? COUGAR CALLED INTO COYOTE STAND

[KenPCPilot]

I got out early this morning to hunt the snow.  Darn 4x4 did not appear to be engaging.  I have a 01 Ford F-250 diesel with electronic 4x4.  The indicator light was illuminated but the front would not power so I could not hunt where I wanted to.  So I set up close to road and called for about an hour without any visitors.  I started packing up an heard a very bizzare sound.  Best way I can describe it was a high pitch sqeak/scretch like a windshield wiper dragging across a dry windshield.  It was short duration definitly not a common sound.  I thought it might be a whistle from a cougar however it sounded a bit different than the one I have on my Fox Pro electronic call.  I turned my caller back on and used the cougar whistle sound and got 2 more responses.  I waited another 10 minutes and that was the last of it.  As i was walking out I saw a fresh set of tracks that came from the timber and actually followed with in my fresh snow tracks up to about 40-50 yards from my stand then turned sharply and headed straight back into the timber.  These tracks however were not very big, not very long gait.  I could not make out the paw prints well but definitly nothing like cougar tracks I have identified.  Of course the animal came in from back behind my stand and off to my left probably saw or smell me then bailed.  Sucks! would have been nice to be set up with a partner to watch my back they probably would have got a shot at something. 

[bobcat]

Bobcat maybe?

[wraithen]

Hearing the story this way I would suspect a bobcat. Although I doubt a bobbie would've made a peep after a cougar whistle from the foxpro. That would be plain dumb for the bobbie.

[wrongway]

sounds like you need a set of waren hubs, had to do the same thing

[KenPCPilot]

My truck has warn hub looking devices but they do not turn.  ? are they just for cosmetic purpose.  I had warn hubs on a 79 Bronco and they worked fine you had to turn them to lock the wheels in.  anybody know if these hub things are just for show or am I just too stupid to figure out how to turn them. 

[wraithen]

They should turn. Maybe they've been neglected too long? Is there any lube left in them?

[buglebuster]

My 2000 has hubs that are on auto or lock. The same thing you described happened to me. I think a vacuum line went out because i could turn my hubs to lock like a normal 4x4 and it worked fine. Your  hubs should turn, mine are really hard.

[KenPCPilot]

Thanks for the feedback.  sounds like I need to take it to the shop.  Or i could do the cheap thing and just scrap off the "4X4" decals off the truck bed and call it a two wheel drive.