Bobcat? Fox? It’s a BobFox! Arizona Gray Fox Calling with Matt Avey
Dude, where’s your tail?!
Long time predator caller Matt Avey of Glendale, AZ and I headed out Sunday the 8th for a day with the new Wildlife Technologies Mighty Atom MA-15 predator call (Click Here for More Info). The new predator caller performed flawlessly and we had fun with a large group of javelina on our third set and a few gray fox the rest of the day.
We were calling in a spot that was completely new to Matt and one that I hadn’t been in for the last 21 years. On the last stand of the day we called in a pair of beautiful Arizona gray fox. The one pictured below was the second to arrive at the eighteen minute mark. Without a tail and the length of time it took to come to the stand, I thought it was a young bobcat. Matt wasted no time shooting it, and whispered he’d gotten a better look through his scope and it was actually a gray fox.
Arizona Gray Fox w/ Bobtail
Arizona Gray Fox w/ Bobtail
I haven’t seen anything like this before. The tail didn’t look like it had ever been injured, and appeared to be a genetic flaw.
We had varied success throughout the day and called another pair of fox in a sandy wash with brushy/rocky canyon walls surrounding it.
This gray fox pictured here with the WT Mighty Atom 15 came in charging hard at the 5 minute mark. Matt shot it, and a second fox began barking loudly at us from the brush about 40-50 yards to our west. The second fox very wisely stayed in the brush and didn’t present a shot opportunity. The canyon was so tight, Matt’s gun sounded like a Howitzer going off, and even though I was expecting the shot I still jumped. The canyon shook so hard, it’s no wonder why the other fox fled the scene.
Arizona Gray Fox and Wildlife Technologies Mighty Atom
It was another fun predator calling day in the Arizona outdoors. The mountain lions didn’t cooperate, but calling the javelina and gray fox kept the day lively and had two seasoned predator callers looking forward to the next stand. The Mighty Atom-15 performed well and the sounds were crisp and clear. We’re headed back out in the next few days to kick the tires on an new Wildlife Tech Mighty Atom MA-21 – stay tuned for a report.
Click Here to See the Wildlife Technologies Sound Library (gray fox, javelina, cougars, & more)
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Questions or Comments? info@wildlifecallers.com
Good calling!
Mark Healy
Fun day.
How is the new caller better than the old?
I need a new caller and it is between the WTC and the Fox Pro TOA 24. Anxious to hear about the WTC newest arrival>
Kent
Kent,
Reports from the field with the Mighty Atom MA-15 and the MA-21 are as follows:
I find that the sound clarity of the MA-15 is utterly remarkable. The distinguishable nuances of the animal vocalizations are noticeable from the KAS-2030 large TOA speaker to the Mighty Atom. The MA speaker’s ability to reproduce the range of sound is outstanding. The MA-15 is a 15 volt system and was close to, but not quite as loud as my KAS-2030-ML (big speaker). This is not to say that it is not loud, it is very loud, just not quite as. The first trip to the field with it was to an area I had not been in 21 years, thus allowing me to use the caller in areas not considered my honey holes. The Mighty Atom MA-15 called up ~12 javelina and 4 grey fox.
Bob (from the bobcat post) took an MA-21 to another part of the state for a field test. He reports that the MA-21’s volume was equivalent to the KAS-2030-ML but he too noticed that the Mighty Atom speaker produces a crisp and clear sound that is better than that KAS-2030 TOA large speaker. The increase in voltage obviously made a difference in the volume, thus if big volume is what you’re seeking the MA-21 is the recommendation. Bob’s first stand with the MA-21 produced a pair of gray fox almost immediately to the Adult Gray Fox Distress sound—he let both of the foxes walk away.
Keep in mind, that these field “tests” are anecdotal and merely by ear, and I have not had the opportunity to put a DB meter in front of the KAS-2030 and the MA-15 & MA-21. I will eventually cross that bridge and add some science to this.
Although, battery life was not part of this question, it’s worth bringing up. I ran the MA-15 on fully charged Sanyo Eneloops for several hours on many stands. We started calling at sunrise and stopped at dark. The performance of the caller was the same from start to finish.
Lastly – The Mighty Atom is a tight package and very packable. It packs excellent punch in a size that allows me to backpack call long ridges and canyon rims.
Stay tuned – I will be headed back into the field this weekend for more sound reach testing in a vast canyon area.
Thank you again for your inquiry. Please contact us again if you have more questions.
Mark Healy
Mark
I had a blast calling with you even though the cats didn’t cooperate! I was impressed with the MA-15. The sound quality is world class but it was the flawless response the remote commanded that impressed me the most. Transition between sounds was flawless. I’m convinced that you can’t hide the call from the remote. Anyone who has hunted behind an e-caller will appreciate that. There is nothing worse than getting all set up and can’t hit the call with the remote! Nice caller! It’s equivalent to a cadillac with no seat heaters. I don’t know about you but I don’t need seat heaters.
P.S. In 20 years of calling thats the only dog I’ve ever seen called in with no tail. Pretty cool
Thanks for letting me tag along
Matt
Matt,
Thank you for taking the time and driving as far as you did to come out for single day. I also appreciate the MA-15 comments. I’d forgotten to mention how well the remote worked.
By the way…
After sitting on that tripod stool all day, I’d settle for a simple seat cushion!
I’ll drive your way next time and we’ll do a Flagstaff calling run. There’s a predator caller named Weston up there that we need to meet.
Mark