In general I've not had any luck with deer calls (grunt tubes specifically).
I've tried them in any number of ways over the years but have had very little success with them. I used to grunt every 15 minutes or so just in case something was near. Other times I grunt while looking right at them and I get to see that they are just totally uninterested.
I can only recall two times when I know it worked. The first was early bow season and a doe was cruising past me about 60 yards away. I hit the call and she turned on a dime...90 degrees...and came right at me.
The other time it worked I was using a fawn in distress call. I had just bought it, and immediately drove out to where I hunt to try it out. This was in mid-summer...not deer season...I just walked out into the woods with the call to see if it would work.
I hit that call, made it sound like a fawn was absolutely wailing, and I almost got RUN OVER by a doe. I had no idea she was in the area. I heard her coming through the tall grass...hooves were just POUNDING. She came scrambling right by me just beating the ground and running kind of zig-zaggy...clearly searching and trying to scare off the predator that was attacking the "fawn".
I sat there for 5 minutes with an "Oh S$#&" look on my face. I couldn't believe it happened. First time, almost run over, unbelievable excitement.
I never had that call work again...no matter where I blew it.
What's been your experience?
I've tried them in any number of ways over the years but have had very little success with them. I used to grunt every 15 minutes or so just in case something was near. Other times I grunt while looking right at them and I get to see that they are just totally uninterested.
I can only recall two times when I know it worked. The first was early bow season and a doe was cruising past me about 60 yards away. I hit the call and she turned on a dime...90 degrees...and came right at me.
The other time it worked I was using a fawn in distress call. I had just bought it, and immediately drove out to where I hunt to try it out. This was in mid-summer...not deer season...I just walked out into the woods with the call to see if it would work.
I hit that call, made it sound like a fawn was absolutely wailing, and I almost got RUN OVER by a doe. I had no idea she was in the area. I heard her coming through the tall grass...hooves were just POUNDING. She came scrambling right by me just beating the ground and running kind of zig-zaggy...clearly searching and trying to scare off the predator that was attacking the "fawn".
I sat there for 5 minutes with an "Oh S$#&" look on my face. I couldn't believe it happened. First time, almost run over, unbelievable excitement.
I never had that call work again...no matter where I blew it.
What's been your experience?