Scared buck away by calling?

[Northport buckslayr]

Last night I was sitting for an hour or so had not been seeing anything, and was using a can call every once in a while. I thought I heard something behind me and I hit the can call again. Two bucks, one of them decent looking, came flying out of the bruch and across a tall garssy field away from me [:@]. Did I scare them away with the bleat call? Has anyone else had this happen? Should I lay of the calling until rut time? Any input would be good?

I am also wondering if I scared him away permanently. The stand is in a good bedding/feeding area and I plan on leaving it alone for a week or so .

[GrayDawg]

It depends- was the wind blowing from you to the bucks? Did they catch any of your movement when you hit the can?

I doubt you scared them away permanently- they get awfully stupid come the rut. But I wouldn't go back there for a week or so- and when you do, make sure you're as scent-free as possible. Lay off the can unless you see a buck who is moving AWAY from your position.

That's my .02 cents...........

Rob

[Northport buckslayr]

I doubt they smelled me, there was hardly any wind to speak of and I super anal about scent protection (detergent, bodywash, properstorage scent spray, body wash, etc.) Like I said I plan on leaving the stand alone for a week, maybe I'll lay off the cold calling.

[HuntingEd]

Its too early for most calls, and I think they either saw you or winded you...

I would only use a soft grunt call if you really had to call, I had some bucks grunting the other day as they tried to establish dominance...

I dont even carry calls until mid to late october, and even then I dont use much until the rut.

[GMMAT]

I have NEVER heard the sound that comes from a can call in the wild....and I see my share of deer. I've heard almost every other deer vocalization from stand.....except this one. The closest thing that I've heard that rembles it is a "bawl" when I've shot a deer.

That being said....I won't say it's "unheard of" in deer circles (that vocalization). That's just been my experiences.

My "guess" is you either got winded.....or they weren't expecting another deer to be in the area....and you spooked them (they didn't see another deer, huh?).

Unless they winded you....I wouldn't be too worried about it. But I'd be very cautious about blind calling (again...just MY apprehensions). I see SO FEW bucks each season....that I don't take chances with them. I'd rather let them pass and take my chances another day.

Here's a thought.....why not try it on some bucks you don't wanna take. See how they react?

[Schultzy]

My thinking Is that you were using the call a little to much. Don't over use these things.

[Northport buckslayr]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will lay off the calling until later, and maybe leave the can at home. They didn't seem to spooked, they ran about thirty yards, stopped and then leisurley walked away. So as long I let that spot rest I' thinking I'm okay.

[74#KE]

like stated if you over used it or you were winded or they saw movement. Was it the doe bleet or the estress bleet, if the latter I think that would have scared them away. I called a buck to me in mid October with the can call. He was walking away from me and I turned the can over and turned and came to me like he has on a string. Right under my stand it was pretty cool. I have also called a doe to me and I didn't see her, 23 yard shot, and a buck 3 minutes later it was a good day, 2 deer within 3 minutes, I assume the buck was following the doe.

[Matt / PA]

Calling certainly isn't going to work all or probably even a minority of the time. LOL
If a deer is not expecting to hear a certain sound surely he could be alarmed by it........even if they are expectingt to hear it or it's a common occurance they can also be alarmed.
Every deer is different, they can be individuals with different "personalities" so what works for one might have the opposite affect on the next.

I'll never forget my buddy Frank telling me about the first P&Y buck in Illinois that he ever rattled to that he could see..........peak of the Rut on a big buck in Illinois, slam dunk right? That deer has probably circled the globe 3 times sincetrying to getaway.

[Rob/PA Bowyer]

ORIGINAL: HuntingEd

Its too early for most calls, and I think they either saw you or winded you...

I would only use a soft grunt call if you really had to call, I had some bucks grunting the other day as they tried to establish dominance...

I dont even carry calls until mid to late october, and even then I dont use much until the rut.

I disagree with it being too early. The "Can" is nothing more than a contact call. I highly doubt these deer were scared from the sound of the call itself.

I've been bowhunting for nearly 30 years and started using calls 25 years ago and I wouldn't hesitate to use calls from the opening day of the season right through to the end.

I've called bachelor groups of bucks in with soft grunts and contact calls from our first day, right through the season. They don't always work but one thing I've found, when done right it NEVER spooks deer unless your too aggressive. Otherwise, they just couldn't care less about it.

Jeff,

I've heard what the "Can" imitates, it's a contact call and the "can" isn't perfect but it's adequate. I've never seen a deer spook from imitating the can either with the can or with my River Valley Deer Flute.

Just like when I called a couple times that first night in the stand. There was abosulutely NOTHING to lose. Those deer were skirting us in the field, I called and stopped the one, turned her and she started in until the other one just passed by and that one went with her. I could have very easily brought them both in for a shot. Neither of them spooked nor did any other deer that may have heard me. There was zero issue with giving it a try. The simply mostly ignored it but it was worth a try.

Calls never work 100% of the time but if you do things right, they will work sometimes and it's those sometimes that will make or break a hunt. Done right, there's no downside to calling.