Grunt call

[Waterboy Bob]

Do y'all use a grunt call much? Any success stories or times where it definitely made a difference?

 

[Remington700]

I rarely use one. The bulk of the time they seem to just ignore it. I have killed a few using one in the past though. Like anything all the stars have to align.

 

[david k.]

I carry one in my pack all the time but don't use it on every hunt. I've had some success calling bucks in with them over the years. If I see a buck cruising or maybe headed into a thicket to bed, I'll let them get just out of eyesight and then hit the call...I don't call if I can see a buck though....too easy for them to pinpoint the exact location of sound.

 

[cbhunter]

I'd assume to leave my warm clothes at home before i'd want to be caught without my grunt call! Grew up using my mouth until around 5-6 years ago. Have literally called in 50-75 deer by grunting. I don't use it every hunt but it's one of my most important "must haves"

 

[ROVERBOY]

I carry one in my throat. Works just fine.

 

[30-06 type of guy]

I use one from opening day til my last hunt. The Extinguisher is my go to

 

[Ski]

I'm with CB^. It and my bow are about the only two things I'd turn the truck around for if I forgot to bring it.

 

[Wrangler95]

I always take mine but it only works sometimes!!They will totally ignore it most times!!

 

[mike243]

I have called in and stopped a few with grunt calls but might have run off more doing blind calling. I carry 2 every time I go out but rarely use them.

 

[BSK]

I'm sure there's one in my pack somewhere, but I never use it.

 

[clwg97]

I have 1 and have called in a few bucks. The one below ran across a holler ready to kick another bucks tail when I was bow hunting in Missouri. He was cruising on the other ridge and I could barely tell he was a buck at about 150 yards. I grunted a few times and he bristled up and came sauntering in. I shot him with my bow at 15 yards quartering away after he passed me. That same week I also called in 3 other deer but they were spikes and forkhorns.

 

[Bass1090]

I think I have had more success of late but not a whole lot. I called to one that was going away from me across a field at about 150 yds and he came in on a string.

My best deer ever "may" have came in to a call after I was aggressively calling to a buck going away from me. The buck going away never broke stride and 5 minutes later the one I killed came in from the opposite direction and was "acting" like he was trying to get downwind of me. Who knows with the scenario, I tend to think it was all luck lol.

One thing I don't do is call to a buck I don't intend on killing. Not worth the risk of him busting me and becoming even more educated.

All in all, I carry one, use it sparingly and think all deer adhere to them one way or the other (some come in and others ignore) lol.

 

[C1295]

I haven't had any luck out of grunting, I have stopped a few with it but not brought any in. Now " The Can" is a different story.

 

[Ski]

My best deer ever "may" have came in to a call after I was aggressively calling to a buck going away from me. The buck going away never broke stride and 5 minutes later the one I killed came in from the opposite direction and was "acting" like he was trying to get downwind of me. Who knows with the scenario, I tend to think it was all luck lol.

You stumbled onto exactly how I prefer to use a grunt tube. I like to set up near bedding and blind call every so often. Sometimes pretty aggressively. I make all kinds of racket. It can work any time of day but usually works best in the evening. Best I can describe it is like when you were a kid and your dad or grandpa is trying to nap but you & your brother or buddy are horse playing & making so much noise that when the old guy gets up he's coming to let you know he' not happy. Most bucks I kill is with that method. I actually have two small yearling racks on the skull plates that I rattle with. I don't want an old buck thinking I'm a threat. I want him thinking I'm an annoying punk kid. It works surprisingly well.

Although I do always try calling to bucks that I can see but aren't coming to me, it hardly ever works out. Once they're on a mission it's tough to change their mind. They sometimes stop and give me a glance but usually they just momentarily tilt an ear my direction and never skip a beat.

 

[Pilchard]

I have no idea if this is a coincidence or not but I became a believer in the grunt call when this happened.

I was sitting on the ground a couple years ago during muzzleloader and had 6-8 does spot me. They finally started blowing and making all sorts of noise. So as they were blowing at me I grabbed my grunt call and hit it really aggressively. The does ran off but about 2 minutes later a really mature buck came out of a thicket at about 80yds to see what all the fuss was about. Unfortunately there was a cedar tree between us so I couldn't get a shot.

