Whitetail deer are the most hunted big game animal in North America. Getting to know these animals in depth will put you ahead of the competition. One way to do this is by recognizing deer sounds.
Whitetail use a range of sounds to communicate with each other. They do this for mating, danger, or for company. If you learn to recognize these sounds while out in the woods, it will surely increase your hunting game.
Grunts
The most common sound you will hear in the woods from a deer is grunting. Whitetail deer grunt for a variety of reasons. Both bucks and does use grunts for communication. The more commonly recognized grunts are a tending grunt, Doe grunt, and rutting grunts.
Social Grunts
Bucks use this to announce their presence to other deer. It’s also known as a contact grunt.
Doe Grunt
The maternal grunt, also known as a doe grunt, is used to locate her family. It’s a does way of telling its fawn to come over. It’s a soft call so as not to be aggressive.
Buck Grunt
A buck grunt is the same as a doe grunt but in a deeper tone. As the buck gets older, the tone will get deeper.
Tending Grunt
Tending grunts are the sounds that get every whitetail hunter excited. Bucks use these grunts while trailing does. They use this grunt to ask the doe to stop so they can breed.
Rage Grunt
Once the doe stops running but is still not ready to let the buck breed, the buck will make what’s known as a rage grunt. He makes this sound out of frustration.
Bleats
Estrus Bleat
When a doe is ready to mate or getting close to mating, she will generally make what is known as an estrus bleat. This is a loud, long bleat.
Buck Bawl
The buck bawl is essentially a series of buck bleats. Bucks will usually make this sound when they are feeling lonely and would like some company.
Aggressive sounds
Snort
You can usually hear this deer sound during rut and pre-rut. Bucks will use this sound to intimidate other deer and try to get them to leave the area.
Wheeze
The wheeze is another sound associated with the rut. Similar to a snort, this sound is also used to scare off other contending bucks.
Sparring
This is a play fight that bucks partake in soon after shedding their velvet. It’s an opportunity for bucks to assert dominance and see who’s the better scrapper. However, the jury is still out on whether or not this prevents serious fights in the future.
Calling
Now that we know these calls, we not only know what’s going on around us in the woods, but we can also using them to our advantage. By learning to mimic these calls a hunter can have great success bringing a buck in to gun or even bow range. Below is a few of our favorite calls:
Primos Hardwood Grunter Deer Call
- Mastering the art guide to calling deer DVD
- Hardwood grunter
- The original can
- Hardwood Grunter
- THE Original CAN
- Mastering The Art Guide to Calling Deer
A top call by a top company. Primos have been leading the call game for a while now, and it’s calls like this Grunter that keep them at the top.
This call features a mixture of both a hardwood barrel and a flexible grunt tube. Capable to produce different grunts and bleats with the use of the adjustable reed assembly.
Primos Original The Can Estrus Bleats Deer Call
- Estrus bleats tell bucks that a doe is ready to breed
- Raised thumb Hole locator for a insured seal and consistent sound
- Number 1 Deer call of all time
- Trust the Brand that others in the field use and dont settle for le
If you only ever use one estrus bleat call, let it be this one. Calling doesn’t get any simpler than using this calling can. Simply cover the hole on the bottom of the can with your thumb and tilt the can, it’s that easy. Not only is it simple to use, but it also comes with the known Primos quality.
Flextone Headhunter’s Extractor Deer Call
- X-Glide Slide Adjustment for variable tones
- Loud Snort Wheezes
- Rubber hose for variable tones
- Freeze resistant design
- Comes with nylon lany
This call by Flextone is a little more than a one trick pony. If you need to make use of various calls but don’t fancy lugging around multiple callers then you need this one.
This Flextone is capable of most types of calls you need to get a big buck within range. From fawn bawls to social grunts, to snorts, wheezes, and doe bleats, the Headhunter Extractor call does them all.
It takes a little practice to use this call, but the sliding system quickly helps you find your style and favorite call.
Primos Big Bucks Rattle Bag
- 100 percent designed and tested for the toughest situations and environments
- Two sets of Power Tines create the sounds of two different sized bucks competing for the same territory
- Power Tines with new Tone Holes for super loud rattling
- New camonet bag increases volume and flexibility
- 100% WATERPR
No deer call list would be complete without rattling calls. Yet another one from Primos, this rattling bag is simple to use and easy to carry around. There are other types of rattles on the market, even more from Primos, but I find this bag to be the most convenient.
This call creates the sound of two different size bucks fighting by using two sets of power tines. The added feature of tone holes allows for loud rattling. Did we mention it’s also waterproof?
Summary
We hope this article serves you well and helps you succeed in getting that big buck. There’s nothing more thrilling than calling a big buck within range. By learning to recognize deer sounds your giving yourself a huge advantage in the woods. Putting them sounds to good use by using some of the calls we mentioned increase that advantage ten fold and is a remarkable experience.