Best Products for Calling and Attracting Predator Game

Have you ever been on a stand, maybe hiding in a brushy ditch or nestled against a lone tree on a wide-open prairie, and you’re trying to communicate with the animals around you? You’ve got your electronic call cranked up, blasting the sound of a cottontail in distress. You hear a distant coyote howl, and you know he's coming. Then, he comes in, but just as he's about to crest the ridge, he stops. You know you're in a perfect spot, but as you wait for him to commit, he suddenly turns and walks off. It's that frustrating, hunt-ending moment that every hunter dreads. You’ve got the sound, you’ve got the hide, but you're missing the final, crucial piece of the puzzle—the visual that convinces him to commit.

The truth is, while a coyote’s sense of smell and hearing are legendary, their vision, particularly at night, is what makes hunting them so incredibly challenging. A coyote that is coming to a call is often wary and cautious, and if they don't see anything to visually confirm that the sound is real, they will often hang up just out of range. That’s where a good decoy comes in. It’s the secret weapon that can turn a hung-up coyote into a committed, curious, and ultimately, a successful kill. It’s the difference between a high-strung coyote circling downwind and a committed, straight-line approach that ends in a perfect shot. But if you’ve ever walked into a sporting goods store or browsed online, you know the feeling of being completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Electronic calls, mouth calls, prey decoys, coyote decoys, motion decoys—the list is dizzying. How do you even begin to sort through the technical jargon and find the device that's right for you and your hunting style?

In this comprehensive guide, we're going to break down everything you need to know about choosing the best products for calling and attracting predator game. We'll demystify the different types of calls and decoys, discuss the features that actually matter, and give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision. And to top it all off, I’ll share some of my favorite real-world product reviews to help you narrow down your choices and find the perfect device to help you make every hunt a successful one. So, let’s get you ready to not just call them in, but to make them commit.

The Three Pillars of a Great Predator Calling System

Before we dive into the specific products, let's lay the groundwork. There are three core principles that should guide your selection, acting like a compass in a sea of options. These aren't just features; they're the very essence of what makes a calling system effective.

1. Auditory Realism and Versatility:
   This is the most crucial aspect of any calling system. You need to be able to produce a full range of realistic animal sounds that are appropriate for the specific predator you're after. A great system will have a variety of calls that can produce a variety of sounds, from a soft, subtle cottontail in distress to a loud, aggressive coyote howl. The key is to have a system that is both versatile and reliable, which will allow you to tell a compelling story that a wary animal can't resist.
   
   

2. Visual Confirmation and Motion:
   While a great call is the key to getting a predator's attention, a visual confirmation is what will get him to commit. A coyote that is coming to a call is often wary and cautious, and if they don't see anything to visually confirm that the sound is real, they will often hang up just out of range. That’s where a good decoy comes in. It’s the secret weapon that can turn a hung-up coyote into a committed, curious, and ultimately, a successful kill. A great decoy will have a realistic, subtle, and consistent motion that mimics a small, injured animal or a bird.
   
   

3. Strategic Deployment and Stealth:
   A combination of electronic and mouth calls is a fantastic way to tell a more compelling, believable story—a story of a dynamic, living scene that is impossible for a wary animal to resist. You can place the e-caller 50 yards away from your location, and you can then use your mouth calls to add a subtle, hands-free vocalization that will help to draw the animal's attention to the e-caller and away from you. The goal is to use the combination of calls and decoys to create a scene that is impossible for a wary animal to resist.

Beyond the Basics:
Unpacking Key Features and Call Types

Now that we have our core principles, let's drill down into the details. When you're looking at a call or a decoy, what should you be looking for?

• Electronic Calls (E-Callers):
  An e-caller is a fantastic, versatile tool that can be used to produce a huge variety of sounds at a high volume. The main advantage of an e-caller is that it is a hands-free device that can be placed away from your location, which will help to draw the animal's attention to the e-caller and away from you. The best e-callers will have a variety of features, like a a remote control with a long range, a high-quality speaker, and a huge library of realistic sounds.
  
  

• Mouth Calls:
  A mouth call, whether it's an open reed or a closed reed, is a fantastic, hands-free tool that can be used to add a subtle, realistic vocalization to your calling. An open-reed call, for example, can be used to produce a variety of distress calls, from a cottontail to a jackrabbit. A closed-reed call is a great option for a beginner, as it is incredibly easy to use and can produce a variety of realistic sounds. The main advantage of a mouth call is that it is a hands-free call, which is a huge advantage for a hunter who is trying to draw a bow or raise a shotgun.
  
  

• Decoy Types:
  The type of decoy you use will have a huge impact on your spread's effectiveness.
  
  

  • Motion Decoys: These are the most common and effective type of predator decoy. They are designed to mimic a small, injured animal or a bird, and the motion is what will get a coyote's attention from a long distance. Look for motion decoys that have a subtle, realistic, and consistent motion, like a twitching tail or a flapping wing.
    

  • Prey Decoys:
    These are designed to look like a rabbit, a squirrel, or a bird. When paired with a distress call, they exploit a coyote's predatory instincts and can be incredibly effective at drawing them in. Look for prey decoys that have a realistic, non-glare finish and a lifelike body posture.

