VALLEY VIEW - No sooner are the flintlock muzzleloader rifles cleaned and racked than Troy Starr breaks out his turkey guns.

No, Starr is not heading south for the states below the Mason-Dixon Line that have a March season for spring gobbler. Since the flintlock muzzleloader deer season ended last weekend, however, he - like an increasing number of sportsmen - has been getting his turkey gun ready to extend his time afield hunting coyote and fox.As president of the Valley View-based FearNot Game Calls in western Schuylkill County, Starr enjoys hunting any species where vocalization is involved, and his calls have been just effective in the nearby woods, farms and abandoned strip mines as they have on the Western plains. And while there are times when a scoped, long-range varmint rifle may be needed, his preference is to hunt thick cover with his 12-gauge turkey gun."Using predator calls is no different than using turkey calls, waterfowl calls or any other type of calls in that calling less is usually more effective than constant calling," Starr said, as he prepared to begin a series designed to attract a coyote he knew to be in the area. "I like to begin with something soft and subtle just in case an animal is close."Then, I move on and use calls that have more volume, but even then, you've got to be as realistic-sounding as possible. When using a call designed for volume, remember the lung capacity of an animal the size of a rabbit and don't get carried away."As an added precaution before heading afield to hunt varmints and furbearers, Starr descents his clothing and gear in case the wind direction is against him when he sets up, or an animal approaches down wind. While there are scents designed for specific areas, for all-around use the two most versatile cover scents are earth and smoke.Once setting up, Starr begins his calling routine with a FearNot Mouse Squeaker, which is his favorite for close calling. A versatile call that can produce loud sounds that are effective for hunting black bears and calling crows, he calls as subtle as possible when working coyotes and furbearers.Of all the FearNot call series for predator, the most versatile is the reed-style Rabbit Squealer because it is equally effective for crows and black bears as it is bobcats, coyotes and foxes. Being weather proof and maintenance free makes this a go-to call that can be used hands free while lining up a shot and produces a full range of sounds from soft and subtle to loud and panicked depending on air pressure.When volume and range is needed, the Coyote Howler reaches out over open fields and penetrates the thickest woods. In addition to coyote hunting, this call is an excellent change of pace for turkeys as a locator call in the morning and for roosting them in the evening.Like the Coyote Howler, another call the Starr carries on his lanyard of varmint calls and in his turkey vest is the Wood Pecker in Distress Call, the sound of which often makes the most wary bobcat, coyote or fox curious. This call is also effective for spring gobblers that have developed lock jaw by often producing shock gobbles.Completing the inventory of calls on Starr's lanyard for predator hunting is the Coon Squaller, which, while primarily designed for nighttime coon hunting, is also effective in attracting predators into shooting range. When using for coon hunting, the high-pitch shrill will entice treed coons to look at hunters, even when they are using a light."There are times when I enjoy making a long shot with a rifle, but Eastern coyotes would rather move through cover than across open fields," Starr said. "For that reason, it's hard to beat the excitement of calling one into shotgun range, and considering the havoc they do to turkeys, it's somewhat fitting to reach out and touch them with a turkey gun."While a hunting license is all that is needed to hunt coyotes, a furtakers license is needed for fox and a special permit is needed for bobcats. A complete list of regulations is printed in the "Hunting and Trapping Digest of Regulations" supplied with the purchase of a license and on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website at

www.pgc.state.pa.us.In addition, the PGC has a complete section on the history of coyotes in Pennsylvania - which have been here long before claims that they were stocked by the agency to control the deer herd. This information is on the website under the Wildlife dropdown menu under "Mammals."To view the complete line of FearNot Game Calls, including predator and turkey calls, and ordering information visit the company website at at

www.fearnotcalls.com.