I have a calling question
08-14-2008 | 08:56 AM
#31
Fork Horn
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
RE: I have a calling question
Take the calls. You just never know what might raise enough curiosity to get a buck to close the gap. As a last resort, I pulled out a grunt call in Nebraska several years ago the first week of September! I had a good buck browsing in a hay field in front of me for most of the evening at over a hundred yards. As he started to exit the far side of the field I began grunting several times and he came right to me and I brought home a 135" 8pt. that weighed over 300 lbs. on the hoof. I have also rattled in bucks in early October. In '04 I took a 145" buck on Oct. 16, by rattling after he disappeared over a ridge. I use the calls as a last resort usually that early, but what do you have to lose if the deer is leaving anyway? Just use passive grunts and very light rattling if necessary and cross your fingers. Also, I think it is very important that you only call when the deer can not easily see your location. Wait until terrain or brush etc. obscures his view and NEVER call directly towards the deer.If he is in the wide open, wait until he looks away and call each time he looks away. That drives them nuts sometimes and even the big boys cant stand not coming closer for a better look. Good luck.
08-14-2008 | 08:59 AM
#32
Dominant Buck
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 21,043
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From:
RE: I have a calling question
Jeff, I just thought of something and it may or may not be the case, we'll never know but maybe the reason I did see so many bucks was the calling. They came looking but didn't commit. Who knows it could have been right place, right time but that was an exceptional 2 evenings in a treestand.
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
08-14-2008 | 09:04 AM
#33
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: I have a calling question
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
It was also the 1st time that woodlot had ever been hunted (to my knowledge.....and knowing the landowner).
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
Jeff, I just thought of something and it may or may not be the case, we'll never know but maybe the reason I did see so many bucks was the calling. They came looking but didn't commit. Who knows it could have been right place, right time but that was an exceptional 2 evenings in a treestand.
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
Damn notable note.
08-14-2008 | 09:15 AM
#34
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,445
Likes: 0
From: Central Minnesota
RE: I have a calling question
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
Always the pessimest (sp) LOL, It was my sweet sweet calling and you know it. [8D]
Damn notable note.
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
It was also the 1st time that woodlot had ever been hunted (to my knowledge.....and knowing the landowner).
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
Jeff, I just thought of something and it may or may not be the case, we'll never know but maybe the reason I did see so many bucks was the calling. They came looking but didn't commit. Who knows it could have been right place, right time but that was an exceptional 2 evenings in a treestand.
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
Damn notable note.
08-14-2008 | 09:15 AM
#35
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,445
Likes: 0
From: Central Minnesota
RE: I have a calling question
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
I bought my first deer call when I was 15, 26 years ago and at the time I don't even recall if grunts were available. The one I bought was a wooden call resembling a duck call and it was strictly a doe bleat. I called in an amazing amount of deer with it and I wish I still had it.
Almost ever single deer I've taken, and more specifically, ever deer I mounted came to the call and I may or may not have ever killed said animals without it. I've called bucks from over 250 yards walking away from me right to bow range. I've called does in, I've called in bucks only to let them walk away and call them back again. That 04 buck I missed twice and called him back in to kill him on the 3rd shot.
They don't work every time but when they do it can be like a magnet.
Most times it's two grunts, one to get their attention, the second to pull them in.
If I get a chance I'll make a calling tutorial, not HOW to but what works for me. I don't think there is a real HOW TO, but definately some successes.
ORIGINAL: Schultzy
You sound allot like my brother Rob. My brother lives, eats, and drinks his deer calls. He's excellent with them and has had great success with them. I for one have had just the opposite luck. I've actually had better luck burping (Imitating a buck grunting) then I have using calls. This year I'm giving it my all being I went out and purchased a bunch of calls this winter. I picked up some MAD calls- Grunt Snort And Wheeze, Buck Growl, Heat Bleat. I am really interested in the Snort and Wheeze and Buck Growl and I plan on using them as the rut nears this fall if I'm still with out a buck yet come that time.
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
In PA, I've grunted in bucks from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Contact grunts work year around if they are interested. Couple that with contact bleats in early season. I will NEVER enter a woods for the purpose of hunting without a grunt call.
ORIGINAL: Hoyt_Viper
Our archery season is October 4th. I know thats pretty close to, but not close enough for pre-rut.
What works early in the season, bleats? Grunts?
Our archery season is October 4th. I know thats pretty close to, but not close enough for pre-rut.
What works early in the season, bleats? Grunts?
