This is topic Howling? in forum Calls and Gear forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by sporterweight (Member # 189) on May 03, 2003, 02:51 PM:
Will howling scare off fox and bobcat? I'm in N.Ga.and was wondering if they would cut out at the sound of a coyote howl.I read about a caller who called in a nice bobcat and a coyote came in at warp speed and almost got the bobcat.The caller took off thinking the coyote would tree the cat and he'd maybe get them both.Although it didn't pan out. Thanks Sporterweight
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 03, 2003, 03:31 PM:
There seems to be a concern about howling limiting the potential response from other animals. Those that have the experience claim that cats are unaffected, but that is difficult to prove. Not doubting the reports I have read; but it is those events that you don't see, that concerns some people. It's impossible to determine how many bobcat and fox ran the other way when hearing a howl coming from the direction of a distress call.
I have a very hard time believing that a gray fox will come to a call if he hears a coyote howl. Grays need to keep a sharp eye, or they risk becoming dinner.
On the other hand....I don't think a coyote really wants to catch a bobcat? He wants to intimidate the cat, and chase it away. I have read accounts of tag-team coyotes crippling a bobcat, but a single coyote is looking for real trouble, unless he keeps his distance.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on May 03, 2003, 04:39 PM:
Leonard brings up a very valuable point in that we never know what we've called and didn't see. Heck, how many blanks do we walk away from thinking no one was home? In reality, we call a selected spot because experience tells us that there's as much chance of one being there as there is in any other place. Of course, we often come out empty handed and an experienced caller wonders not so much about where the coyotes are, but about why the one he knows is in there didn't stand up.
But, this inquiry does bring to mind the exceprt from Rich's video where he gets a face plant from a grey. You know that Rich did some howling in there some place.
Who knows for sure? But, if I'm set up in a place where I feel I'm more likely to see 'cats, I consider it a good opportunity to forego the howling and stay with the squeals until something tells me there are coyotes around.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 03, 2003, 05:10 PM:
That's a good point, Cdog, but I can explain it all away.
First, a gray fox in that area would need to completely tune out the howls he hears every day of his little life.
Second, take another look at the scenery in that clip. Classic gray fox habitat. A gray is much more nimble among those rocks, the only reason he can survive in the middle of hostile territory. I have lit up grays at night that appeared to be flying across that type of terrain. In fact, you might think they were birds, if they were at a distance.
So, if ever a gray fox would feel secure in responding, after hearing a howl, that's the place.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on May 03, 2003, 05:46 PM:
sporterweight,
I'm not sure what the correct answer to your question is. I do know that if I really wanted to call a bobcat, and wanted one really bad then I would refrain from howling on stand.
Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on May 04, 2003, 07:59 AM:
I have had a couple of cats respond to distress calls after howling but never a red. That's including calling in areas that traditionally hold lots of reds. To be honest, I've never had much luck calling reds in the first place. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Dennis
Posted by Terry Hunter (Member # 58) on May 04, 2003, 10:36 AM:
I have taken several bobcats just after howling.They seem to stand up and look in the direction of the noise.Never a fox.
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on May 04, 2003, 10:54 AM:
You guys talk about these video clips like they are on ESPN everynight???
How would a guy go about seeing these clips?
Jeff 
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on May 10, 2003, 06:14 PM:
Since I howl several times on every stand, everything on the videos has heard them before showing up. The fox come in to the distress calls but the howls seem to make them more cautious in their approach with one obvious exception. Usually they will circle the stand and then stand downwind and bark at us. I have video of several doing this that isn't on the video I gave you guys. The fox with the enormous tail came in after I went from howls to distress and stood behind that tree very still for 5 minutes or so. I like that a lot more than the ones that come blasting in to prey distress only and scare the crap out of me as they run over me.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on May 11, 2003, 05:23 AM:
And you apparantly have that happen quite often. (Better you than me.) Where it's been previously asked, how many calls do you carry with you on a stand?.. I must asked, how many pairs of fresh boxers do you carry with you on a day long hunt?
Krusty,
Some of these clips should be on ESPN. More interesting than what's there now.
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