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Author
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Topic: The howler...how does it affect cats?
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MULE
Knows what it's all about
Member # 63
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posted February 14, 2006 07:32 PM
Might end up in decent cat country trying to call.
What is the effect of howling at the start of a set on cats,both bobs and lions who may be in ear shot?
This is a graet time of year for the howlers but I sure would like to get a kitty.
What say ye?
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Kickin' it on the Steppes. Livin' in my Yurt
My Hockey Mom can beat up your Community Organizer
Posts: 334 | From: Ulan Bator | Registered: Jan 2003
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Az-Hunter
Hi, I'm Vic WELCOME TO THE U.S. Free baloney sandwiches here
Member # 17
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posted February 14, 2006 09:44 PM
I'd say, if your after bobcat, why would you use a sound not usually associated with calling bobcats? Ive heard somewhere of howling with no apparent ill affect when a cat responded, but is that merely anecdotal evidence? I don't know, it may not hurt.....but does it help, thats the question to my mind.
I'd be more inclined to use one of Byrons mouth made sounds of a cat in heat, than use a coyote howl.
Posts: 1670 | From: 5 miles west of Tim | Registered: Jan 2003
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seeinspots
Knows what it's all about
Member # 676
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posted February 15, 2006 04:58 AM
its hard to target both at the same time for they are very different animals with very different habits.
if you want a cat very bad i'd skip the howler.
kent
Posts: 19 | From: kansas | Registered: Jun 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 15, 2006 09:36 AM
I would agree that, in general, you will not call many cats with a howler. But, will a howl actually work against you when targeting cats, exclusively? I don't think it does, or if it does, it is because you are using it more than necessary, even for coyotes.
This dredges up the old question: "should I let coyotes go when targeting bobcats? My answer is that it doesn't matter much, unless the bobcat sees you shoot the coyote from a concealed location, and then it's like any other type of movement; it's bad.
So, this begs the question: do I hunt whatever shows up; or sit there for extended periods ignoring fox and coyote and the occasional badger? My opinion is that I'm not good enough to always see the difference between good cat cover and gray fox cover, and there are always coyote interlopers in cat country. I don't give coyotes a free pass and I have never been struck with the evidence that shooting a coyote at minute four will mean that there will not be a bobcat arriving at minute fifteen.
Have I killed bobcat and coyote on the same stand? Yes, in either order of appearance. Was I using a howler, sometimes yes, sometimes no.
It is very hard to prove a negative. But I think that a cat will approach a stand where you started with a lone howl and continued with carefully selected distress sounds. Even if you howl every five minutes or so, I don't think it hurts much. The thing is, we will never know how many animals we only call half way, or decide not to approach, so you just can't prove these things scientifically.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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