Canine Growl?

[HoofsandWings]

I was hunting elk near William O Douglas wilderness and I was walking along a ridgeline in the dark.
Close behind me was a growl. A few minutes later there was what sounded like a whole bunch of coyotes yipping about 300 yards down the side of the ridge.
Personally, I have never heard of a coyote growling, but maybe they do and why the single growl?
Thanks

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Should have shot the coyotes....

[AspenBud]

I've had one growl at me. It's usually a short distance warning.

[Smossy]

If a coyote is close enough to growl at me its for-sure within bow range.

[HoofsandWings]

This was 6am in pitch black.
I could not see the animal.
I was walking along a trail on a ridge in open country. No trees for fifty yards.
I was walking at a good pace.
If I had a bow and night vision googles maybe?
So the consensus is it was a coyote?

[KFhunter]

Here's what happened:

The Coyotes were tagging along waiting for you to make them a gutpile, then you came across a lion and it followed you for approx. 150 yards stalking you the whole time - not more than 50 feet behind you-  finally it crept up within 10 yards got a good whiff and decided not to jump on your back and bite your spinal column in two, but growled at you instead then sauntered off and found the coyotes that were following along 300 yards below and they started yipping at the lion.

You're lucky to be alive.