My thinking is that he associated the blowing and the grunting as a buck pestering the does and he came to scent check whether or not any of the does were worth pursuing.

Last year I blind called and the buck I killed came in downwind and turned broadside to run away at 100yds.

 

[Ski]

My thinking is that he associated the blowing and the grunting as a buck pestering the does and he came to scent check whether or not any of the does were worth pursuing.

That's likely exactly what happened. I learn to do what I do by watching the deer as I'm hunting. I try to imitate what they do given specific situations. If they can get a rise out of an old buck then I'm going to do what they did to see if I can too. They're surprisingly easy to fool. I think a lot of hunters give them too much credit and are too cautious. I've often found them to be as responsive to calling as turkeys are.

 

[BamBam77]

I've carried an Extinguisher for ~8 years. Used to be aggressive with it, but have toned back on blind calling. Depends on the environment. Have called at does and small bucks to see how they'll react.
In 2021, I was hunting a small opening in big woods, saw a doe being chased in thick brush going parallel to me. Couldn't tell what it was, hit the call and had an 8 come in for a shot

 

[Chiflyguy]

Do y'all use a grunt call much? Any success stories or times where it definitely made a difference?

Called in a 6'2" Pollack one time on Illinois public land.
Tooted the grunt call a couple times. Hear noise, something moving thru the trees.
Wait 10 minutes, toot again.
Next thing I know, here's a clown with his gun waist high in my direction.
"I thought you deer"
The last year I hunted public land.
The worst was the drunk Russians running around the woods.
I still throw one in my pack.
When things are slow, what the heck.

 

[deerhunter10]

Yes they aren't magic but for sure can be used in the right situation.

 

[Snake]

I feel naked without my grunt call. Have called in quite a few with it .

 

[Trnr]

I also carry one but certainly don't use it each hunt. My preferred is a duel game calls grunt tube. I also think it's worth mentioning that real grunts don't sound like the "pros" make it sound on tv….at least not the ones I've heard lol

 

[backyardtndeer]

Yes I do use a grunt call. I will call blindly, and have called in a number of deer that have ended up on my wall. I have learned a lot just watching deer, and I try to mimic their vocals best as I can with the call I carry.

 

[Ski]

I also think it's worth mentioning that real grunts don't sound like the "pros" make it sound on tv….at least not the ones I've heard lol

100% ^. Growls & snort wheezes do happen but not near as common as what I'd describe as a pig snorting along through the woods or a fat kid in grade school making a poor attempt at burping his ABC's. And I've never heard a grunt tube that exactly mimics that sound. There's a guttural echo chamber quality to a real buck grunt that grunt tubes can't replicate. But I'll be danged if they don't work anyway. I don't hunt without one.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Something I have seen several times when a buck is following a doe is a clicking sound, I don't have a call that can recreate that sound though.

 

[BSK]

I've had very poor results with any type of calling. But I suspect that is property/habitat specific. We've gone so far in creating cover that visual/shooting ranges are very short. Extremely rare to be able to see a deer beyond 60 yards. I strongly suspect deer ARE responding to calling but can easily slip around downwind without being seen.

 

[UTGrad]

I always have a grunt call around my neck on any hunt. It's not for blind calling, but for alerting a buck that might be out of range. I have grunted before and brought in a buck that I later stuck with an arrow so yes they do work.

Blind calling isnt very productive and if anything, may alert a deer you dont see to travel down wind of you to scent check.

 

[Waterboy Bob]

I've never really used one consistently. Had a buddy talk about his success with a grunt call last year so I gave it a try. A buck was crossing in front of me and disappeared in a thicket heading away to my left. Did a grunt sequence and settled back in. Within 5 minutes that buck was standing at 20 yards…..not a young buck but not quite a shooter. Maybe that was just a rare response but it got my attention enough to see what experiences others have had.

 

[Ski]

Maybe that was just a rare response but it got my attention

Not rare at all. They work.

 

[square]

I have called in a lot of deer with one. Deer that respond are already alert so you have to be too. I think BSK hit the nail on the head. Younger bucks rush in. More mature bucks sneak in

 

[Oldways]

I always carry mine, although occasionally I only use it for work.