Ever called a grizzly? Not that black bears aren't scarey enough. The thought makes my butt pucker!

Gotta go with trapping these days, really enjoyed shooting them in front of hounds back a few years. They wise up to calling pretty quick around here. When I do call, my kids do the shooting, I get a kick out that.

Calling is definitely more exciting. It’s like calling in a gobbler except at night and with an e-caller. I just received a couple hand calls and got a diaphragm so that’s my next “goal” using mouth calls!
Everyone talking about everyone else calling and they won’t come in, that’s when the fun starts. You have to figure out what “is” going to bring that coyote/cat in. Nothing exciting is ever easy and I see many folks give it up pretty quick.
As far as numbers go, trapping gets top honors. That’s just a no brainer. I use both methods…my landowners pay for dead stuff. It doesn’t matter how it ends, as long as the end result is the same. I can’t call for 24/7/365 like my sets can, but I can supplement my trapping with calling and add a few extra bucks to the paycheck with a little more excitement!

100 % trapping all day long

I have called in some foxes which is pretty exciting, but this year I bought a thermal (AGM Rattler TS25-384) in January. Wanted to see if I could call in some coons. It was a blast. Saw a bunch and shot a few. Got addicting pretty quickly. Can’t wait for next fall already. However, it can’t replace trapping for me. I love the way of life, the nostalgia, the work, early mornings, late nights, the challenge, etc. I get more excited running some successful trap lines personally.

It also pains me shooting fur knowing I’m putting holes in them.

Haven't tried it in brown bear country, I was living on an island that doesn't have them at the time

You mean lost a hunter because of a careless hunter....not thermal hunting.

I can take both here so it sounds win-win to me. Wasn't super happy last year when a brown bear interrupted my fishing though. Didn't have my gun or a hunting license at the time so I just left when it started coming my direction. When it was on the other side of the creek I was able to just keep fishing, but once itcrossed sides I was done.

I used to love calling.

Calling coyotes used to be right up there with bowhunting for me.




Not anymore. I actually kind of dread being in situations where it’s my only option.

feel the same way. between foxpros and thermal education ive lost all confidence in callings effectiveness.

There was a period years back after the fur boom crash that I called way more than trapped. Absolutely loved it then. Pretty much get little enjoyment from it now.

early 2000s I called pretty darn serious. 2 out of 5 stands with success was kind of the norm. some days better some days zilch but had enough fur adding up it kept me excited to go again. not that way anymore

Yep, calling's sure got more difficult. We've gone back to hand calls and our success has improved. Weems, Criter call, Talley ho with an occasional Circe. But killing 5 or more coyotes in a day, in our area may be gone.

that's right! open reed an no foxpros bs. got a nib Tally-ho from the 70s a family member gave me an I cherish that wall hanger. used circe and critter call nordak an countless others over the years

trapping hands down, calling down here in these thick freakin woods aint gonna accomplish anything, south Tx yes, here hec naw.

Calling is more exciting, but the efficiency & satisfaction of the trapping process can't be beat.