Author: Frank Ross

Steve Collins.

Every good car salesman knows that the chances of turning a "Be Back" into a commission slip are slim. In the world of predator callers there are no "Be Backs." You either close the deal immediately, or you move on to the next spot. Sure, occasionally a dog can be drawn back after an errant shot, and sometimes you can stop a running dog with a call, but that happens about as often as cashing a Power Ball ticket.

Steve Collins captured the title of National Champion Predator Caller during the Kansas Fur Harvester's competition in 1991, and teamed with his longtime partner Corey Anderson, has loaded more dogs into the truck than any caller that I know of. In my book, that entitles him to the far more important title of "Closer."

With the winter fur season tentatively lingering in the distance, I wanted to sit at the feet of the master. Since Collins is now comfortably ensconced in his office as operation's manager of Cabela's new retail store in Dundee, Michigan, I had to settle for a phone call.

"Anyone can call in a coyote. I respect the guy that can call them in and kill them once they arrive. Especially, the guy that gets 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 5 -they've got their act together," he added. That got my attention like the jolt that follows the first trigger squeeze on a cold January morning.

Control
"I have done seminars entitled "Coyote Control" and often people attend, expecting me to be a talking about a government program, but what I'm talking about is controlling the coyote when it gets close. You don't want them to be running in that last 100 yards. That's when it gets tough for me, when they're coming full tilt. I want them to come in slowly, cautiously and stop, preferably broadside at 50 yards," he said.

"When I go in blind, and don't know if there are coyotes in the area, I usually start with a squealer or coaxer call. You never know if one is lying down out there, a hundred yards away, and doesn't know you're there either. I go with a soft series of 2 or 3 calls on the squealer and then, if I get no response, I switch to the rabbit in distress. Problem is, the more franticly you blow the rabbit call, the quicker they will come. That's a mistake that callers make all too often. Leave gaps in your calling pattern that will cause them to stop and listen. When you call rapidly, with no gaps, he's like a missile with target lock, coming in hard for the kill. When you coax them in with soft squeals, that last 100 yards, closing the deal is much easier. I've gone to checking my watch as I call. One of my weaknesses is calling too often, and the watch helps me with timing when the adrenaline is pumping. I like to call for a minute, and be quiet for two or three. Slow down your rate of calling, and you're going to increase your rate of closure," he said in an encouraging tone.

"Calling requires a seasonal approach. From September to late December, I usually go with prey specific calls and then fall back on youthful coyote vocalizations if that fails to draw them in. During the breeding cycle, the game changes because dogs are focused on one thing, and it isn't eating. Let's concentrate on the largest time frame, when the ruse is easier to establish, he said."

"Think of it this way," he began. "When you walk down a street, and don't recognize someone, you're not inclined to react. But if you make eye contact with them, they are almost compelled to respond with a smile, a wave, or even a verbal response. Coyotes are affected by the same urges. They're gregarious animals. It's almost as if they can't help but acknowledge vocalizations. Challenges and barking can cause problems, but a youthful meet and greet call will bring them out for a scratch and sniff session almost without fail."

Steve Collins and Jim Martinowsky pose with a day's work.

"Most successful coyote closers are real good at socialization calls. They're accomplished at not offending the listener. There's a fine line between adult and young dog vocalizations. When I sit down with guys that have been at it 25 years, like I have, we'll argue over what type of conversation we're hearing. So that will give you a good idea of how difficult it is to determine what to say with your howler. If you get too hard on the call with aggressive barks, you will challenge adults and run off young of the year. If the adult you are challenging has been called in and educated with a near miss, the conversation is over, and you can head back to the heater in your truck. That's why the rabbit in distress call is so popular. It's non-threatening, and it rings the dinner bell."

The Tools
After lamenting over the decided lack of coyotes in Michigan, I mentioned calls, and the tone of his voice changed dramatically as he began to discuss his various calls. "It's a lot like bass fishing. You start out with a few plastic worms, and the next thing you know you've got a tackle box full of specialty lures. You can't beat the old rabbit call. It's very effective, but when you're in an area that's been called hard it's the one call that they always hear. When a coyote that's been called in to the tune of a squealing rabbit hears that familiar squeal red flags pop up. On the other side of the coin, when you get into an area that hasn't been called before you can sure tell. They come running with their tails up, looking for a free meal," he added.

"Beginners should start with a closed reed call. Beyond the problem of reeds freezing up on very cold days, they're easier to use. A call is just like a band instrument. You need to know what sound is going to come out of that instrument when you touch it, and the closed reed calls are easier to use in that respect. I use an open reed Critter Caller Magnum. It produces a wide variety of sounds, and carries a long way. In addition to the magnum, I always carry the large size Critter Caller as well, but I also carry a single reed turkey diaphragm to squeal with. It's always in my mouth. I can make a lot of different sounds with it as well as squealing, so it's very versatile and most importantly, it can be used without hands. Some guys use a bulb squealer, sewn into a bag that's tied to their scope. The bag softens the volume, and keeps it handy, but I prefer the diaphragm call. Woodpecker or flicker calls are also easy to use, and it's something they have usually never heard before."

Cliff Hangers
"In general, with coyote vocalization, the easiest way to get into trouble is barking. When a dog starts barking, you're usually not going to see him. He'll hang up and just sit there, barking back at you. When a dog hangs up, it is usually because it has either seen or smelled something that has caused concern, perhaps your truck, or he has been called before and shot at. At this point, using a squealer, or a call that he hasn't heard before will raise his level of curiosity to the point that he has to come and look. Woodpecker or Flicker calls are easy to use, and work well to coax them into your kill zone. The urge to eat is dominant over fear, and a squeal of any type translates into an easy meal in the coyote vernacular. The call that you want to use is one that isn't readily associated with the memory of a muzzle blast."

Setting Up The Sale
"Some guys like to lay prone, on top of a rise, so they can shoot down. I've never been comfortable with that. I prefer to be halfway down a rise or better yet -at the bottom. I like to have a clear view, for 100 yards, in any direction the dog might come from. I want the coyote to skyline against the horizon, not me. I want to be able to see it coming down the rise and have time to get into position for a shot."

"I always sit in front of cover, never behind it. Guys who lay down prone can move maybe 90 degrees, but when sitting up you can use shooting sticks or a bi-pod and move 180 degrees, if you're careful. Like I said, anyone can call in a dog. You've got to learn the art of closing the deal. The worst part of not taking care of business is that you've run off an educated coyote. They're hard enough to get in the first time, and after getting their degree it gets even tougher -if not impossible. Coyote control, and closing the deal is what it's all about, unless you just like to look at them running," he added with a grin that came through the phone line.

I hung up the phone and made a commitment to myself. This winter, I'm going to be a closer. No more "Be Backs" for me.

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