I hunted over a bait pile for my first eight years of hunting from 9 to 17 I never seen a single deer. One day I decided I’m not hunting this way anymore so I started walking and climbing trees and I would spot a deer hundreds of yards away and then I would see how close I could stalk up on it. That’s how I killed my first deer it was hard, but it worked so then I started getting smarter. I discovered that deer trails are pretty much like highways for deer if you can find their main trail then all these other little roads branch off of it. That’s how I got my second deer, then from there I just kept thinking and using different tactics figuring out what worked what wouldn’t work now I use a combination of watching their heavy trails, stalking, and calling, calling usually does not work out too great but every now and then you get lucky. Last year I took my daughter out October 1 opening day of archery in Michigan. We sat in an area where I knew there was usually pretty good activity the year before I hadn’t scoped it out this year. We seen three deer walk almost the same exact path hundred yards away, so we packed up and got within 30 yards 20 minutes later a buck walked out 45 yards away. I said don’t shoot. It’s too far then I hear waaaathaaa I said Hailey girl that was too far you missed it. You should’ve went to the third dot down if you were going to shoot she said Dad, I went two and a half down and I smoked him. I watched him run 30 yards and was dead. Luckily, the two weeks prior I had been working on distances with her starting from 15 yards and going all the way out to 50 yards to teach her how an arrow drops and she knew exactly what mil dot and where I put that scope in that situation. She was 11 then and deer hunting is our thing now. I’ll never question her shot if she thinks she can smoke it I’ll never doubt her. Never hunt the way somebody teaches you never hunt the way somebody tells you how to you have to figure out what works best for you and the situation you are in and what you encounter in the woods in your area I hunt three different areas in Michigan and I do not hunt any of them the same.
First season bowhunting (second season hunting in general) and I've watched a lot of your videos these last few months to further my understanding of it all. I just took my first deer ever (7 point buck) on state land (Michigan) yesterday, hunting from the ground without a blind, no calls. We had a 20 point temp drop into the 30s, full moon, and rain 2 days leading up to the morning of the hunt. What an experience to say the least. Going into each scout/sit, I've utilized a lot of your methods taught! Will definitely stay tuned to your channel!
I’ve found exactly what you said was very true. My favorite caller in thick brush is a turkey caller that masks my movements and deer favor areas with turkeys as they often will move together.
That's exactly how I was able to get into my stand and he set up by doing that coming in ..I knew the deer was on my plot and near by and a turkey call actually relaxed them enough to stay in my area until I made a kill later that morning..
Sorry to hear about your father, I am sure he was a great guy. Lost mine 10 years ago and I still think of him and miss him, hope that feeling never goes away. Been deer hunting 40+ years and only take a grunt tube and only use it when I see a buck when I'm sure he is bypassing me, and the old saying, never grunt when a deer is looking at you is painfully true!
Oh man, so true! I actually shot a video about my dad during that time...tough to do, but still hard to this day. Thank you...really means a lot to me!
I’ve been snort wheezed at once and snorted at by does quite a few times. I was once sitting against a tree and a fawn walked up 15’ from me and bedded down unknowingly staring right at me. It was inevitable I would have to move at some point and I didn’t want it to spook the buck in the next 2 hours when the sun went down. So I moved my arm, her ears and head went up, moved my arm again and off she went back to mum. 20 seconds later mum came charging through the woods, got close and let out a HELL OF A SNORT. hahaha
Good timing, Jeff, got my cup of coffee done and started on the bagel! Good morning fellow hunters! Side note on snort wheeze One evening i sneezed in stand and that spooked a doe i never knew was there. To save the sit, i immediately blew my grunt call. That made a huge buck stick his head up and do the "Predator" clicking noise. Super super aggressive. He never gave me a shot in the thick stuff but it was unreal to hear that noise come from a deer. I will never forget it.
I read about a guy who finally broke down and blew his nose, we’ve all heard the trumpet style lol but that’s all it took for an aggressive buck to meet his maker. I dunno but I wouldn’t recommend it lol
I gave all three of my kids when starting out: a bow, a stand or blind and a grunt call. I taught them to only use the grunt call on a buck that you don't think he is going to present a shot opportunity. I have over the years experimented with all but your advice here is spot on. I've scared the crap out of my fair share. LOL. It's better to just sit quietly and hope to not alert any of the deer's senses. If you do get lucky enough to get a deer to come to a call, he is doing so on high alert and his senses are working O.T.