Almost ever single deer I've taken, and more specifically, ever deer I mounted came to the call and I may or may not have ever killed said animals without it. I've called bucks from over 250 yards walking away from me right to bow range. I've called does in, I've called in bucks only to let them walk away and call them back again. That 04 buck I missed twice and called him back in to kill him on the 3rd shot.
They don't work every time but when they do it can be like a magnet.
Most times it's two grunts, one to get their attention, the second to pull them in.
If I get a chance I'll make a calling tutorial, not HOW to but what works for me. I don't think there is a real HOW TO, but definately some successes.
08-14-2008 | 09:40 AM
#36
Dominant Buck
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 21,043
Likes: 0
From:
RE: I have a calling question
Here's a few excerpts from a thread we had a while back, Rob.....and why I say what I do (which you seemed to agree, in part,with me on........back then).
ME:
ME, Again:
Rob:
I might have to adjust my thinking a bit......"If" we are to "assume" that the buck you shot at was the dominant buck. If you say he (that one....by your account) was coming to your calls......I believe you, 100%.
Interesting, for sure. Like I said....I may have to re-think this.
,with me on........back then).ME:
I took a grunt call ZERO times to the woods, this season. I took a can, a few times. I used the can, once....and actually had a doe come to it.
"I" think the effectiveness of calls is directly proportionate to your herd dynamics. They are absolutely useless, here (grunt calls). I've never had any luck with them....and don't even take mine to the woods, anymore. I just choose not to tip them off to my presence.
BUT.....HUGE..."but"......
If the herd dynamics are different......(say....where Rob hunts).....I think they're awesome. I grunted in a nice buck up there......from 100yds away (when I first spotted him). Based on what I hear from Rob......he'd never go into the woods without his.
I don't know much about them.....but this has been my limited experience.
"I" think the effectiveness of calls is directly proportionate to your herd dynamics. They are absolutely useless, here (grunt calls). I've never had any luck with them....and don't even take mine to the woods, anymore. I just choose not to tip them off to my presence.
BUT.....HUGE..."but"......
If the herd dynamics are different......(say....where Rob hunts).....I think they're awesome. I grunted in a nice buck up there......from 100yds away (when I first spotted him). Based on what I hear from Rob......he'd never go into the woods without his.
I don't know much about them.....but this has been my limited experience.
Tony:
I heard more grunting in one morning this year (before daylight)....than I have in every other day afield I've ever sat.....COMBINED. It sounded like a whoopee cushion factory.
I hear 'em grunting here......about 2-3 weeks.....but RARELY. I only had 17 buck sightings the entire season. But that buck in PA.......he surprised the heck out of me coming to the call. I guess I look at it like this. WHY would they come to a grunt call, here??? Why would you leave 4 does in the thicket.....to go possibly get your ass kicked....unless you were the big daddy rabbit?
You wouldn't. A nanny in the thicket is better than a possible ass-whoopin in the bush.
I heard more grunting in one morning this year (before daylight)....than I have in every other day afield I've ever sat.....COMBINED. It sounded like a whoopee cushion factory.
I hear 'em grunting here......about 2-3 weeks.....but RARELY. I only had 17 buck sightings the entire season. But that buck in PA.......he surprised the heck out of me coming to the call. I guess I look at it like this. WHY would they come to a grunt call, here??? Why would you leave 4 does in the thicket.....to go possibly get your ass kicked....unless you were the big daddy rabbit?
You wouldn't. A nanny in the thicket is better than a possible ass-whoopin in the bush.
Jeff's spot on in his assessment of his herd and calling as well. When I hunted the two days last season with him I roughly saw 10 different bucks in those 2 days. I called to each of them. I had one come into the call and it was the biggest one of the 10. Like he said, they don't need to come to a competitor buck when they have plenty of ladies for themselves. The one that did come probably was the dominant or a dominant buck checking his territory out. I told Jeff, I wondered if that was the bull, last year. It was the right spot.
Interesting, for sure. Like I said....I may have to re-think this.
08-14-2008 | 10:23 AM
#37
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: I have a calling question
ORIGINAL: Schultzy
Jeff's got to understand just because it don't work for him doesn't mean it won't work for someone else in the same woods. Rob you've been doing this for 26 years I think you said. Thats telling me you know what your doing when calling deer. Some of us don't have much luck with it, probably cause were not doing something right. I'm one of them but I plan on putting this arsenal into my hunting tactics and getting it down in the next few years.
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
Always the pessimest (sp) LOL, It was my sweet sweet calling and you know it. [8D]
Damn notable note.
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
It was also the 1st time that woodlot had ever been hunted (to my knowledge.....and knowing the landowner).
