BudmanDan requested that I record some sound clips with the new howler I built him (see "Whackem 'n Stackem Howler" on the Hand Call Maker Forum). I thought this would be a good opportunity to give my perspective on howling coyotes.

Note: These are not the best of recordings, as they were done inside my jeep, prior to shipping the howler to Dan.


Introduction

I'm, by far, no expert at howling coyotes, but these are my opionion and techniques that I've learned by trial and error over the past few years. I don't have a Doctorate Degree in Animal Behavioral Science. This equates to don't take this as Fact, as I'm sure my opinions are wide open for debate. This is just my perspective and what I found that works for me.

Much like duck calling, there a bunch of vocalizations, but I only use 3 or 4 when hunting. There is no reason to get fancy with your howls. I keep to short howls, leaving less room for error.

I primarily use the Interrogation Howl, Challenge Howl, Ki-Yi, and Pup distress.


Getting Started

I know it may sound funny, but how you hold your howler makes a big difference. I practice howling every day and found the following technique allows me to hold consistent notes on a howler. I place my index, middle, and ring fingers on top of the howler, with my thumb and pinky on the bottom. Pinch the bands on the mouthpiece with your index finger and thumb. Use your pink for the tilt (up and down), like your drinking a cup of tea in England. I get a good solid and controlled hold with this placement. Now here's the reason...

Tilt your howler up at about a 45 degree angle and rest your index finger on your top lip. Place your thumb against your chin. I tried freehanding a howler for the longest time and found this technique allows me to hold a non-breaking constant note by not shaking or wiggling the howler. I use my thumb to slide the howler out of my mouth to change the pitch. Also, I use one of my 2 front teeth to add pressure on the reed. Find out what works best for you, but this is what works for me.

By applying pressure at various points along the reed bridge, you can change the pitch. Deeper back produces a deeper sound, closer up produces higher pitch.

When using a howler, like most any calls, use your diaphramn to blow the call. If your cheeks are puffed out, then you're using your mouth. Keep your cheeks tight and use your stomach to force the air.

Like anything else, Practice is key. I practice every day going to and from work while driving. Much practice can be done on the mouthpiece without the horn. It will save your ears from ringing, as well. Another great practice technique is to drive out into coyote areas at night and sing along with them. You'll here thousands of combinations and notes from coyotes and I just do what they are doing. Imitating them is the best practice.


Basic Sounds

Coyote vocalization is made of of basically 4 sounds. The Aggressive Bark, Non-Aggressive Bark, Constant Howl, and a Fluctuating Howl. Practice at these 4 basic sounds and you are on the road to mixing them up into vocalizations.

The Aggressive Bark requires quick/short puffs of air. This is a deliberate and hard bark. Much like any other canine that is a bit ticked off. Pop your tooth off the reed while doing this.

Aggressive Bark

Aggressive Bark on mouthpiece


The Non-Aggressive Bark also requires quick burst of air, but on a much softer tone. You'll hear coyotes do this in a non-alarming fashion. Same tooth popping technique just alot softer and milder tones.

Non-Aggressive Bark

Non-Aggressive Bark on mouthpiece


The Constant Howl is a long drawn-out howl that is non-alarming. The tone is constant, without any pitch changes. Find your tooth or lip placement and keep it there for the remainder of the howl.

Constant Howl

Constant Howl on mouthpiece


The Fluctuating Howl is a howl that changes pitch from deeper to higher. It's an aggressive howl. With your index finger against your top lip, quickly slide your teeth/lip a short distance up and down the reed to produce and up and down pitch change. I've also found that you can wiggle the howler and get a similar effect. I'm still working on the best technique for myself, as it is my most challenging.

Fluctuating Howl

Fluctuating Howl on mouthpiece

That's the 4 basic sounds. Practice them and get them down pat, as they are the building blocks to producing the vocalizations I use for howling coyotes.





Putting Them Together

The Interrogation Howl (aka Lonesome, Locator, etc..) is made up of some Non-Aggressive Barks and a Constant Howl.

Interrogation Howl

I refer to it as my "Hello Howl". I use this howl for locating coyotes. It means "Hello, I'm here....Anyone else out there?". They may return with an Iterrogation Howl, a Challenge Howl, or just come in silently to check out the newcommer. I use this quite a bit for locating coyotes. Especially in pre-dawn hours before I make my stands.


The Challenge Howl is distictly different than the Interrogation Howl. There is no mistaking the two. It is made up of Aggressive Barks and a Fluctuating Howl.

