Skip to main content

Build Your Whitetail Vocabulary

Build Your Whitetail Vocabulary

Learning and using whitetail vocalizations can be key to a successful season.

Panic. That's all I felt when the heavy antlered ten-pointer turned down the trail heading away from me. My chest tightened. This isn't what was supposed to happen. I had to do something. I had to make some noise.

As I do every time before I call to a deer, I subconsciously analyzed the situation - the time of year, the deer's behavior and umpteen other factors — and came to a decision on the right vocalization to throw at the big buck walking out of my life. Luckily, I made the right decision, and seconds later he turned back towards me.

Situations like this occur across the country thousands of times every year. A need to bring a deer in closer arises and a hunter is left with a series of important choices that can make or break his hunt — what call to use, how to use that call, how many times to use it and so on.

That said, having a thorough understanding of whitetail vocabulary and how to apply different sounds to different situations is an absolute must-have for the serious deer hunter. Here's the low-down on five such calling methods that you'll want to have in your repertoire this fall.

Contact Grunt

A contact grunt is one of the most basic vocalizations you can use when calling to a buck and for that reason it should be a frequently used tool in your kit.

When making a contact grunt, you're trying to replicate a simple sound that bucks frequently use — a basic "burrrrrp" type sound, which can be made with most grunt tubes.

This is a low risk sound, as bucks are used to hearing it, but often times in can pique their curiosity and draw them in closer to see what other buck might be in the area.

The Extractor's X-Glide system allows you to create different noises such as a doe or fawn bleat.

If I see a buck passing out of range, no matter the time of year, this is usually the first call I try. Typically I'll call once, watch his reaction, and if he does not react, I'll try one more time. If he does start coming your way though, and this is applicable to just about any calling situation, don't keep calling. Quit while you're ahead.

Recommended


Tending Grunt

A tending grunt is one typically used during the rutting phases, as this simulates the noises a buck makes when following closely behind a doe he's hoping to breed.

By replicating these noises, you may be able to attract another buck looking to steal the doe that he thinks you're chasing.

The Flextone Tine Teaser is a perfect tool for creating realistic contact and tending grunts.

That said, if a contact grunt doesn't work and the rut is on, you might want to give this calling sequence a try. To perform a tending grunt, use your grunt tube to make a repeating series of short "burrp, burrp, burrp, burrp" noises.

Snort Wheeze

When contact or tending grunts don't work for me, and if the timing is right, a snort wheeze is my next call of choice. This is the Hail Mary of deer calls, as it's very high risk/high reward and should only be used in certain situations. The proper time of year for this call is the rut, when bucks are competing for females, hopped up on testosterone, and looking for a fight.

The author with the buck that responded to vocalization.

This is a very aggressive noise that essentially acts as a challenge to other bucks, so typically this call should only be used on bucks that seem relatively mature, as those are the most likely deer to be interested in picking a fight. If you try this on a younger or non-dominant buck, it's likely he'll tuck tail and take off.

To make a snort wheeze, if your grunt tube has a snort-wheeze chamber or funnel, forcefully blow "tfft, tfft, tfffffffffffff" as loud as you can into that chamber. This will typically stop a buck in his tracks and if he's the aggressive type, there's a decent chance he'll come strutting in and ready to rumble.

Estrus Bleat

In some situations a grunt just won't do the trick and that's when a bleat comes in handy. The most common bleat used is an estrous bleat, which replicates the sounds a doe makes when ready to breed.

If your grunt tube has a estrous option, make the switch, and then produce a whining "meaahhhhhha" noise several times. This call is best used during the rut, when bucks are on the prowl for a female who's ready for his advances.

Another bleating option to keep in your back pocket is a fawn bleat, which is typically a little higher pitched and attempts to mimic a fawn in distress. This call is a great way to call in a doe close to your set-up.

Rattling

While not necessarily a deer vocalization, rattling is certainly another noise that bucks will respond to. During the rut phases, if you're in an area with a relatively high number of bucks, rattling can be a sure-fire way to attract a deer's attention.

Use rattling antlers, real or synthetic, to create a 30-60 second long rattling session that mimics the sound of two bucks sparring.

If you're in an area with large numbers of mature bucks, very loud and aggressive rattling can be the ticket. On the other hand, if you're in a more pressured region with a younger buck age structure, you may want to tone things down and keep it to lighter sparring.

Be warned though, when responding to rattling (or any calling sequence), bucks will typically try to circle down wind of the sound before approaching.

If possible, set-up in an area that will keep bucks from being able to get completely downwind of you in this scenario, otherwise you're likely to get winded.

Conclusion

If these calling techniques aren't already part of your whitetail vocabulary, practice a little this off-season, and then give them a shot in the fall.

When you're finally able to put them into action, you too might experience that same feeling I did after the heavy horned buck walked on a string to 20 yards.

When the arrowed passed behind his shoulder, it wasn't panic I felt anymore, but instead, joy.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Team NAW Tests Taurus' Raging Hunter on Texas Axis Bucks!

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Winchester's Continued Legacy: The .400 Legend

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Savage Unveils New Line of Popular Axis Hunting Rifles

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Browning's Brand-New X-bolt 2 Hunting Rifle

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Ripcord Arrow Rests Rejuvenates Lineup with Three New Models

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Don't Sleep on Conventional Trail Cameras

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Browning Trail Cameras Announces Cellular Innovation for 2024

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

ATA 2024 Core SR First Look from Bowtech

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Browning OVIX Camo: Ultimate Concealment for Any Time, Any Place

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Air Venturi Avenge-X Classic PCP Air Rifle Reviewed

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Primos Edge Carbon Fiber Tripod Shooting Sticks

Danny Farris puts his Browning OVIX camouflage to use in the rocky terrain of Texas.
Gear

Bowhunting Aoudad in Texas with Browning OVIX Camo

North American Whitetail Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the North American Whitetail App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use