This is topic Does howling have any affect on Bobcats? in forum Predator forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by 22-250 (Member # 36) on September 30, 2004, 08:07 PM:
If you are in an area that could produce coyotes and bobcats, will starting the stand with a couple of howls have any influence in calling in bobcats? How about foxes?
Posted by onecoyote (Member # 129) on September 30, 2004, 09:06 PM:
Personally, I wouldn't use howling in bobcat country........coyotes and bobcats don't mix. Yes... you can find them in the same country, but somehow I don't see a cat responding to howling. In the game of predator hunting, it's called expect the unexpeted lol, who knows what's gonna happen lol.
[ September 30, 2004, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: onecoyote ]
Posted by 22-250 (Member # 36) on September 30, 2004, 09:15 PM:
Onecoyote, I was asking if a couple of howls before using the distress call for the duration of the stand, would the two initials howls have any effect on cats or foxes. I sure that a cat or a fox would not respond to howls, but the two howls at the beginning of the stand have and effect?
[ September 30, 2004, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: 22-250 ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on September 30, 2004, 10:28 PM:
Well, you know, Tom. Coyotes howl and bobcats are probably aware of it. Does it register? Does it result in a negative response froma cat, or a fox? That would be difficult to prove, conclusively. Cats respond to sound and then the eyes take charge. The nose is relegated to a secondary sense, I have never in my life seen a bobcat circle to get my wind. If they happen to be down wind, they sometimes react negatively.
If a cat discounts so much, in favor of their ears and eyes, then I think they might not even remember that they heard a coyote howl, first?
Short answer is that a couple lonesome howls may not hurt, but it's not a plus. If you are hunting canyons and cover, I see no reason to use a howler, if you are targeting cats.
Grays, I think they might be extra cautious if they hear howling, but I can't think of a case where I am sure it hurt me. Hard to prove a negative like that.
I think that if you are so inclined, go ahead and howl. It may not help with the fox and the cats, but if it starts a coyote in your direction, it would be hard to turn down. This begs the question; do I decline a shot on a coyote and wait for a cat? My opinion is to dump the dog. The cat is coming anyway, it's hard to convince him otherwise.....unless he sees you.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by keekee (Member # 367) on October 03, 2004, 08:22 PM:
I start most of my stands with a couple lonehowls. We take alot of grey foxes here and a few reds every year. It makes the foxes very (on edge) but they still come they just seem to be alot more careful! If I dont howl the foxes seem to come in hard to the call and fast, if I do howl first they seem to be alot more careful and a lot slower, they hang back and check things out before coming in, and sometimes they just stay in the brush.
We dont have enough cats here for me to even say one way or the other on that but it does effect the foxes but they will still come in. But who knows how many that dont?
I try to target what im calling, if im in a area with a lot better chance to call fox, then I dont howl, if im in a coyote area I do.
Kee
[ October 03, 2004, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: keekee ]
Posted by 22-250 (Member # 36) on October 04, 2004, 03:41 PM:
Leonard, I am with you. If a coyote come into ideal gun range, I take a shoot. I think a cat will still come in.
It was the foxes that had my doubts. Kee, in the past the foxes have always came in really hard, without howling. I will have to see how they react with a couple of howls before the distress calls.
Fox season opens next month.
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on October 04, 2004, 03:58 PM:
I just finished editing a segment of my video that shows the difference in response from fox to distress calls only versus howling before distress. First scene, distress only, fox comes barreling in and jumps on me, richochettes off and continues on. Second scene, fox having heard howls before the distress, approaches slowly, circles the stand barking at us. Both would have been taken if we were shooting with guns, but the second fox spent a lot of time standing still in the open ragging at us. Lots of opportunities.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on October 04, 2004, 04:21 PM:
Then again.
With gray fox; in coyote country, I believe they have to have confidence, and that confidence comes from large boulders, that a coyote can't jump up on, or they need trees close by, because nothing can scoot up a tree like a gray fox.
If they don't have either of those, they should be very cautious, coming to a call, because I think a coyote can run them down in short order, if caught out in the open.
I'm a believer in dumping whatever shows up, as as soon as practicable, without a lot of fuss. Odds are good that you can recover and be ready for the next volunteer, in short order.
A good experiment, with cats, in the off season, would be to spot them coming in, and give them a lonesome howl, when he's behind a bush....see if he runs off?
Good hunting. LB
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