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
Jeff, I just thought of something and it may or may not be the case, we'll never know but maybe the reason I did see so many bucks was the calling. They came looking but didn't commit. Who knows it could have been right place, right time but that was an exceptional 2 evenings in a treestand.
Worth noting.
I've tried calling in similar, close proximity spots....to no avail.
Damn notable note.
Sorry, I can tell stories all day about calling.
I look at it this way as well, why not? I've never had a negative reaction to calling. (As long as your subtle) They are very vocal animals, more than we realize. It's not magic but when it does work, it seems like magic.
08-14-2008 | 10:27 AM
#38
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: I have a calling question
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Here's a few excerpts from a thread we had a while back, Rob.....and why I say what I do (which you seemed to agree, in part,with me on........back then).
ME:
ME, Again:
Rob:
I might have to adjust my thinking a bit......"If" we are to "assume" that the buck you shot at was the dominant buck. If you say he (that one....by your account) was coming to your calls......I believe you, 100%.
Interesting, for sure. Like I said....I may have to re-think this.
Here's a few excerpts from a thread we had a while back, Rob.....and why I say what I do (which you seemed to agree, in part
,with me on........back then).ME:
I took a grunt call ZERO times to the woods, this season. I took a can, a few times. I used the can, once....and actually had a doe come to it.
"I" think the effectiveness of calls is directly proportionate to your herd dynamics. They are absolutely useless, here (grunt calls). I've never had any luck with them....and don't even take mine to the woods, anymore. I just choose not to tip them off to my presence.
BUT.....HUGE..."but"......
If the herd dynamics are different......(say....where Rob hunts).....I think they're awesome. I grunted in a nice buck up there......from 100yds away (when I first spotted him). Based on what I hear from Rob......he'd never go into the woods without his.
I don't know much about them.....but this has been my limited experience.
"I" think the effectiveness of calls is directly proportionate to your herd dynamics. They are absolutely useless, here (grunt calls). I've never had any luck with them....and don't even take mine to the woods, anymore. I just choose not to tip them off to my presence.
BUT.....HUGE..."but"......
If the herd dynamics are different......(say....where Rob hunts).....I think they're awesome. I grunted in a nice buck up there......from 100yds away (when I first spotted him). Based on what I hear from Rob......he'd never go into the woods without his.
I don't know much about them.....but this has been my limited experience.
Tony:
I heard more grunting in one morning this year (before daylight)....than I have in every other day afield I've ever sat.....COMBINED. It sounded like a whoopee cushion factory.
I hear 'em grunting here......about 2-3 weeks.....but RARELY. I only had 17 buck sightings the entire season. But that buck in PA.......he surprised the heck out of me coming to the call. I guess I look at it like this. WHY would they come to a grunt call, here??? Why would you leave 4 does in the thicket.....to go possibly get your ass kicked....unless you were the big daddy rabbit?
You wouldn't. A nanny in the thicket is better than a possible ass-whoopin in the bush.
I heard more grunting in one morning this year (before daylight)....than I have in every other day afield I've ever sat.....COMBINED. It sounded like a whoopee cushion factory.
I hear 'em grunting here......about 2-3 weeks.....but RARELY. I only had 17 buck sightings the entire season. But that buck in PA.......he surprised the heck out of me coming to the call. I guess I look at it like this. WHY would they come to a grunt call, here??? Why would you leave 4 does in the thicket.....to go possibly get your ass kicked....unless you were the big daddy rabbit?
You wouldn't. A nanny in the thicket is better than a possible ass-whoopin in the bush.
Jeff's spot on in his assessment of his herd and calling as well. When I hunted the two days last season with him I roughly saw 10 different bucks in those 2 days. I called to each of them. I had one come into the call and it was the biggest one of the 10. Like he said, they don't need to come to a competitor buck when they have plenty of ladies for themselves. The one that did come probably was the dominant or a dominant buck checking his territory out. I told Jeff, I wondered if that was the bull, last year. It was the right spot.
Interesting, for sure. Like I said....I may have to re-think this.
I've caused them to tear up trees, I've caused them to make scrapes, I've caused them to grunt back, snort/wheeze, urinate, run in, strut in ears layed back looking for a fight. I've also seen them look, twitch an ear and simply continue what they are doing.
I have never had one turn up tail and flee. In fact, just the opposite, I've stopped them dead cold from fleeing to look back and sometimes come back.
It's never going to work all the time anywhere, it may even work one out of 10 times like it did for me in NC but that one time. Yeah baby.
08-14-2008 | 10:35 AM
#40
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: I have a calling question
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Got any pictures?[8D]
It's never going to work all the time anywhere, it may even work one out of 10 times like it did for me in NC but that one time. Yeah baby.
[8D]