Coyote Vocal debate

Austin Laughlin

Austin Laughlin

Well-known member
Me and a few guys are having a debate about some coyote vocals. People seem to think, that because your remote says “Yodel Howl” or “Invitation Howls” that the coyotes know exactly what those are.

IMO, I just can’t see it. I use howls and vocals based off of intensity. Trying to “read the coyote” the best I can. Not by looking at my remote and scratching my head trying to figure out if he/she howls back, If that’s a lone howl or an interrogation lol

It’s no doubt that they communicate in certain ways, in my mind. Different barks and howls probably mean different things. But I just feel like it’s the intensity and the body language that comes with it. If any of that makes any sense.

I’ve literally hunted with a guy, that I’ve played a series of howls to start a stand, and have one talk back to me.. and the very first thing he did was turn and whisper “I think she yodeled back at you”. I laughed so hard I about blew the whole stand lol I didn’t know what to think.

We just didn’t know y’all’s take on it. Maybe I’m wrong, heck I dunno.
 
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Man, I don't enough about coyote vocals to give an great answer. I'm like you I use a howl mostly to see if I get a response. Now during breeding season definitely use more vocals to interact or try to call them. I'm going for intensity and response time. I am a very aggressive turkey caller for example. If I yelp and the bird cuts me off I am going to get real aggressive with it and hammer it with calls. If that bird is that fired up I want him to stay that way or even get more excited. I want him to be running to my decoys. So if it is that time of year when vocals do a better job I use them more. I really don't care which sound either. I with you I am not setting there going, OK that was a young female lonesome howl so I will use this.
I have been doing this for quite some time, hunting that is and its funny how things work. I remember when the greatest thing was the snort wheeze for deer, like it was just discovered and pretty soon every call maker had a snort wheeze call. If you didn't have a snort wheeze call you where not being a smart hunter. Predator sounds are alot like that also.

Good luck

Jon
 
Thank you Dave, very interesting. It must be nice to be able to just watch and learn. I sure have a lot of vocals on my Foxpro but very seldom use them as I wouldn't know what sound to use when.
 
Great pictures Dave!

For many years when I was using a cassette e-caller to call in coyotes using rabbit distress sounds, I would get challenged by a male coyote. At that time, I thought I was being busted by a smart coyote.

When I got a Foxpro FX5 and heard the "Male Coyote Challenge 4" sound, I realized I was being challenged by a Male Coyote. Since then I have always had the "Male Coyote Challenge 4" sound on full blast volume as one of my pre-set sounds.

The male coyotes around here, when they challenge you, it sounds just like Foxpro's "Male Challenge 4" sound.

When I instantly challenge them back, it really pi$$es them off and quite often they will be headed my way to fight the male coyote that has challenged them.

If the coyote just keeps screaming challenges at me, then I will rapidly switch back and forth between "Coyote Growls" and "Pup Distress 3" sounds on FULL VOLUME and sometimes these two sounds will trigger the male coyote to come in.
 
I kill far more coyotes with vocals during a coyote hunting season than any other sounds. It is a learning experience. You can scare or get a negative reaction to a howl or vocals just as easy as you can get a positive response. A coyote has many triggers. Without using vocals, the number of triggers is diminished greatly. To consistently call coyotes in during any time of the year, vocals can play a huge part in that. I have been calling coyotes for over 30 years, and I learn something new each time out.

Even with most human's limited understanding of their language, with some experience many people can discern old vs young, mood of coyote (aggressive vs social), and sex of coyote (male vs female). As you are saying, just because a call manufacturer calls it one thing doesn't mean it is. Certain sounds like a Challenge Howl are pretty distinct. I absolutely believe 100% different sounds mean different things. I do believe using various vocalizations is a major key in harvesting more coyotes.
 
The above 2 responses says it all, if you don’t use vocals your missing out. I would think anyone who has called coyotes for a few years would have an idea about what the vocalizing means cause in my point of view it’s pretty clear what they’re saying. Especially when you’ve been busted. I’ll say ,challenge howls and pup distress are on my preset’s.
 
See, there you go now you know. Like I said I try to match their mood. Everyone I know who calls with caller has a pup distress on standby for after a shot or most of them use it to finish up a stand. I can tell when they are pissed about something or when they have busted me and are letting me know or the others. I try to find something similar or more aggressive. I'm sure I probably scare some of with my tactics of being too aggressive just like with my turkey hunting but its fun trying. Like the guys said above its a learning experience and I'm still learning. Sorry I relate everything to turkey hunting but thats my real passion. To me its like using a full strutter tom decoy in your setup--great chance you are going to scare of the jakes or the other toms who have gotten their butt beat and probably only call the dominant one in.. I am fine with that but it has bitten me more than once where I am hunting a certain area where the jakes have teamed up and whooped every tom in area and thats all that runs in to calling..

So listen to the guys and have fun


Thanks guys

Jon
 
Great pics!

I do not know what coyotes are 'saying' when they howl or vocalize, but, they do.

I am confident that they can distinguish the voice of each coyote they can hear. Human voices are unique, so to, I believe, are coyotes, and with their ability to hear, why couldn't they tell the difference?

This time of year, after they have established mates and territories, I can let out a lone howl, and typically will have both come in (when they respond, of course. Nothing is 100%). Usually, when they appear, one stops as soon as it can see my calling position, and the other continues to try and get downwind of me.

I will howl, once or twice, then stay quiet for 3-5 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times. I think every coyote that heard me, knows I am a stranger in these parts, but, if I am not in, or close to their territory, they won't bother to check it out.

Fascinating animals!
 
I hands down agree with using the vocals! Especially during the end of January through most of February here. But as far as going by “labels”.... Not a chance lol

Thanks for the link DAA! My ole mans says hi!
 


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