Another thread about grunt tubes had me thinking. I've posted something similar on a turkey forum but this goes for most game. I noticed some guys saying grunts "don't work around here".
Not discounting what they are saying cause only they know what's it's like where they hunt but deer communicate everywhere.
Ok so for starters you can't call what's not there or what's suspicious.
In other words say a grunt tube, it's not real loud. Many land barriers may diminish the sounds to distant deer.
The way I use a grunt tube is strictly visual. It's worked many times over the years and never once spooked them. It actually can't if it's natural.
I'll see a deer say walking phase rut. He's going to pass say 80 yards away. Soon as he cant see me I'll grunt once. Either they'll stop or keep walking. If they stop do nothing. They're trying to pinpoint sound. Once he walks again away and his head obstructed I'll hit tube again once. It's often enough to change his thinking into wanting to see what's near you.
If he continues walking away hit it again, maybe slightly louder until he stops but don't over grunt. It's gonna be more curiosity if you're subtle.
Grunting blindly is something I very rarely do as doing so could have a deer you didn't see pick you off before he came close. In that situation he's not coming in.
For guys with no luck you may like to try that.
FYI full phase rut it's not often gonna work unless he's in fight mode.
I should also say this boss hombre super deep call that's sold most places is not what I'd use unless that was the majority of the local deers voices. Not in many places will you find this to be the case. It's best to sound like a subordinate buck to whatever deer you are calling.
I use younger type buck sounds and it's worked on bigger specimens
To add to this, I use a real deep loud grunt to carry distance. When they get close I'll switch to a softer grunt to put them where I want them. I use a MAD Buck Roar without the rubber baffle for distance.
I usually hunt crop fields, and it's not unusual to grunt in a feeding buck from 300-800 yards away if the wind helps.
That's valid. I never had to call that far but everyone's situation is different. Kinda like locating turkeys with a long box than when they get close changing to say a scratch box.