This is topic Bill Austin howler in forum Predator forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Baldknobber (Member # 514) on February 22, 2005, 04:48 AM:
Here in southern Mo. I have called in some using the little dog howler from Primos, but have had very few howl at me. My brother in Amarillo just bought a Bill Austin and has called in several and had many of them howl at him on the way in. He says it seems to get them to respond and be more vocal. What do you guys think?
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on February 22, 2005, 10:11 AM:
Two of the functions of howls and a reason coyotes respond vocally to howls is passive territorial defense(territorial declaration) and spatial distribution. Response howling lets all coyotes within hearing know that these coyotes are claiming this territory and to stay out. Theory is that they have to run off fewer intruders. If the population density is high, more competition and intrusions, the howling is more frequent. Fewer coyotes, less competition, less howling.
When I lived in your part of Mo. the coyotes in that part of the Ozarks maintained very large home ranges and I would go 2 weeks without a vocal response to my howls. Every two weeks or so a small pack would come barreling up the holler, always after midnite, screaming and yipping and gargling. When I went out on the back deck and howled at them they would immediately shut up. But they always snuck up to the house to investigate. It would often take 10 or 15 minutes but eventually the light would pick up their eyes. Heavily exploited populations are usually less vocal also. They may not answer your howls but they will often sneak in to check out the new guy anyway.
Posted by R.Shaw (Member # 73) on February 22, 2005, 10:53 AM:
Rich,
When you lived in MO, did you many responses during daylight hours?
Randy
Posted by Baldknobber (Member # 514) on February 22, 2005, 04:22 PM:
Rich, thanks for the insight. that explains a lot for me. This howling game is new to me. I was hoping you would respond, since you once lived up here. By the way, what do you know about a guy named Steve Craig in Cottonwood who calls coyotes and mtn lions. He also gives lessons on those animals?
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on February 22, 2005, 04:27 PM:
Randy, I never once had a coyote answer vocally during the day in Mo. They would stalk in like a cat fairly often though.
Baldknobber, Steve Craig is a myth. Sort of a boogeyman that lion mothers use to scare their kittens into behaving. He does not actually exist. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
:(added the happyface so that Steve wouldn't be confused ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
)
[ February 22, 2005, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: Rich Higgins ]
Posted by Baldknobber (Member # 514) on February 22, 2005, 04:38 PM:
Rich, I guess I've lived up here too long. I get the feeling reading between the lines that you know a lot more than you are letting on. ;Since you cant SHOW ME you have to tell me. Stop danglin' the dang bait:confused:
Posted by R.Shaw (Member # 73) on February 22, 2005, 04:46 PM:
Rich,
It ain't changed.
Randy
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on February 22, 2005, 05:16 PM:
Baldknobber,
Professor Higgins knows a hell of a lot more than he is letting on. When it comes to coyote vocalizations, he is probably the most knowledgeable person you will ever talk to.
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on February 22, 2005, 06:11 PM:
Baldknobber, your neighbor Randy is a friend of Steve Craigs and has hunted with him a few times. He can tell you all about him.
Tim, I don't care what you are running for, you got my vote.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on February 22, 2005, 06:19 PM:
Steve Craig has a lot of friends around here.
Yeah, Higgins knows a few things about coyotes and howling, but not a hell of a lot about quantum physics, to tell you the truth.
I tend to believe what he said about MO and vocal answers to howls. I think it applies to a number of other places.
However, that is NOT the purpose of howling, for the average coyote hunter. You don't necessarily want them to howl back at ya. So long as they approach your stand, that's your purpose.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on February 23, 2005, 05:12 AM:
quote:
You don't necessarily want them to howl back at ya. So long as they approach your stand, that's your purpose
There are several benefits to have them howl back. The biggest is that you can anticipate the direction of the approach.
Dennis
Speaking of Steve Craig, I sure hope that he and his family were on high ground when that flood came through Cootonwood a couple of weeks ago. The weather channel was reporting from there and it sure looked bad!
[ February 23, 2005, 06:08 AM: Message edited by: Greenside ]
Posted by Baldknobber (Member # 514) on February 23, 2005, 08:05 AM:
Just saw the article in predator hunting about calling lions in Az. and that piqued my interest. I took it by rich's response that he was one of the gang, I just hadn't run across one of his posts yet. After that I got my daughter to help me pull up some of his old posts. I am not a very hi-tech redneck yet. I guess if you razz someone a little they must be one of the gang, or if you razz them alot you know them pretty well?
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on February 24, 2005, 11:20 AM:
Baldknobber,
Steve Craig is good at what he does. Higgins? Naw, mostly full of horse pucky just like his Uncle Jay.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on February 24, 2005, 01:44 PM:
There are several benefits to have them howl back. The biggest is that you can anticipate the direction of the approach.
Personally, I couldn't care less if they answer me back. It's certainly a bonus, and I've never had it happen here in Kansas farm country (have had it happen elsewhere), but the direction from which they make their approach is, for me, a so-far firm fact: downwind. Every time. But, I'm not hunting places with mile after acre of homogeneous habitat structure. In farm country, the coyotes travel via and are funneled along fairly recognizable corridors otherwise known as, "anything but winter wheat". Establish your setup with those fencelines and CRP edge habitat within comfortable shooting range on both sides of you while maintaining a commanding view of the downwind sweet spot and if they come from anywhere but downwind, you can (hopefully) dupe them into walking right through the red zone. (On a good day.)
Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on February 24, 2005, 03:23 PM:
Edit: Sorry this post was out of line.
Dennis
[ February 24, 2005, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: Greenside ]
Posted by Baldknobber (Member # 514) on February 24, 2005, 04:15 PM:
My thoughts about getting more howl backs was to go around about 4 am and howl in different spots to locate their vicinity, then go back later after daylight to call.
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on March 02, 2005, 08:51 PM:
I was able to get a few sounds out of the Austin howler. I tried the big barrel one too. But I could no sooner get a note out of it and my lungs would be empty! Sheeesh!!!!!
Posted by Baldknobber (Member # 514) on March 03, 2005, 03:25 AM:
Locohead, try one rubber band all the way forward to hold the reed and place the other one about 3/8 to 1/2 inch back from that and it seems to take less wind and works better.
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