Very good point on how “if you do get a buck to respond to your grunt he’s on HIGH ALERT!” And hence he’s watching every single leaf movement, and can hear a pin drop. Sometimes it does work out but I’ve been hunting for over 40 years now and I can honestly only think of maybe three times that it did work and everything fell into place. I just don’t use it anymore whatsoever. I just let them go and come back until the golden opportunity presents itself. I don’t use scents, calls, nothing. Just set up where they naturally are for the natural reason of the area!!
I just got a buck yesterday here in Connecticut. Passed in front of me about 70 yrds out. Went behind me heading to a field. I grunted Once and then I SHUT UP! He ate it up and came 20yds. First one for the season. Great channel I'm always learning something . Keep it up
Fresh cup of coffee, kids are fed and playing, time to relax and watch your awesome videos. They get me so pumped up for the early season coming on the 2nd!
Last season on Novemver 4th I used a doe bleat can. I could hear chasing and grunting over the Ridge from me. 1 turn of the estrus can brought my target buck within range and I was able to harvest my first every archery buck. Was an awesome moment!
I hunt eastern whitetails in MD...they are extremely hard to hunt.. especially big buck..the younger dumb one easy...they may come to rattling 1 out of 50 times...same with grunting....swirling winds around the Chesapeake bay make it tough
I got my trophy buck with a snort wheeze last year was really cool watching him March in it’s good/humbling to know that won’t work with every buck thank you
Solid info for those that haven’t had a lot of seat time hunting MI deer. It takes some restraint to not hunt like they do on TV, but how they hunt on TV does not work. Unless you go to southern Illinois or Iowa and then it’s just easy.
Jeff, what is the window for grunting where you’ll likely get a response? Obviously a mature buck is going to respond very differently November 1-19 than October 6 or January 7. What is that hot window when they really are much more likely to react to the Grunt call?
@@jonmarcos8488 It's typically the rut where calls work. Early to mid November, but no calling can be just as effective. I strongly suggest a bleat can.
I think it's ignorant to say oh go to southern IL then it's just easy lol. That's not the case at all. I'm in so. Illinois and I'm telling ya we can't just hunt like they do on TV
@@deanwienstroer8079 that may be the case for you not growing up hunting in MI, but for me I’ve hunted in southern Illinois 6 days in my lifetime and killed 3 wallhangers in 10 sits. It’s easy there for me.
THIS!!!Gotta like the topic Jeff,some of my most memorable hunts have involved calls. What you use and when you use it is most important.I have used a Doe bleat ,doe grunt in conjunction with a Fawn whine from Nov 7th until Nov 16th, over many years and have called many bucks in SE Michigan.Many times a buck grunt will frighten a buck away especially less than 3 YO's.It has worked for me,and i consider calls to be another tool to use.NEVER OVER CALL! SPOT ON!!!
This advice has really helped me a lot. I always bring a grunt call with me when I go hunting but only blow it once every 15 to 30 minutes or even an hour and I've had success bringing in bucks with it.
Does this work from the start of the season or only during the rut? See I take it with me from early season and grunt every 20-30 minutes. Idk if that's good or not?
There’s a lot of was to distribute scent from your stand;use a sling shot ,put scent pad on an old arrow,even a frisbee can be used to put scent out around your stand with out leaving your stand
Jeff, my 2020 buck, Slim, had the same personality as Venty in that he was very passive. 4 years of post season pics never showed a single broken tine. I never laid eyes on him until 4 days before I arrowed him on November 1st and he was dangerously close to getting my downwind so I grunted and he tucked tail and slipped away. It was key info I used when he appeared 4 days later and I was patient to let him make the mistake of turning in my direction vs forcing the issue.
I completely can attests to the situational nature of the “Snort-Wheeze” I once had a mature 4X4 buck come in escorting a doe and her fawn. The doe and fawn walked across a little field toward my blind to come to the feed site, the buck went straight through the trees for the food... I snort wheezed, and he IMMEDIATELY bristled up and marched his tail toward my blind because his doe and fawn were behind me. I let him walk. I knew there was a bigger buck (which I might add, I got him!) An extremely situational call, the snort-wheeze. Greetings from Saskatchewan Canada 🇨🇦
Perfect timing for this. I have been searching daily for information on early season calling. I have always left calls away until November. Great video, good luck hunting everyone!
