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I have hunted deer all of my life and have had success with a grunt call. I have gotten some response from both does and bucks. But I wondered if I have had more missed opportunities by blowing it at the wrong time. Just curious on what everyone's opinion is about deer calls and do people that kill "Big Bucks" use them.

I've had lots of success with grunt calls on deer, but I only use them when I see a buck and want to get him closer or hear one. This also has something to do with me bow hunting 99% of the time, so often I need to get them from 100 yards to 30....

But for your question, I don't think you can hurt anything by using one sparingly as long as you're not hail calling on the thing. When you observe bucks this time of the year, seems they're always grunting.

I call about every 30 minutes, I will also use the can with the grunt call. If I see a deer and he is to far out I will use the grunt and try to get him closer. I have never scared a deer using the grunt but I have scared the sheet out of small deer using buck scent. Be careful using the can around cows for some resaon they think its a calf and I have had my ace put in the dirt by one.

I am with chopper on this one, use it sparingly.

I mostly use it if the hunt is nearly over or if i see the deer. I have had alot of success with grunt calls. i also dont believe it spooks many deer. I think most deer just brush it off

not bragging just proving my opinion... I got lots of nice deer on the wall and i can't honestly say that i have ever had a positive experience with a grunt call. ever.

my experience is 90% of the time they work is when you can see the deer....

until last week, I would have said use a grunt call, but use it sparingly. Now, I'm not gonna use one unless its a last ditch effort to get a deer in range. I was bow hunting last week and tried to grunt in a deer. I grunted and the thing took off. Didn't look up to see what it was, just tuck tailed and ran. and I know it was in direct response to the call. It was weird...

i have had plenty of deer do absolutely nothing, bucks and does, when i have blown a grunt. and i know that they heard me. and i also have had lots leave the area when i have blown a grunt. some in a hurry. i just have never gotten a response that would (in my mind) would leave me to believe that the grunt call worked.

I'll hit the grunt call or turn over a can call before getting out of the stand just in case one is close by and I can't see it then wait 30 or so minutes before leaving. The way I see it is if you're calling and one hears it when the deer moves towards you then they'll be searching for the source of the sound, this puts a premium on being still in the stand. As oppossed to when one walks through unsuspecting, and you are just waiting to take a sniper shot.

I hit a grunt walking in to the stand every 75 -100 yds just to ease any spooks in case they hear me walking. Roll a can 1-3 times every hr. As for a buck response if u are hittin and deep grunt and it is not the dominate buck or a s,all buck in the area lots of time it will leave not wanting to get his booty kicked. Its a 50/50 on calls but definate on the walk in.

depends on your location. I just got back from illinois and I called in several bucks that came in specifically to chec out the grunting. I do not think it works as well here due to deer ratios. I will say this if you see a deer and grunt and lets say you are on a field edge and the deer can not see another deer then chances are it may spook. I try to do my calling from a location where the deer have to get close to check it out before the can see it. once they can see that there is no deer where the sound is coming from its goodnight Irene, see ya later.

LawDawg wrote:until last week, I would have said use a grunt call, but use it sparingly. Now, I'm not gonna use one unless its a last ditch effort to get a deer in range. I was bow hunting last week and tried to grunt in a deer. I grunted and the thing took off. Didn't look up to see what it was, just tuck tailed and ran. and I know it was in direct response to the call. It was weird...

Can you say booty whoopin