Miscellaneous Moonbat

What’s noteworthy here is not that the news stories are different – there will always be differences from reporter to reporter & editor to editor, and we realize “news” is written for the benefit of the paper and for profitable ad revenues.  What’s most interesting, and somewhat fascinating, is the way some people can be so easily manipulated to homicidal hostility by an article that’s had no independent review. 

When a reader takes the time to send me an email that reads: 

Comment: “I’d F$#&ing shoot you in the head if I saw you in person. You filthy scumbag murderer of non-human life.” 

It’s a safe bet this person has been, and is completely unaware they have been, manipulated.  Remember, this person, armed with nothing more than an unverified story from a newspaper, has just suggested that he/she would commit murder to avenge the death of an animal that was legally hunted, humanely killed, and then consumed as food and preserved as a trophy.  

There were several others emails & postcards like this.  Not one of these windbags had the courage to identify themselves.  These are the morons with “Keep Abortion Legal” and “Meat is Murder” bumper stickers juxtaposed on the back of their Honda hybrids.  

You wonder, are people manipulated by the media?  I’d say alarmingly so, but I’ve put the stories below for your review.  You be the judge. We want to know what you think, please take a moment to comment after you read this! 

The story by the East Valley Tribune has been on our blog for more than a week.  You can see the blog post here:  East Valley Trib/Wildlife Callers Blog.  And you can see the full Tribune Article here:  EV Trib Article.  

The Tribune article had just a couple of small errors, and was written in a balanced manner.  The reporter and the editor didn’t go out of their way to make it an inflammatory, anger inciting piece.  We even asked our readers to thank the reporter Ed Taylor for his objective coverage of our story and the sport of predator hunting.  

From that article we received one – that’s right, just one lonely piece of hate mail.  That letter, albeit anti-hunting, contained no profanity.  The writer was most concerned that we were killing endangered animals and thought we should be ashamed of ourselves.   For the record, mountain lions are NOT endangered and with appropriate licenses are legal to hunt.  Furthermore, we are not not ashamed of ourselves.  

But then… 

The Arizona Republic released their version of the story.  I gave my interview to both reporters within a seven day time frame.  Nothing changed and I gave both reporters the same information.  Here is Republic reporter Astrid Galvan’s version:  Arizona Republic Article. 

Wow!  What a difference in content, and what a difference Astrid’s wording (and most likely the editor too) had over the readers.  We’ve enjoyed a slew of hate mail…er…uh…I mean Liberal Love Letters this week.  The inaccuracies in her article are many, but I’ll just point out three major errors.  

First:  

The Republic originally reported that I “invented” the Mighty Atom caller.  Someone must have called them out on that headline because that wording disappeared in a couple of days.  The Mighty Atom was invented by and is produced by Wildlife Technologies in Manchester, New Hampshire.  I NEVER said I invented the Mighty Atom – that headline was simply not true.  

Second:  

Galvan quotes me as saying,  “Mountain lions were just a new challenge,” Healy said. “They’re just trophies. The last lion I shot is now a mountain lion rug in my house.” 

Several of my thoughts and statements from the interview have been condensed to 24 total words and the word “just” is added twice, resulting in a sensational, callous statement.  I’d call this a mild case of Yellow Journalism.  Was it effective?  Yes!  The homicidal Liberal Love Letters poured in.  

If you’d care to read a more accurate depiction of what I said, read the Tribune article.   

Our company and hunters worldwide value and respect the animals we hunt, nature, the outdoors, and biodiversity that is managed for long term sustainability.  Modern game managers have learned from the excesses of the past (e.g. the American Bison slaughter) and hunters value harvest limits based on scientific research & data.  We at Wildlife Callers hunt ethically and within the game management harvest/kill objectives and laws of the areas we’re hunting.  

Third: 

Galvan states that I have called in 16 lions in a single year.  If only it were so easy!  

Let me be very clear:  In a period of 4.5 hunting seasons we have called in 16 lions that we’ve seen.  We do not count the lions that vocalize back at us and don’t come in, just the lions we actually see are counted.  Because of a combination of bad shooting (yeah…it happens) and lions being as elusive as they are, a mere 3 of them have been shot and killed.  It’s no shooting gallery out there.  

Of course, this misprint makes it seem very easy to call and kill lions and the easily swayed suckers, Che Guevara T-shirt crowd, and low-hanging mental fruit jumped all over it.  

A Final Note: 

To Galvan’s credit she did convey that the Mighty Atom callers will call a variety of animals, and that they specifically will call mountian lions.  She also conveyed that the ISE was hosting a predator calling panel at their Phoenix show.  That ISE show and panel were huge successes, and we thank her for that coverage.  

