Knowing a few key “words” can help attract that deer to you.

The female stood just out of range of the bow and also protected by a web of branches that could easily deflect the arrow. She had to go outside, but she showed no signs of it. Something had to be done, so I picked up the phone and burped briefly. She immediately responded in the same way, and a couple more calls from me coaxed her into the open and within range.

We humans tend to place too much importance on vocalizations because they are our primary means of communication. Deer use scents and body language much more often, but also vocalize. It may be a subtle but complex vocabulary, but you don’t have to master it to be successful. Much like communicating with visitors from overseas, knowing a few words and phrases can sometimes get the message across and turn the tide in your favor.

Let’s start with the basic greeting grunt, which is mentioned in the opening passage. It’s sort of the whitetail version of saying “hey” or “how are you?” It could simply be one deer alerting another to its presence. I hear this most often from does when the fawns are nearby but out of their sight; so it can also be a reminder: “Mom is here; Don’t worry.” Or it could be a gentle retort: ​​”Don’t go.” However, it may coax the deer to come closer.

When using a particular vocalization, hunters must remember that the effect is usually not as sudden or dramatic as desired. The analogy I use is: I walk into a crowded room and see someone I know on the other side. You both will get to know each other, but it may take a while to wade through the crowd before you actually meet.

Another popular use of call hunters is bleating, which is most often imitated by the ringing of a can. It is used interchangeably to refer to either a hot doe or a lost fawn. I’ve had modest success with does early in the season, but have never hooked a deer with them, although I know other hunters who have claimed to do so. In most cases it won’t hurt, so why not try it? You never know how a deer will react.

Rattling is not a vocalization, but is a form of calling. Hunters who watch a lot of TV and outdoor video tend to overestimate its effectiveness and then get upset when it doesn’t work for them. Remember, these video hunters have reduced hours, and maybe even days, of hunting into a few moments. Most often, rattling does not help. When this happens, it can be exciting.

Researchers in Texas conducted a study on how deer react to rumbling noises and found some eye-opening results. Firstly, the reaction was better in the morning. Secondly, deer tended to approach the sound cautiously, sometimes circling downwind and simply out of sight. A single rattle can work, but if you can team up with someone and position the shooter downwind, you could shoot a deer the rattler has never seen.

Another piece of advice I can give is: don’t give up too early. I usually get one of two reactions. Sometimes deer will come running or trotting right towards you. More often they come after five or even 10 minutes, slowly, carefully or carelessly. In the latter case, this may not happen until the third or fourth roar. There are no rules for how long you should wait between screens, but 15-20 minutes is a good guide.

There is another sound that should be very familiar to all deer hunters. Sometimes this is called “blat”. This one is not used to attract a deer, but to stop it. Shooting a moving deer rarely goes well, especially for a bowhunter. But if you can stop a deer with a loud sound, you’ll have a better chance of getting the shot. Unlike yelling or whistling, it is more natural to deer, so they are more likely to stop rather than rush towards the sound.

These are the basics; something like “hello, goodbye, please and thank you.” Over time and experience, you will learn more vocabulary and syntax, forming complete sentences and even paragraphs, painting a picture of your voice. A grunt followed by a snort-wheeze and then some sort of grunting describes a stag chasing a doe and then meeting, challenging and fighting a rival suitor. This may or may not attract Ole Mossi Horn. You never know; but I think that’s part of the problem.

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

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