Howling At Prey Distress

R

Ryanjac23

Member
Over the weekend I made a stand about 8 in the morning. I played a minute of rabbit distress and had coyotes start howling about 400 yards away. Have you had coyotes howl back at rabbit distress sounds? I’m not sure what it means or what to think about it.

I kept calling to about the 10 minute mark and no coyotes showed up. I let out a howl and they howled back only 150 yards away this time but still in the timber. I then went back to rabbit distress and then coyote distress but nothing. Sat for another half hour and it was a no-show.

It seems to me like these coyotes were educated. My wind I think was ok…not perfect but not horrible. I did miss a coyote on this same stand about a month ago but it was a single and there were at least 2-3 this go around.
 
Ryanjac23 said:
Have you had coyotes howl back at rabbit distress sounds?
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Countless times. It's extremely common in my experience. On a morning stand in an area with a good number of coyotes it's unusual to not have them howl in response to rabbit distress. Often multiple groups in multiple directions.

To me, it doesn't mean anything though. It's just what they do. Confirms they can hear me is about all I think about it. If I don't hear any howling in response to rabbit on morning stands, I think I'm probably not in a good spot. It's that common.

- DAA
 
It's not very common where I hunt. But then again, I almost always open with howls, and if there are any in the area that feel like howling they do it then.

However, I did have this happen just last weekend. I let the rabbit play out and then switched to a coyote fight. It took a few minutes, but a big male came out for the last time.

 
That sounds like they are booger barking. I'd guess that's them saying: "hey guys, there's a dude over there with a rabbit flavored foxpro".

I have had them quietly chirp or some really light howling while coming into pup distress or a fight. It's usually about impossible to hear over the mayhem you're creating with your call, but a few times I've heard them on the way. They will do it from several hundred yards out. I figure they are saying, "hey, I'm on my way to help, and I'm pissed".
 
Yep… I’ve had them howl to prey distress before. Not super common, but it happens. Seems like it was typically young of the year thinking back to the stands where it happened and something died. Not a big enough sampling though, to draw any hard data from.
 
DAA said:
Countless times. It's extremely common in my experience. On a morning stand in an area with a good number of coyotes it's unusual to not have them howl in response to rabbit distress. Often multiple groups in multiple directions.

To me, it doesn't mean anything though. It's just what they do. Confirms they can hear me is about all I think about it. If I don't hear any howling in response to rabbit on morning stands, I think I'm probably not in a good spot. It's that common.

- DAA
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yep and its also often a great way to get an idea on the direction one might come from if its very close.
 
I've only made 7 stands so far and all have been unsuccessful but I had the same thing happen to me today. It sounded like three groups of coyotes around me all howling together at the jackrabbit sound I was playing.
 
tawnoper said:
Lots and lots of times. And a lot of those stands turn productive.
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One of those days they were howling at the rabbit left and right.

201411_Coyote%20Hunting-41W.jpg


- DAA
 
DAA said:
One of those days they were howling at the rabbit left and right.

201411_Coyote%20Hunting-41W.jpg


- DAA
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Great picture Dave!

We have coyotes howling back at our distress sounds very often. I believe that coyotes think that other coyotes are causing the distress sounds and that is why coyotes come into rodent, rabbit and bird sounds with their hackles up. Quite often coyotes look like they are ready to fight when they hear my Adult Rat Distress sound.

I didn't realize coyotes came into distress sounds with their hackles up so often until I started taking picture of coyotes approaching my distress sounds.
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