How to Use a Grunt Call for Deer: When and How to Grunt

How to use a grunt call for deer? Start soft, call sparingly and time it right: a few short, low grunts every 20 to 30 minutes, mostly during the pre-rut and rut, with the wind in your favor and your bow or gun ready. Grunt louder only if a buck does not hear you, and stop calling once he is coming your way.

Below we cover the types of deer grunts, when to grunt, a simple calling sequence and the most common mistakes. Getting ready for deer camp? Check out our American flag hunting shirts.

What does a grunt call do?

Houndstooth Game Calls explains that a grunt call "mimics the vocal sounds bucks make to communicate, mainly short, guttural grunts used during the rut to assert dominance or locate does" (Houndstooth Game Calls). Used well, it makes a buck curious, or convinces him another buck is in his area.

Deer make many more sounds than most hunters realize. Outdoor Life notes a University of Georgia study in which "approximately 400 different whitetail vocalizations were identified and recorded in a captive deer herd and categorized into 12 different types of calls" (Outdoor Life).

Types of deer grunts

• Doe and yearling grunt: Outdoor Life describes these as sounding "like someone burping (grrrunt)" and "generally short or medium in length and soft to moderate in volume." Deer often use them as a locator call.
• Tending grunt: short, rapid grunts a buck makes while following a doe. Houndstooth suggests them when a buck is locked on a doe and ignoring basic calls.
• Bleat: not a grunt, but often paired with one. Outdoor Life calls the bleat "one of the most versatile calls a hunter can use" and says it "works well from September through January."

When to use a grunt call for deer

Houndstooth's timing advice: "The best time to grunt is during the pre-rut and rut. Early in the season, bucks may ignore you. After the rut, they're usually worn down and less aggressive." In early season, a grunt or two at a passing deer can still work if you only want to spark his curiosity.

Calling also works best when:

• You can see a buck that is moving away or past you out of range.
• Action has been slow for a while and you want to try a few "blind" grunts.
• The wind is right and you have cover, so an approaching buck cannot smell or spot you first.

How to use a grunt call for deer, step by step

1. Set up for the wind. Houndstooth warns that "Grunting with bad wind or no cover is a good way to educate deer."
2. Start soft. "Most beginners blow too loud. Start with low-volume grunts and increase if you don't get a response."
3. Use a natural cadence. Try "grunt… pause… grunt-grunt… long pause" instead of nonstop calling.
4. Do not over-call. "One to three short grunts every 20 to 30 minutes is plenty."
5. Add realism. Rake leaves with your boot or snap a twig before or after calling, and point the tube slightly left or right so the sound is harder to pinpoint.
6. Be ready. Always have your weapon ready when you call; bucks can come in fast and quietly.

How far can a deer hear a grunt call?

Distance depends on wind, terrain and how loudly you call, so there is no single number. What the sources agree on is that deer hear very well: Houndstooth says "Deer have incredible hearing. You don't need to blast the woods." For a louder sound that carries, Outdoor Life's contributor says he bleats loudly "so that the sound will project at least 100 yards in every direction."

Should you bleat or grunt first?

There is no fixed rule; it depends on what you see. If you see a buck, a grunt to stop or turn him is the usual choice. If nothing is moving, Outdoor Life's contributor uses a couple of bleats "to see if I can attract a buck that might be within earshot," and he also adds two or three bleats before and after a rattling sequence.

Common grunt call mistakes

• Calling too often or too loudly, especially on calm days.
• Calling with the wind blowing your scent toward where the buck will approach.
• Calling at a buck that is already coming. Let him keep walking.
• Not being ready to shoot when the buck shows up.

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FAQ

How do you properly use a grunt call for deer?

Set up with good wind and cover, start with soft, short grunts, use a natural cadence and call only one to three times every 20 to 30 minutes. Stop once a buck is coming.

When is the best time to use a grunt call?

The pre-rut and rut are the most productive times. Early-season bucks may ignore calls, and post-rut bucks are often less aggressive.

How far away can a deer hear a grunt call?

It varies with wind, terrain and volume. Deer have excellent hearing, so start soft and only call louder if a buck does not react.

Should you bleat or grunt first?

Grunt when you see a buck you want to stop or turn. Bleats are often used for blind calling or before and after rattling when no deer are in sight.