My knee-jerk reaction to this was to seek a retraction from the editor.  Then I realized, the editor has a job that goes beyond the story.  He must sell papers & drive web hits, or be without a job.  Traditional media is now competing with the new online world, The New York Times print edition hovers near extinction, and humans the world over  have been empowered by the blogosphere and social media.  Some clever wording creates strong emotion, emotion creates controversy, and controversy creates web hits.  As the beneficiary of some of these hits, I didn’t seek a retraction.  Wildlife Callers remains very busy and the mouth-breathing letter writers have most likely forgotten about us.  

As far as the Love Letter writers – we don’t respond to idiots and didn’t engage them.  These are the kind of self-proclaimed enlightened people that have a “humane bug release jar” in their house for safe kitchen cockroach removal and the carnage of ten million bugs on the grille & windshield of their sticker-covered Subaru.  We’d never have a sensible conversation with them. 

Anyone who would threaten my life over my passion for hunting, should become familiar with the work of Randall Eaton Ph.D.   True “diversity” requires education and knowledge beyond your own emotional opinions.  

Major Point!! 

There is a lesson here.  There are people who claim the mantles of diversity and freedom, who’d take away your right to hunt and fish tomorrow if they could.  And, they’d do it all on naked emotion.  We need to support groups like SCI, the NRA, and other organizations that keep these people at bay.  

Thank you again for reading our blog and supporting ethical hunting.  We would love to hear what you think on this,  go ahead and sound off in our comments section!

Subscriptions to the blog are free!  Just put your email in the SUBSCRIPTION section on the upper right side of this page. 

Good calling & hunting, 

Mark Healy 

mark@wildlifecallers.com

The Wildlife Callers' Crew - Marc Reindell, Dave Martens, and Mark Healy

This past weekend at the University of Phoenix Stadium, thousands of fishermen, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts  from around Arizona and neighboring states turned out for the Phoenix International Sportsman’s Expo.  Three hundred vendors from around the world were on hand to show & sell their products, offer advice, and entertain the Expo guests with various breakout sessions.  Predator calling was a very popular breakout session and we’re hoping to offer it in future ISE events. 

The Predator Panel Members (from left) Rich Higgins, Mark Healy (standing), The "Beastmaster" Gerry Blair, Ron Day of AZ G&F, & Dr. Frank Turkowski

The world-renowned predator hunter, author, and calling veteran, Gerry Blair, was in good spirits and entertained the audience with his quick wit & humor.  When asked about scent control on a predator calling stand, he said hunters need to pay attention to their downwind side at all times and take a shower at least once every seven days.  Sage advice from an industry original!

Phoenix ISE & Wildlife Callers Predator Calling Panel

Steve Craig, who couldn’t make the show, was replaced at the last minute by the very knowledgeable and informative speaker, Dr. Frank Turkowski.  Dr. Turkowski, a US Navy Professor and the author of Coyotes, Trappers, Sheepherders, and Urbanites  fielded a host of questions from the audience and his lifetime of coyote research really showed.  Anyone interested in his book can find it here:

Biologist Ron Day was on hand from the Arizona Game & Fish Department to answer questions about predator behavior,  questions about hunting seasons, rules & regs, and methods of take.  One of the more interesting topics that he brought up for predator callers in Arizona is a possible change in using shotguns to legally harvest mountain lions.  If the change happens, Mr. Day said that shotguns shooting 00 buck would become a legal method of take and we can stop carrying two guns to every stand.  Keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned. 

Rich Higgins of Predator Professionals Forum, who was very instrumental in bringing this panel together, took questions about coyote calling and provided insight as to why coyotes respond to prey distress and varied coyote vocalizations.  Rich talked in detail about the seven triggers that make coyotes respond/come in and ways to address these triggers with sound on every stand.  Rich also spent the weekend with us at our Wildlife Callers’ booth, taking dozens of questions from Expo guests. 

Mark Healy of Wildlife Callers took several questions from the audience on mountain lion scouting procedures, calling using recorded cougar vocalizations, sound volume & sequences, and rifle caliber selection for hunting the big cats.  I also ended up with a question or two on stand selection and a few jokes about Scottsdale Cougars.  It was apparent the audience members were ready to call in their first lion. 

The questions were coming quick and we could have easily used another hour on stage.  When our hour was up we turned the stage over to the ISE Pro Fly Fishing Panel members and headed back to our booth to continue the predator hunting & calling discussions there.

John Kirk of the International Sportsman’s Expo did a great job putting this panel together and did our whole sport a huge favor in helping us present predator calling to an audience of outdoor enthusiasts with mixed interests.  Please take the time to thank him by sending an email here:  info@sportsexpos.com 

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing to Wildlife Callers’ Blog!

