I am heading over to SA in July for 8 days of hunting and was going to bring some predator calls with me.

Anyone have success on jackals or caracals using calls?

Suggestions or stories are appreciated.

I always have mine in my pocket. Sometimes you can stop a jackal that is running, aand get a shot off while it looks back. I have called for caracal at night, without success.

Some PHs don't seem to like them----

I called in a beautiful red duiker with one one morning from the wooden deck of our East African Style Safari Tent in the Kwa-Zulu-Natal area. We also stopped the black backed jackal that I later shot with the predator call. Funny as it sounds, we also had some hippo come in closer to investigate the noise when we were using it near a pod of hippos!

Kirk Mason in Zim has great success on all kinds of predators and small antelope with calls. I took a slug of them last year, but we never had time to play with them. Kirk uses amplified recorded calls for lion and hyena. I think one of those digital set-ups would be perfect.

Thanks for the info. I am bringing a handheld electronic call that has several different sounds, a few mouth calls, and one or two hand held squeakers. Figure I'll throw them in the fanny pack and give them a try during the end of the day.

I called in a jackal and monster civet last year in Lemco. The civet tried to slip in downwind and my son shot it at 5 steps. The problem in Africa is there are some big cats out there and you never know when one will pay the dying rabbit a visit!

Jackal called in using an electronic call.

Had this guy come running in Namibia. we were using an electronic call

Have called several jackal but not with a "US dying rabbit call"...more of a whistle call blown "herky jerky". One time after I finished calling at first light, I got this strange feeling, turned around, and looked into the eyes of a male lion sitting 30 yards away staring at me. My back was up against a tree but I have to tell you I have quit calling after this, unless I have a buddy with his back to mine.

I used an electronic call on my trip that just ended, and a common Duiker showed up.

The sounds we used reminded me of a "haunted house"

The call will make a klipspringer show itself. I've had Bushbuck and Hyena come to the call too.
Rich Elliott

I tried using predator call for jackal last week. I could never get one to show up.

I'll be taking two or three predator calls with me back to Africa in 30 days.

Some suggestion: By all means, bring your calls. Just to get your expectations about success to a reasonable level, first ask your HO if the area has been subject to calling. If the ranch/area has not been hunted by locals with caling equipment, you can expect some success. However if your HO tells you that "the guys have been very succesful in calling in blackbacked jackall..." well be prepared to have to deal with some very "educated" critters, and don't set your hopes for success to high!

RM700,

First time I hear of baboon responding to a call. But it figures: Baboon is an "omniverous" animal - just look at those canine teeth! So if he hears a "dying rabbit", or "small antelope distress call" he is very likely to go see about a meal that he can surely grab off a lessor predator! Good for you!

I too have had duiker come to a call. In my case 100% males [4 out of 4], never had any female came to investigate. Males comming in all looked, well to me at least, 'ready to fight'. Are your experiences the same?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Hutty,

Where in South Africa are you going to hunt?

I have called in and had clients kill more than 10 jackals this last month. Even during the full moon we had 5 kills for one night.

You can use electronic and mouth calls they all work well. Use them the same way as you would when calling coyotes.

If you get the opportunity go call during the night and during the day time.

I have called in the following predators.

Jackal, Cape Fox, Brown Hyena, African Wild cat, Serval, Civet, Genet, Grey Duiker and even and Eland.

Hope you enjoy your stay.

Gerhard

I was experimenting with a predator call on the shores of a lake last year, and had a medium size python (9ft.) swim right up to me. No question that he came to the call, interesting.

Jakkals thanks for the info. I will be hunting in Limpopo outside the tiny town of Vivo. I do know that no one has used varmit calls in the last year or two on the property. Should be interesting to say the least. Hopefully I have some success. Going to throw a bunch of calls in the fanny pack and see what happens.

Send you an PM.

Gerhard

Hey Gerhard, don't forget the steenbok we called in up near Andrew's place. For some reason the springhares really liked the sounds of those calls too.

Here are a few critters that Gerhard called in for me a couple years ago.

Cape fox:





Black backed jackal:





Same jackal, showing the back:


I have called in jackals with hand calls in South Africa and Namibia. It's good fun, much like calling coyotes here in New Mexico.

Hey Troy,

Its time you come and visit again I have a couple of honey holes waiting for you.

Hutty,

Enjoy the trip and good luck.

Gerhard

Very nice, DesertRam. That black backed Jackal's coloration is outstanding!

Gerhard, I'm ready man. I'm still hoping for next July (is that really a whole year away? ). This time we have to hit them a little harder.

UEG, he sure was a pretty thing. Too bad I couldn't get any of my African friends to skin the stinkin' thing. I did get a skull mount made, though it's still waiting for me over there. Maybe next year I'll be better prepared and will be able to get a hide tanned.

Oh man, that would have made an absolutley beautiful full body mount! I sorry to hear that you couldn't get it skinned and mounted. They are a bomb to hunt!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Very nice, DesertRam. That black backed Jackal's coloration is outstanding!

Hmm, seems like a good excuse for Gerhard to call in another big male for me.

You are welcome any time.

Gerhard

Jthunt: You're kidding right? Pythons (all snakes) have no ears.

Armbar

Armbar beat me to it... Snakes are deaf.