Squeekerman Tom.. a question

[lynx/cat-trapper]

I know when you FIRST had your squeekers they were pretty much a set tone...now there are some with different set tones...and some with infinitly adjustable tones. For those of us that DONT HAVE a CLUE.... why dont you tell us the history of your squeekers...how they've changed ... and what's available today.. I know a LOT of guys just "DONT KNOW"... maybe you can shed a bit of light???
lynx

[Jack Kelley]

If you are talking about those little battery operated, camo colored balls that has the same little cherpin sound over and over again, I bought one about 16-18 years ago. Never did have any success with it. Probably wasn't using it in the right application. I'm sure they've changed in the last few years, but I would not only be interested in learning about what is out there and more so - how, when and where to use it.

[gritguy]

My first units way back in late 90's when I first started messing with building them were a single tone unit with adjustable knobs to vary the pitches and clicks on the units. Building them came about cause I could not find anymore units after my last one for Bobcats was stolen in the field. I could not finid one vendor who had any units or knew where to find one, and was told by almost every one if I did they could sell them as well, well I may be dumb but that statement lit a fire of thought under me to try and make some extra dollars. Took me a couple more years to work up a circuit board with what I wanted as a trapper and a caller to be on the units, figured if I was going to try and market them, they should be what a guy wanted to use in the field.

Prior to this the only units out one could find were with the single pitch units of Ed Courtney and the Christmas Birdball described above.

And at the time both of these units were pretty hard to find with Ed's primarly non-exsistent, as he had stopped making them years before that. Both are now just antiques really compared to new units on the market now.

After I had a working proto type I solicited trappers across the nation to help test them for a season to work more bugs out and get input of user ability. Most ideas coming back I knew of already, battery life, size of unit and handling of switches in darkness.

Changed a few things and then introduced them at the NTA Western in Idaho in 2001 and then had Laurie Jones (MsCat) sell them at the NTA in Iowa the same year I believe it was. This unit was called The Teaser and it was a great unit for adjustability selection, but was to sensitive to cold weather with the adjusters moving when it cold real cold. Was also to much unit for trappers to use LOL, was to much selection, most got frustrated by trying to mimic distress sounds. This is attributed to lack of knowledge on using the units and how sound attracts animals really.

I sold these units for about 7 years or so until the IC chips became obsolete and can no longer be found, have yet to find a substitute for them either.

As this unit became dead, I decided to move to all digital sounds and more options with the unit for customers to change up desires in using for personal trapping and hunting areas they felt more comfortable using their sounds, Hence the Fur-FindR was born.
Basicaly the same unit, though with a few minor changes, 4 sounds of actual distressed animals, a different time delay and a better photo cell and switch selection for field work.

Custom units, a client may select their own sounds and delay times, send the sounds to me or use my selections and I place them on the unit per their cretiera, longer play times or shorter with shorter or longer delays as well as I can record at a higher or lower volume for them as well.

Thier are no volume controls on the unit, as this would kill the battery life with people messing with it.

All of my units are hand built by me, there is no production house making them, I build in lots of twenty and am usually sold out by September every year, working with back orders the rest of the season, still I've been only usually a week out with most orders during the season. If one has a problem I repair it for free unless the IC is burnt out or I send a new unit to replace it.

No other squeaker units on the market now have as many options as I provide for the price of my units which still beat the competitors as well.

At the time I was selling my Teaser units there were no competitors out selling as the fur market was almost non-exsistent. Soon as I started placing ads, two other units came out the following year, the birdball was brought back out as well as Edge bringing out their semi-delay single pitch unit.

I am currently working on animal specific callers with different sound for cats, canines and coons, primarily with others on the burner. For those wishing such, and to of course increase sells!

Thats about it if one has distinctive questions I'm happy to answer them as well. I will address use and placements on a seperate thread ;D

[slimpedersen]

Ok Mystro so you can make the talk, but can you walk the walk and actually catch critters with your own squeakers?? Yes, I know--Shut up Pedersen! However, I do have ulterior motive in mind.

I would like to read your suggestions to use units to catch specific animals---meaning, coyote, red fox, gray fox, mountain lions (yes I have seen your pictures with lions carrying the units in their mouth) as well as smaller animals like raccoons, mink, ottor, and alligators. Pretty please??

I was pleased to read above that you can order units with different length pause between noises. Good job Mystro.

[wackyquacker]

I have and have deployed many of these units over the past years. The damn things are a royal pain...they have caused me to make innumerable trips up mountain sides to clean up messes at otherwise perfect sets. I have also experienced units coming apart, apparently at the mere whim of an old tomcat...and they keep making noise really irritating the cat...what a freakin mess! Also, I have complained to the manufacture of these issues, complete with photographic proof...all to no avail.
Buyer beware, if you hang one of these infernal contraptions near your sets you are likely going to find that you have to remake the sets at an increased frequency! And make certain that you anchor the things in Elk country...I've had two units stolen by those stinking beasts...and I've yet to see a disclaimer on the manufacture's labeling...I think this to be a rather underhanded mareketing technique

[bill1306 (Phil)]

Personally I would never use a squeaker on public land. The thing that they will attract faster than any other animal is people. The squeakers, chirpers or squallers will help thieves locate your sets and steel your traps.

