I've been calling over 40 years now, would never stop, still get the nerves when a dog or cat moves in on my calling.

Started with a self taught open reed mouth call, did that for geez many years, then went with a remote Fox-Pro, changed my results dramatically, the sound reach was incredible.

I started with a Ruger bull barrel 22-250, with a 4 to 12 single reticle standard cross scope, shot that a year or two, then went a got me another 22-250 with a standard barrel, put a 6 to 18 on it and this was my got to gun for the next few years. I also picked up a 6mm, a 25-06, a 22 hornet, and finally I won a 204 Ruger special done for the NYT raffle about 10 years or so ago.
All them other rifles are now collecting a rest and covered up in the safe, That 204 out shoots them all and the best thing is it does not recoil you off the target like the 250 does and the bigger calibers, its a dream. I have a 6 to 20 on it with a lighted adjustable reticle it's the bee's knee's, I hand load all my guns as well. I don't use hollow points any more with the 204 or the 250, only long boat tail solids and Bergers on the 204.

I use several sounds but the go to is the rabbit scream all the time, I never mix them up until late in the season, they are always hungry, the rabbit wins 8 times out of ten, sometimes it just takes longer on a stand. Most time I stay on a stand is 30 minutes usually only 15, 30 seconds low volume 1 minute delay, 30 on again, then wait 5 minutes, nothing then I move the volume up to do it until a dog shows up or my time limit is up.

I don't get up when I shoot, I learned long ago there is usually another dog around and have been busted many times by watching a dog run off that was close enough to try and drop. I have picked up second dogs now and again by waiting and watching after about ten minutes. Not always but enough to take the time, I move a mile then make another stand, I don't shoot running dogs, I wait until they stop. Shooting out here is not like back east, you learn to be able to take them at 300 or better or wait to try and coax them in closer, young dogs usually will fall for that, later in the year the older ones will stop further out and watch the sound. They know where it is more than 700 yds out when they hear it and will come straight on until 300 or so and start to cut the wind to try and scent you, when they cut and move then stop, thats your cue, they scent something when they stop. I've ranged them with my finder, I know how far out they are most of the time

I don't use any scents or try to work the wind either, I've had to many dogs never read them hunting books or seen the vids to know they are supposed to do all that, LOL I use elevation and try to have a long view scene to watch, I hunt the five foot sage brush floors in the desert and western mountains here, where you can see for miles.

Cats are a patient persons game, they are either curious or hungry if in the area and it usually takes a half hour or more to be able to spot one where I hunt, it is incredible how they can sneak in on you with out you seeing them, then all of a sudden you seeing that face looking your way. Birds or the rabbit again, same sequence as for dogs less volume though, they don't seem to like things loud when they get close.

My fingers are sore, have a question shoot LOL
I'll watch this thread, everyone can learn all the time, nice to see this here for a change !

I've been calling over 40 years now, would never stop, still get the nerves when a dog or cat moves in on my calling.

Started with a self taught open reed mouth call, did that for geez many years, then went with a remote Fox-Pro, changed my results dramatically, the sound reach was incredible.

I started with a Ruger bull barrel 22-250, with a 4 to 12 single reticle standard cross scope, shot that a year or two, then went a got me another 22-250 with a standard barrel, put a 6 to 18 on it and this was my got to gun for the next few years. I also picked up a 6mm, a 25-06, a 22 hornet, and finally I won a 204 Ruger special done for the NYT raffle about 10 years or so ago.
All them other rifles are now collecting a rest and covered up in the safe, That 204 out shoots them all and the best thing is it does not recoil you off the target like the 250 does and the bigger calibers, its a dream. I have a 6 to 20 on it with a lighted adjustable reticle it's the bee's knee's, I hand load all my guns as well. I don't use hollow points any more with the 204 or the 250, only long boat tail solids and Bergers on the 204.

I use several sounds but the go to is the rabbit scream all the time, I never mix them up until late in the season, they are always hungry, the rabbit wins 8 times out of ten, sometimes it just takes longer on a stand. Most time I stay on a stand is 30 minutes usually only 15, 30 seconds low volume 1 minute delay, 30 on again, then wait 5 minutes, nothing then I move the volume up to do it until a dog shows up or my time limit is up.

I don't get up when I shoot, I learned long ago there is usually another dog around and have been busted many times by watching a dog run off that was close enough to try and drop. I have picked up second dogs now and again by waiting and watching after about ten minutes. Not always but enough to take the time, I move a mile then make another stand, I don't shoot running dogs, I wait until they stop. Shooting out here is not like back east, you learn to be able to take them at 300 or better or wait to try and coax them in closer, young dogs usually will fall for that, later in the year the older ones will stop further out and watch the sound. They know where it is more than 700 yds out when they hear it and will come straight on until 300 or so and start to cut the wind to try and scent you, when they cut and move then stop, thats your cue, they scent something when they stop. I've ranged them with my finder, I know how far out they are most of the time

I don't use any scents or try to work the wind either, I've had to many dogs never read them hunting books or seen the vids to know they are supposed to do all that, LOL I use elevation and try to have a long view scene to watch, I hunt the five foot sage brush floors in the desert and western mountains here, where you can see for miles.

Cats are a patient persons game, they are either curious or hungry if in the area and it usually takes a half hour or more to be able to spot one where I hunt, it is incredible how they can sneak in on you with out you seeing them, then all of a sudden you seeing that face looking your way. Birds or the rabbit again, same sequence as for dogs less volume though, they don't seem to like things loud when they get close.

My fingers are sore, have a question shoot LOL
I'll watch this thread, everyone can learn all the time, nice to see this here for a change !