Wildlife Callers

Traffic Jam Bobcat – While Others are Commuting Ned Burris Goes Calling

Ned gets caught in a typical Arizona traffic jam last week and takes full advantage of his delay getting home. 

 

We appreciate veteran predator caller, Ned Burris sharing another success story with us.  There are several informational calling tactics & take-aways in this post. 

 

Have you ever been driving on the freeways/highways around your hometown and thought wow, that would be a great place to make a stand?  The brush looks right, there are no homes nearby, there’s a good water source, you’ve seen a few coyotes and small critters killed on the road nearby, but you’ve never taken the time to call it or had your gear with you when the urge strikes and time permits.  I’ve been there too, and here’s how a serious predator caller makes the most of his opportunities. 

Ned Burris - AZ Predator Caller

Ned Burris - AZ Predator Caller

Ned Burris was headed home from work last week in west Phoenix and like every other work day, he jumped on the freeway and headed east.  Traffic on the AZ freeway system is never good at 4pm, but this particular day it was exceptionally bad.  Ned knew he was going to be stuck for more than an hour trying to get home.  Most people would have cranked up the radio, or called their aunt they haven’t talked to in a year and crawled along the freeway.  Ned, on the other hand, hit an exit ramp and got back on the freeway in the opposite direction.  In just a few minutes he was past the residential sprawl on the west side of Phoenix and looking for places to call. 

Ned, who knows how to maximize opportunities like this, keeps a few hand calls in his truck, a reliable 20 gauge shotgun, and a camo jacket.  He exited the freeway in some agricultural areas that were surrounded by thick stands of salt cedars and mesquite trees.  He’s called around areas like this in the past, and knows that bobcats love to lay-up in the thickets around the fields.  Today was no exception.  (more…)

Burris’ Two-Tone Tom Bobcat. Hand Call & E-Call Combo Bring Him Quick

Ned Burris calls & shoots this fine Arizona bobcat using a Tally-Ho open reed and his FoxPro electronic game call. 

 

Ned emailed us a short synopsis of this day in the field.  We liked the story and the calling tactics were top-notch.  We wrote it up and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  

 

Ned and his brother Mike Burris teamed up for a predator hunt on Sunday November 8th.  Ned, you might recall, was pictured in this post: http://tinyurl.com/yzugd5p about the 2009 SW Fur Takers Rendezvous.  He’s a long-time Arizona predator caller, and all-around wildlife calling professional.  His brother Mike is a club officer for the Arizona Predator Callers in Mesa, Arizona and an experienced caller as well. 

 

Ned Burris - AZ Predator Caller

Ned Burris - AZ Predator Caller

 

Ned (pictured on right) and Mike were calling some areas that had produced some nice bobcats in the past.  Ned was only shooting cats and was armed with his Browning 10-gauge.  Mike was also armed with a shotgun and was only going to shoot…well…anything that came in! 

The Burris brothers have been predator hunting all over Arizona for many years.  They know exactly where to go to target specific predator species.  They also have the experience and tactics to make the most of every calling day.

 

 

The first two stands of the morning were blanks, and the pair pressed on.  On the third stand, Ned was using his FoxPro electronic predator call as well as his Tally-Ho open reed mouth call.  At about 15 minutes this well-spotted 22 pound bobcat came into view in some heavy brush at 35 yards. (more…)

Wildlife Photography- Tips from a professional

Wildlife Callers would like to introduce you to Chad Messa of Mesa Sky Wildlife Phtography. We are pleased to have Chad contribute to our blog and hope you enjoy the information he can provide.  Chad is a professional photographer based in the SouthEast U.S. This will be the first of a two part post as Chad has a lot of info to share with us. Please look for the second part in the next day or two.

 

Chad uses hand calls and would like to expand his calling by using an electronic wildlife caller in the near future.  Chad is the second wildlife photographer that has agreed to contribute to our blog on a periodic basis, we are happy to share his story and his photographs with our readers.

 

Mesa Sky Wildlife Photography

My name is Chad Messa, I am the owner/operator of Mesa Sky Wildlife Photography and we are located in south Mississippi and Louisiana.

 I got started in wildlife photography when I was about 16 years old. My older sister gave me a Yashica film camera and even though I had no idea what I was doing, I took it into the woods every chance I had. As years went by I kept shooting and always kept that camera with me in my truck. Back then I was shooting stuff like birds, alligators and turtles, just local Louisiana wildlife.

 The photograph I took that made me realize I could make a living at this was of a captive jaguar. I learned that if I tried hard enough and read as much as possible about photography, I could make this a career.

Chad Messa Jaguar photo
Chad Messa Jaguar photo

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Update – Hate Mail and Harassment for Idaho Wolf Hunter Robert Millage

We have been following the news coming out of Idaho since the first legal wolf hunting season opened  (see our previous post here: http://tinyurl.com/nrxzjx ). 

 

 

 

Successful Idaho Wolf Hunter Robert Millage
Successful Idaho Wolf Hunter Robert Millage

Robert Millage, the Idaho hunter that called in and harvested the first wolf, has been compared to convicted dog fighting felon Michael Vick and had his personal and business contact information posted on Craig’s List.  I guess no one  in the hunting community should be surprised. (more…)

First Wolf Harvested in Idaho – That’s Right, It was Called In

Robert Millage of Kamiah ID, uses a hand call to attract and harvest Idaho’s first legal wolf.

 

Millage Called this Wolf with Coyote Distress Sounds - Hand Call

Millage Called this Wolf with Coyote Distress Sounds - Hand Call

 

The Idaho Statesman reports that two wolves were legally harvested on the much anticipated opening day of Wolf hunting in the state of Idaho.  One wolf was shot while harassing a camper’s horses and this one pictured above, was called in at first light on opening day.  The hunter, Robert Millage, imitated the cries of a distressed/dying coyote and got an immediate reaction from this female wolf.  (more…)