If you'll be calling an area that has had little to no calling done all winter, then by all means use a distress call, rabbit will work great. If the area gets calledregularly, then you can bet that every other Dick and Harry used rabbit distress, so howling will be more effective, or at least use something different, maybe woodpecker distress. You can use some lone howls or female invitation for starters. Non threatening howls! Besides, they are coming into the breeding season, and this is the time that howling really starts to be more effective.