Predators are some of the smartest animals you can hunt.
Generally, when you’re talking about predator hunting in North America, you’re talking about coyotes.
Some people hunt bobcats and cougars as well. Chances are, if you’ve ever hiked in the western half of the US, you haven’t seen a cougar. But a cougar has seen you.
On the other hand, most people have seen coyotes.
But they have an uncanny ability to disappear when you bring out your rifle. So, how do you hunt and outsmart these predators? With an electronic predator call.
Sure, you can grab a handheld lure and make the noise yourself. But that won’t be as effective as an electronic predator call which sounds exactly like a rabbit in distress. And coyotes love an easy meal, so when they hear that squealing, they’ll come running!
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The 9 Best Coyote Predator Calls: Outdoor Empire Reviews
Here is a list of the best predators calls:
- Best Cheap Predator Call #1: ICOtecGen2 GC300
- Best Cheap Predator Call #2: Primos Dogg Catcher
- Best Cheap Predator Call #3: ICOtec GC101XL
- Best Predator Call for the Money #1: ICOtec Gen2 GC320
- Best Predator Call for the Money #2: Primos 3755 Turbo Dogg
- Best Predator Call for the Money #3: FOXPRO Deadbone
- Best Overall Predator Call #1: FOXPRO Shockwave
- Best Overall Predator Call #2: FOXPRO HammerJack
- Best Overall Predator Call #3: Primos 3756 Alpha Dogg
| Category | Best Cheap | Best for the money | Best overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product |  Gen2 GC300 |  |  |
| Included Sounds | 12 | 12 | 100 |
| Programmable | No | No | Yes |
| Sound Capacity: | - | - | 1000 |
| Range | 300 yards | 300 yards | 100 yards |
| Batteries | 4x AA and 1x A23 | 8x AA, 1x A23 | 10x AA |
| Misc | Backlit buttons, tripod mount | - | 4 speakers, many FOXPRO-specific settings, atmospheric sensors |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
1. Best Cheap Predator Call #1
Specs:
- Included Sounds: 12
- Programmable? No
- Range: 300 yards
- Batteries: 4x AA and 1x A23
- Misc: Backlit buttons, tripod mount
Compare prices at: Bass Pro Shops, Sportsman’s Guide
Overview
The ICOtex Gen2 GC300 is an entry-level predator call, but it’s more than capable enough to stand up to the requirements of veteran hunters.
The GC300 is not programmable and has only 12 sounds. While this cuts down on versatility somewhat, the included sounds do run the gamut from whitetail bunnies in distress to fighting coyotes, along with some distressed bird sounds, so you can attract a wide variety of predators.
The remote comes tuned to the caller, so you don’t have to fiddle around to get started. Just press a button and the call starts making noise.
You can press a second button to have two sounds going off at once, too. Each call is labeled on the remote.
There’s a gap between calls, which is a love-it-or-hate-it feature.
The remote reaches an impressive 300 yards. You can turn on or off the backlighting for nighttime hunting, change the volume, and pause the calls.
There is also a decoy button, which is compatible with add-on decoys such as the ICOtec AD400.
The single speaker is loud and clear. There’s a tripod mount (tripod not included) if you want to raise the caller off the ground to increase the speaker’s range.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Impressive range
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Only a few sounds
Recommendation
The ICOtec Gen2 GC300 is the best electronic coyote call available for under $100.
2. Best Cheap Predator Call #2
Overview
The Primos Dogg Catcher is another simple predator call, aimed at bobcats, coyotes, and foxes.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 12
- Programmable? No
- Range: 150 yards
- Batteries: 5x AA
- Misc: Adjustable legs
It comes with 12 calls, each of which is labeled just above the respective button. The calls were designed by Randy Anderson and include coyote serenades and invitations as well as various animals in distress.
You can turn up and down the volume and pause the active calls. Two sounds can play at once. That’s it for the remote’s features, though it does have a range of 150 yards.
The caller itself is a speaker atop a set of adjustable legs. It’s not camouflaged but comes in a beige color that blends into many environments. The antenna folds down for transport and storage.
The Dogg Catcher’s speaker is clear but not super loud. That, coupled with the 150-yard range, makes this caller better for smaller properties.
It’s worth noting that the remote is easy to turn on. So easy, in fact, some people have had it turn on in storage and run out of batteries before they hit the field.
