Deer calls - what works?
- Thread starter rick_reno
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Well usually just driving up with the engine still running and the gun still cased works.
Trying to bird hunt usually does it - especially with nothing more than bird loads on person.
The sound of pouring a cup of coffee from a thermos, or the snick of my Zippo in lighting a cigarette usally gets a deer to produce itself.
There is always the getting back to vehicle, unloading my gun, the "zip" of the gun case, closing of door and starting engine that gets deer to come out and wave me goodbye.
Now if there is a better method - I am not aware of it. Besides I seem to have these mastered and hate the idea of learning a new one.
Trying to bird hunt usually does it - especially with nothing more than bird loads on person.
The sound of pouring a cup of coffee from a thermos, or the snick of my Zippo in lighting a cigarette usally gets a deer to produce itself.
There is always the getting back to vehicle, unloading my gun, the "zip" of the gun case, closing of door and starting engine that gets deer to come out and wave me goodbye.
Now if there is a better method - I am not aware of it. Besides I seem to have these mastered and hate the idea of learning a new one.
what works really well for geese and deer is the sound of urine pooling up on the dirt... you know, when you've held it for so long that your bladder is swollen up to 5 gallon capacity, and you are midstream w/ gallon 2... that works really well.
LOL!!
I always find that the sound of my pants hitting the ground and the whimpers of pain as the bran muffin and 5 cups of coffee go blowing thru my colon like a freight train does the trick. This also works well for spring gobbler season! ;^)
Mr. Tettnanger
I always find that the sound of my pants hitting the ground and the whimpers of pain as the bran muffin and 5 cups of coffee go blowing thru my colon like a freight train does the trick. This also works well for spring gobbler season! ;^)
Mr. Tettnanger
Agree with most of the posts. We had a guy in our group this weekend who had just begun to evacuate his colon when a deer stepped out of the corn a few feet from him (measured 19 paces!). Fortunately, he still had his gun within reach and actually got the animal with his pants still down around his ankles! The obvious take-home lesson: ALWAYS have a firearm within reach -- you never know when you'll need it.
The obvious take-home lesson: ALWAYS have a firearm within reach -- you never know when you'll need it.I've found the noise of climbing into/out of a tree stand usually works...If you are followin safe practices, this means the gun is either still in stand (emrgency potty break), or has been unloaded and lowered to the ground...Deer will usually stand still until you reach the gun, then head for the next county at flank speed....
Great Thread
I find the sound my gun or bow makes it touches the ground (I lower them with a rope prior to climbing down) is an excellent call.
A real answer.
I have had moderate success during the seeking phase of the rut with a grunt. I have not had any success with the grunt wheeze during the rut. I have had moderate success with a doe bleat during the rut. I have had no success with rattling. I find the fawn in distress works well at calling a doe back if you break up a group of does.
All in all, for me there is no call that works consistently enough for me to put faith in it.
I would like to hear some others experience.
Charles
I find the sound my gun or bow makes it touches the ground (I lower them with a rope prior to climbing down) is an excellent call.
A real answer.
I have had moderate success during the seeking phase of the rut with a grunt. I have not had any success with the grunt wheeze during the rut. I have had moderate success with a doe bleat during the rut. I have had no success with rattling. I find the fawn in distress works well at calling a doe back if you break up a group of does.
All in all, for me there is no call that works consistently enough for me to put faith in it.
I would like to hear some others experience.
Charles
Lennyjoe
Member
Only time I use a call is to stop the deer before I let em have it. A grunt sound seems to stop them dead in their tracks.
Other than that, the answers above seem to be the norm.
They never show up when you want them to but do when you don't.
Confusing statement huh?
Other than that, the answers above seem to be the norm.
They never show up when you want them to but do when you don't.
Confusing statement huh?
Check out the Original CAN at http://www.primos.com/product_info.php?products_id=179. I generally do not believe in calls for deer where I hunt (because of the buck to doe ratio) and I have never had success in bringing a mature buck into archery range with grunts or rattling, but I swear this thing works great on doe. I have killed two does in archery season that ran into my stand to investigate what the noise was immediately after I tipped the can. I had no idea they were even in the area and I was just blindly calling when they responded.
I recall last year, and with the deer that usually come by my house, my farrier was out here shaping my horse's shoes and here they come. The farrier says "now I know how I'm gonna call 'em; I'm gonna pull my truck out there where we hunt and beat on this anvil". His son said yeah, that works here, but not where they hunt. Different deer.
I use Primos' grunt call and I've had some success with it (set for a young buck's grunt) as far as making vocal contact with the deer and getting a buck to step out of cover. I've stopped does with that grunt and I've brought does closer with it. I figure the does are gonna call the mature buck.
