Hey Bowhunters,
Today, I want us to do things in a different way…
Let’s take a quick look into your deer hunting gear. I can see quality bows, quality arrowheads, quality tree stand, quality rangefinder, nicely built quiver – quality everything!
BUT wait! Where are your deer calls?
If you’ve not been using these highly important pieces of equipment in your deer hunting life, you’ve been missing quite a lot.
Though there are numerous deer calls out there, today we’ll focus one of the most important calls and how it can help you bag a deer easily and quickly – the deer grunt call…
More…
What’s a Deer Grunt Call?How to Use a Grunt CallWhen and Where To Use The Grunt CallDONTs of A Grunt CallFinal Word
What’s a Deer Grunt Call?
In the simplest language possible, a deer grunt call refers to a call (basically tube-like) designed to produce real-life deer vocalizations and thus draw the game to your range for easy shooting.
That is, a grunt call will help you speak the language of the deer as a way of pursuing them to come to your stand where you can effortlessly take them down.
How to Use a Grunt Call
Using the grunt call is something everyone – including absolute beginners – can do. And just like any other skill, it gets better with time (with practice).
With that said, let me share with you some of my top tips and strategies that will put you into grunting action this coming season:
– Though blind calling can also bring in a deer, I usually suggest that you grunt on the deer you’ve spotted. In my case, every time I see my target buck getting out of range, I’ll let out a grunt and he’ll stop and look my way!
– So, when he stops and looks my way, what do I do next? I don’t just sit there and watch him…I become more aggressive (grunt more and louder). And trust me; this has brought countless deer into my range!
– Some days to the beginning of rut, I’ll imitate a doe on heat by making some tending grunts which magically brings in the deer full of hope of a breeding show. And if you get lucky, a mature buck might as well charge in to steal the doe.
– One thing I’ve come to learn is that grunting pays you handsomely during the rut peak. At this time, the bucks are on the sprawl, scrapping, and desperately looking for the does. With that in mind, you’d want to blow loud, tending grunts in intervals of around 30 minutes. This, in my personal experience, is a smart way to bring in a buck that might think that a rival is trailing a doe.
– As you enter post-rut, consider using your call in areas close to the deer’s beddings, food sources, or paths leading to the sources. And at the same time, tone down your grunting. At this time, I don’t think a weary buck would be interested in walking up to 100 yards to investigate the loud, fancy grunts.
As a side note, learning the most common grunt vocalizations can also add to your success and effectiveness in using your grunt call.
When and Where To Use The Grunt Call
Even when the grunt is the single most important call in your hunting gear, it can turn to be a useless piece of a tube if you don’t know the right time to use it.
I believe that you can get the most out of your grunt call if you use at any time the bucks start showing interest in the does, probably from the mid-rut period.
There are some ideal settings where you should consider using your grunt call. For instance, you can use it in areas where there is a high buck to does ratio to ensure there’s pretty high competition. Besides, the deer herd should comprise of a healthy age class structure. This encourages competition in the heard as the mature bucks would want to fight for a doe.
Above all thing, look for an area that’s not under heavy hunting pressure that might keep the bucks’ population low.
Bottom line: if you get a healthy deer herd with intense competition for the does, you’ve got the right setting to use your grunt call!
DONTs of A Grunt Call
– Avoid calling a buck that’s steadily walking toward your direction; only grunt if it tends to lose interest and start changing direction
– Never grunt up a nearby deer (that includes any deer within 75 yards); if you do, he might spot you or fail to see another deer around and he’ll just flee
– Never use your call to stop the deer for a shot; instead, draw your bow first and then grunt- and be ready to shoot the moment your target stops
– Don’t grunt in a monotone; vary the volume as well as the excitability of your truck and you’ll increase your chances of attracting deer.
One more thing…
I don’t think you’ll get to enjoy the full benefits and productivity that comes with a grunt call if you don’t use the best call. You may consider using the Primos Hardwood Grunter Call, or the Primos Shawty – Hands-Free Buck and Doe Call or the Illusion Extinguisher Deer Call.
These are my 3 favorite grunt calls that I’ve used for years and they always bring in real results.
Final Word
All the serious deer always have a good quality deer grunt call hanging around their neck as they chase the game. This highly reliable gear can give you a mountain of perfect shot opportunities right from the beginning to the end of the deer hunting season.
To get the most out of this call, however, you must follow my expert advice on how and when to use this call. And most importantly, you’ve to keep fine-tuning your grunt calling skills.
When you do all this, I can guarantee you that you’ll get the bigger and better bucks you haven’t gotten before.
