Coyotes Not Answering Howls: What Gives?

B

Bob Butz

New member
What are some possible reasons that coyotes fail to answer locator howls. Given the time of year, I would think they would be answering just about anything you throw at them. But, alas...I am not getting any answers to single, high-pitched, non-aggressive howls. Calling with a single howl, maybe two (with no barks) within an hour or two after dark.

Here in northern Michigan, I recently learned from a DNR biologist that canine distemper has really put a hurting on the local raccoon, fox, and coyote population. A lot of hunters and trappers are reporting same thing--there simply aren't a lot of coyotes around. But I really find that hard to believe and am looking for other possible reasons coyotes might not answer howls.
 
There is no guarantee that coyotes will respond to a locator. Sometimes right after sunset, sometimes at 10pm, sometimes at 3am, sometimes never. I have yet to figure out why they howl at times and not others. Tracks and scat are your best tool for scouting. They don't lie!

Tony
 
Here are my thoughts on coyote hunting tactics around this time of year.

A lot of guys think that howling is the way to go. I think that howling is better suited for the pre-mating season when they are starting to pair up. Early season and for this time of year the distress calls are the best, rabbit distress or coyote distress. Think about it. Why would a male coyote leave his mate to come to your howls? They already have a mate. You might get the odd loaner to come in but that seems low percentage to me. Coyotes have to eat, ALL THE TIME. They are predators/scavengers they are always looking for food. Stick with the distress calls. If you find nothing is coming in then you need to find a new area because either the dogs are not there, you are overcalling in the area or someone else is, or you have educated the ones that are there.
Yesterday we started using howls and just had dogs hang up and they did not seem interested at all. Went to the distress calls and pretty much had to start shooting them in self defence.
Stick to the distress calls and start piling them up!
 
I've got several coyotes around our subdivision. I'm out frequently in the evenings when our dog needs to go out. One thing I've found is that there is no consistency to when they start howling. Usually, if one starts to howl, I will hear responses from several locations. But sometimes there will be no answer.
 
I agree that rabbit distress works good on some days, this time of year, but doesn't get responses everyday...only when they are turned on. I've found that you really get good responses when you sound like a pair of coyotes, this time of year, moreso than a lone coyote. My thoughts are, pairs will withstand a lone coyote moving through...but not a pair, moving into their area. Alot of disputes over territory right now and coyote distress is working like a champ.

My thoughts/observations.

Tony
 
I have absolutely no respone with pup distress. But i will keep it out there. Rabbit distress is the only thing working right now for me.
 
Thanks for the input. I'm definitely seeing tracks (albeit "fewer") in the old standby areas I hunt this year. I have some spots that are consistently good for seeing coyotes and calling, but I wanted to pinpoint some more/new areas to scout/hunt this winter and figured howling would be the ticket to help narrow the search. I was leaning toward the not-the-best-time-of-year-to-howl-sometimes-they-howl-and-sometimes-they-don't combination explanation. Just hoping to find some more theories or to find out if anybody else is having or has similarly experienced quiet coyotes in places where you know they exist.
 
I tryed lone howls last weekend and got nothing, ran the coyote pack howling I have on my e caller and wouldnt you know it had a pair come tearing in, I usually get them to sound off with pack howling and never had one come into it, the next stand I ran the pack howls again and had another one showed up sneaking a look at about 300 yards. Now if I would have done a better job on my end I would have had a picture of two to share.
 
Used female invitation this morning, had a couple of coyotes really barking and howling, carried on for the better part of 5 minutes
 
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