[wackyquacker]

Grit's contraptions can be set to only go off when the sun is down. This feature helps some on public land.

[gritguy]

Bill, yes thats true, it's why my last commerical unit was stolen, people were called in instead of animals LOL

The single greatest reason for me developing my own units was to put things into them that would help trappers and hunters keep thier catchs. Time delay's, more selection of sounds to use, and a photo cell to help with security in using them.

Thats why I put in a photo cell to help solve this problem, and it works wonders for the units and people using them.

Not only does it allow one to play the unit either 24/7 or just at night, but it gives one the ability to have the battery's last longer as well. You do not have this choice with any other unit selling today, but mine.

If one is careeful how they set up and where they use the units most people out and about will never come upon them. What is sad is that most who lose units do so from other trappers in the field looking for sets and those are down right theifing low lifes.

[bill1306 (Phil)]

I do have one of your models and it does have a photo cell for night use. The biggest problem I have with it, is the pitch changes as the temperature goes down and that isn't good. Normally I am up at 2 am and out the door checking traps at 2:30 am and the sound that I set it at, is a lot different than it is in the cold of the night. I also have three other models that companies have sent me to use and all in all, if I want to catch cats I don't use them. Grant it, I don't have a lot of experience like you do, but I still have thrown a few traps down from time to time, both live traps, body grips, snares and foot holds.

[gritguy]

You must have one of the old Teaser units then, an adjustable model. The new digital units don't cahnge with ay temp movements, it sounds as it is or whats recorded on it.

It's no secret that cats will come to most any sound, a person if they had the patience could hide and bage two rocks together and have a response from them.

Don't know how to help if I don't know how your using them.

[coloradocat]

I quit using them in lion country. It was almost a given that if a squeeker was used in lion country, I would have a lion visit.

[wackyquacker]

May 4, 2009 19:36:56 GMT -7 coloradocat said:

I quit using them in lion country. It was almost a given that if a squeeker was used in lion country, I would have a lion visit.

Dang lions go and act like they'er a cat or something.

[Freak , 17Kiss aka Kittykiller]

I have used the teasers and furfinders and still not real sure if they made a huge difference or not. The teasers were a bit much due to the fact you were always second guessing how to set it up.I tried em covered and tied down behind set , attached at about a 3-5 foot level , stuffed up in logs , in combination with blinkesr adn every way i could think of. Target was cats. Any general guidelines for placement at set???
In all fairness I ordered 20 or 25 of the furfinders and by the time I got around to using them , had just about given up on squeakers so only used a hndful and for s hort period of time. Actually sold em off in a deal 3 years ago.BUT am interested in trying them again , due to trapping different states where I can see , due to animal densities , that they may work better.

[lynx/cat-trapper]

A person has to UNDERSTAND.... they're NOT a "miracle catch all" thing...they are a TOOL of the trapping trade... NO different than learning how to pick a good location and build a good set... squeeker use requires "understanding" of NOT only the units capabilities...but the HABITS of the animals in question... learn HOW to use them...and the benifits WILL be there..
lynx

[gritguy]

Kittykiller, squeakers have been around for many years and are a proven tool for attracting predators, especially cats of all sorts. Mine units having the distress sounds on them take the unit much farther in use for most predators now, instead of just cats.

The Teaser model was my reaction to building a unit with the features I wanted in a unit, it was a bit to much tool for the average user, what with it's adjustability to refined for most. It still however was a very productive unit when used correctly.

After talking and finding people being frustrated with to much selection. I decided to go with a simple actual distress sound for those who just wanted a unit to place. To this end I still wanted people to have some choice in what sounds to use, and I placed on the units the sounds most capable of reactions when I call myself. They have proven themselves very capable of production.

Placement of the units are a predominat learning curve for most not ever having used them before. Knowing how your target approaches it's prey base will give you a very good understanding of how to place the unit.

One must set the unit up as if it were a actual distressed animal for the target to ambush. It also makes a difference in what type of trap your using, as one does not set the unit up the same way for footholds verses cage sets.

If you use the unit to lure the animal in, it should be used in funnel sets or ledge sets, cubbies that are large enough for the cat to feel comfortable moving into. In ways that the animal has to move thru the unit to your set or at the least around the area in search of the unit. While doing this activity it will come across your sets, which you set up accordingly. Having the unit abpve ground will give much more sound presentation than just down on the ground, your chances of an animal hearing the unit farther away increases substansially when doing so. However some people using cages will just place the unit behind the cage and subdue the sound some so as to not startle the cat when it advances into the cage.

However that being said, I've got testimoinal pictures and personal calls from users saying all they did was place the unit in a large bush or tree and set the area around it.

No one can really figure out what makes cats do what they do, all we do know is that curisosity will be the end of them. If you use this in conjunction with the distress sounds or a sound you want on the units you will be surprised at just how many animals will indeed search out the units and investigate your sets. For every cat out there one thinks they have pegged they are probably having two others watch them LOL

After all using the units for bringing in the animals is only half the equation, the other half lies with the trapper still knowing location and the targets behavior when it's advancing or investigating the area. The units will keep them at the area longer giving one a better chance of them investigating your set-ups. ;D