What grunt tubes do you use?
If I need to grunt, or bleat, to stop a buck or get his attention...
I just usually "mouth call"
Never had much success "calling" deer...??
Not sure, I'm still using the first one I bought 30+ yrs ago.
I'm sure any name brand would be just fine.
I've always have two with me.
One is the True Talker from Hunter Specialties.
Good call with good range of sounds from deep grunts to doe bleats by sliding your finger up and down the reed through a flexible rubber outer coating. It also has a wooden tang next to the reed to prevent the reed from freezing during those cold November hunts due to vapor from your mouth.
Down side is it's not very loud for those windy days or if a buck is out there a couple hundred yards.
Number two is the Buck Roar from Primos.
Good loud grunt with a snort wheez tube attached.
This is my go to call for the rut, you can get very aggressive with it when rattling.
I use the extinguisher awesome call
I have a Quaker Boy Buck Hammer. It's a tiny little thing and it sounds great. It makes surprisingly deep grunts as well as doe bleats. I dropped mine last December right after I shot a buck down in Ohio and I didn't have time to go looking for it. When I got down there again in April, I went straight out to the spot where I had shot from, and there it was. A little dirty, but untouched by squirrels and mice..
Dave.
I have no doubt I've chased more deer away with those darn things than ever called them in. Watched them turn and scoot. I must have lots of timid bucks.
I was in my tree stand one evening and another hunter came in and climbed up into a tree 80 yards to my left. He had no clue I was there. An hour in half later I had several does a basket rack and a ok 8 point feeding 15 yards to my right. I also had two large bucks about 70 yards away feeding on the same path those deer had came in on. I knew I was going to get one of them. Just then the guy to my left blows his grunt the two big bucks diss appeared the doe seemed agitated and the two smaller bucks were both interested. He blew his grunt again and the two two smaller bucks headed his way with the ok 8 point leading the way. I waited and heard and the buck crash off and then I heard him hoop in excitement. I climbed down and announced my self he was very excited and had a hard time believing I was there the whole time. He was very excited the had called the two bucks in. He hadn't seen any deer until after he grunted. I helped him track his deer and drag it out. Those two mature bucks were having nothing to do with that grunt tube however the two smaller ones liked it. Since then I will only grunt call when I see a deer that is not coming in or is leaving the area. I don't want to be scaring off animals I haven't even seen.
I usually carry 2 also. One for light days and one for windy days. The loud one is a MAD growl I think. The light call is either a HS True Talker or the Extinguisher. I Have grunted several in with this combination. I have also sent a dandy or two the other way...
The extinguisher is very versatile.
I grunt with my voice, have for years. Very effective at the right time. My late brother was featured in a bowhunter magazine article written by Dr. David Samuel back in the early '70s about "ERPING". That was before all the commercial calls came out.
It depends on where you hunt. For years I used a Hally caller. That had the creaky door sounding grunt that just worked. Called lots of deer with it. Many grunt calls imo are too deep for where I hunt. That's why people aren't having luck at times I bet.
The Hally caller went finally 2 years ago. Now I'm using one by Mike Yingling. It's good and beautiful but no where near the Hally.
Also is a solid Osage turned wooden call. Kinda like the ones with the tube on it as I can direct the sound.
I use a Flextone Rage. I've never called a deer in that I know of. It just doesn't seem to work around here.
I like my handmade calls from Jeremy Holden. When used at the right time, they can work well.
Like GDPolk says:::Jeremy Holden makes not only beautiful but great sounding calls :archer2:
I just modified my Holden grunt call. I put a stretch out rubber tube from a commercial call on it in lieu of the more rigid that came with it.
I think the call with the un stretched tube sounds exactly like it did before the modification. But the stretch tube gives a lot of variation if desired. I have not yet had a deer respond to any call or rattle this year. Maybe this will change my luck!
Tedd
I bought a lone star call on here a couple of years ago.
No sure if he is still making them or not?
