Just started bowhunting this year and have a few questions. What i am hearing is calls work really well during pre-rut and the rut.
What should i be doing now in the way of calling now that the rut has past? Should i still be grunting, rattleing, bleats And what scents?
Also with the oncoming of shotgun season how well do bowhunters do during these times? Or is bowhunting useless during the shotgun seasons and after on public shotgun lands?
We have bow only areas so the pressure of guns should not effect the deer here, but again, what calls and scents do i use now?

I believe some grunting will always be a good idea. Estrous should still work since not all of the does have been bred. The bucks are looking for the last available ladies. Rattling maybe not, the smaller ones are going to be tired of fighting. If it's a doe you're after go with regular doe pee since they'll avoid other does in estrous. Patterns start returning to normal feeding patterns with bucks looking to regain the wieght lost during the rut. Food sources field edges should be good. Hope this helps.

Bowhunting is never useless. It is always fun if nothing else, but it can be rewarding as well. For shotgun season find out of the way places that no one else will go. That is where you will find the older deer. Once gun season is over start hunting between the food and the beds again. I am not a proponent of calling unless as a last ditch effort.In pressured areas, the older bucks know what is behind that call much like trying to bugle in a bull in a pressured area. It may work in rare occassions, but it more than likely will result in an animal going the other way. If you are hunting where there is little to no pressure, then your chanceswould be better.

Pretty much what i was gonna type, but yes in post rut i would leave the rattle antlers at home and just go with estrus bleats and soft grunts.

The rut is not over in Maryland, but granted its not that strong either so you might get lucky with some grunting this weekend. I rarely use calls, but some people swear by them. I'm going out Friday and Saturday, but will probably lay off of the calls. Good luck either way!

I think if you plan your hunt, your stand locations and hunt the wind you'll come out ahead of the game more times than making noise. Use the call if you see a deer passing by and not coming your way. It can't hurt at that point. Otherwise, just shut up and watch the world. The RUT, primary breeding season, may be winding down in Maryland.... but the bucks are still looking and trolling. Blowing a call now would be better than blowing it during the rut. JMO