Questions & comments are always appreciated. 

Best regards and good calling,

Mark Healy

mark@wildlifecallers.com or 480-882-1210

You can view the entire article by clicking here

Wildlife Callers LLC, Mark Healy & The Wildlife Technologies Mighty Atom 21

The article was a mix of local event, sports, outdoors, business, and new product reporting.  With all of the negative reporting on hunting in general, and the fact that many reporters would have become fixated on the look of my rifle, we appreciate Mr. Taylor’s objective reporting on our sport. 

You can thank him via email at etaylor@aztrib.com or by clicking on his name at the top of the article.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Wildlife Technologies Mighty Atom 21 caller in the article can click here.

Thank you again for supporting Wildlife Callers and reading our blog.  And, a big thank you to Ed Taylor and the East Valley Tribune for covering this story. 

Comments & Questions are always welcome!

Good calling,

Mark Healy

mark@wildlifecallers.com

480-882-1210

If a regular dog comes a runnin’ when it hears a can opener in the kitchen (a conditioned response), then it stands to reason that a coyote can also be conditioned by fooling it with a prey distress call, and then allowing it to barely escape with it’s life amid a hail of bullets. 

That lucky coyote might still come to investigate a screamin’ rabbit sound, but the chances of it running in full-blast time and again are diminished with every negative encounter or impression – simple conditioning.  Because of Mother Nature’s mixed message – sometimes the screamin’ sound is natural and associated with food – sometimes the screamin’ comes with smelly lumps of camouflage shaped like humans and loud bangs from predator rifles – coyotes naturally become conditioned to be cautious. 

Justin Blauwet and His January Iowa Coyote

Using their new Wildlife Technologies Mighty Atom 15 electronic predator call, the Blauwet’s have called several of the “uncallable” coyotes. If you own Other Brands of Predator Callers you most likely have a series of sounds that will allow you to recreate this sequence.

Here’s how they do it:

Jim Blauwet called and told me the vast majority of callers in his area use the same ol’, same ol’ rabbit distress over and over and sometimes get lucky, but most of the time they don’t see a thing.  So, on his first stand with his new Mighty Atom 15, he started with just 3 or 4 Adult Female Communicative Howls.  He got a response right away from a one or two coyotes.  Jim & his son Justin sat quiet for about 5 full minutes. 

After five minutes had passed, Jim hit the Adult Male Communicative for 3 or 4 howls.  Two coyotes answered right away.  One of the coyotes was very close and the other seemed further away.  Most guys, me included, would have hammered out another howl right away.  Jim, knowing that these coyotes had been called before, chose to sit tight and quiet for another five full minutes. 

Jim and Justin had been scanning hard for approaching coyotes and hadn’t seen a thing up to this point.  Jim then used the Adult Male Territorial Howl and got another immediate response from a single coyote.  Jim told me the coyote was very close at this point, and the only thing separating them was a small ridge.  Jim was tempted to hit another howl, but thought better of himself and sat for another five full minutes.  Jim told me the day was getting old and the bright orange sunset over the snowy, white-capped landscape was absolutely stunning. 

Nothing had come into view yet, and Jim let out a Beta Male Challenge Howl.  Again he got a quick response from a coyote that had snuck in very close.  Jim figured it was just a matter of time before the coyote trotted in, so he sat still for another five minutes. 

At the end of five minutes, Jim decided to try and close the deal with the Adult Coyote Distress sound.  As soon as he hit the Coyote Distress, he saw the coyote emerge on the top of the ridge and start downhill toward the Mighty Atom.  Jim said the coyote stalled out and at about 175 yards from the caller, began to hesitate.  Jim leveled his rifle and took careful aim.  Bang!  His shot looked good through the scope – so he thought.  Jim thinks he either hit a tree branch or just had a good ol’ fashioned miss, because the coyote just trotted off and quickly went out of sight.   

Knowing that coyotes can and do still come after hearing a rifle shot, Jim immediately turned the call over to Coyotes Fighting Over Food.  He no sooner looked up from the remote and saw a big male coyote charging hard down a snow-covered hill toward the speaker.  Jim said the coyote was going to be at the speaker in just a few seconds, so he got ready with his rifle.  As the coyote was closing the distance and picking up speed coming down the hill, he (the coyote) hit a patch of ice and lost his footing.  The coyote was now sliding on his chest with all four legs trying to get traction.  The coyote couldn’t get back to his feet, and eventually slid into a big snow covered tree! 

Jim, trying not bust-up laughing, watched the tree for a few seconds, and the coyote eventually walked out covered in snow, seemingly dazed from his ordeal.  The coyote seemed a little less interested than he had just a few seconds earlier and the big dog started walking into a low ditch that would eventually take him back toward the area he’d come from. 

