Do deer calls actually work?

Rattling Devices

Rattling calls evoke the sound of two deer clashing, and if used correctly, can be effective all season long, but really shines from the late pre-rut to the post-rut. It's the sound of two bucks fighting, and brings in bucks for several reasons.

How often should I use my deer call?

Using a grunt call is a great way attract the attention of mature bucks. You should look to only grunt periodically, every 15 minutes to 20 minutes. 'Blind calling' can work but it is best to make the calls subtle and sparingly because you don't know how close a deer might be to you.

Does calling scare deer?

Deer calls are designed to mimic the sounds deer make in an attempt to pique the interest of a lurking buck or perhaps make that trophy whitetail turn just enough to land a quality shot. Most hunters are familiar with calls for deer, yet some hunters have never used deer calls out of fear of spooking whitetails away.

How far away can a deer hear a call?

Their studies show that these short, single grunts are fairly loud (deer grunt loudly enough so that other animals 50 to 100 yards away can hear them) and of moderate intensity and high pitch. The “low grunt” is similar to the contact grunt, but more guttural.

Do deer grunts really work?

You should also grunt periodically from a stand near a bedding area. Your calls might cause a deer to sneak over to investigate. “Blind calling” can work, but a grunt call really shines when a buck has been spotted. Grunt at every buck you see that is slipping by out of range.

Deer Calling 101 - Fundamentals

When should you start calling deer?

However you break down deer season, I would consider the pre-rut late October through early November. Here, your calling can begin to be more frequent. Grunts will work to call and attract deer, specifically bucks. If you need to bring them in those last few yards to bow range, a grunt call can do that.

When should you bleat a call?

A doe bleat and grunt is most effective from late pre-rut to post-rut. Remember, the secondary rut occurs a month after the peak of the first rut. The reason doe sounds are effective at this time is simple -- bucks are looking for does to breed. Follow the normal deer calling rules when using doe bleats or grunt calls.

Can grunting spook deer?

You always want to start off calling quietly, because a buck might be just outside of eyesight and the last thing you want to do is roar at him with a grunt call, and spook him. Grab a grunt call, like the Buck Roar or Rut Roar, and give 2-3 soft grunts spaced a second apart.

What color can deer not see?

They can pick out short (blue) and middle (green) wavelength colors, but they're less sensitive to long wavelength colors such as red and orange. “They're essentially red-green color blind,” said Brian Murphy, a wildlife biologist and the CEO of Quality Deer Management Association.

Can deer hear you whisper?

This explains why deer run away after hearing two hunters whisper, but stay put when they hear two squirrels playing. Deer also quickly learn to associate sounds like the slamming of a car door and laughter to the presence of human predators. Any unusual sound can trip a deer's internal alarm.

Can you call deer too much?

Call Too Often — While deer are more vocal than most hunters think, they don't constantly make noise. When they make either passive or aggressive sounds, they generally do it for a reason. Put your calls into sequences and give ample time for deer to respond.

When should you grunt for deer?

A great time to utilize your buck grunt call is during the fall months and breeding season. During peak rut bucks are on the prowl, sparring with other bucks, rubbing trees and creating scrapes. They are eager seeking out does, as well as answering the calls of bucks looking to challenge their dominance.

Will rattling scare Doe?

The first is timing. The optimal time for using rattling as a deer call is at the end of pre-rut and up to the peak breeding period of the rut in your area. Once a mature whitetail pairs with a hot doe, he will stay with her for several days and deer calls like rattling will be unlikely to draw him away.

Should you grunt while rattling?

But most of us hunt places where the sex ratio of whitetails is not so balanced, where fewer mature bucks live per square mile and where the hunting pressure is less controlled. Still, hang in there and keep rattling and grunting until you strike a big deer pumped to respond.

Does grunting work post rut?

Because you don't want to overcall, here's a good sequence to use for your post-rut deer calls. When you haven't seen any deer all day, try making a couple soft doe bleats, and add some short, tending buck grunts to simulate a chasing buck.

Why do hunters wear camouflage if deer are color blind?

The reason for this is that humans and animals see differently. It's common knowledge that deer “see in black and white”. This isn't quite true, deer see “dichromatic”, being able to see more blue, and hardly any red. This helps them have better vision in the dark.

Is Camo necessary for deer hunting?

To sum up, camouflage is helpful, but not necessary in many hunting situations. For upland bird hunting it is less important, for rifle hunting deer it's of moderate importance. Camo is of moderately high importance for bowhunting ungulates and for all predator hunting.

What color is hardest for deer to see?

Cohen found that deer saw colors in the blue spectrum best, and those in the red spectrum the worst. He also confirmed anatomical studies that have found deer can see greens, yellows and UV light, but that they don't perceive the different color shades to the extent that humans do.

How often should you rattle and grunt for deer?

Perhaps the biggest mistake hunters make is getting discouraged and giving up too soon. Again, no hard and fast rules, but a general guideline is to rattle every 20 to 30 minutes and more importantly, stick with it. It's far more common to get a response the third or fourth time you rattle.

Will a buck grunt scare off does?

When deer begin moving out of their beds they sometimes communicate with light grunts or bleats. Using a deep buck grunt pre rut will usually scare away any does since they are beginning to be harassed by the bucks, but bucks will sometime come to see who is intruding.

Do doe bleat calls work?

“Bleats certainly work, but there is no rhyme or reason to it,” he told me. “I've studied whitetails for more than 40 years and can tell you does do not go around bleating their heads off when they're in estrus.