Dear Major:

You were my teacher when I took the Furtakers of America's Trapper College at Pingree Park, Colorado, USA, many years ago. Because of you, I was introduced to the Crit'R∙Call predator calls. I have to admit that I was skeptical of them. However, after my return to Norway, the first winter I called in and shot a mangy red fox that actually attacked me. Since then, I have sold Crit'R∙Calls here in Norway. I was granted sole importer rights in Scandinavia. We have had great success with the Magnum model. Lots of moose and deer have been called in with them. Several years back, I was featured on television calling in roe deer.

The biggest moose taken using a Magnum Crit'R∙Call was over 800 pounds, shot in self defense by Nils Ole Parfa of Gellivare, Sweden. This was a Sarek moose with 14 points and had a spread of 1.36 meters. This rack was later stolen from a sportsman's show in north Sweden.

A man from Sognefjord, Norway, shot an 18-point deer using the Magnum. My customers are very happy indeed.

With the Crit'R∙Call PeeWee, we have shot many kinds of animals. It is due to the PeeWee call that I am sending this report.

The Bird Wing and PeeWee Calling Set

John S. Opdahl of Norway has developed a very innovative way of calling wolf and large predators. The only calling instrument to use is Major Boddicker's Crit'R∙Call PeeWee model and two big bird wings.

John uses two wings from a capercailzie, a very large grouse. Turkey, goose, or other large wings work just as well.

The strategy creates illusions—tricking the predator with the PeeWee call and the sound of the wing beats to run to within shooting range. Two hunters walk into the woods together. They walk close to each other. They walk rhythmically and with no noise: no talking or radios. Even the rucksack is left behind so it won't cause noise.

They look for a stand in the woods with large trees and two thick bushes which overlook the approaches to the location. The place needs lots of tree canopy to keep it dark, with low visibility. This means the hunter must find a place and sit where no birds can see him from above. The hunter should sit with his back against a big tree, stump, or rock and use camouflage cover for his face and hands. Guns should be loaded before walking into the woods so there are no gun sounds.

When the hunter is set up and comfortable with his gun in hand, the second hunter walks silently back on the same trail to the car. If birds and animals have seen the arrival of the hunters, confuse and assure them by softly slamming two different doors before driving away. (Note: This two- or three-man deception strategy works and is often used when hunting crows in the USA and large plains game in Africa. The animals think the two men are one, focus on the one that is moving and makes the noise, leaving the hidden hunter out of the animal's attention).

In the big woods, with moose and wolves and deadly temperatures, having two hunters creates a safety factor. The hunter has a radio that he keeps off until needed. The partner who is leaving in the vehicle can turn on his radio so he can be told when to return and pick up the hunter and the predator.

The illusion has been created in the woods for the predator. The hunters came into the woods and have now left. All is clear. The hunter sits absolutely quiet for 20 minutes. Then with very slow motion, the PeeWee call is lifted to his mouth, green rubber band set 1/3 inch from the tip, and a soft fawn call is blown. Just use the call of a kid deer that is calling for its mother, a soft baaa sound. Wait five minutes and repeat.

If there is a raven in the neighborhood, you will hear soft wing beats from above. Then put your teeth in front of the rubber band and blow a fawn distress bleat, a high-pitched pleading call.

Then flap the bird wings together, making as much wing beat noise and motion as possible. This creates the illusion that a large raptor is approaching the distressed fawn.

Adjust the rubber band to the middle of the reed, or move the call back into the mouth slightly which produces louder, lower-pitched distress cries. Begin screaming loudly like an animal in severe distress.

Scream for several minutes, and then flap the wings together which sounds like several ravens are flying up and down from nearby bushes and trees to attack the dying prey. Flap the wings together in three directions, creating the illusion that more birds are approaching. Keep blowing the rabbit or deer distress cries with the PeeWee. This will attract more and more—magpies, ravens and crows—which will circle over the trees.

Predators several hundred of yards away will hear the flapping of the wings. They will think if birds as shy as ravens are coming to the kill, it will be okay for them to come as well. They will also think that if they want to get in on the feast, they had better hurry because a big flock of ravens, crows, or magpies can eat all of the prey very quickly.

By and large, ravens, crows, and magpies on an active kill tell predators that the way is clear, come in for a feed. Where the raven is feeding, it is 100% safe, only birds are there and something is dying. That means there are no obstacles, so there should be no hesitation. Run in quickly if the predator wants some food. And they will come, so the hunter needs to be prepared. In the old days, the technique of mimicking a dying deer was known. It was also known that the situation around a dying deer created a free-for-all that attracted every raven in the vicinity.

With this technique, you create the illusion of the death of the prey and the arrival and sounds of the ravens.

When you look over your forest hunting grounds and you see ravens, crows, and magpies circling, you know something has happened or is happening, and it makes you curious to see what it is. Create this same curiosity for predators. Do it my way with the great Crit'R∙Call PeeWee and be ready with your gun.

My company, Jakt og Fangstbua, Steinvegen 23.7716, Steinkjer, Norway sells the Crit'R∙Call here in Scandinavia only to serious hunters above 18 years old. Due to dangers involved with calling wild game (moose and wolves) we do not sell to camera hunters.

John S. Opdahl

Steinvegen 23

7716 Steinkjer, Norway

www.langvind.no

E-mail: langvind@online.no