Frank, the cheapest way to get into one is the classifieds especially this time of year.
pruhdlr,
I remember those as well. I was involved when they started coming out with the new and improved models. First coyotes killed with the fx3 were killed hunting with me. And If I'm not mistaken it was the first called coyotes the foxpro guys ever killed. I got to be the first on many new toys. They do have a good product.
Now let me be clear before anyone runs out and buys a new e-caller for hogs. If you are not already successful at finding and killing hogs, your not likely to be able to go out and do it. You might get "Lucky". Personally I don't believe in luck. It's a blessing from God.
If you haven't seen my callin all hogs seminar on youtube you need to watch it.
It can also be done with a grunt tube some times better and some times not. It's like fishing sometimes they bite sometimes they don't.
Now as far as being lucky. It's incredible how lucky one can become when they spend 200-300 days in the field. Last year we were in the field over 300 days. I have spent 20 years studying the vocalization of hogs. How,why and where it works. Either they hear you or they don't. They come or they don't. Just like calling any animal. Anytime you are calling an animal everything needs to come together to make it happen there are too many variables to know why it does or doesn't at times. There will be times they run over you. Times they come slow and cautious. Times they don't come at all and times when they run away. If these scenarios haven't happened to you calling other animals you haven't called very many.
Having a hog call will not make you a better hunter. You have to be a successful hunter first, then use tools to increase your odds.
I will tell you now. I don't know all there is about hunting anything and never will. If your not learning something new every year, your either not paying attention or dead!
Oh and yes they get call shy quicker than coyotes! I have access to hundreds of thousands of acres. I move around a lot! It doesn't take long for them to forget. You also have to consider as with calling predators, the majority of the time we are killing the most aggressive first. It's takes a few days for them to be replaced. to add to that you have as many different personalities in animals as you do humans.....think about it.
Guys I'm not trying to sell you anything. I'm trying to teach you a new trick. AS far as I know I'm the only one doing this consistently. I do know others that have been doing it longer than others. I'm good friends with Gerald Stewart{johnny stewarts son} I heard him talk about calling hogs in the early 90's by accident. That sparked my interest mainly because I had trouble finding and killing hogs. We still discuss it every time we get together. I've been friends with Larry Weishuhn for years as well he has also successfully called hogs. Thing Is I've dedicated more time to it than anyone I know.
I actually cut 6 piglets out of a sow and raised two of them to study hog vocalizations. I have raised ferals in pens to study them. You can learn a lot that way.