Calling Advice

[Mudshack]

As you all can tell from my MANY questions. I am new to Texas hunting, and new to Bowhunting. So here is one more question topic:

What calls do you use when hunting deer?

How do you use it?

When you don't have someone to mentor you though the learning process (i.e. father) you can only learn from TV and you guys. So let's have it.

[Mudshack]

Figures...I post here, then I find this great website:

http://www.bowsite.com/bowsite/features/practical_bowhunter/deergrunting/deergrunt.html

[doc]

HA! 'Mater... love it!

I printed that page out the other day -- I, like you, have no one to teach me either. My father-in-law and the land owner have both only ever rifle hunted and I think the land owner thinks you can't kill deer with a bow! (At least not from the ground anyway!)
The thing you have to remember about most of the info from the web is the dates are for places much further North! The dates will be wrong for us.
But the info is still good, just don't out expecting to see the activity when they say...
Last Sunday, I saw a BUNCH of bucks still buddied up here in N. Texas...
That may change by Sat, who knows -- certainly not me!!!
I have only drawn on 2 deer my entire life (both last Sunday) and haven't sent forth an arrow yet!

[Mudshack]

I have only drawn on 2 deer my entire life (both last Sunday) and haven't sent forth an arrow yet!

You are more seasoned than me. Only my shoot through netting has felt the stare of my Hoyt at full draw.

[aggie2000tx]

I think ya'll are just trying to make hunting more difficult than it needs to be. My suggestion would be to find a good location and just sit there and not make any noise. Rattling works but only certain times of the year.

[bdchorn]

I'm new here, but a relatively old hand at bow hunting (12 years). Just wanted to say how much I wish I had a site like this to go to when I started. Fortunately I had good friends that pointed me in the right direction, and all too often followed me down the wrong path only to learn together. My experience is the draw is 90% of the battle and there are simply no shortcuts to becoming an effective bow hunter and outdoorsman. The good news is the learning is the best part, and no matter how much you think you know, there's always more to learn. Trust me............I'm learning I don't know jack everyday, and absolutely loving every second of it.

I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see the excitement you guys bring to the table in the morn of what I'm sure will be a lifetime of hunting. Good luck to you both.

[rtarcher]

I have both rattled in and grunted in deer. The rattling works hit or miss,
but only after you notice the bucks starting to break up their batchelor
groups. The grunting I have done, aside from on the porcelain, has produced
bucks when I've seen them previously, and doe deer from seemingly nowhere.
Trial and error. Get in the woods, and use that chart as a general guide line.

Good luck,

Todd

[b0whunter]

I started bowhunting back in the late '80s and had to learn everything the hard way. I did not know anyone else who even owned a bow. All of my hunting was done from the ground, stillhunting. I got close enough to get a shot at only 2 deer, and made bad shoulder hits on both of them. They ran off with my arrows only penetrating a couple of inches. I went off in the Army and kind of got away from hunting, due to lack of opportunity. I started rifle hunting again after I got out in 1998, but college took up most of my time, so I only went once or twice a year. I finished college, and took a job in Central Texas in June, 2005. I bought a new bow, to replace the old Bear White Tail II that I bought in the '80s, and got to hunt twice with it last year.

This year, I have a place to hunt that is close to home, so I spend every minute that I can hunting. So far this season, I have taken my first deer with a bow (a doe), and my first bow killed buck. Tasting my first success with a bow this season has been fantastic, but I think the best times that I have ever spent hunting were as a kid, stillhunting along that creek. Hunting is a life-long learning experience that I don't know if you can ever really MASTER, but it sure is fun trying. The most important thing to remember is to have fun while you are learning! Successes will come, and you will never forget them, but your fondest memories will be of the journey.

Just my two cents,
b0whunter

[Mudshack]

Well, I have been hunting with a rifle for over 20 years. And in Pennsylvania, the season is AFTER the rut, after bow season, after muzzelloader, after bear, after thanksgiving break........What I am saying is...the deer are spooked and scents and calling has never been a part of my arsenal. Last fall I took a PRIMOS can call and a grunt tube, no less than 15 min. after my first series of calls (2 can calls, followed by 2 grunts) a coyote came trotting in (first coyote I have EVER seen in the woods). 30 min later, I did the same routine and less than 15 min went by and a big bodied basket rack nearly stepped on me! He was so interested that even though he knew something wasn't right, he circled from behind me around to my shooting side, and boom. Dead deer.

I don't think it was coincidence. And I have seen deer react to calls on TV....unedited TV.

I believe calling works. I am just new to it, and new to hunting Texas. AND new to hunting during the rut.

[orion]

i use the true talker. i sometimes call pretty agreesivelly. I will let out a series of grunts or bleats every 10minutes. other times i may only call every 30 minutes. I like to use scents with calling; estrous and/or dominant buck.

i have never used the rattling technique. I am about to buy a carry lite decoy. i have been real curiuos about decoys and think i am going to give it a try. i have heard mixed reviews, but i am rather adventurous and like to try new stuff.

[Mudshack]

One guy on the lease used a decoy and watched 15 doe start to cross the dirt road 100 yards away. They stopped and started walking right towards the decoy. Go to within 5 yards of it. He is hooked.

[orion]

mudshack- i have heard stories like that. which is why i want to give it a go.

i have also heard stories of a dominant buck coming in a attacking the decoy. i would love to see that.

[Rishnik]

Mudshack - Calling does work when it is done correctly and at the right time of the season, which will vary in different regions of Texas. Where I hunt in East Texas, I have had a much better response from bucks when grunting. Rattling has not provided much results in East Texas. The opposite is true during December in South Texas. Rattling is one of the most exhilarating hunting experiences when done at the right time of the season in South Texas. Anyway, my advise would be to keep researching and keep trying. Good luck to you!!

[huntinfool]

For a hands down best to use call I'd suggest the Grunt call. Most times it will not scare a deer, unless it is a youngster and your giving him a big buck grunt. I really like the esterous doe can calls. Even if the does are not "in" yet the bucks don't know it yet. I have had a buck walk in on me and I had not seen him. I was in a ladder stand and I stood up to stretch. He caught my movement and walked away. I quickly pulled out my can call and turned it over 3 times. The buck turned around and walked into the feeder and passed directly under my stand. I shot him a short time later. He came directly in and I never would have gotten him with out the call.