Calling Bucks?

Wannabe1 · May 28, 2018, 09:44:59 PM

Will bucks respond to a buck grunt when not in the rut? Just curious of the use of one in the early season and if they'll respond or be wary and move on without investigating?

goingoldskool · May 28, 2018, 10:28:19 PM

Short answer is "yes". Early season they will investigate "new" bucks to establish their "pecking" order. Just don't over do it...

Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,

Rodd

Wannabe1 · May 28, 2018, 10:38:26 PM

Thank you Rodd! I am hoping to hunt this year after being out for a few with a disability so, a blind or tree stand is probably going to be the order of the day. I was hoping for a method to maybe draw in the deer to better my chances. What about does, will they respond to the grunt?

Zwickey-Fever · May 28, 2018, 10:55:39 PM

In my experience, bucks will investigate and come in to soft short grunts. I go truly easy by not not grunting more than twice in a series. Grunts is a form of communication used throughout the year by bucks. I've heard a young buck grunt during Spring gobbler back in April. His grunts was truly soft and barely audible.

Wannabe1 · May 28, 2018, 11:00:07 PM

Ok, low and easy! I can do that. :-)

Zwickey-Fever · May 28, 2018, 11:21:40 PM

Im only talking about whitetails. I can't tell you about other species of deer.

Wannabe1 · May 28, 2018, 11:31:26 PM

Gotcha! I don't hunt whitetails here in Oregon. They are Blacktailed deer.

goingoldskool · May 29, 2018, 09:39:01 PM

All my experience is with whitetails as well, so ymmv... in answer to the doe question.... I've seen them grunt ever so softly to their fawns.... I mean just barely audible. I don't know if I could have heard it if I had not been watching them at close distance. Another trick is to use a fawn bleat call.... as in a coyote call. Drives does and sometimes bucks crazy, in the early season, trying to find out what is going on with the fawn.

Good luck, brother and keep us posted!

Rodd

TooManyHobbies · May 30, 2018, 08:13:04 PM

I prefer a doe bleat for all deer in the early season. Late October I'll add buck grunts, nothing aggressive. During the rut, I get very aggressive with buck grunts, with two long grunts followed by 5-7 short quick grunts like a tending buck would do. When it works, it's awesome.

Wannabe1 · May 30, 2018, 08:26:19 PM

I've been trying to find some info for what works here on these black tail deer. Got another suggestion for the fawn bleat also. Might pic one up and give that a try.

Duker · May 31, 2018, 05:54:27 PM

T.W.

On early season whitetails I've done best with using a fawn bleat call for both does and bucks.

Wannabe1 · May 31, 2018, 05:56:24 PM

Sounds good! Another suggestion so, I think I'm going to get one this weekend.

Duker · May 31, 2018, 06:08:57 PM

T.W.:::J. Holden a sponsor here makes some great calls.

Wannabe1 · May 31, 2018, 06:12:25 PM

What is he listed under in the Sponsors links?

akbowbender · May 31, 2018, 09:58:25 PM

For Sitka Blacktails, a high pitch squeal similar to a predator call would bring in does in the early season, and bucks during the rut. Not sure if the deer in your area would respond too.

The problem with calling with this call is the deer come in on high alert.

Wannabe1 · May 31, 2018, 10:07:01 PM

Thanks Chuck! About how often should I hit the call?

akbowbender · June 01, 2018, 12:05:56 AM

TW: Since it is a distress call, my experience has been that they come in fairly fast. A couple of fairly short frantic calls should do it.

For the first doe I ever called in, I used a blade of grass held between my thumbs. After that, I started making calls from two pieces of wood held together with rubber bands. Cut out a shallow depression in each piece and place a rubber band between them and secure with rubber bands. Stretch the "reed" rubber band to tune.

Other reed materials can be used to get different pitches. I started using surveyors flagging, which if I remember correctly, I folded in half and blew across the fold.

I no longer live in Blacktail country, so I haven't used a call in a while. I'll take a look through my gear. If I find any, I'll take some photos.

Wannabe1 · June 01, 2018, 12:15:02 AM

Many thanks for the info!

Lakerat007 · June 01, 2018, 12:48:33 AM

For myself, the only advantage I have over a buck is the element of surprise so I'm not giving that up by trying to have him look for me. If he just so happens to come by out of range I will wheeze or grunt in desperation. But then again I also rarely buck hunt early season.

Slickhead · June 03, 2018, 08:35:15 PM

there used to be a call calle K'mere deer.
I had a lot of success with it but I broke it
Id recommend it above all