Hey deer, come over here

If more deer knew the old English proverb, “Curiosity killed the cat”, a few more might survive each hunting season.

Deer are not only very social animals; they have an inquisitive nature that can lead them right into the net of an anxious hunter. By using familiar calls, hunters can draw bucks into range with little effort.

Deer communicate through a variety of methods, using all of their sensory organs. While smells and sights typically trigger an instant response, auditory stimuli in whitetails is less definitive and normally less decisive. Deer will investigate sounds when vaguely familiar more than many other act of curiosity.

Veteran bowhunter Ben Lecroy will not hesitate to use a sequence of grunts or bleats to draw a big buck into range.

“I have taken several good bucks with a bleat call that I wouldn’t have taken without it. I will rarely leave camp without a bleat and grunt call in hand,” he said.

But Lecroy will not always use a call when a big buck is in view; it depends on the situation.

“If I catch a buck alone cruising, I will not hesitate to use a sequence of grunts and or bleats to get a feel for his demeanor,” he said. “I once bleated a buck in over 100 yards to where I shot him at 7 yards with a bleat can, and I bet I called at him 30 times until he got within bow range.”

Cruising bucks during the rut are out looking for mates and nothing else. When a buck is alone, he will respond to a doe bleat and should also respond to a grunt because another buck around could indicate a receptive doe is close by.

Hunters must be careful when using calls, however. Deer have an excellent ability to pinpoint sound by using their large ears.

“I never call when the buck is facing me or standing totally still; they can pick you off in a skinny minute,” he said. “I usually call when they are walking, and once they stop and start walking again, I call again,” he says.

While calling may not always bring the bucks into range, calling rarely will alarm deer unless they are able to pick the hunters out because of an ill-timed call.