Challenge Howl

I refer to this as the "I'm Gonna Kick Your Butt Howl". It means, "Back off Jackson, this is our spot!". It's a bluffing technique that coyotes use. Slip into their core area and throw out some Challenge Howls. Sometimes, they may Challenge Howl you back and forth for a period of time. Othertimes, they will come in silently, looking for a fight. They will have the hair standing when they come in. This works great in the Spring.


Another great sound to learn is the Ki-Yi (aka. Hurt dog, Hurt Pup, Coyote Distress). It requires tooth placement on the first 1/3 of the reed bridge and fluctuating your tooth placement, similar to the Fluctuating Howl. You are trying to imitate a hurt canine, like a dog hit by a car.

Ki-Yi


You can produce Pup Distress sounds by Ki-Yi with the mouthpiece.

Pup Distress on mouthpiece

This is another Springtime coyote-getter sound.


Something to avoid

One howl that I don't want to do, is an Alarm Howl. I call it the "Busted Howl". It means the gig is up and every coyote in hearing distance knows it. To me, it sounds similar to the Challenge Howl, but it is made up of Aggressive Barks and a Constant Howl.

I try not to do this.

Busted Howl


Like I said, I'm no expert, but this is what works for me. There are a bunch of other vocalizations with Yips and Chuckles, but I find them personally challenging to produce and don't use them when hunting. I stick to the basics and get good results from them.

Of course, I maybe wrong...

Thanks...Tony

Tony
That's exactly the information I was looking for. It turns out that the challenge howl sound that I was making last season, with my red desert howler, is alot closer to an alarm howl than anything else. Boy that sure explains alot!! I can't wait to get my new howler in the mail. I'll be sure to put some pics out on the board when I start to WHACKEM AND STACKEM this fall. Thanks alot for taking the time to put this thread together. I'm sure I'll be using it as a referance in the future.

Good Hunting, Budmandan

Tony
Budmandam is right, good job

Gray Fox

Tony, thats so doggone neat !!!!! I'm not a howler, but I practice it, the interrogation sound is exactly what I try to do, thought that was right sound to ask " is anyone out there "
Super, super, super.
Richard Grantham

I found one more sound clip that I recorded and forgot to post. It's a Prey Distress (rabbit,deer,fawn) on the the howler mouthpiece.

Prey Distress


I appreciate the comments guys. Hope the information helps.

Thanks...Tony

This is one of the best instructional posts that I have read. Outstanding information! I think that this post should be locked/pinned/secured whatever so that it is easily referenced in the future.

Superb post Tony!

Thank you,

Cactus Rat

Post deleted by Rich Cronk

Rich,

Thank you for pointing this out. I appreciate it.

You are absolutely correct that this my opinion. What I love about Predator Master's, is that we have the right to share opinions so that readers have more than one man's perspective on the topic. That's what helps folks become better callers. These are just techniques that I use to help stack up the fur that you see in the hunting photos on my website.

I have updated the original post with a clarification that should stand out.

Thanks...Tony

Wow, that explains alot, seems the howl I was doin was more like th alarm howl as well. Dang it.

t/223encore.

Thanks a lot Tony! This is exactly what newbies like myself need. I've had some success at howling but its not consistent. Sometimes I wonder if some aged coyote over the hill says to his buddy "do you hear that idiot who thinks he's a sick yote?" I've heard the alarm howl once (didn't realize that's what it was at the time) right after I shot a yote with my bow and two others were around where it had died. They barked and howled for a long long time!

Doug,

Actually, I believe you may have heard the Very Rare, Non-Documented..."Charlie just got stuck through the ribs and Dropped Over Howl". j/k

Thanks...Tony

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Wow, very nice recordings Rich. That 2nd one is my favorite.

I'm glad this topic isn't a "Howl Off" contest. As, I would be sure to lose. It is more intended to share my techniques that I personally use to locate and howl in coyotes.

I'm feeling a bit hijacked.

Thanks...Tony

Post deleted by Rich Cronk

I understand and Thank You Rich. That's kinda what I was trying to do. Simplify howling to the basics of 4 simple components and mixing them into the basic 2 types of howls I use.

We're seeing Eye to Eye.

