Knowing a few key words can help bring that deer to you

The doe stood just out of bow range and also within the protection of a web of branches that could easily deflect an arrow. She needed to come out, but showed no signs of doing so. Something had to happen, so I lifted my grunt tube and let out a short burp. She immediately responded in kind and a few more calls from me got her outside and within range.

We humans tend to put too much emphasis on vocalizations because it is our main means of communication. Deer use much more scent and body language, but they do make noise. It can be a subtle but complex vocabulary, but you don’t have to master it to succeed. Just like when talking to visitors from across the border, sometimes knowing a few words and phrases can get the message across and turn the tide in your favor.

Let’s start with the basic grunt, referenced in the opening passage. It’s kind of like a whitetail version of “hey” or “what’s going on?” It could simply be a deer making another deer aware of its presence. I hear it most often from deer, when there are fawns nearby, but out of their sight; so it can also be a reminder: “Mommy is here; Don’t worry.” Or it could be a gentle scolding: “Don’t go astray.” Either way, it can persuade deer to come closer.

When using these or other vocalizations, hunters should keep in mind that the effect is usually not as sudden or dramatic as you would like. I use the analogy of entering a busy room and seeing someone you know on the other side. You both recognize each other, but it may take some time pushing your way through the crowd before you actually meet.

Another popular practice used by call hunters is the bleat, usually imitated with a can call. It is used alternately to represent a hot doe or a lost fawn. I have had modest success calling early in the season, but have never lured a buck with it, although I know other hunters who claim so. In most cases it won’t hurt, so why not give it a try? You just never know how a deer will react.

Although not a vocalization, rattling is a form of calling. Hunters who watch a lot of outdoor television and video tend to overestimate its effectiveness and then become frustrated when it doesn’t work for them. Remember, these video hunters have condensed hours, maybe even days, of hunting into a few moments. Often rattling won’t work. When that happens, it can be exciting.

Researchers in Texas have been studying how deer respond to rattling, with some illuminating results. One of them was that the response was better in the morning. Another was that deer tended to approach the sound cautiously, sometimes circling downwind and just out of sight. Solo rattling might work, but if you can team up with someone and position the shooter downwind, you might have a shot at a deer that the rattler never saw.

Another piece of advice I can give is not to give up too quickly. I usually get one of two responses. Sometimes a buck runs or trots right in. More often they arrive five or even ten minutes later, slowly, cautiously or nonchalantly. In the latter case, it may not be until the third or fourth rattling fight. There are no rules about how long you should wait between rattling, but 15-20 minutes is a good guideline.

There is another sound that all deer hunters should be fluently familiar with. It is also called the ‘bleat’. This is not used to attract a deer, but to stop it. Shots at moving deer are rarely good, especially for the bowhunter. But if you can stop the deer with a loud bleat, you’ll have a better chance of shooting. Unlike a shout or whistle, it is more natural to deer, so they are more likely to stop rather than run away at the sound.

Those are the basic principles; something like “hello, goodbye, please and thank you.” Over time and with experience, you will learn more vocabulary and syntax, form complete sentences and even paragraphs, and paint a vocal picture. A tending growl, followed by a snort and some rattling, describes a buck chasing a doe and then encountering, challenging, and fighting a rival suitor. It might attract Ole Mossy Horns, but it might also scare him a little. You just never know; but I think that’s part of the challenge.

Bob Humphrey is a freelance writer and registered Maine guide living in Pownal. He can be reached at: [email protected]