Pros
- Adjustable legs
- No setup
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not very loud
- Remote turns on too easily and can drain the batteries
Recommendation
The Primos Dogg Catcher is a good electronic predator call for hunters who don’t want to spend a lot of money and who have a small hunting property.
3. Best Cheap Predator Call #3
Overview
The ICOtec C101XL is the smallest and lightest full-feature predator call available.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 12
- Programmable? No
- Range: 100 yards
- Batteries: 4x AA, 1x A23
- Misc: Compact folding design
Like most other non-programmable predator calls, you can choose between 12 different animal calls. These come from Wildlife Technologies and are good for attracting bobcats, coyotes, and foxes, as well as crows and potentially other animals.
This unit is aimed at bowhunters, though, because of its short range. The remote’s maximum range is only 100 yards, though you may have trouble getting it to work that far in practice because of foliage and other obstacles.
The GC101XL’s speaker is loud enough to attract coyotes from a further distance, but you’ll have to draw them close to you. Make sure to use scent blockers and be extra stealthy!
One reviewer even mentioned that this call is good for scaring off starlings and is good at drawing in woodpeckers, so it can be useful for birdwatchers as well.
The caller and remote are both surprisingly small. The caller fits on your belt and the remote is about the same size as a small hunting radio.
Pros
- Cheap
- Compact and lightweight
- Surprisingly loud
Cons
- Short range
Recommendation
The ICOtex GC101XL is small enough to fit in a pocket and is one of the cheapest electronic calls available, but the remote’s short range limits your hunting abilities.
4. Best Predator Call for the Money #1
Overview
Electronic calls are good for attracting a coyote’s attention, but some of those predators can learn to be wary of a sound coming from something that’s not an animal.
So, it’s recommended to add a decoy, which draws the predators in with a visual component. That rabbit distress call is a lot more believable when accompanied by a piece of fur thrashing about!
The ICOtec Gen2 GC320 is an electronic call/decoy combo. It’s basically the G300, except you don’t have to buy the AD400 decoy separately.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 12
- Programmable? No
- Range: 300 yards
- Batteries: 8x AA, 1x A23
Compare prices at: Bass Pro Shops, Sportsman’s Guide, Cabela’s
Other than the decoy, everything is the same as the GC300. You get a 300-yard range with the remote. You can play 2 of the 12 sounds at once. Backlighting keeps you hunting at night.
The lure has two different decoy toppers to match the call you want to make. There is a night light so your decoy is usable at night.
You can set it to automatically run or move at intermittent periods. The lure even has a speed control dial for when you want the not-rabbit to really party down!
Both the decoy and remote attach to the call for easy transportation.
Pros
- Excellent starter unit
- Includes a decoy lure
Cons
- Limited sounds
Recommendation
Combining a long-range electronic predator call with a moving decoy, the ICOtec Gen2 GC320 is the perfect call for new and budget coyote hunters who want to buy one tool and get excellent results.
5. Best Predator Call for the Money #2
Overview
The Primos 3755 Turbo Dogg is where we start to get into more advanced features. It’s a programmable electronic caller, so you’re not limited by the included calls.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 36
- Programmable? Yes
- Sound Capacity: Over 500
- Range: 150 yards
- Batteries: 11x AA
- Misc: Audio-out port, color LCD on remote, USB port, rotating speaker
36 sounds are included, separated into categories by species. You can plug the unit into your computer to download additional sounds and even Expert Hunts, of which 4 are included out of the box.
Expert Hunts are pre-programmed sequences of different calls, designed to better mimic natural animal sounds rather than repeat the same type of call over and over again.
The remote has a 1.75″ LCD screen, in full color. I’m not sure why the remote’s screen needs color. It works well, though.
The speaker is, frankly, amazing. It has a 25-watt amp and is louder than most other units, even at half the volume.
Primos designed the speaker to produce a wider frequency range than on most other calls, so the sounds are as natural as possible. There’s also an audio-out port so you can add on an additional speaker.
Not everything is roses, though. The remote has a hard time connecting to the caller when the caller is on the ground. You may have to lift it in order to achieve enough range to be usable.