Thanks...Tony

post deleted by George

I don't see anything harsh about Rich sharing his technique as did Tony. Seems like a good place to put several "variations" to the howling technique. It goes to show that there are certain coyote vocals that work, and you don't have to sound just like the vidoe that you watchhed, or the seller that you bought from, or your neighbor, or your buddy that does all the calling all the time, etc.
Just goes to show, much like th distress sounds, we all have our favorite, but we all need to open our ears and hear what else works and keep an open mind to new and differant sounds.
Harsh, not hardly. Fine job to the both of ya!!

It's all good.

Rich, no need to remove the sound files. I used to host them on my website for you.

Songdog, Variety is the spice of life. Also, I love your signature. I remember all the questions about your cow tip calls. Too funny.

Thanks...Tony

Post deleted by Rich Cronk

I believe tony stated in the beginning that it was his opinion and that it was not iron clad! so if anyone took it as so it was their own fault if indeed there was reason to be at fault!
I have heard in person ,tony do his calls! they sound much better in person and I believe them to be fairly accurate! I am not a howler, but have killed more than my fair share of coyotes! budmandan asked for tony's opinion! no one elses .
predator masters is starting to look like another board I wont mention.a lot of new comers are intimidated by this approach and will not post for fear of being attacked or bullied! it should'n t be that way here! if you have a different opinion start you own post to state it or do so in private!
it's going to get to where PM has no call makers advertizing ! the list is starting shrink!
just my opinion!
keep 'em coming tony! you do a great job!

I totally agree with guess on this.And yes good work TT.PimC

I wanted to know Rich Higgins opinion about this thread since he gives seminars on howling, Predatormasters hunt this last year, and he wins or places in all the contests he enters including beating Rich Cronk in the Super Howl a couple of years ago. So I emailed him Here is his answer

maslatrans? I took a look at the thread and thought Tony did a good job. I didn't agree with all of it but he provided a good foundation for his students to practice with and develope their individual styles with. I can't comment on Mr. Cronk's posts, they had been deleted.

Thanks for the informative post. I am a newbie,and I was asking how you know the difference between the different howls. Now I know. THANK YOU.

You're welcome. Take it for what it's worth. One guys perspective. I've spent alot time on stands this season and have learned alot more. That's the name of the game. I might update the post with some new stuff learned.

Thanks...Tony

muleboy, I'm glad you are asking such good questions. I would have never found this great post.
R4B

Mr. Tebbe, Thank you for your info!
I will gladly listen to any advice from the CUSTOM call makers, as well as any guys who have hunted for a while!! This includes call makers who are new to the business.

This is something the inexperienced/new hunters definitely need to do. I've been after coyotes for years, & still learn something new, all the time.

Again, Thank You!!!!

hey tony, i tryed holding my call like you said. and man did it make a world of difference in the sound. more control like you said!! thanks for the info.

You are welcome.

Tony

Thanks for the wav files. I was listening to the pup distress and in from the other room comes my 9 month old chocolate lab running with one of those "what the hell is going on?" looks.

Hey Guys!
Great thread, awesome techniques and easy informational! Thank you! I been doing it all wrong!

I'll be practicing my own music using your example as a standard.

Tony

Great job, How about the female invitation howl. Or anyone eles for that mater.

what works in one area of the country may not work in another. I wish rich hadnt deleted his posts. I do alot of calling for deer and what i do in southern michigan rarely works in northern michigan and what works up north never works down here. Havent been able to fiqure it out yet.

Tony thank you for posting this ALL the info has REALLY been helpful to me your AWESOME BigGuy!!!

Tony,
Many bow-downs to you. I got a new cow horn howler, and I was was way off base with it. More like using the Busted call. Thanks for taking the time to help those under-developed callers. I do agree, it is all in the practice, and if there are others who feel they have a howl that compares, please tell us what it is. I am more than interested in learning. Who better to teach than someone who knows nothing about it.

Thanks. I probably need to go back and re-review what I originally posted. I've practiced myself alot since this original post. I hope my howling has improved since then.

Thanks...Tony

Thanks, TT this might help me.

Nice post, Tony..........we all have to help each other out.....

I only have one disagreement with you.....every time I practice in the car on a nice day, I scare the snot out of other drivers, especially at red lights!! You oughtta see the look on their faces!!

I only have one problem with a commercial howler I bought several years ago...the mylar keeps slipping off to the side after calling a while, and I have to keep straightening it out despite the rubber band.....I can tell when it starts to slide because the calls/sound starts getting real ugly.......


John

This is great info. I just need to build the confidence to attempt use of of my howler before I get in the field. This should help me out.

