Hitting a "sour note"?

Rusty · 01-04-2004, 04:10 AM

Every once in a while when calling coyotes, I will mistakenly hit a note or tone which definitely is NOT a coyote sound. A squawk, beep, or something worse occasionally slips out!

My question then is simple. Am I "toast", have I spooked every critter for miles? This really has me concerned because after spending time, energy, and money to finally get permission to hunt only to "blow" a call seems a waste. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

I am hoping you verteran callers will give me some feedback on this issue. :blush:

Thanks! :whazzup:

Rusty

[ 01-04-2004, 05:12 AM: Message edited by: Rusty ]

Rauly · 01-04-2004, 06:10 AM

I don't think hitting A bad note once in a while hurts. If you blow bad notes on a regular basis in one set it will send a warning to the dogs.

My .02

Rauly

skein · 01-04-2004, 06:18 AM

Rusty,

My initial feeling, without hearing the "note," is that, no, it shouldn't be that big a deal. But you should keep blowing to sort of cover it up.

The times I squawk my call seem to be when I'm blowing too hard, or the reed is starting to wear out, or maybe I have an excess of moisture in it at that time (slobber for lack of a better word). I suspect if the 'yote is getting close and you hit one of those really bad notes, he may get suspicious enough to run off. Usually, though, by that time you have him curious enough that he can't resist seeing that rabbit and its assailant.

Your reaction could be deadly though. If you stop, shake the call, or otherwise create movement that might give you away, and he sees it, you're most likely done. My advice is to just keep blowing and watching.

Skein

Rusty · 01-04-2004, 07:52 AM

Rauly and Skein:

Thanks for the great input and advice on my calling problem. While I am getting better, and actually had a yote take a peek a week or so ago, I was worried about making too many mistakes and getting "call shy" myself! :depressed:

I guess it happens to even the best, and one must move on!

Rusty :grin:

Bill Monroe · 01-04-2004, 08:51 AM

Years ago, a friend's 17-year-old son got lost on an elk bow hunt and coursed off for a couple of miles before hitting a road, building a fire and hunkering for the night...on the way, though, he blew repeatedly on his Acme police whistle...
It called in four big bulls through the night.

Sometimes we may try to be too perfect...

Rusty · 01-04-2004, 12:44 PM

Hey Bill,

I'd blow on a kazoo if I thought it could improve my chances at a coyote! [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Some of the advise I'm getting leads me to believe that I should just keep at it...sooner or later things will begin to happen.

Rusty

[ 01-04-2004, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Rusty ]

KingFisher85 · 01-04-2004, 07:13 PM

We use them whistle to call ducks :grin:
don't think it would help with the coyotes...but you know what does work...if your hunting summer time coyotes, about the time they are cutting the hay...if there was some way we could put the scent of fresh cut hay in the air and a tracker call...You would get some coyotes in :grin: