When you use a grunt call, do you do it just once? Wait a while and try again? Or move to a new spot?
I've never used one and am trying to bring a specific big buck in so I welcome any advice.
The way bucks grunt while chasing a doe is with every step and I have used that very effectively this time of year.I have heard a few bucks do this and it is easy to remember.
Have used the grunt call much more effectively than rattling. I use a full drawn out longer call followed by 2 or 3 short bursts. Wait 15 minutes & do it again. Bucks in the area will hear.
Lever is accurate. When they are trailing a doe, it's short bursts... bap, bap, bap, bap... that tells a local buck another is on the tail of a hot doe. Works well. Unless a buck isa long way off, only grunt when he is moving, not facing you after hearing it. You want to peak his interest and sense of curiosity. Make him search you out, not pinpoint your position perfectly. If he does pinpoint you, he will walk only close enough to visually check the area from a distance then leave when nothing is there. Then you've educated him. In my experince, don't get on the grunt tube like an elk bugle. Short grunts and only a few. Grunts are great this time of year. Heck, you cath'em in the right mood any any sequence will work! Have fun, Good luck!
My favorite is an old Knight and Hale Easy Grunter Plus. It's an inhale, exhale grunt call. I picked it up around 16/17 years ago and it's been the downfall of many, many bucks. We have a Federal Wildlife Refuge less than 15 minutes from my place and I've had the opportunity to participate in many doe hunts there. Five day's on 10,000 acres to harvest a doe. The first four day's are spent taking pictures of and "playing" with mature bucks, can't shoot them so might as well have fun with them :) See what works and doesn't work. Then get serious about a doe on day five. On one day a few years back I grunted in nine different bucks, kept working them until I got them right on top of me and they finally picked me out in the tree. Every single one would lock in on me and slowly circle until they were down wind of me then turn inside out and barrel out of there. One buck swam a 50 yard wide river to find me. Just spending time in there and listening to how the boys "talk" during the rut is priceless. Grunting works if you know when and how to do it.
Thank you for the suggestions.
Any others out there?
The only time I use a grunt call is if the deer is out of range and going to pass further away. Sometimes it turns them; and if not I haven't lost anything. Had an eight point absolutely ignore me twice last Sunday passing at 60 yards and just keep walking at the same pace.
I'm not sure how convincing I am at mimicing a deer.
I've had some success at calling back deer that I had spooked because of noise (assuming they didn't see/smell me). I've yet to have one come back into bow range but i have had a few come back and stomp around looking for another deer.
I've not had any luck cold calling when I didn't already see/know the deer was there.
I normally only grunt when I actually see a deer. If its going the other way and I want it to come closer, I'll grunt. I don't do any cold calling. I rarely rattle as I've found it hasn't worked for me. Most of the time I sit quiet and just wait.
Begininging of novemeber throught the month I use the grunt call. When I get set up and let all settle right at first light, I give 3 short grunts around the area, that way if a buck is in ear shot will cruise through. As far as grunting when chasing a Doe, I have seen it more than once. I also only grunt at a buck when it is moving to help keep from pinning me down. Remember, be patient, that buck has time and will likely sneak in to compare the competition. For a buck moving through that will not come, I have done my own wheeze/snort at them and they will either come in if dominate, or bolt from being scared.