Some time ago, I read an article in Traditional Bowhunter Magazine (I believe) regarding yelping at whitetails. I don't recall who authored the article, but the hunter stated he's been yelping at whitetails for quite some time. As the story went, the author said if a whitetail were to look up at him in the tree, he would simply yelp. The whitetails nearly always immediately calm down, allowing for a shot opportunity. The author said that deer apparently can't, or don't, differentiate a difference between a 200 lb. camo clad hunter from a 20 lb turkey.
I have been intrigued with this notion since the article was published. Has anyone done this? If so, how did the deer respond?
Have not did it,but Marv told me about it long before he wrote the article.If you know Clyncke at all ,you know that he has did it.
Terry
I don't know Merv, but I've seen the pictures of all the huge bucks he has killed. The proof is in the pudding!
I've done it before. Coming out of the timber from my stand one day, I bumped about 10 deer. I had a call in my pocket so I gave them a few yelps. It was like somebody slammed on the brakes! The entire herd just stopped, looked around and started feeding. Several of them looked right at me from about 60-70 yards. The must have thought I was one heck of a big turkey. I kind of diagonalled toward them and got to within about 30 yards before I felt the wind on the back of my neck, and you know the rest of the story. I was surprised that they let me keep moving closer. I just yelped and putted once in a while and stopped every few steps, trying to imitate a turkey's gait.
I've mostly used it in instances like this when I didn't want to spook deer out of an area I was going back to to hunt, rather than actually trying to get a shot at one.
I haven't tried the tree stand trick, but I'm going to give it a go I think.
Great stuff, Coupe!
I commonly use this technique on approach to my stand when leaves are dry and noisy. I shuffle my boots or maybe scratch the leaves with a stick while simply voice-yelping and clucking. I've walked right up on bedded deer, and I've had nearby bedded deer show up under my stand almost as soon as I get up and in. Turkey sounds work extremely well for me.
That article intrigued me as well, defiantly putting it in my bag of tricks :thumbsup:
Kevin,
That's awesome! I'm going to begin carrying a mouth call during the fall. In all my years of hunting, I've never heard of such an effective strategy. It's a game changer!
Thanks to all for you input.
I just recently read an article on this but cant recall where.. I am going to give it a try this year for sure.
Well, I should correct this. I think this tactic equals the learned use of blinds to kill turkeys. Prior to learning that turkeys have two dimensional vision and were susceptible to being killed with the use of blinds, hunting open strut zones was unheard of.
I had an old doe that use to bust me every night quite a few years ago, she knew exactly where my tree stand was.
One night I took a diagram along and when she came in looked up and started stomping I gave her a few yelps.
She then just looked up funny at me a few times and decided it must be safe. Then more deer came in with her and nobody payed anymore attention to me. I've also set out a turkey decoy about 50 yards from me and it really draws their attention as they pass by.
Kleine,
That's a great idea! Putting the decoys way out there, so when the deer walk past you their attention is focused away from you! Us trad guys and gals are a crafty bunch!
When ever I'm going into an evening stand or still hunting I Yelp every so often. Turkeys wak on two legs and make quite a bit of noise. I believe the deer are calmed down by making sounds they are used to hearing. Sometimes I'll just cluck and purr. If it makes them think I'm a turkey so much the better.
Another trick along those same lines......put a crow decoy in the tree with you :saywhat:
One of my best kept secrets! :) Stalking, getting to a stand, being spotted in a tree. . .
Always have a diaphragm call with me.
Dan in KS
yes i have used this for years , it works like Kevin said above
No luck with that here.
Tedd
Thanks for your responses.
I wonder how it would work in an area with a very low turkey population?
Probably not very well, Last Arrow.
Yohon, I thought about this as well. The thought of a poacher 300 yards away with a rifle changed my mind.
Murray
I've heard about it but never tried it - probably should!
This is really interesting. I've never been able to master a diaphragm call, but might have to give it another go.
I'd be curious if this would work in reverse -- grunt like a deer to calm a turkey. Our deer are down with the turkeys this time of year but the turkeys don't follow them up in the summer.
Maybe I need to learn how to imitate a grouse for our deer?
Two years ago I was doing some turkey talk, trying to talk in some turkeys that were busted by another hunter. The buck didn't seem to notice, so I shot the buck instead. I do not think that I alarmed the buck at all, he got to within 15 feet of me at one time. I was turkey talking when I first caught the movement of the deer at about 18 yards. The group of five turkeys did not seem to notice my turkey talk either.
Already commented, but I have stalked in typical fall mid-western woods to within 15 yds. of bedded deer (bucks even) using small talk like feeding turkeys in the leaves. I even did it once on a wounded deer- got right on top of it. I also use them as I approach stands in the afternoon through dry leaves. If I break a twig/branch its small talk calls and scratching leaves.
Dan in KS
I have tried to use this with nervous elk and it didn't work. I yelped at some cows and calves about 50 yards away and I got the dreaded Lead-Cow-Bark, and off they went. I haven't tried it for deer, but since then I'll just cow call or be quiet.
I think soft chucks and purrs would be better than a full out yelp. The sounds turkeys make when they are scratching and feeding.
Makes sense but I never thought of it before.
Funny, when I'm in top deer hunting mode I sometimes don't even realize turkeys are clucking and yelping as they move through the woods. Sort of non-deer background "noise". Then all of a sudden I sort the sound out and realize another opportunity is nearby.
Great, now when I walk into the woods, I'm going to think I'm surrounded by turkeys !
It is a good idea.
Yes, even on the ground stalking. They may run off or they might go back to feeding. May keep you in the game a little longer.
QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
I think soft chucks and purrs would be better than a full out yelp. The sounds turkeys make when they are scratching and feeding.
I agree. Clucks & purrs would definitely be better if you're on the ground, esp. in the fall. In the stand, maybe a few light yelps.
I've tried it and had mixed results. I've tried squirrel and crow calling with same mixed results. It doesn't hurt to try but don't expect 100% positive results. Maybe my deer are just very very Leary!
I heard of this trick a long time ago. The only problem is that my turkey calling would do more harm than good.
I haven't tried the yelping but I normally put out a turkey decoy or two when deer hunting. It gives the deer something to look at besides me! They're also pretty good range indicators.
When the leaves are dry or anytime I know I'm gonna be noisy getting to my stand I always make a few subtle calls like a few birds feeding as I walk in. I've been doing it for several years now. Ever since turkeys started to inhabit my deer hunting areas
QuoteOriginally posted by Dave Worden:
I haven't tried the yelping but I normally put out a turkey decoy or two when deer hunting. It gives the deer something to look at besides me! They're also pretty good range indicators.
I like the idea! Not only for a distraction from me as the hunter, but a great range indicator!
Just a thought, if you throw a turkey decoy out and are turkey calling make sure turkey season is in or you might have some explaining to do to the local game warden! Other than that I want to give this technique a try.
Yes i have done this for many years. Works great. Walking too. Shot a nice turkey doing it and walking once too, just came in looking. And when climbing trees and deer walk in, they leave but not blowing..