For a lot of hunters, deer calling is limited to a handful of days around the annual whitetail rut. The tools used consist of nothing more than a grunt call and a set of rattling antlers. But the truth is, there is far more that hunters need to know about the truth of calling deer.
As with any aspect of the hunt, you can’t always believe everything you hear or read online while scrolling through social media. To help sort out some of the basic calling issues, we offer a look at a handful of the common myths about calling deer.
You Can't Call Does
We typically have bucks in mind when we mimic the sounds of whitetail deer. However, does can be just as vulnerable to the sounds of a call when presented at the right time.
Calling does in the early season can be a great way to bring shot opportunities in fast and close with the use of a fawn in distress call. The maternal instinct of a doe makes this call the perfect tool to help you notch doe tags in your management or meat stocking efforts.
Does will respond very quickly to this call, so be ready with your bow in hand when you begin your calling sequence.
Deer Only Grunt During the Rut
You might be surprised at how many hunters believe deer only grunt during the rut. Not true. Deer grunt throughout the year.
Yes, it intensifies during the rut, and no doubt takes on a new meaning. Deer also grunt as part of their routine vocabulary beyond the month of November. These grunts are typically soft and subtle. You may never notice it if you’re not paying attention or know what to listen for.
Some may also be surprised to know that bucks aren’t the only ones doing the grunting throughout the year. Does grunt too.
Listen close as they interact with their fawns of the year. They’ll grunt as they call their young, or other deer, as well as when they are interacting with a predator or other threat to the herd.
You Should Only Rattle During the Rut
A lot of deer calling opportunities are wasted each year by hunters that wait until the rut to tickle the tines. However, the best time to rattle up a buck is likely prior to the days of the peak rut.
Think about it. Once a buck finds the doe he will tend for several days, he is far less likely to leave her and come investigate your call. However, the last couple weeks of October and first week of November can be the perfect time to rattle as daylight movement of bucks ramp up leading up to the rut.
Curiosity is the key when it comes to rattling. Bucks start scrappin’ as soon as they come out of velvet. It’s not uncommon to hear the sounds of young bucks fighting (rough housing) in the month of September.
The Can Call is Just a Gimmick
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
The can call works when it comes to calling up a buck. Does it work every time? Of course not. But it works enough of the time that it ought to be standard equipment in the pack of every deer hunter.
It works on young bucks and mature bucks alike. If you can get a cruising buck to stop and listen, tip the can over and watch the response. Over and over this call is the perfect way to pull a searching buck in close for the shot.
A lot of hunters say, “I’ve never even heard a deer make that sound.” Who cares! There’s a lot of sounds deer make that you’ve likely never heard. Regardless, the can call works when it falls on the right ears, at the right time.
Over-Calling Scares Deer
You may have heard that calling too much and too often scares deer. However, Jordan Blissett of Mississippi says that’s just a myth.
“I’m very aggressive with my calling,” says Blissett. “When a buck’s chasing a doe, he’s makes a lot of noise, so I make a lot of noise with my calling as well. I call a lot, call loud, and call aggressive.”
The sound and volume of your call will obviously vary depending on the terrain or timber that you’re in, but the bottom line is, don’t be bashful when it comes to the calls you use.
The breeding period brings out the most vocalizations of the year for most wild animals, particularly whitetail deer. They call loud and proud when in pursuit of the opportunity to breed. Don’t be afraid to do the same with your calling routine.
When a Deer Blows the Hunt is Over
You’ve probably hear a buddy say it before, “A doe just blew at me, my hunt is over.” And while an alarmed deer is certainly cause for concern, it doesn’t necessarily mean your hunt is over.
Most hunters typically assume that when a deer blows, it’s blowing at them. But that’s not always the case. Keep in mind that they blow at all manner of things throughout their daily routine.
They may have seen something they didn’t like, or felt the need to bring to the attention of the rest of the herd. Maybe they simply got a snoot full of something that caused concern.
The point is, a blowing deer isn’t headed to the next county. And quite often, they never leave at all. Unless they confirm a threat, they will likely settle back down and resume normal activity.
You can typically tell by the intensity of the sound how alert the deer is when it pops off with the snorting/blowing sound. When the snort sounds more like curiosity than alarm, you may even consider mimicking the sound right back at the animal.
It sounds crazy! But it can work to bring a curious deer back into range.
Only Big Bucks Snort-Wheeze
The snort-wheeze sound has become popular over the last decade or two, largely thanks to TV shows and videos showing examples of the call bringing big bucks in to bow range.
The sound can work when nothing else will. It’s basically the equivalent of saying, “I’ll whip you and your momma!” No man would ever stand for it. Deer won’t tolerate it either.
But a lot of hunters think that only big bucks make this sound. And while it is largely a dominant buck sound, young bucks will make the sound as well. It’s an aggressive sound that bucks will use on other bucks, as well as doe that he’s tending or attempting to check.
The beauty of this sound is that you can do it with your mouth. No call is necessary. Try it this season on a big buck – or a small buck, too.
What about you? What are some of the myths you’ve heard about calling deer? What’s one deer call you won’t leave home without?
Comment below, and let us know what you think.