Pros
- Expandable
- Strong, high-fidelity speaker
Cons
- Remote range is sharply reduced when the caller is sitting on the ground
Recommendation
The Primos 3755 Turbo Dogg has amazing audio and you can add many sounds, but the range is lacking.
6. Best Predator Call for the Money #3
Overview
FOXPRO is a higher-end electronic call company and the Deadbone is their entry-level model.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 15
- Programmable? No
- Range: 200 yards
- Batteries: 4x AA, 1x 9v
The caller has 15 sounds included, which is a few more than the industry average of 12. You can’t add more, though.
These 15 sounds are of high-quality and come out clear through the speaker. It’s not the loudest speaker, though.
Each call has its own button on the remote. It’s a small remote, so the text is somewhat cramped. It’s still easy to use, however.
The remote can be used at a distance of 200 yards, but by that point, you need to aim the remote just right. So long as the caller is on a flat part of the ground, you should be able to easily use it at up to 150 yards.
The Deadbone’s caller is made of thin ABS, which cuts down on weight. It feels flimsier than it is, except for the antenna. That part is rather fragile.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Good speaker and sound quality
Cons
- Fragile antenna
- Text on the remote can be hard to read
Recommendation
The FOXPRO Deadbone is a good entry-level predator call that’s made in the USA, though it’s not as tough as it could be.
7. Best Overall Predator Call #1
Overview
The FOXPRO Shockwave is a beast of a predator call, but you’ll pay for it.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 100
- Programmable? Yes
- Sound Capacity: 1000
- Range: 100 yards
- Batteries: 10x AA
- Misc: 4 speakers, many FOXPRO-specific settings, atmospheric sensors
Compare prices at: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Euro Optic
The caller has four speakers, two horn-style for loudness and quality, and two tweeters to round out the sound.
The Shockwave comes with 100 sounds and can support a maximum of 1,000 calls. Like the HammerJack, you have FoxBang and FoxCast features.
But the Shockwave has many more FOXPRO-specific features.
FoxData records information gathered from the built-in atmospheric sensors, such as temperature, moon phase, and even how long you’re at the hunting location.
FoxFusion, FoxMotion, and FoxPitch let you customize the sounds. With them, you can vary the call’s pitch, combine two calls into one, and take advantage of the stereo speakers to fade the sound from one side to the other.
The Shockwave can even automatically control the sound’s volume.
You can add rechargeable batteries and charge them through the charging port. If two speakers aren’t enough, there are two external speaker jacks.
The remote has a large number of features as well and sports a full-color LCD screen. The range is somewhat low, though, at only 100 yards.
Pros
- Very high-quality sound
- The most life-like sound possible
- Many sound customization options
Cons
- Expensive
- Short Range
Recommendation
The FOXPRO Shockwave is the best electronic predator call you can buy today, though it is also the most expensive.
8. Best Overall Predator Call #2
Overview
On the other end of the spectrum is the FOXPRO HammerJack, one of their high-end predator calls.
Specs
- Included Sounds: 211
- Programmable? Yes
- Sound Capacity: 300
- Range: 200 yards
- Batteries: 11x AA
- Misc: FoxJack decoy, FoxBang, FoxCast, 3 jacks, USB port
The HammerJack is a programmable electronic call that comes with 211 sounds: 100 FOXPRO sounds and 111 free calls. You can connect it to your computer and add more, up to a total of 300.
There are external jacks. Two are for additional speakers and there’s one auxiliary jack. There is also a charging port, though it doesn’t come with rechargeable batteries.
FOXPRO includes a decoy lure with the HammerJack, the FoxJack 4. It comes with the Fuzzy Wuzzy topper. You can add on others if you want.
The remote has a black and red LCD screen with a scrolling menu. You can also set two calls as presets.
There are also a couple of other nifty features. FoxBang sets off preset #1 when it detects a gunshot.
FoxCast lets you set up your own call playlists, so you don’t need to fiddle with the remote to have a natural-sounding series of rounds.
Pros
- 3 audio jacks
- Charging port
- Decoy lure
- Expandable
Cons
- Have to buy additional batteries to take advantage of the charging port
Recommendation
The FOXPRO HammerJack is an excellent all-in-one predator attracting system and is expandable if you need even more.
9. Best Overall Predator Call #3
Overview
The Primos 3756 Alpha Dogg stands close to the top of the pack. It excels in sound coverage and quality and can hold a whopping 1,000 calls!
