Hunting is an exhilarating sport.
I’ve been hunting for a long time, and I can tell you: each time is better than the last. Hunting has changed a lot over the years. In my opinion, for the better. In the past, hunters had to rely solely on their skills and ability to imitate other animals. Nowadays, technology serves as a tool that allows us to focus all our attention on just catching prey.
However, I would be lying if I said that technology has made catching prey a piece of cake. That’s not the case at all. You still need to know what you’re doing in order to be considered a good hunter. For this reason, using hunting equipment in order to improve your chances of catching prey can’t hurt.
Now, it’s equally important to pick out the right equipment, or else you won’t really have any benefits. In particular, your number one priority should be finding the right game call.
With the right electronic game call, you will not only feel a whole lot safer, but you will also be able to master the sport of hunting in no time! So, if that’s what you’re aiming for, I’m more than happy to help point you in the right direction. Let’s begin with one of my favorite game calls of all time: the FoxPro Wildfire 2 Game Call. I’ll give you a full review of the pros and cons of this electronic game call, and you can decide whether or not it’s the right fit for you.
Table of Contents
Overview
Even though I don’t write reviews on all the electronic game calls I’ve ever used, I do like to write about the ones I consider to be top-notch. This FoxPro Wildfire 2 review will give you more insight into the pros and cons of this game call, as well as its key features. But first, here’s a brief overview of the game call itself.
The FoxPro Wildfire weighs only 1.5 lbs, and that’s with the batteries included. This weight makes it a portable piece of hunting equipment, and not to mention, extremely practical. The device itself comes with a number of handy features that make all my hunting trips incredibly exciting.
As for the batteries, you should pack some extra 4AA batteries for those long weekend trips, just in case. However, I should also mention that my batteries usually last between 30 to 40 hours, which is quite satisfying.
The Wildfire 2 is among the most effective game calls I’ve tried out, and I was more than happy with my purchase.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the key features of this highly recommended piece of hunting equipment.
Key features
Let me begin by listing the key features of the Wildfire 2:
- 200 sound capacity with 35 pre-programmed sounds included
- High efficiency built-in single speaker
- Remote control (TX9) with a LED display
- AVS molded housing
- Tripod mount and external jacks
What’s in the box
In case you’re wondering what’s included in the box when you order the FoxPro Wildfire 2 game call, here is what I received:
- The Wildfire 2 digital game call
- One TX-9 remote control
- A detailed operator’s manual
- The warranty registration card
- A 3.5mm stereo patch cable
Also, if you need any additional information, they include the customer service number on the manual. Additionally, the folks over at FOXPRO are extremely helpful!
200 sound capacity with 35 pre-programmed sounds included
Since I was looking for a game call with a lot of pre-recorded sounds, the Wildfire 2 definitely did not disappoint. Also, I was able to add quite a lot of new sounds. In fact, you can program up to 200 of your own sounds if you want! You can find all sorts of different sounds to download on the internet.
All you need to do is program the sounds onto your computer, using an adapter. Or, you can use a USB card reader instead. Admittedly, I did spend a lot of time listening to the sounds and playing around with them.
High efficiency built-in single speaker
Another important feature of the Wildfire 2 is the single built-in speaker which allows it to produce high-quality crisp sound. But, it doesn’t end there. Another great thing about the Wildfire 2 is the fact that you can attach external speakers to it if you want to enhance the sound.
But, in my experience, you probably won’t have to because the internal speaker is quite loud.
Remote control (TX9) with a LED display
One of my personal favorite features of this game call is the remote control with a LED display. It’s a piece of cake to handle, and it allows you to monitor sounds, volume, battery power, and even the running time of each game call.
The remote has two preset buttons which I use to store my top two favorite sounds. Also, you can control the decoy with the remote control.
AVS molded housing
I must admit, I was worried that all the dirt and water might affect the durability of the Wildfire 2 game call. However, my fears immediately vanished once I took it with me on a particularly rainy day.
