and use both mouth & e caller on me. However, today, I use my e caller 90+% of the time. It's just too convenient & potentially more successful... taking the attention off the hunter for an easier (ambush) shot, and being able to hold the weapon steadier from not being exhausted from blowing on a mouth call for 10 minutes or longer etc.

I guess both have their place, and much likely has to do with personal preference. Along with, there are always some draw backs to everything, no matter how good a certain item is. Plus going with whatever brings one the most confidence & pleasure.

Hope this helps, and good luck

[Thumper Dunker]

I like both types . But latly I just been using the open reed ones. You can go from rabbit distres to howling ,yipping ect . then to rodent screams with the one open reed call. You can't
beat a open reed call for talking to them. Never had a E Caller yet seems like too much of a bother.Your eyes are always looking at the remote insted of looking for the coyote. ,well Shoot it's eyes. I never seen one come into a E caller yet.

[Braz]

I sell my calls generally for about $25 shipped to you. I think jawbreaker has his priced about the same. Mine come with guarantee that if you have a problem with it, send it back and I'll fix it or replace it. Simple as that. See if Bass Pro will do that on the plastic calls. Again I think Ron also guarantees his. He recently posted up some acrylic calls that he made. They are beautiful and being acrylic I'm sure they are good sounding calls.

[jawbreaker]

A good open reed call will be easy to use with a little practice and you get a broad range of sounds from high pitch to raspy, on the other hand a double reed closed reed tuned well will give you some good rasp or a single reed for the higher pitch sounds. I would definately go with a custom call because most of us back them better than store bought and they are usually one of a kind.

[Broncowilly]

You guys are the bomb! Ron, do you have a site I can visit? Lynn, I've looked over your site and am impressed.

[jawbreaker]

I have a site but don't really do much with it, I need to update it soon. It's rhpredatorcalls.com , I mostly build to order but usually have a half a dozen calls on hand.

[Broncowilly]

I just had a great thrill!!! A siren was sounding and we heard a coyote very close start howling. I went out on the front porch and with my PVC open reed I started mimicking the coyote. I did this for 20 minutes while the coyote just stood out about 100 yards from me. I got pretty good mimicking and it answered every time I called. Christine watched in the binoculars while I called and she got the biggest kick out of it too. What are the odds I would get to practice with this open reed like this. What a hoot!!! I have to rethink some stuff now

[Frank]

Too funny, and a great thrill as you say... Talk about coincidences, eh?! lol Pretty Cool!

It also reminds me of why I often, but not always, mix things up on one stand when a single sound isn't working. IE; distress rabbit not working & switch to howls & perhaps followed up with puppy yipes that end up bringing them in(when distress rabbit didn't). Stuff like that... To me, coyote vocals only adds another dimension & more fun & excitement to our sport.

[ehd]

we got some great call makers as members. i have killed lots of coyotes with there calls. I like the sound of mouth calling over electronic callers,but the advantage with the remote caller sets up an ambush situation vrs coming to you. mouth calling ,the ones that come up behind you your not going to see,where i have had lots come from behind and go to the caller to get a bullet in the back of the head. i have recorded some of my sounds and put them on the e-caller as a compromise. Still i dont go to a stand without my closed reed and a howler. i dont know how many times i have sat down and punched the button with dead batts.

[tawnoper]

Open reed or closed reed? Either on works about as well as the other. Open reed give you a little more flexibility on sounds. My advice is to try a few, some of the open reed calls require some horsepower to operate. Damn near get winded using one for more than 15 seconds.

My usual go to call is the ol critr call pee wee. Doesn't take a lot of wind to use. Also Verminator Tweety. easy to use as well.

As for sounds...tough to improve on a JS cottontail, Jack or bird sound.