[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/calling-and-rattling-when-to-do-it\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/calling-and-rattling-when-to-do-it\/","headline":"Calling and Rattling: When To Do It","name":"Calling and Rattling: When To Do It","description":"Get expert tips on hunting with the different types of deer calls, including grunting, bleating, wheezing, and snorting \u2013 and when to use each one.","datePublished":"2016-11-01","dateModified":"2019-01-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/DSC3044-e1478019652980.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/DSC3044-e1478019652980.jpg","height":842,"width":1249},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/calling-and-rattling-when-to-do-it\/","about":["Hunting"],"wordCount":1742,"keywords":["Hunting","Hunting Strategy","Tips"],"articleBody":"Calling has revolutionized the way I hunt whitetails and increased my success immensely.\u00a0 When I began calling deer, I only used antlers.\u00a0 Though there were successes, it wasn\u2019t until I began using a grunt tube, alone and in conjunction with antlers that my success at luring deer close increased significantly.\u00a0 During the last 20 years, I\u2019ve discovered that deer are more responsive to a call than anything else.\u00a0 For this reason my grunt tube goes with me whether I\u2019m hunting with gun, bow, or camera.\u00a0 Regardless of where I hunt in North America, I find that for every buck I rattle in, up to 20 will respond to grunting, bleating, and wheezing.Whether you are a novice or seasoned veteran, it\u2019s important to realize that you don\u2019t need to know how to make every vocalization a whitetail is able to make.\u00a0 Researchers have isolated between 200 and 400 different sounds deer make (depending on which research you look at).\u00a0 You do not have to know them all.\u00a0 There are four basic sounds (with variations) that whitetails make: bleat, grunt, wheeze, and snort.\u00a0 Master these and you will be amazed by how many bucks you can call within shooting range.My favorite calls are the bleat, fawn bleat, basic grunt, trailing grunt, tending grunt, wheeze and aggressive snort.amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit0\";amzn_assoc_search_bar = \"true\";amzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"livinglegen05-20\";amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";amzn_assoc_region = \"US\";amzn_assoc_title = \"Deer Calling\";amzn_assoc_linkid = \"ae7c57fdf6064a88ed3611cb5c96359a\";amzn_assoc_asins = \"B000JVQRM0,B0756BXDTX,B00363V3OK,B0000AW0DR\";CallingBleat:\u00a0 I find the bleat to be a good locator\/coaxing call much like a turkey yelp.\u00a0 I often use the bleat a couple of times just before and after I do a rattling sequence.\u00a0 I\u2019ll also use it when the action is slow and I haven\u2019t seen deer in a while.\u00a0 Basically it sounds like neeeeaaah.\u00a0 A bleat is easy to learn on most grunt tubes and a no-brainer if you have one of the gravity bleat cans that are very popular.\u00a0 These canisters have holes in the top of them and when tipped upside down make a whitetail bleat.Fawn Bleat:\u00a0 The fawn bleat is very similar to the bleat, but the major difference is that it is high pitched, like you would expect for a young animal.\u00a0 The fawn bleat is a phenomenal call for photographers who hunt whitetails throughout the year and for the late season deer hunters.\u00a0 I\u2019ve called countless does and bucks within camera range during the summer months using this call.\u00a0 During this time of the year nearly all adult deer will be on high alert when they respond.\u00a0 When used during the autumn months the fawn bleat is an excellent locator call.\u00a0 Bucks that hear it will often come to check it out because they know there must be a doe in the area.Basic Grunt:\u00a0 Grunting is the vocalization of choice for whitetails.\u00a0 Bucks, does and fawns grunt.\u00a0 When it comes to the grunting sound that deer make it should be noted that all grunts do not sound the same because of each deer\u2019s physical difference.\u00a0 No two deer will sound exactly the same.\u00a0 I\u2019ve learned this through in-the-field experience from 25 years of raising whitetails to study their behavior.\u00a0 By way of example, while in my deer enclosure, out of sight of a deer that is grunting, I\u2019ve been able to know which buck is grunting.The tone of the grunt will often depend on the maturity level of the buck.\u00a0 Older bucks have a lot of bass in their voice, meaning their grunts sound very guttural.\u00a0 For the most part I will not use a deep-throated guttural grunt unless I know I\u2019m communicating with a mature buck.