Deleted User

[Deleted by Admins]

davidmil

They fail a lot more than they work. I've had them work but more times than not I've watched deer never pay a bit of attention to them or turn and leave. I think a lot depends on where you are. I still say they're primarily a big money maker for a lot of people. I've been hunting deer quite successfully for over 40 years. I can count on ONE hand the number of times I heard a deer grunt in the woods and most of those were chasing a doe. The deer chasing a doe more than likely isn't going to leave and come to your call. So your question, "do calls in general work"? All the way to the bank for Lohman and the others for sure, for the hunter... occasionally(rarely). PLUS, I think that half the deer that people say they took because of a call would have been taken anyway(if you're a hunter). JMO

Edited by - davidmil on 01/05/2003 18:32:50

Deleted User

[Deleted by Admins]

Tree climber

I have only had two deer come to a grunt call in my 40 years of deer hunting.I know he came because I watched him for about 20 min.crossing a field.when he got close enough to hear me I grunted and he stopped going away and looked my way,I grunted again and he came stright in to 3' from stand.

as for rattling,in my area the ratio is very wide spread,I would say 10 to 15 does to one buck.(that is my guess). you set and see 10 to 15, 18 does in a setting and no bucks.
that being said,each year I rattle in from 3 to 5,or 6 bucks for me and my wife.( I rattle very lightly,more less tickling the horns.No big banging.)I know they are coming to the rattle because they come very alert with wide eyes and hair raised,ears layed back.looking for the fight.
I have watched bucks pay no attention to the grunts more times than not.I know they hear because the deer around them would look my way.

grunts;work maybe 1% of the time for me.
rattling; works about 35 to 40% of the time for me.

so what do you have to lose in trying.I have never (SAW) a deer spook or run from grunts or rattling.
just my 2 cents,there are 98 more<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

Rob/PA Bowyer

Every buck but one that I've taken with my bow has come to me because of a grunt tube. Each one was out of range, walking the other way and came to my calling. I would never go into the woods without one and I've proven my successful calling to many naysayers that never called a deer in before. Keep in mind, it doens't work all of the time, it's not full proof but when in a tree and a buck is out of range, it never hurts to try if you keep it soft and natural. Bucks are relatively easy to call in, doe are very difficult but will respond to the right call.

Those who have had little to no success with calling, should keep trying because that one time it does work, you'll be hooked. Technique will come with experience and so will success.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

davidmil

ROB, I have tried and I have called in deer with a call a couple times... but more often not. BUT, I would expect no other answer than you gave from a call manufacturer.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Tazman

Well my call experience is only two seasons long out of 35+ years hunting. The only time I can honestly say I called one in was a buck, I was bow hunting and he came parrellel to me and then turned in the other direction, I grunted once, he stopped and looked and continued on his way, I grunted louder a second time and once again he stopped and looked, but then kept on going, I decided what the heck, I did a doe bleat, he stopped dead turned around and circled right back, never got a shot due to trees but he came within 20 yards and then left.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

MATTITO

OK, I'm far from a salesperson for a call manufacturer and I've had pretty good success with calls. Without telling you my favorite call brand it can vary tone and inflection greatly. To me that has been the key. There are times where I've hit them with 4 or 5 bleats or grunts ranging in pitch. Then on the next pitch they turn their ears and get really curious. Why the others didn't work I'll never know, and the weird thing is that the head turning pitch varies from deer to deer.
I've seen does, fawns, small bucks, and luckily one very nice buck all turn to a grunt. Again this isn't for every single deer grunted at but the success is high enough that I won't whitetail hunt without it around my neck. Personally I've not had the success with rattling, and its been with real sheds. Go figure after all the light clinking, heavy clanging, and thrashing in the woods that I've tried only once have I brought in a small buck. Its most likely attributed to my lack of skill with the sheds. True talking to a deer takes lots of practice, and might require watching the videos etc if you're unsure or haven't heard a lot of vocalizations in the woods. There did that last sentence give you a clue to my favorite call?
Best of luck to all.

stickerpt

I usually take a grunt tube. I have never heard a buck grunt but
have called several in using a tube. It kind of depends on the
deer's mood. Sometimes they will come and sometimes they wont.
If you see a deer out of range and you dont have a call all you
can do is look at it. If you have a grunt tube you do have a
chance at calling him in.

Rob/PA Bowyer

Davidmil, I've been calling whitetails for 20 years. I've been on Prostaff of a game call manuf for 3 years. We do have a grunt tube and yes I've called bucks in with it. We are predominantly a turkey call business.

Fact is, what I said is the truth for me and my hunting area. The 3 bucks that hang on my log walls I never would have shot if I didn't have a call. They were out of range, headed the wrong way when I turned them around, called them in and arrowed them. I've had great success calling whitetails, that's the simple truth.

Whitetails are very vocal year round. If you say the right thing, they respond.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>