Some thoughts on grunt calls?

[THE GOB-FATHER]

Just wanted to see if this has happened to anyone before:

I threw out a fawn bleat the other day and had 2 doe spook from the calling. Then tonight while hunting I had a buck about 450 yds out that I grunted to spook as well... I grunted and also did a doe bleat.

Anyone have the same thing happen before and if so any thoughts on why? I have my ideas but would like to see if you guys have any imput to compare to my thoughts on this?

[marty]

FWIW, my opinion is that calls will work if they are used at the right times when the deer themselves are vocal. If they are used when the deer aren't expecting them I think the deer spook. Anything that is not natural for them and the area they are in will spook them to a degree, until they get used to whatever it is.

About the only time I've heard deer vocalize much was during the rut. I've heard does bleet and bucks grunt, especially when they were chasing does. The most aggressive calls I've heard deer make were the tending grunts of the bucks because they get so worked up chasing a hot doe. The biggest buck of my life gave his position away with his grunting and it cost him his life.

So, I think if your going to use a grunt call at all it may be best to try it during the rut. And, I would expect that possibly does may run from a buck grunt call just as they run from a buck. But, the bucks should respond positively during the rut. At least that's been my experience.

[timhicks]

Your grunt call may be to deep , thus imatating a mature older buck.This may scare a smaller buck who has had his azz whooped over the last few years. Also they may have been hunted by a call freak who blew and blew and kinda made them smart. Calls do wofk and usually will stop a deer . I have used them before and had deer haul butt away and then had them come charging in, Like Marty says timing. Tim

[JerseyHunter]

Well bro cant help you dont use them at all..

[bbbh]

Another thought to consider is your heard doe to buck ratio. If you have a lot of does calls and even rattling don't work as well.

[THE GOB-FATHER]

My thinking is this... I've called in a good number of deer before with a grunt call. Mainly buck grunt or just grunts in general. I've heard that even does grunt like a buck at times but I've never actually heard it in person to say either way. I can remember a few instances whereas I've called in does... yes does, with a grunt. I've seen them walking about 150 yds out stop on a dime and come DIRECTLY at me after a few short grunts. Bucks, on the other hand, I haven't had as much luck with and I do believe that comes down to the ratio aspect of things. I believe that most bucks (as stated in one of my previous posts) in my area are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year olds and don't respond well to the grunts as Tim stated... intimidated by a bigger buck sound.

I think in theory, deer are vocal by nature and comunicate just like most other animals do in the woods as well. I agree with the "timing" aspect of it all as well. I do believe as we get closer to the rut the more susceptable they will become to grunting. But on the other side of the coin, I'm really trying to understand the application of "communal grunting" or the "social" aspect of vocalizations. I've been working for years on trying to understand the "perfect" way to communicate with deer on a strictly social level... in other words just letting them know that another deer is in the area, that it is safe over here, and that it piques their curiosity to come in for a closer look to see what's going on where the grunting is coming from. Just enough to get them in shooting range.

With that being said, the word finesse comes to mind. But, one must take into account we are generally speaking of visually grunting to a deer.... my focus leans more toward "blind grunting" or grunting to deer that may potentially within earshot that you can't see and getting them to come to you. I guess what it comes down to is success with this and what approach and/or technique have you used to make it happen within your desired goal and outcome... any thoughts?

[kahuna]

Yah, I got a couple. Some hunters tend to blow on a grunt call like it's a trombone. If you are "blind grunting", as you say, just softer, short grunts would be appropriate. Kinda like "yo, wazzup". Some hunters also grunt too often, like they are afraid that might be their last breath, and they want to get all they can get. If you spot a deer, and grunt to him, watch his head and his tail. If he turns his head and cocks his ears, he heard you and stop calling. If he flicks his tail once or twice right after you call, he heard you, and stop calling. Let him decide when and how he will respond. I have had deer look as dis-interested as anything, only to circle around me to find out what was out there. I've also had deer look real skiddish, and more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Again, they would circle around me to check out the newcomer. These are just my observations, but it's what I believe and how I approach grunting.

[4Pointer]

Did some calling Sat. on the Grunt call , wind blowing real hard. Spotted a doe about 60yds out in front of me.so I grunted real soft
She raised her head and looked in my direction, flicked her tail a couple of times and started walking toward my stand, she stopped about 35yds out in a thicket and stood there, then she started to walk away, I grunted real soft and she stopped and head back , but didn't give me a clear shoot, I use the grunt call more than the bleat call.

[marty]

admin said:

I think in theory, deer are vocal by nature and comunicate just like most other animals do in the woods as well. I agree with the "timing" aspect of it all as well. I do believe as we get closer to the rut the more susceptable they will become to grunting. But on the other side of the coin, I'm really trying to understand the application of "communal grunting" or the "social" aspect of vocalizations. I've been working for years on trying to understand the "perfect" way to communicate with deer on a strictly social level... in other words just letting them know that another deer is in the area, that it is safe over here, and that it piques their curiosity to come in for a closer look to see what's going on where the grunting is coming from. Just enough to get them in shooting range.