I don't know why I have any faith at all in a grunt call-- had one excellent response a few years ago but not much positive I can clearly connect to grunting since. I keep at it, trying new ones looking for the right sound. I have a drawer full of them. So far the old Woodswise "Buc n Doe" sounds best to me-- I have several (you know, in case I lose one in the woods) but only one of them has the right pitch. Looking for a younger, less intimidating sound. The deep grunt makes a lot of deer run off. More like a "quack" is what I am thinking.
And rattling? Around here, forgetaboutit....
Jeremy Holden nuff said
Terry
I would rather go into the deer woods without my boots than without my grunt call. Mine is an old Carlton call that makes no sound but a simple grunt. I never grunt unless I can see the deer and it appears that the deer is not on a path to come past me. I give single grunts consecutively louder until the deer reacts by stopping or turning his head. At that point, I know I have his undivided attention. I then give one or two low, muffled grunts and put the call up. At least half the time, the buck will change direction and come in. I have never had a buck spook from the call and does totally ignore it.
--Mike
Another Jeremy Holden user here. I've had some amazing responses - they certainly do work. Not every time, but often enough that I will try it every time that I see a buck that is not on a path in my direction.
I can't imagine hunting the pre rut without a grunt tube. I call in 4-6 bucks per year that would not have come into range. Right now in Georgia the bucks are on fire. I called in three in 2.5 days. Timing is EVERYTHING with a grunt call. While it can work outside the hottest pre rut phase, that is certainly when the responses will be the most dramatic.
QuoteOriginally posted by GDPolk:
I like my handmade calls from Jeremy Holden. When used at the right time, they can work well.
Yes!!!!!....I'm very fond of wood and he makes some DANDYS!!!!
I've had deer ignore them...but never spook...
I've called in more than my share...and killed most of them.
I still carry an old early 90's Knight & Hale grunt tube style call. Like others have said, I only use it when I see a buck and he is heading away from me, to try to turn him around.
J. Holden! I had him made a couple from Osage and burn around the edges. They are beautifully and I credit that call with bringing in several nice KS bucks.
TruTalker. I'm and aggressive caller and it is by far the most effective grunt call I've ever used!
Jeremy Holden contact? Can not seem to find it. Thanks.
I'm a believer in supporting the local talent so all my deer and turkey calls come from Missouri artisans. I have an osage doe grunter and an osage buck grunter made by Vince Crawford of VECtor Calls that are fantastic! Used in tandem with a can call, I have brought in a ton of bucks with that buck grunter.
Vince also made my goto turkey call - a ceramic-over-slate pot call that toms cannot resist!
Darren
QuoteOriginally posted by stillhunter:
Jeremy Holden contact? Can not seem to find it. Thanks.
SPONSOR CLASSIFIEDS....next to last on the 1st page...
Curious responses. Next to my bow don't go in the woods without my Tru talker especially this time of year
Curious responses. Next to my bow don't go in the woods without my Tru talker especially this time of year
I'm just curious... what does curious responses mean Kyle?
Hi Terry
By curious I mean that more than a few have had negative responses
Take care Kyle
I also mouth call, but only to try and pull a buck into range or like last week, call him back after he slipped by me. I've killed several bucks like that. I have a commercial tube but rarely use it .
Ahhhh....thanks Kyle.... :campfire:
I misplaced my True Talker so I'm using an old one I found in my duffel. Actually had 2 does come in shortly after blowing a couple short notes, they got agitated by the estrous scent I hung out and circled me then left. Just at quitting time a little 5 or 6 came in too but followed the trail that splits off behind me.
Not sure if the call brought them in, but I think I'll keep trying when I'm in an area that I've spotted bucks in...
I have a few and a couple nice custom grunts but my favorite is the extinguisher I set mine for the perfect tone I think sounds as realistic as possible and I taped it all up so the slide won't move...
I've taken many bucks mostly 6 pointers or less with that call and never spooked a deer with it,,,,, but how I use mine is I just blow a single very quick light volume grunt every 1/2hr or so just to let other deer know there's some deer over there and the deer if any do come in they never run right in usually if they are coming they take their time and walk over kind of casually looking around like calm deer do while browsing and eating they never seem on high alert.