Specs
- Included Sounds: 75
- Programmable? Yes
- Sound Capacity: 1000
- Range: 200 yards
- Batteries: 11x AA
- Misc: Audio-in port, audio-out port, fold-out speakers, USB port
If that’s not enough, there’s an audio-in port, so you can plug in an MP3 player. So, you can use the Alpha Dogg not only for attracting predators but also for serenading your love interest with Careless Whisper.
The Alpha Dogg has three built-in speakers. The central horn speaker boasts the best range and quality.
The side speakers fold in for storage and are adjustable to match the coverage you need. When aimed out to the sides, you get 180 degrees of sound.
The three speakers are powered by two 25-watt amps. You can plug in a fourth speaker for even more coverage.
The remote has a 2.5″ color LCD screen and can be used up to 200 yards away.
The caller has long legs so you can actually use this range without adding a tripod, which itself is easy due to the tripod mounting threads.
Pros
- Adjustable audio coverage
- Folds into a compact cube despite the large size when unfolded
- Huge call sound capacity
Cons
- Mediocre side speakers
- Occasional audio quality issues
- You have to buy additional sounds (or use the audio-in port)
Recommendation
The Primos 3756 Alpha Dog is great when you need to cover a lot of property with your calls.
What Are Electronic Predator Calls and How Do They Work?
Hunters have used animal calls to attract game since the time of atlas and bows. Though, in the beginning, they had to emulate animals with their own voices.
Eventually, people found out how to carve wood into a shape that would resonate at just the right frequency to produce sounds much like those an animal would make. This made calling much easier, and many hunters swear by these calls to this day.
But those calls still come from your location. Predators are wary about people, and rightly so.
Electronic predator calls separate you from the call, so you can hide safely far from the call while it attracts animals.
An electronic call is a tiny computer with some sounds in storage attached to a speaker. You use the remote control to activate and control the sounds produced by the speaker.
Predators (and other animals!) hear these extremely life-like sounds and come to investigate.
You can choose your calls. Common ones include rabbits in distress (a truly disturbing sound), female coyotes howling invitations to “visit” her, and the sound of animals getting into a scuffle.
You can also respond to wild ‘yotes with well-timed calls from an electronic caller. Is there a coyote howling over the next hill? Answer him with your own howl!
Electronic predator calls allow you to more easily call in bobcats, coyotes, crows, foxes, and many other animals, without having to fiddle with a physical caller or practice making the sounds yourself. You can spend your time hunting, instead!
We also have an article on how to use electronic calls if you are interested.
How to Choose A Coyote Call?
Now that you know what electronic predator calls are, let’s help you figure out which one will work best for you.
Built-In Decoy
Though predator calls are good at bringing a coyote or other predator close in, they sometimes have trouble attracting the coyote to where you want it to go.
If the predator doesn’t see anything making the call then it can get suspicious and avoid the area instead of trot in front of your sights.
So, you may want to consider getting a call which comes with a decoy.
Decoy lures resemble cat toys. They’re a fluffball on a wand and have a motor which bounces the lure around. This looks like the movements of a prey animal in distress, which brings the coyotes running!
But decoys aren’t cheap, so you may want to drop this feature if you’re on a budget.
You can always buy a separate decoy later.
Number of Sounds
Electronic calls can come with a dozen sounds or hundreds of sounds. It’s easy to get starstruck by the possibility of a massive sound library, but do you really need that many different calls?
Each “sound” in an electronic call is already a series of sounds. They’ll repeat eventually, but coyotes generally don’t figure that out.
So, while a large variety of sounds can be good for particularly wary predators, most people draw in their targets without needing more than one or two sounds.
Programmable or Not?
Programmable predator calls are a mixed bag.
On the one hand, they vastly increase your call’s flexibility. You can add your own sounds and do interesting things with them.
On the other hand, programmable calls are more expensive and are harder to use. Non-programmable calls just require a single button press to work. You have to dive through menus to find the call you want with programmable predator calls.
If this is your first electronic call then I’d recommend avoiding the programmable calls. If you’ve already used predator calls before or really want to fiddle with settings, then a programmable call may bring you joy and a successful hunt.
Range
How far away do you want the call from your hunting position?
