the size of a bear
thick body
stocky legs
black shaggy hair
prominent horns
a cry that is a mix of an elk's bugle and a wolf's howl
Sightings of this cryptid were reported from the 1950s onward. In the 2000s there are still reports of sightings. One supposed photo of the howler was determined to be a hoax. In fact, it looks nothing like descriptions, but more like a dog with horns worked on with photo fx.
The origins of the legend might be from settlers from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales immigrating to the Ozarks who brought with them tales of the Cù-Sìth. Legends of this creature involve a combination of a young bull and a wolf with shaggy hair. This creature was said to be a harbinger of doom.
I think the description of this cryptid makes it an intriguing one to come across. I can see where the combination of sound, hair, horns, and size make it an indetermant real-world creature.
I'd like to personally thank the Ozarks for harboring locations where such a creature and its legend can be birthed. So much of our world is concrete and structures and to many the feral nature of the untouched outdoors is the real unknown.
Can there be a breeding population that can last for generations? In some locations, like thickly wooded areas like Washington or vacant areas like Wyoming and Montana, perhaps. Given this region of the Ozarks, it really could have plenty of space to travel undetected.
Of course, then, there's the apparent dire wolves witnessed in Skinwalker Ranch, Utah, and Bling Frog Ranch, Utah. If a creature from our past continues to strive underground from whatever calamity made it seek shelter, it could remain hidden in twisting caverns forever.
I would probably investigate local tribal legends of such creatures, as well. No one knows the wildlife better than those who lived right in it for the longest generations.