Confidence is 90% of the game. Without it...nothing ever seems to go right.

Get out there at night and howl back and forth with those West Texas coyotes...they'll teach you more in 2 hours than anyone can in 2 years.

Tony

I suggest that you contact Dan Thompson. He will light up your world on howling.

Learing the howling, is key in coyote hunting. Learning to howl is learning how to think like a coyote.

to learn or not to learn....that is the question.

Learning takes the fun out of hunting for a lot of folks.

Make it fun for you!

+1Tony

Thanks Tony. Great stuff!

Great info tony. thanks!

Thank you it gives a person a good place to start out when begining with hand calls. Good job.

good stuff Tony, do you guys think howling is as important of a skill to learn as distress calls back here in the East?? I know quite a few guys who do howl out here and some guys that don't even bother with it and stick solely with distress sounds...

Howling works good for me, when in an area that has a good population. When hunting here in Iowa, I don't bother with it for most my stands, except for two areas. I've had real good luck in other states with it day or night. I do nightime locate alot with it, though.

Just found this thread, It seems a few months after the original post. The sounds are still great. Thanks!!

i agree, more call makers should get involved in this thread. If Tony will take the time to help out other hunters then you know that he will stand behind his product. He is one of the only custom call makers that i have seen on here that actually talk to others, and not once on this thread did he try to push his product, great job tony

Thanks for the great sounds it will definitely make my hunting more productive!!

a few quick questions.

-how do you make a non-aggressive bark instead of an aggressive bark? Do you just use less air?

-does it matter how high or low the pitch is?

non- aggressive bark is not so much less air, but do not force the air out as hard. An agressive bark force the air out of your lungs harder, almost huff the air out.

higher pitch for aggressive.

this has worked well for me.

great info thanks

I am unable to hear the sounds. Are they still available?
Nevermind, It was my fault. I got it now. Thanks so much these are great. I scared the pudding out of my co-worker. LOL!

Great suff. This is exactly what i needed. Could be the best post to date. Great job.

tony I have been listening to the challenge and the busted howel over and over! can you help me understand the difference.Is it pitch,or the combination of the bark/ howl?

well great....i feel stupid! haha i guess my "challenge" was saying "RUN!!!!"

dalarocha, i think the difference is the way the challenge waivers and changes pitch, while the alarm is one note. JMHO

Wow, this thread is really helpful. I am just getting started and am working on my howling every day (mainly in my truck on the way to and from work so far).
I have one question, for the interogation or locator howl the Randy Anderson cd that came with my calls said to move your teeth from the deep part of the call to about half way down then back about half way again. Is holding a constant pitch better?
Also, I live and hunt in Iowa, does howling really not work well here?

howling should work anywhere! coyotes will howl wherever there is a dense population of coyotes! its what they do! every coyote will howl. now the randy anderson call may be set up differently then the ones explained here! you just have to practice and find the "sweet spot" of the howler. a constant pitch is what you aim for however if your pitch messes up a little bit then its ok the coyotes wont be very alarmed.

I really appreciate this post!

Awesome instructions, thanks Tony!!

Hey Tony, I can get a ptetty good howl with the TT Extreme, but the Ki-Yi is giving me fits. Is the Extreme compatable with the ki-yi?

The extreme can do a pretty good ki-yi if you don't push it too hard. I prefer the aggressive arc of the Mini call's toneboard for the best ki-yis.

Tony

Thanks Tony for a very informative post. It clarifies alot for me when I hear some howls in the night, and I have a much better idea of how to respond to howls, or how to start them.

My howl call slash bark sounds more like rabbit in distress

Practice, practice, practice.

Yep,after listenin to these sounds, I have a lot of work to do. Wrexx, my Lab, Does not like the pup in distress call. Know that for a fact.

'hey tony do u have coyote fighting sounds.

If you don't mind old school, Gerald Stewart produced a cassette tape on coyote vocals that is one of the better things he's done.

CT402 Gerald Stewart - Secrets of Succesful Coyote Howling

Thanka tony I am new to hand calls and thia is just what I was looking for see 9 years later and you still hwlping newbies

Why ia deleted come up

Delete came up again

Why was my reply deleted

so where else can a guy turn to here more detailed sounds with a description of each sound. Instruction. This has been very helpful and can't get enough.
Thanks

Youtube is where I'd go

Right here. First post..........


http://www.predatormastersforums.com/for...4594&page=1