I'm reinvestigating my understanding of deer vocalization. I've had mixed successes over the years which have lead me to believe that there is definately some merit to trying to dupe whitetails. Curious what you guys are doing as your standard "go to" calling. These are the methods I've used in the past and am sure to try again.

Blind calling: I've only really had success calling blind by rattling. I make a few aggressive grunts, maybe a snort wheeze, and continue with approximately one minute of rattling. I may try this every 30 minutes during the pre-rut. I'm curious how the sequence goes for other hunters.

Bringing a seen buck into range: I've only really had luck with this during the pre-rut as well. A doe bleat followed by a couple tending grunts seems to work fairly well. I've messed this one up a few times I believe by continuing to call after the animal has started toward me.

Seems like some guys have carved in stone the exact sequence of calling they use for these situations. Do you guys have calling sequences that are that strict and consistant or do you mix it up every time?

Don't listen to me, i am young and have no idea what i am talkin about:


A while back, a couple weeks back... i was spot and stalk bowhunting... and saw 4 deer standing in a bottom. I was able to get to within easy shot gun range (75 +/- yards) I snort wheezed at the big buck and he would look, and keep fighting... it had no effect that early on.

Last year, i used the doe can in early early muzzle loader, and it didn't bring in any, that weren't already moving through. no success there.

I am going to try light rattling on my next trip out..... maybe it wuill make a buck curious....

Me too....well....kindda young anway and I sure don't know what I'm talking about so I'll go ahead and listen to ya. Interesting about the snort wheeze. Were those bucks sparring are really going at it? Seems like until it's time for them to try to fight to the death (last few days of Oct or early Nov here in Missouri) that they won't respond to any kind of aggressive calling. As far as the can goes, I've only really had luck with it when I used it in conjunction with some tending buck grunts.

I've had good luck with both blind rattling and grunting. When I've had bucks in sight (or sound) grunting has worked well. Awesome thing to have one grunting back to your grunt. I have a video somewhere around here of a younger buck that kept falling for my grunt call over and over until I saw him staring at me in my shooting lane, doh!!!. Zoomed in on him with the cam and he just high stepped away slowly. When things are slow, I like to get a little aggresive and see what happens. I've had a bleat "can" bring bucks I could see come running in but who knows what affects it has had on bucks I couldn't see. Can't say I have ever used the bleat "blindly" with any success...

Im aswell young*15* and ive used a doe can call and a few grunts every once in a while.The deer here in NY are gettin heated up and chasing does around so ill have to try a few rattles and calling.Thanks for the tips throughout the posts

Growing up with the Whitetail's, I actually mimic them with my own vocals and I score all the time talking their language.