Author Topic: Need a howling suggestion (Read 777 times)

TCShooter · « **on:** January 06, 2004, 04:31:23 PM »

Sorry if this topic has been covered here before but I was wondering what particular howler everyone is useing and what the likes and dislikes may be. I have hunted coyotes with a friend that uses an electronic caller but I want to get into it with mouth calls.

Thanks in advance!!!

TCShooter · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2004, 01:48:30 PM »

Wow.....hard to believe that nobody has any advice to give to a wanna be coyote hunter! :eek:

Would it have been better if I simply asked what you are using and leave it at that?

Any response would be appreciated!

Thanks, Mario

kkeetr · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2004, 01:58:10 PM »

TCShooter,
I just got into coyote hunting about 4 months ago. I got a Primos howler on Thanksgiving and have used it 4 or 5 times since then with absolutely no success. I have called in coyotes using mouth blown distress calls but the howler is a little harder for me to use. Sorry I can't recommend a winner for you but at least I can maybe help you eliminate a non-winner. One request, though. If you find a good howler in your search, please share it. Thanks.

TCShooter · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2004, 02:40:23 PM »

Thanks for the input kkeetr.......my search continues but at least the list is getting shorter.

Maybe I'll forget about the howler for a while and just get some distress calls. The guy I hunted with started out with a howler first to see if any were in the area and then moved on to the set up and switched tapes to the distress calls so I thought this was the norm. Come to think of it we never saw a coyote that day! :roll:

Mario

redial · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2004, 03:49:54 PM »

I use a Sceery (?) howler and it's given me the only good responses I've had in a year. That's primarily due to the coyotes at my end of the valley eating mostly deer instead of the more usual fare so they respond to howlers

Howlers are touchy to use sometimes and it's apparent when you're not doing it right. Test your skills some late night on your least favorite neighbor's dog! :twisted: Damn coyotes!

Redial

Redfrog · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2004, 05:31:21 PM »

I use a howler a lot. I get set up on a stand, howl{lonesome howl} a few times, then go to a distress. I use a custom Rich Cronk cow horn howler. I live in a very small town and when it arrived in the mail, about 3 years ago, I opened the package in the Post office. I tried the howler right there. My neighbors who were getting their mail said it sounded more like a coyote than a coyote does. It is easy to blow and master. It comes with an instructional cassette of coyote sounds. I've called toms of coyotes with it, and it still works like day one.

I know some guys that have commercial howlers of different makes and they have had mostly grief with them.

If you go to www.PredatorMasters.com he is an advertiser there. Click on his banner and you're in business. You could also do a search on that site for "Cronk Howler" Alot of guys have them.

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2004, 05:44:34 PM »

Ditto redial on the howlers! If you are new at calling, best learn to crawl and then walk before you try running pards.

Easiest call to learn to use and get to at least sound something like what it is suppose to early on is an enclosed reed type distress call. Even a few sour notes will slip by OK most times, but it is real easy to learn to use if you know what it is that it is suppose to sound like. Buy some good tapes to listen to.

Next up will be to learn and master the open reed distress calls - way more versatile when you get them down, and some also make good intermediate howlers.

Then think about learning to howl, all the different sounds and when and when not to use them.

Trying to "learn" while in a hunting situation in the field is doing little more than educating the predators and giving you a sore butt.

And with all of the above, practice a lot, remember that less is better, and don't give up - you'll eventually get it.

As for not having any success as a new comer, pretty good bet is your trying to call them in areas not holding coyotes in the first place (scouting), or picking your sets poorly, or not playing "rock" well enough.

If all of the above is just to much for you to go alone... then see if you can find a local gent with experience who will give you some help.

Great sport, but you have to do the homework to be good at it.

HTH,

Ladobe

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2004, 05:44:33 AM »

Am still using my Bill Austin calls that I purchased in 1987.

These open reed types are no better, or worse than any of them but what I like is the instructional cassette that came with them. Bill has broken the Language down nicely.

Bill is gone now, but you can still purchase his calls at Allpredatorcalls.com

TCShooter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2004, 01:27:37 PM »

Thank you all for your responses!

Ladobe, the area that we hunted in did have coyotes because I shot one that passed in front of me while deer hunting. I think there were a few reasons we didn't see any when we hunted them. One reason is that my friend talked nonstop and I felt the volume on his caller was too high to start out. When we got to the hunting spot he played a tape of howling, we got an answer and then went to set up and start calling.

I think I'll take the advice of looking for distress calls first and then graduate to a howler later on if I feel the need.

And in case anyone is wondering what sparked the sudden interest in coyotes......we have been hearing them close to the house, we live in the woods, and it scares the heck out of the kids. Then the other day the cat got out and spent the night outdoors and when I went out the next day I found coyote tracks in the front yard and they went completely around the house.

So yes Redial........Damn coyotes indeed! :evil:

Mario

PS: the cat was ok!

kkeetr · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2004, 05:56:40 PM »

TCShooter,
Did you ever end up with a howler? If so, how's it working out for you?

TCShooter · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2004, 05:44:25 AM »

Quote from: kkeetr

TCShooter,
Did you ever end up with a howler? If so, how's it working out for you?

No I decided to go with just an electronic caller. I have been checking around and see that Johnny Stewart is favored alot and they are coming out with a new one in the spring sometime so I'll just wait till then unless I see a deal I can't pass up.

As for the coyotes around the house I haven't heard them in a week or so and am wondering if it was a fluke that they came this close.

Thanks for asking, Mario