Predator calls have stated ranges from 100 to 300 yards, but you likely won’t be able to actually control the call from that far away. Especially if the unit is on the ground.
Lifting the caller by several feet can help increase your remote’s usable range. But you may not need to put the caller that far away, anyway.
A 300-yard range sounds nice, but even if the coyote walks up to the caller you still have an over 300-yard shot. Most people bring their caller in closer, much closer.
Speakers
Speakers are the caller’s muscles. Without a good speaker, the sounds won’t be life-like and the predator will stay away.
So, sound quality is a large consideration. But it’s not the only one. Coverage and volume are important as well.
Single-speaker calls will throw sound in one direction, which can limit how many coyotes you’ll call in. You can get better coverage by buying a unit with more speakers or take advantage of an audio-out port to add an additional speaker.
Volume is also important because a coyote that can’t hear your call won’t investigate. On the other hand, if you have a small hunting property close to rural homes, then a too-loud device may annoy the neighbors.
Thankfully, you can turn the volume down. But consider how far away you want to attract predators from and ensure that your chosen electronic predator call has enough oomph to throw sound that far.
Top Brands
FOXPRO
FOXPRO is, perhaps, the biggest name in the electronic call business.
They don’t just sell predator calls. They also have deer, elk/moose, snow goose/crow, and turkey calls. FOXPRO also sells apparel and hunting accessories such as predator lights and carrying cases, though they are known primarily for their calls.
FOXPRO is notable for their calls because they do everything in-house. Engineering? They do it. PCB design? Done by their staff. Manufacturing and assembly? All performed in the USA. FOXPRO has been designing, manufacturing, and shipping their products from Pennsylvania for over 15 years.
FOXPRO also teams up with hunters through their Field Staff program.
Field Staff aren’t employees but they work with FOXPRO to perform activities such as working with hunting stores, conducting seminars, and appearing on FOXPRO’s Furtakers TV show.
In exchange, Field Staff are compensated for their time and travel expenses and get to try out new products.
The Furtakers TV show is a YouTube channel run by FOXPRO. They also host a community forum for hunters.
FOXPRO has also innovated and produced many features unseen by other electronic predator call manufacturers, such as the FoxBang and FoxPitch features mentioned above.
In short, FOXPRO makes some of the best electronic calls, does so in the US, and heavily engages with hunters. No wonder they’re such a famous brand.
ICOtec
Another highly-regarded electronic game call manufacturer, ICOtec focuses entirely on attracting animals.
All they sell are calls, decoys, and many sounds to use with them.
These electronic calls are usable with a wide variety of animals. So, while you may buy them for coyote hunting, you can use the same call for wildlife photography or for scaring grackles away from your property.
ICOtec also engages in community outreach. They maintain a database of veteran predator hunters who are willing to tutor newcomers to the sport. ICOtec also has a Prostaff program, similar to the one put on by FOXPRO.
In addition, ICOtec sponsors hunting sports teams such as Songdog Mafia, online shows such as Mountain Lodge Outdoors, and educational outfits such as Tony Tebbe’s Predator University.
Primos Hunting
Though Primos makes some of the best electronic animal calls, they are not a dedicated game call company.
Their product line focuses on the tools used by hunters to get a good shot on game. To this end, they sell hunting blinds, trail cameras, feed & minerals, and trigger sticks. Trigger sticks are shooting sticks with an additional trigger mechanism so you can easily adjust to the specific height you need.
They also sell hunting decoys, choke tubes, dog kennels, and hunting apparel such as gloves, masks, and vests.
Also, hunting calls. They have many of those.
The Dogg series of e-callers, as they call electronic calls, is not the end of their calls. Primos sells box calls, hand calls, diaphragm calls, and more.
While many places sell deer and duck calls, Primos has covered almost every type of animal you may want to hunt, and even some you legally can’t! They even have squirrel calls and owl “Hoot Flutes.”
Primos Hunting also has a television show called TRUTH About Hunting. You can also learn the art of calling through their online and DVD resources.
Primos started in 1976, when the founder, Will Primos, started selling his handmade turkey calls. They were made out of tin cans.
His calls spread by word-of-mouth until stores were asking him to sell his products. Then, in 1983, Will Primos created instructional audio tapes. He went on to develop more hunting gear. Primos Hunting kept expanding and they are the hunting call leader today.
