Electronic coyote callers do two things a mouth call can't. You can set the caller out away from your position, so a coyote or fox comes in looking at the sound (or the decoy beside it) instead of at you, which makes it less likely to wind you. You also run it from a distance, so you're not moving when a predator is staring a hole through the brush. An e caller keeps working in freezing weather, too, when mouth calls get unreliable.
Think about how you hunt and how much you like to tinker. Programmable callers like the ICOtec models let you load your own sounds. Beyond that, compare sound capacity, remote range, speaker volume and decoy support, all listed on each product page. Any electronic predator caller here works the same basic way, so pick the one whose controls and sound list fit your stands. Spare remotes and other add-ons are in Electronic Caller Accessories.
Night hunters often pair a caller with a thermal so they can watch the whole field while the call does the work. A thermal monocular with a rangefinder lets you spot and range a coyote as it circles in. Questions about a model? Call (309) 781-8421.
The right one matches how you hunt. If you want to load your own sounds, look at a programmable unit like the ICOtec Nomad+ or Outlaw+. For a ready-to-run caller, compare the FOXPRO X24, X360 and XWAVE with the Lucky Duck Revolt line on sound library, volume and remote range.
Not during regular duck seasons. Federal rules ban electronic calls for ducks and other migratory birds, with narrow exceptions such as the light goose conservation order. Predators are a different matter: most states allow e-callers for coyotes and foxes, but rules vary, so check your state regulations before you hunt.
They work well when you set them up right. Coyotes often circle to get downwind of a sound, so placing the caller away from you lets them commit to it without smelling you first. Start quiet, give each stand time, and keep still. The remote means you never have to move to change sounds.
That changes with the season. Prey distress sounds like rabbit and rodent cries pull coyotes most of the year. In late winter, when coyotes pair up, howls and challenge barks can work better, and in summer pup distress gets attention. An electronic caller lets you switch sounds on the same stand.