My Honest Icotec GC300 Review: Would it Really Work?
I've already been spending a great deal of time in the woods lately, and after tests several calls, I actually finally sat right down to write this icotec gc300 review to share the thoughts on how it actually performs within the field. In case you've spent any moment looking into predator hunting, you know that the equipment can get incredibly expensive, incredibly quick. You can easily drop five or six hundred bucks on a sophisticated electronic caller that has a touch screen and a library of a thousand sounds. But for many of us, that's just not really realistic.
That's in which the Icotec GC300 comes in. It rests right at that entry-level price, usually under eighty bucks, which makes it attractive for beginners or men who just need backup unit. I'll be honest: after i first pulled this out of the particular box, I had the doubts. It's light, it's mostly plastic, and it appears a bit such as a toy. Yet after taking it out on a few stands, I've noticed that fancy features don't always equal even more furs in the truck.
First Impressions and Construct Quality
The very first thing you notice about the GC300 will be its size. It's compact—small enough to toss to the side pocket of a backpack or even a large jacket wallet. It doesn't consider much at all, which is a huge plus if you're hiking a kilometer or two back into an area where the coyotes aren't used to seeing people.
The system is made associated with a durable, hard plastic. Although it doesn't feel "premium, " it definitely feels rugged enough to survive being tossed in the back of a truck or dropped in the particular mud. I've acquired mine out within some pretty lighting rain and sub-freezing temperatures, and therefore far, I haven't seen any signs of the casing cracking or maybe the electronics getting wonky.
One thing We really like is usually the simplicity associated with the design. There's a tripod mount on the underside, which is a lifesaver when you're hunting within tall grass. When you don't make use of a tripod, it offers a little fold-out stand, but honestly, getting it a several feet off the floor assists the sound bring much better.
Sound Quality plus Selection
Let's discuss the cardiovascular of the device: the sounds. The GC300 comes pre-loaded with 12 noises. Now, compared to those high-end devices which have hundreds associated with files, 12 might seem like a tiny number. Nevertheless, they are 12 very effective sounds. You receive the fundamentals like Jackrabbit Stress, Cottontail Distress, Woodpecker Distress, and several coyote calls like barks, howls, and pup distress.
The sound quality is surprisingly clear. We expected a lot of static or that "tinny" electronic hiss you receive with cheap speakers, yet the GC300 is definitely remarkably crisp. Could it be as clear like a $500 FoxPro? Simply no, probably not to a human ear canal. But to some starving coyote or perhaps a curious bobcat? It's even more than enough in order to get the job done.
The volume is also impressive. For this kind of small unit, this particular thing can really scream. On the calm day, you can hear this from a long way off. I usually start along with the amount around 50% and only crank this up when the wind flow is really howling. One cool function is that you can play two sounds at once. If you want to layer a coyote pup distress more than a rabbit scream, you can perform that using the force of two control keys. It adds the layer of realism that really seems to trigger an intense response.
The Remote Control Encounter
The remote control is where most budget callers fail, therefore I was suspicious here. Icotec states a 300-yard range, and they state you don't require a line of sight because it uses a radio frequency instead than infrared.
In my experience, the "no line of sight" claim holds upward. I've tucked the caller behind the thick bush or a rock heap, and the remote still triggered this perfectly from about 60 or 70 yards away. Now, about that 300-yard claim? I wouldn't bank on it. In an open up field with absolutely no interference, maybe you'll get close to that. But within the real world—with brush, hills, plus wind—I found it's most reliable inside 100 to 120 yards.
The remote alone is extremely basic. There's no screen, which usually is actually a bit of a blessing in the dark. A person don't have to a bright light offering your position. The buttons are tactile and easy to experience even though you're wearing thin gloves. Every sound has the own dedicated key, so there's simply no scrolling through food selection while you're trying to keep your eyes on the particular tree line.
Battery Life plus Practicality
One particular of the biggest headaches with electronic gear is battery pack life, especially when it gets cold. The GC300 runs on four AA batteries in the particular main unit along with a small 12V electric battery in the remote control. I've gone through three or four full days associated with hunting on one place of AAs.
I highly recommend using high-quality li batteries if you're hunting in the particular winter. Standard alkaline batteries often pass away quickly when the temp drops below freezing. With lithiums, We haven't had the particular unit die on me yet mid-stand.
The truth that it doesn't possess a screen or a couple of LED lights assists preserve that battery life. It's a very "analog" feeling digital device, if that makes sense. It's built for your guy who wants in order to turn it on, hit a button, and start hunting with no worrying about firmware updates or getting ports.
The Downsides
This wouldn't be a fair icotec gc300 review in case I didn't point out the flaws. The biggest one for many people is that the noises are "baked in. " You cannot add your own personal sounds. You can't move online, download a new coyote vocalization, and put it on a Facts. You are stuck with the particular 12 sounds it comes with. For the beginner, this will be fine. To get a pro who wants in order to rotate sounds to prevent "calling-shy" potential predators, it might be a dealbreaker.
Another minor gripe may be the remote's antenna. It's a small flimsy. You have to remember to extend this for the best range, and it feels like it could snap if a person aren't careful when packing it away. Also, there's no "mute" button that works instantly for both sounds when you have two playing; you need to stop them individually or turn the amount down, which may be a bit fumbly if a coyote suddenly appears ten feet away.
Who Is This particular Caller For?
So, who should purchase the Icotec GC300?
If you're simply getting into predator looking and you don't would like to explain to your spouse why you spent $500 on a "fancy speaker, " this is the perfect entry point. It's also great with regard to guys who primarily use hand phone calls but want a good electronic unit in order to move the sound away from their real sitting position.
I've found it's also the fantastic "truck gun" equivalent of the caller. It's cheap more than enough that I don't mind leaving this in the equipment bag all period. If this gets nicked or muddy, I actually don't lose sleep over it. It will the one point it's supposed to do: it makes loud, realistic noises that attract predators.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the Icotec GC300 proves that you don't need the most expensive tech in order to be successful. Predator hunting is even more about setup, breeze direction, and persistence than it really is regarding having a collection of 5, 500 sounds.
It's simple, it's loud, and it's reliable. While it lacks the alarms and whistles from the higher-end models, this replaces them with a "set this and forget it" utility that I've really come to appreciate. If you can live with the twelve built-in sounds so you don't need in order to trigger the call from a quarter-mile away, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value. It's the workhorse of a budget caller that has earned a permanent spot in my hunting kit.