I'm a newbie to coyote hunting. I live in Georgia. I've only killed a couple of 'yotes using an e-caller with modified tapes of rabbit squeels with breaks in between the calling. I am just wondering why would I need a howler and what are the best times (nite, day, early morning, late afternoon) to use it. What is the purpose of using it and what tactics are employed after using a howler and getting a response back from it?
My questions might sound a little dumb to some of you but as with other game, it doesnt make sense to stir up a critter with anything that gets his dander up for a fight and then turn around and try coaxing him in with a feed call. But as I have said, I'm new to hunting 'yotes and appreciate any and all help.

Good huntin'

Smack 'em where it hurts!

well you got part of it right by saying "getting his dander up"you see coyotes are very territorial and when a stranger comes in and steals there food they get ticked off and will come to run the intruder out or kick his butt.coyotes won't responed to just distress cry's sometimes,throw in a few barks and howls and it sometimes makes the difference.most times they will not vocaly responed to a series of lone bark howls,they will come in silent to kick the intruder out.now with group barks and howls they will responed vocaly trying to intimadate the intruding pack out of there territory. becouse they know a pack to pack confrontaion can be deadly dangerous. night time is when coyotes are most active but they can be had early morn and late afternoon.up here during the lean times of winter they can be had all day long but down there they most likely won't be to active during mid day.a howler is an important part of coyote hunting along with knowing the different vocalazations of the coyote and knowing how to do them on a howler.

Edited by - coyoteseeker on 12/28/2002 18:07:32

Well, Gabowman, a howler to me is like an ace in the hole. Several reasons to use one, if used correctly. For one, coyotes are territorial, so, if you can convince them that there is a stranger lurking around their place, they often times will come to check out this stranger. With the calling coyotes way of hunting growing, more and more guys/gals are going into the field hunting with distress calls, so, the one that can use a howler has another trick to call those "call shy" educated coyotes. The best time to use it, I believe, varies with location. Some callers use it anytime of day. I use it alot during daylite hours myself. Howling can be productive by itself, especially during mating season. As far as what to do if you howl and you get a howl in response. This can be a whole array of things, but most say to say what the coyote says. I want to stress that they often won't respond, even though they can hear you. I don't think anyone can get them to howl every time, just because they can hear a howl. I often start a stand by doing two or three lone howls, I try to keep my howls in the higher pitch, trying to sound like a young coyote or female coyote. I'll then wait, if no response, about 3-5 minutes, then I will go into my dying rabbit call. One thing about the howl before the rabbit, is this. If you can convince a coyote that there is another coyote in the area, and then convince it that this stranger just caught a rabbit, they will come a running. As far as getting their dander up, using what is called the challenge bark howl, which is a short bark then a short howl, done 2 or 3 times consecutive, I only use this after I have howled, they have howled back, I wait 5 or 10 minutes, they don't show up, so I howl and they howl back, I wait another 5-10 minutes, no one shows, I then will challenge them, especally if I believe I am talking to a male coyote. Learning to use the howler as a tool in the pursuit of coyotes, to me, is the most difficult to master and use effectively. But, when you start talking with them, and convince them that you are who you say you are, and they come, it is the best reward in calling coyotes. Good Luck!!

Coyoteseeker, Howler,

Thanks for your replies. Thanks for going into lengthy details to explain the answers to me. Now it makes sense for a 'yote hunter to want to own a howler and learn to master it as well. From what all I have read there are alot of good howlers to be bought. It seems that more people tend to favor the Rich Cronk howlers. Since you two guys seems to be the more knowledgeable coyote hunters on the boards what would your recommendations be as far as some kind of instructional tape, or perhaps a video that explains the uses of a howler and also gives instructions as to how the different sounds are mastered. Also, is there a good coyote hunting video on the market that goes into detail as to how the different calls are used. Everyone enjoys seeing the kills as I know I do on videos but I'm looking for a little more.
From crow hunting I've learned that the electronic caller does a fair job helping me to bust a few crows, but for me there is no comparison to what the hand calls can do. Instead of just speaking "at" the crows as the e-caller does you can speak "to" the crows with mouth calls with far better results. With coyotes all the mouth calls I currently own is the Johnny Stewart PC-1. I sound more like a fawn deer bleating than I do a rabbit squealing. Also, the sound seems loud compared to what an actual rabbit sounds like. Do either of you guys have any other recommendations for a rabbit squealler.

Thanks fellas,

GB

Smack 'em where it hurts!

ej sceery made a good how to cassette tape many years ago about coyotes.i'm not sure where you can get this tape by its self,that is with out buying it in a kit of some sort.a good video on the subject is put out by primos and its called truth about coyotes volume 1.alot of kills but alot of instruction also.randy anderson puts out one to,i have never seen this one but i'm sure its a good one.this can be had at www.callingcoyotes.com theres also some real good calls at that site.the rich cronk howler is indeed a nice howler but very pricy,as it should be.i used to use a ej sceery open reed howler but it surrcombed to slober rot and i got tired of the large size.i now use a quakerboy howler that sounds ok but is alot smaller.another real good one is the red desert howler and if i remember correctly can be found also at that callingcoyotes site.i.m not sure what the stewart pc-1 call is but it sounds like a long range call,you also need a mid range and coaxer call.very important to have the right volume for the right situation.

Another video that has some good how too stuff, is tyhe "dogging Coyotes" video. Randy Andersons video's both have some "how to" areas, but he also has some tips along the way with the hunts. I agree, the Red Desert howler is a good one, I have two custom cow horn howlers, neither are Cronk howlers, but all custom howlers are going to cost more than the average howler. You might look into getting an open reed call in the Verminator Tweety, or the pee-wee critr-call. Both of these are capable of higher pitch sounds, more like cottaintail, and are good for close in calling. I still like the lip squeek to seal the deal on the close coyotes.