Regarding the roar...I have heard it one time in my life, about 8yrs ago. It was a mature buck by himself that made it and it freaked me out. To this day, I can hear that sound...I would have bet money it didn't come from a deer if I didn't see him do it. Freaky sound for sure. I don't think its a phenomenon or anything, I just think it is a seldom heard sound...that Drury's capitalized on and got marketed first. More power to them.
I certainly don't hunt in an area with many mature deer, and we have too many does also. So calls don't work that well for me. I have had some success though with them. I wouldn't ever use the roar where I hunt.
Callsobviously work better inareas with good buck to doe ratios, and better numbers of mature bucks. I have grunted in a few deer, and have only rattled inone buck ever...and he came in twice actually. I could see a big buck with a doe about 150yds away, and was trying to get him to come to me. I rattled hard, and in came abig6pt from behind me...and he came in fast and hard...hair standing up and steam coming out of his nostrils....to 10yds right behind me, and he was PISSED! (just like MuzzyMan said)
Honestly it scared me, I was on the ground and he came in from behind ready to roll. I had no defense if I even wanted it. He looked and looked for the fight and finally left.Funny thing is the bigbuck saw him....so I thought it would bring him closer. It didn't, he had his woman I guess and wasn't going anywhere she didn't go.
5 mintues laterand I rattled again hoping the big one may come this time. Same exact thing happened...the 6pt came back again to the same spot and man was he PISSED!I had my m/l at the time, and was ready this time, just in case he got too close.
That was an incredibleexperience for me....but it's only worked for me 1 time in probably 15yrs of trying. That was the peak of the rut, and he was absolutely ready. Calls can and do work at the right time that is obvious. I envy the guys that are in areas where calls work on a regular basis. I think it's cool. The growl/roar is definitely a real noise, but obviously seldom heard. I think they just marketed it correctly is why all the fuss. Why did the CAN get so much attention when it came out? Marketing. Well and I guess it didn't hurt with Beatty's kill from using it [8D]