In fact, the speaker is housed away from the game call surface, so no matter what the weather conditions are, the sound will remain clear. The rugged housing makes this game call a long-lasting piece of hunting gear, so don’t worry about getting it dirty.
Tripod mount and external jacks
The Wildfire 2 game call gives you the option of attaching additional parts to it. It comes with a 3.5 mm jack cable, so you can connect external speakers to it in order to enhance the sound.
Also, I sometimes like to use a tripod in order to elevate my game call from the ground. Luckily, the Wildfire 2 has a tripod mount port located at the bottom of the game call. I know that plenty of hunters also like to use a tripod in order to carry the sound across a longer range.
Pros
As promised, I will list all the pros of the FoxPro Wildfire 2 game call.
- The Wildfire 2 comes with 35 pre-programmed sounds.
- You can add up to 200 sounds of your own.
- The durable housing makes it the perfect hunting tool to take with you regardless of the weather conditions.
- Both the remote control and the game call itself are battery operated.
- The remote control is easy to operate.
- You can enhance the sound by adding external speakers.
- The Wildfire 2 comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Cons
Although I highly recommend this game call to all avid hunters, I will still mention some of the cons of this game call.
- If you have a larger hand, or you are using bulky gloves on your hunting trip, you may have some difficulty with the handle on top of the game call.
- You will need to purchase a decoy separately, as it is not included with this game call.
- The Micro SD card reader, as well as the tripod mount, are also not included with the product.
Why buy the FoxPro Wildfire 2 game call
It’s quite obvious from my FoxPro Wildfire 2 game call review that I consider it a prime piece of equipment. From the price to the features, it doesn’t let down. So, let’s take a look at why I recommend that you should buy it as well.
Sounds
Not only does it have plenty of pre-programmed sounds, but it also allows you to add 200 sounds of your own. I had a lot of fun adding new interesting sounds before each hunting trip.
Downloading the sounds was a piece of cake. All I had to do was save my favorite sounds in a folder on my computer and then upload them to the game call. It was actually no harder than uploading pictures from a digital camera!
As soon as I uploaded the sounds, I made a backup folder on my computer where I separated them by species.
I should mention that since you can switch SD cards as often as you want, you actually have a limitless number of calls at your disposal. Just remember, you also need to download the sounds to your remote control.
Durability and portability
We hunters need a product that is durable, yet easy to handle. And that’s what I got with the FoxPro Wildfire 2. I love the fact that I can take it with me when it’s raining, and not have to worry about it malfunctioning in any way.
Also, it’s important to have a lightweight game call that allows you to easily transport it wherever you go. Luckily, at a mere 1.5 lbs, the Wildfire fits into that category. I like to carry mine in a backpack when I go hunting. It’s practically comparable in size to a 12V flashlight, so obviously it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Easy operation
An easily operated remote control is always a must. Again, the Wildfire is extremely easy to operate, so no problem there. If you have a decoy, you can also operate it with the remote control. In fact, any attachment can be operated using the remote.
The remote control operates on a single 9V alkaline battery. The TX-9 has a graphic display, preset buttons that allow you to access your most commonly used sounds, a recall button, volume level indicator, elapsed timer, and also a battery level indicator.
If you want to turn on the FoxBang, you can easily do so by simultaneously pressing the up and down volume button on your remote. To turn it off, just repeat the same process.
The Final Verdict
In my opinion, this game call is a high-quality piece of hunting equipment. I got exactly what I was looking for, and I’ll definitely be replacing my cheap game calls with the FoxPro Wildfire 2 game call.
This game call is not too expensive, which may cause you to think it lacks some important features. However, that’s not the case. It has plenty of handy features, including the ability to store 200 sounds of your choosing onto its system. If you like experimenting with different game calls, then the Wildfire 2 is just what you need.
You can take it with you just about anywhere you go. It’s amazingly durable and easy to transport. Just put it in your backpack and get ready to hunt.
The FoxPro Wildfire 2 game call gives you all the reinforcement you need in order to make your hunting trip as enjoyable as possible.
All in all, I give this game call two thumbs up!