Jim told me he thought about shooting at the coyote, but knew that his son Justin was seated above the ditch and the coyote was going to walk right below him.  Jim said he waited for what seemed like a long time, but probably wasn’t but a few seconds – BANG!  and then… nothing but quiet.  Jim slowly got up and walked toward the area Justin was sitting.  Justin signaled that he’d shot the coyote and Jim headed down the hill to meet him.  Jim grabbed his camera and got a few shots of Justin holding up the nice winter coyote. 

Since this original phone call, Jim has called us a few times to let us know that the technique is still paying off.  He was more than happy to share with all of the readers here at Wildlife Callers, and we thank him for that.  Success with coyotes that get a lot of pressure isn’t easy – Jim & Justin make a simple sound switch and completely turn the tables on their coyotes. 

NOTE:  I asked Jim what volume he was playing.  Jim kept the volume in the middle range the whole time – mostly number three.  Jim figured since he was getting such good responses why switch and get loud without needing to.  We can’t argue with that logic – it certainly works. 

As Jim & Justin collect more photos and send ‘em our way, we’ll put them in our photo album for everyone to enjoy!!

If you like these articles, subscriptions to the blog are FREE!!  Just put your email address in the upper right hand of this page and you’ll get new articles sent to your email automatically.  We absolutely WILL NOT sell your email to anyone and we won’t spam your inbox with sales garbage.  Just news and blog updates. 

If you have any questions or comments, please put them below.  We sincerely appreciate everyone stopping by and reading.  We’re always trying to put out useful/meaningful/informational blog posts that help predator callers create more success in the field.  We’d like to hear from all of you – especially if something you read here worked for you too!

Have a great calling season,

Mark Healy

mark@wildlifecallers.com

1-877-734-1010

I’ve always had the hunting bug, but my father was not a hunter – not even a little bit.  He used to take me deer hunting and tell me to “go look for some over there” pointing to a mountain.  He’d nap in the truck and I’d wander around aimlessly.  Then, a local teacher and predator caller, Ken Brink, took me hunting in 1986.  Bang!!  Three coyotes on the first stand and I was forever hooked.  After a good day calling, there was never a string of bad days that could deter me from going again – I always knew my next good day was eventually coming. 

Here are a few predator callers who are passing the fun and addiction to people who can spread the word and keep the fire burnin’.

Ned and Liz Burris spent a cold November Sunday calling together, and Liz called in her first bobcat.  Liz could have been discouraged after 5 gray & rainy stands without seeing anything (she didn’t even see the coyote Ned shotgunned on the first stand until it was dead & down), but Ned kept her spirits up and it paid off.  What an outstanding day calling!

Liz Burris and Her First Arizona Bobcat - Nov 2009

Ned Burris and a Shotgunned Arizona Coyote - Nov 2009

Ned Burris, if you will recall, is an excellent bobcat caller with both hand calls and electronic calls.  You can see his previous posts about calling bobcats by clicking HERE and HERE .  Ned & Liz, thank you for the great story and photos. 

Mike Healy from Kuna, Idaho submitted this story video of he and his son calling coyotes near McCall Idaho.

Mike writes:

On a recent Idaho calling trip near McCall, we started our day off just as the sun was coming up, my son Carl is just starting to appreciate predator calling and how much fun it can be.  I let out a female coyote howl with my Wildlife Technologies KAS-2030-MM electronic caller and the response was stunning.  Nearby coyotes produced a rally howl that was so loud it made us both a bit nervous.  A coyote came in within a few minutes and I shot it at close range with my .243 Savage rifle. 

I enjoy every minute of predator calling, but Carl sometimes gets bored when we have a series of stands that don’t produce anything.  When we have a stand that produces a coyote or two, it has a way of making up for all the times we got skunked.  Keep those kids out there with you – the memories last a lifetime. 

Finally, here’s a few shots from the last two novice groups I took with me on some morning gray fox stands near Globe, Arizona. 

Marc Reindell and Harrison 'Bedhead' Healy with an Early Season Gray Fox

Justin & Tyler Gross and Alex Tackett Sporting "Civilian Camo"

Tyler Gross and his .410 Shotgun – Ready to “Tip ‘Em Over”

Yeah, sometimes it’s not easy taking the kids, but it’s worth it.  We all know how addictive this sport is – this is one addiction that’s worth passing on!!  Even if the kids don’t want to shoot, get them to spend some time outdoors and let them see some wildlife that you call in, up close, and look for the smiles, they’ll be there!

Good calling to everyone and thank you for your comments!

Mark Healy

mark@widlifecallers.com