It's been several years ago but I can still remember the ad: "Call Wildlife Up Close! These authentic audio tapes by Johnny Stewart help photographers, nature lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts attract animals within a few feet of themselves." There were photos of a fox, a deer, and a coyote, all so close to the caller it looked like he could almost touch them. Wow! I had to have one of those calling kits. Even though I had recently bought a new lens, the old credit card would just have to take another hit.

A couple of weeks passed anxiously, but finally it came. There were tapes of a squealing bird, a screech owl, and even a rabbit in distress. Reading the manual, I became even more enthused. It seemed all I had to do was get some camouflage, a small chair, set up my new "professional" Tamron 400mm lens, turn on the tapes and wait. Stunning images of owls, raccoons, and even bobcats would now be, oh so easy. Why hadn't I seen this ad long ago? Maybe now I could break into the pro ranks, start seeing my work in all the big magazines, and make oodles of money.

But first I needed a few more items. The Leonard Lee Rue catalogue had an item called a pocket blind. With two eyeholes, a lens snoot, and heavy-duty fabric, it seemed ideal. Cabela's Outdoor Store in Sidney, Nebraska provided a lightweight, portable, folding chair. It was perfect. I was ready!

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, a short drive from home, was a logical place to call up some wildlife as I had seen coyotes there on previous visits. I parked the pickup, hiked a quarter mile or so, and picked a site that would seem to be as good a coyote spot as any. There were some rocks, lots of grasses for cover, and a clearing for an excellent field of view. I set up the Cabela's folding chair, my professional Tamron 400 millimeter lens, and covered myself with the Leonard Lee Rue Pocket Blind. Selecting the "Rabbit in Distress" tape; I switched on the battery-powered player. "Squawk, squeal, squawk", went the rabbit. I checked the camera settings and turned up the volume.

No sign of a coyote. The blazing sun beat down on the pocket blind. The heavy fabric with the camouflage pattern trapped the heat in a most efficient manner. Maybe I had picked the wrong time of year for this.

"SQUEAL, SQUAWK", the rabbit continued. I began to wonder how Johnny Stewart got the rabbit to make those sounds? Did he pull his little whiskers? Did he tweak his bunny tail? What kind of guy would do that to a rabbit anyway? Why did I buy anything from this sadist?

By now, sweat was pouring down my face and blurring my vision. Unseen insects chewed on my ankles. Mosquitoes whined in my ears as cicadas buzzed in the distance. And then I heard a different sound, a kind of a riipppping noise. Too late!! I realized it was the seat of the portable Cabela's folding chair from Sydney, Nebraska. In a flash and a cloud of dust, it all came tumbling down - the Tamron lens, the folding chair, the Leonard Lee Rue blind - and me!

Somewhere that evening a family of coyotes sat around their den, chewing a few bones. The leader grins, "Guys, you're not gonna believe what I saw this afternoon." Soon they erupt with howls of laughter. And to this day, if you happen to visit the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve on a warm, summer evening, stop and listen closely; you can still hear them.

Editor's Comment: Let us know what you think! Please email the Editor to let us know your thoughts.

Warren Williams has been doing photography for over 25 years focusing mainly on Nature and wildlife. His work has been published in several magazines, including Outdoor Photographer, Outdoor Oklahoma, Oklahoma Today, and Persimmon Hill (the magazine of the Cowboy Hall of Fame). Several of his photos have also appeared on calendars by Smith-Southwestern. Warren is an active member on Photo Migrations and would also invite you to visit his website located at: Warren Williams Photography - Images of Wildlife and Nature.