\u00a0 If you try using such a grunt on a yearling or 2 \u00bd year old buck there is a distinct possibility that he\u2019ll turn tail and flee. Unless I can identify the buck\u2019s size, or know from the grunting sound that it\u2019s a mature buck, I\u2019ll give off one to four medium-tone grunts.If I\u2019m on stand and hear a buck grunt, but can\u2019t see him, I\u2019ll immediately grunt back.\u00a0 If the buck is not with a doe he\u2019ll usually come looking for the deer that made the sound.\u00a0 The key is to never be tentative when a buck grunts first.Trailing Grunt:\u00a0 The trailing grunt is a short grunt that bucks make when traveling through the woods or when around other deer.\u00a0 It\u2019s not uncommon for a rut-crazed buck to make a short grunt every 1 to 10 steps if he\u2019s in the right mood.\u00a0 If I see a buck walking through the woods, I\u2019ll use this grunt to stop him and to coax him in my direction.\u00a0 This is also a call I use when no deer are in sight.\u00a0 If a buck is sexually active but not with a doe, there is a good chance he\u2019ll respond to a grunt.Tending Grunt:\u00a0 The tending grunt can be a lethal weapon if used properly.\u00a0 When a buck is with a hot doe and is either frustrated by her rejection or is interrupted by another buck, he\u2019ll make a grunt that has a ticking cadence.\u00a0 If I\u2019m hunting in thick cover during the rut and a buck walks within sight of the stand, I\u2019ll use a tending grunt to bring him within range.\u00a0 This is a great call to use when bucks are on the move and the rut is boiling over.A buck tends a doeWheeze:\u00a0 The wheeze is an aggressive sound that bucks make when they are irritated by the presence of other bucks.\u00a0 There are times that a buck will grunt or snort before wheezing, but more often than not, they will only wheeze.\u00a0 There are a number of commercial calls on the market that can make the wheeze.\u00a0 I make the wheeze naturally and use it often during the rut when I see a buck on the move.\u00a0 The key is to make it loud enough to get the buck\u2019s attention.\u00a0 Making a loud wheeze just before rattling can be lethal.Aggressive-snort:\u00a0 The aggressive-snort will put whitetails on high alert.\u00a0 In spite of this there are times to consider using it.\u00a0 When breeding parties form (when more than one buck is trying to breed the same doe) aggressive snorting often takes place by bucks attempting to intimidate each other.\u00a0 Often when I\u2019m doing a rattling sequence I\u2019ll make two to three snorts while I\u2019m clashing the antlers together.\u00a0 This is not a call you want to use often, but during the chase and breeding phases of the rut it can be worth your time to use it while rattling.\u00a0 Use sparingly and with caution.If a whitetail buck is with a doe, especially an estrus doe, he will be very hard (if not impossible) to call within range.\u00a0 The wheeze, or a soft snort followed immediately by a loud wheeze is about the only way I\u2019ve succeeded in doing so.\u00a0 A buck that leaves an estrous doe for this aggressive tactic will be looking for a fight when he comes to the sound.You might have to crank up the volume of your calling if you’ve got a buck hot after a doe.RattlingWhen I rattle I do it aggressively for roughly one minute.\u00a0 Few fights I\u2019ve witnessed during the rut have lasted longer, so I keep it short and loud and make it as aggressive as possible.\u00a0 Should you see a buck at long range don\u2019t be afraid to rattle loud to get his attention.\u00a0 If he responds and heads in your direction stop rattling and think of using your deer call once he\u2019s close enough to hear the call\u2019s vocalizations.Don\u2019t over-rattle; rather, space the rattling sequences about 40-45 minutes apart.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also found that rattling during the two-hour period either side of darkness works best.\u00a0 However, don\u2019t rule out midday.When rattling, try to do it in the thickest cover possible, especially if you\u2019re bow hunting.\u00a0 When a buck responds to antlers he may approach on a dead run, a trot, or cautiously.\u00a0 However, don\u2019t be surprised if it takes up to 10 or more minutes for a buck to come within view.\u00a0 The key is to be ready for action as soon as you are finished rattling.Importance of Doe:Buck RatiosThe success rate for calling and rattling will depend on the quality of the deer herd where you are hunting.\u00a0 If the herd is fine-tuned, meaning the adult-doe-to-antlered-buck ratio is not greater than 2 to 1 and there are mature bucks in the population, calling and rattling will work well.\u00a0 If the area\u2019s sex ratio is skewed heavily toward does with mostly yearling bucks,Call rattling will seldom work."},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/calling-and-rattling-when-to-do-it\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Calling and Rattling: When To Do It"}}]}]