SubmittedThis photo shows the bull's antlers. He weighed about 800 pounds.

Sometimes an owl will sound off just for the heck of it. Maybe they are just tired of waiting for sundown or daybreak when they are supposed to give out with that eight note hoot (who cooks for you, who cooks for you – all?) that is so familiar to those of us who are fascinated with bird language. The fact that each species (of hundreds across the land) has a distinct and different song or chirp or beep or cry or…well, language. It is handy for them, but is absolutely amazing for humans.

Anyway, on one hot summer day, I was clearing some brush that was surrounding a plot of rye grass I was nursing it in preparation for deer season, when an owl let go with his complete eight note rendition. It surprised me because it wasn’t even close to the time of day you expect an owl to make its call. So of course I offered a bold reply and got an immediate response. We chatted for a while and then a third owl entered the conversation. We welcomed the new conversationalist and enjoyed a vocal threesome for a while. Eventually we all realized that I had brush to cut and they had lunch to kill and we all said goodbyes and went to work.

My bet is that a lot of folks like to converse with birds and animals. I know elk hunters who scream out their calls in the mountains are thrilled when they get angry replies that say “shut that stuff up or I am going to come over there and kill you!” Hunters who hunt turkeys, deer, waterfowl, coyotes, fox and crows all get vocal with the animals they seek. I have found that wildlife seem to be more interesting to talk with than at least a few of my fellow human beings.

I have successfully called all the above animals and birds. Plus I have called in a few hawks and even squirrels, who appear confused sometimes and I enjoy the puzzled look on their little furry faces. They probably hold meetings to discuss the huge cousin who speaks the language but has weird genetics. I have screamed at a few eagles and have uttered a few challenging grunts to bull moose and invited them for some sexy girl moose talk. I once screamed a fighting call to a bull elk and froze him in his tracks, even though he was carrying a bullet from one of my handloads close to his spine.

When we had lots of quail I called up the bobs by whistling the rhythmic chirps of the female. When one got close I would whistle those little excited chuckles that are barely audible and he would get so worked up that he would strut in with wings extended, almost to the point of expulsion from his body. I suppose I disappointed a lot of boy quail, but everything needs a little mystery in life and I believe that quail are no different.

Mourning doves are so easy to talk with. They are everywhere and I have never met one that didn’t like to gab. They keep saying the same thing over and over with that mournful five note alto whistle for which they are named. You can never get the last word in with a mourning dove. So eventually you just break it off and get on with your life.

I once encountered a porcupine sniffing along a snowy mountainside out west. He was making intermittent sounds that I would describe as squeaks. What he was searching for in deep snow I have no idea. Perhaps it was just companionship, because when I moistened the back of my hand, pressed my lips against it and sucked in air to mimic his squeaks, he started my way. We talked until he ended up almost bumping in to me before he discovered my chicanery and fled the scene. Porcupines must be extremely shy or nocturnal. I see their work everywhere in the mountains but this is the only one I have ever seen.

I never miss a chance to reply to the call of a bird or animal. It’s a ton of fun. If sometimes at a cocktail party you get that de ja vu feeling – like there is nothing else to talk about except subjects that have long ago been worn out, speak some wildlife talk. Some folks will rebuff you. But others will find you fascinating and are not likely to try to win you over to their view or sell you something.