With that being said, the word finesse comes to mind. But, one must take into account we are generally speaking of visually grunting to a deer.... my focus leans more toward "blind grunting" or grunting to deer that may potentially within earshot that you can't see and getting them to come to you. I guess what it comes down to is success with this and what approach and/or technique have you used to make it happen within your desired goal and outcome... any thoughts?

I think that social communication amongst deer, at least whitetails, may be mostly visual. I think deer may instinctively know that if they vocalise to loudly they will give their position away to predators, especially man. If you watch a deer in an opening for instance. It will tentatively step out and look around, maybe for several minutes stand in one place. Then flicks it's tail. After the tail flick what happens? Within minutes other deer appear. They also use other body language to communicate. If you study them closely they will tell you what they are going to do by their body language. And, in conclusion, all the other deer watch for the same body language.

[THE GOB-FATHER]

Great observations and advice Marty!! Karma comin your way for some good insight!

[arkansasdon]

I grunted a nice 10 pointer within 12 yards last year for a bow kill, and also tipped some rattlin horns together with the combo together worked very well, I think personally some people call too much or rattle too hard and long.
an Example from last year bow kill, I was sittin on my stand at a farm in Saddle Arkansas, about 3:15 afternoon, I heard some horn crashin together and leaves slidin and it was 2 bucks fightin , I couldnt see them but ya could sure hear them goin at it. after the fight I started gruntin 2 or 3 grunts medium toned and tipped my rattlin horns together , the tippin of horns last about 10 seconds followed by 2 more medium toned grunts and this 10 pointer come chargin in , nostrils flarin and his ears layed back , the boy was pissed, if it wasn,t for the "Fitzgerald Deer Dander, and small sequence of rattlin and grunts" I wouldn't of bagged him. My suggestion. Arkansas Gruntin and Rattlin works good

[Phishy]

i rarely blind call with a buck grunt but will with a bleat, has it worked? Kinda of inconclusive, it may have be coincidental, but i have had does show up fifteen minutes or longer after i have done some blind bleats (up to five or six over a couple minute span, throwing the sound in multiple directions). So i keep doing it. I have had a buck come running in once, i let out a couple of blind grunts and he came running in, it was the full rut, but am reluctant to do it much any more,

never spooked a seen deer with my calling, i call progressively louder until i know they have heard me, then shut my yap, if they start to walk away, i call some more til they respond, ie stop, but never have they spooked,

My cousin called in a doe that was going to walk out of his life forever, he got real aggressive, almost pleading and she turned and came in, sooo??

hope that confuses you some more.

[flukemaster]

Deer are very vocal, but very seldom can you hear them beyond a few feet. From what I have seen they will communicate often with other deer but I have never heard a deer call blindly unless it is a fawn in distress.

I love to call to deer. I don't own a grunt call but I grunt from deep in my throat. It works allot better for me than a commercial call. The first time I tried it a big 8pt snort-wheezed back and almost ran over me before falling down and sliding 8ft from my blind. I've been doing it ever since.

I use two commercial calls. The Can and a Fawn Bleat. The fawn bleat is the only call that I use blindly but never later than the 30th of September. I will also use it after I miss a doe with my bow.

I use The Can and grunt only if I see the deer first. And I will always use them together. Excluding a fawn and an alarm blow, the only other loud calls I have heard a deer make are a Snort-Wheeze, a buck grunt while chasing a doe or after fighting, and a doe while being chased by more than one buck. This is why I always try to sound like more than one deer. A buck will investigate a doe bleat, but he is more likely to come to the sound of a young buck harassing one of his does. A Snort-Wheeze is always a good Idea if you see a dominant buck in the distance, but follow it up with a short rattling sequence and a few deep grunts.

Now as for the alarm blow. This is one call that comes in handy more than you would think. I like to hunt from the ground. (You may call it stalking or Still Hunting.) If a deer passes by just out of bow range I will wait until it is almost out of sight and then I will give one quick blow then another. More times than not the deer turns around and comes back to within 20 yards. I have called a deer in from well over 150yards this way. But the only requirement that I have found to be true with every case is that the deer must have passed by you first.

[tphunter]

I've found that most bleat calls are way to loud...I use a bleat can by Quaker Boy and use it to sound like a fawn in distress...It's all in how you tip the can...I mix short bleats with long bleats together by tipping the can slowly and stopping the bleats before the plunger hits bottom for the short bleats...Kind of like...Blea....Blea....Bleeeeeeaaaaaat...Mix it up and don't get caught in a rythm...Does within earshot will come investigate 9 out of 10 times and watch your wind direction.

As for Grunt tubes I'll only use one with a wooden barrel...I've yet to hear a plastic one that sounds right...I killed a good many bucks with one I made myself but lastyear it disintegrated so I had to buy a call...I bought the Primos with the Wooden Barrel and it sounds great...I set it on Young buck and leave it there.

[IndianaHunter]

I mostly use a fawn bleat and an immature buck call. This time of year a doe will still respond to a fawn in distress and we all know the bucks are looking for the does. If she’s not receptive she’ll pull the buck right in with her looking for the fawn.