The Hunter's Arsenal:
Seven Standout Predator Calling Products

After years of selling and using these products, I've curated a list of seven of my favorite predator calling and attracting products. Each one offers a great balance of effectiveness, value, and is a proven winner in the field.

ICOtec OUTLAW+ Electronic Predator Call & Decoy Combo

Price Range: $$400 - $450

• Review: The ICOtec OUTLAW+ is a revolutionary, all-in-one calling system that is a fantastic choice for a serious predator hunter. It’s an e-caller and decoy combo that is built with a variety of features that are designed for a variety of hunting applications. The e-caller has a high-quality, high-volume speaker, a remote control with a long range, and a variety of realistic sounds. The decoy, a motorized motion topper, can be attached to the e-caller or can be used as a standalone device. For the hunter who wants a reliable, no-fuss, and incredibly effective all-in-one calling system, the ICOtec OUTLAW+ is a top-notch choice.
  
  
  
  

FoxPro XWAVE Electronic Game Call

Price Range: $$550 - $650

• Review: The FoxPro XWAVE is a professional-grade, high-end, and incredibly effective electronic predator call that is a favorite of many serious hunters. It’s a top-tier e-caller that is built with a high-quality, high-volume speaker, a powerful remote control with a long range, and a variety of advanced features, like hands-free sound switching. The e-caller also comes with a huge library of realistic sounds, and it has a variety of features that are designed for a serious predator hunter. For the hunter who wants the absolute best, the FoxPro XWAVE is the ultimate choice.
  
  
  
  

Lucky Duck The Roughneck E-Caller

Price Range: $$400 - $550

• Review: Lucky Duck has earned a dedicated following for their innovative decoys, and their Roughneck E-Caller is a fantastic, no-frills, and incredibly effective e-caller that is a favorite of many serious hunters. It's a simple, easy-to-use e-caller that is built with a rugged, durable construction. It has a powerful, high-volume speaker, a remote control with a long range, and a variety of realistic sounds. For the hunter who wants a reliable, no-fuss, and incredibly effective e-caller that is built to last, the Lucky Duck The Roughneck is a top-notch choice.
  
  
  
  

Mojo Outdoors Critter Decoy

Price Range: $$40 - $60

• Review: The Mojo Critter is a legendary predator decoy that has been a staple in every serious predator hunter's arsenal for decades, and for good reason—it simply works. It’s a simple, no-frills decoy that is built around a motorized, furry topper that spins around and around. The motion is incredibly effective at getting a coyote's attention from a long distance, and the simplicity of the design makes it incredibly reliable. It’s a workhorse of a decoy that is perfect for a variety of hunting applications, and for the price, you simply cannot beat the performance and reliability of this decoy.
  
  
  
  
  

Flextone Game Calls Dying Rabbit Mouth Call

Price Range: $$15 - $25

• Review: The Flextone Game Calls Dying Rabbit is a fantastic, no-frills, and incredibly effective mouth call that is perfect for a variety of predator hunting applications. It’s an open-reed distress call that is designed to produce a variety of realistic rabbit vocalizations. The call is also incredibly easy to use and is a great option for a beginner. The call's soft, flexible body can be used to manipulate the tone and volume of the call, which makes it a fantastic tool for a hunter who is looking for a versatile, hands-free distress call.
  
  
  
  

Primos Dogg Catcher 2 Electronic Call

Price Range: $$80 - $100

• Review: The Primos Dogg Catcher 2 is a fantastic, all-in-one electronic predator call that is a favorite of many hunters. It has a high-quality, high-volume speaker, a powerful remote control with a long range, and a variety of realistic sounds. The e-caller also has a variety of features that are designed for a beginner, like a simple, easy-to-use remote and a variety of pre-programmed "Expert Hunts." For the hunter on a budget who wants a reliable, no-fuss, and incredibly effective all-in-one e-caller, the Primos Dogg Catcher 2 is an excellent choice.
  
  
  
  

Johnny Stewart PC-1 Crow Call

Price Range: $$15 - $25

• Review: While not a predator call in the traditional sense, a crow call is a fantastic locator call that every predator hunter should have in their vest. Johnny Stewart Wildlife Calls has been a leader in the game call world for decades, and their PC-1 Crow Call is a simple, no-frills, and incredibly effective call. A loud, aggressive series of crow caws can often get a coyote to respond with a howl or a series of barks, which will give you a huge amount of information on their location. For the hunter who wants a simple, no-fuss, and incredibly effective locator call, the Johnny Stewart PC-1 Crow Call is a top-notch choice.
  
  

Final Thoughts:
Your Calls, Your Success

Choosing the right products for calling and attracting predator game is a critical decision that every serious hunter must make. It's about finding the right balance between realism, versatility, and a sound that can tell a compelling story to a wary animal. Don't be afraid to experiment with different calls and different methods of application. Remember that the key to success is a holistic approach that combines a good e-caller, a good mouth call, and a great strategy for blending into your environment.

A combination of calls is more than just a collection of calls; it's a way of telling a compelling story that an animal can't resist. It’s a silent conversation that can be used to lure a wary gobbler or a trophy buck into your sights, to tell a story of a safe, inviting environment, and to ultimately, to help you achieve your hunting goals. So, go out there, find the calls that are right for you, and get ready to experience a new level of confidence and success in the field. Your calls are a serious responsibility, and with the right ones, you can ensure they're a silent partner that is always ready for anything. Happy hunting!