I use Primos' grunt call and I've had some success with it (set for a young buck's grunt) as far as making vocal contact with the deer and getting a buck to step out of cover. I've stopped does with that grunt and I've brought does closer with it. I figure the does are gonna call the mature buck.
I've had a rattle work in full rut, brought an 8 point out of nowhere running up about 50 yards from my stand.
Also had a fawn distress call work to bring in some does.
Last Saturday evening I saw two young bucks sparring for the first time in my hunting life...very cool.
Also had a fawn distress call work to bring in some does.
Last Saturday evening I saw two young bucks sparring for the first time in my hunting life...very cool.
I came across something called a Feeder Repeater, it mimics the sound of a feeder motor running. I guess the deer get so accoustomed to being fed that they walk right up to this sound.
Primos CAN Call - Doe Bleat
Bought this call a few weeks ago, had never had success with grunts or other doe bleat calls before.....
This past Saturday, was up in my tree stand - saw a young buck walking along the mountain about 100 yards above me, on a path that wouldn't bring him nearby.....started giving him the doe bleat. He stopped, trying to locate where the sound was coming from - retraced his steps back the other way - then when he figured out the direction of the sound, he started down the mountain right toward me! (This whole process took about 20 minutes).
I put the can call down, grabbed my bow.....came to full draw when he was behind a tree about 20 yards away.....and stopped him with a soft grunt at 16 yards. Shot him through the lungs, he only went about 50 yards before going down - my first deer with a bow!
I think my frequent bleats might not have worked with an old buck, but with the breeze, I felt like I needed to call a lot to help this one determine the direction of the call. I felt like this can call makes a more realistic sound than the other doe bleat calls I've used (mouth calls).
Good luck, and good hunting.
Michael
Bought this call a few weeks ago, had never had success with grunts or other doe bleat calls before.....
This past Saturday, was up in my tree stand - saw a young buck walking along the mountain about 100 yards above me, on a path that wouldn't bring him nearby.....started giving him the doe bleat. He stopped, trying to locate where the sound was coming from - retraced his steps back the other way - then when he figured out the direction of the sound, he started down the mountain right toward me! (This whole process took about 20 minutes).
I put the can call down, grabbed my bow.....came to full draw when he was behind a tree about 20 yards away.....and stopped him with a soft grunt at 16 yards. Shot him through the lungs, he only went about 50 yards before going down - my first deer with a bow!
I think my frequent bleats might not have worked with an old buck, but with the breeze, I felt like I needed to call a lot to help this one determine the direction of the call. I felt like this can call makes a more realistic sound than the other doe bleat calls I've used (mouth calls).
Good luck, and good hunting.
Michael
I use a grunt and also rattle.
At one time Wal Mart sold a lure that was about like a McDonald's hamburger box. It contained a couple of D-cell batteries, and had wick on the outside with a loop of wire in it. You strapped it to a tree, opened a bottle of deer lure, put the wick in the bottle, hooked up the batteries, and took your stand. This thing brought bucks during rut like crazy -- but for some reason they don't sell it anymore.
I have put this thing up while a buck was stomping and wheezing in the dark at me. I sat down in the downed top of an old tree, with just enough branches to break up my silhouette, and waited a while, then started grunting and rattling at dawn. About five minutes later, here he came.
At one time Wal Mart sold a lure that was about like a McDonald's hamburger box. It contained a couple of D-cell batteries, and had wick on the outside with a loop of wire in it. You strapped it to a tree, opened a bottle of deer lure, put the wick in the bottle, hooked up the batteries, and took your stand. This thing brought bucks during rut like crazy -- but for some reason they don't sell it anymore.
I have put this thing up while a buck was stomping and wheezing in the dark at me. I sat down in the downed top of an old tree, with just enough branches to break up my silhouette, and waited a while, then started grunting and rattling at dawn. About five minutes later, here he came.
I've never had much luck with calls. As far as stopping deer with a call...I've found they'll stop at a whistle or just about any sound if they haven't spotted you.
Down here in South Texas that Feeder Repeater works. A guy I work with (big deer hunter from back East) laughed when he saw one at the store, and bought it just to show his brother in law how crazy deer hunting in Texas is. Just for kicks he went out back and set it off, and about got run over by four bucks, six does, and a couple of mangy raccoons. 
Mostly true story! Honest!
S/F
Farnham
Mostly true story! Honest! S/F
Farnham
Cindog said:
I used one of these for 3 years and never got an answer. One time I was hunting a field. There was a small 6 point buck out at 110 yards. I used the call to see what he'd do - nothing. Didn't even look. Tried it 3 or 4 times. A friend, and one of the best hunters I know, has had the same lack of success with this call.
Glad to hear you have had better luck with the call.
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