Thanks for sharing. Some good information. I had an interesting experience once while I was ground hunting in a river bottom. I had a doe bleat "Can" and I made a couple of soft doe bleats and then put it away. Several minutes later, a squirrel, way off in the distance, started barking and whining. I knew something was up and I was on high alert. The rifle I had with me was resting on a bipod and was snugged up against my shoulder. It was a 45-70 loaded with a 405 grain lead bullet. As I was peering over the scope I caught some movement about 20 yards out. It was a Coyote that had heard the call and was sneaking in to get a chance at a meal. It was going to be his last supper. By the way, 45-70 is a great Coyote round. LOL
Great info. I agree with the "when" to use...even then you have to be cautious. I tell the people that come hunt my land, don't call from the box stand...because it's not a 360 view...only call from the open stand/tree stand...and that's after browsing the entire area. Now I just try to make sure I cover my scent in and out....I love this video. Still and quiet is the best advice I got on bucks. I grunt or bleat when I have a 360 degree view....and that's only sometimes. My best hunts have been getting in my stand, getting still and quiet. Last season, I was out specifically to do some doe management. Nothing on me, to attract or whatever, strictly just set up to get this one doe in particular. Like the camera's had shown, here she comes. She turns and gives me that perfect shot, I get on her, safety off....I hear leaves and branches to my right...Huge 11-point, got his eyes on that doe as well. she starts to make her way back across the field. Im in the woods, the buck doesnt cross the field but he walks the edge of the woods to circle, but crosses right in front of me. I drop him. In the woods just still and quiet, no calling, scents or whatever. Good hunting !! Great video! Definitely have a subscriber here....
I wish this video was around when I started bow hunting 15 years ago. I wasted so much time, effort and money doing all of the things mentioned. Thanks for putting this out to the community. It's nice to see someone not towing the line of bullshit to help sell needless products.
Very helpful. I haven't been hunting much yet, 6 years in. I've had success the past two years early november with a grunt call - 2-3 grunts in a row, wait 20 mins. Haven't seen any bucks at the time, but trying to call them from their beds and the marsh. I still don't really know what I'm doing, so your channel has helped a lot. Greetings from East Troy WI!
I had a nice 8 come in chasing a doe up on a ridge. I gave a wheeze and buck stopped looked down near me and headed my way looking for a fight. Shot at 25 yards but he ducked the arrow. The wheezing works for the big boys but anything small will run away knowing their place in the pecking order. I learned to only use it when i see a bigger buck but isnt moving towards my shooting lanes and hopefully the wheeze will bring him in. Its really cool when it works
At 9:32 they should make a scent ball. Like a marble size that one can use a sling shot to shoot the scent away and from their stand so they don’t have to actually go to the area where they are wanting the scent to go. Am I really right? Thoughts?
You are awesome... This is how I've hunted for many years. The one doe bleat I use (only sometimes)is the can, but there's a trick to it that I'm not sharing. Stay clean and ambush.
I agree 99.9%. My best hunts have been when I'm just hunting and not trying to call or get a bucks attention. Only once did I do a snort wheez to get a 160+ bucks attention and yes he turned around after he pissed on his hocks and he did come back to see what buck I was, he did hit the scrape 45 yards downhill to show his dominance and he looked uphill and he didn't see another buck and he turned around and walked away the way he came in. Best hunt of my hunting experience. I was in awe and glad I had the experience!! No I didn't take the shot but instead I took photos 🤷🏻♀️Great video Jeff.
Crazy good information! Thank you so much for all of your experience and wisdom. There’s not a ton of these informational videos on TH-cam. So when I find one I feel like I struck gold. I watch a lot of The Hunting Public and learned a lot but just got my first bow last year and still learning. Hope all is well!
That is one thing I was doing right. I never use those toys other than an occasional grunt call. Thanks for the helpful videos. The amount of knowledge one can obtain from your videos is amazing. Keep up the good work!
Out of experience I’ve found that a doe bleat will bring in a multitude of bucks, usually in mid to late October. I only use a buck grunt to make that low rattle bucks often make when just cruising or feeding and when around other deer. Never use scent or scent blockers or eliminators because I position myself and my stands where it makes those products useless.
Thats why you use a drag bag and scent a path in about 75 yards out about 5 feet off the ground. Spay a little dominant buck about 10 yards on a tree off that. A portable scrape. I've had many pick up the trail and walk right to it. Dont put it on your boots or clothes.
@@joekelly4870 Why would I change what I am doing when I fill my freezer with 6 deer every year, not counting elk? Besides, what I am doing has also given me the chance to put some Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young all time trophies on my wall, why would I change that?
I am glad to see this video. Very nice. I have stopped using deer urine and a lot of scents. I do my mock scrape setup by using my own urine. then once the deer start using the scrape and licking vine I leave it to them. He has been my better success than when I was using scents. I also make my own cover scent from using natural foliage including apples and berries in the area. I boil this to make a tea and strain it. I spray this on my clothes and on my stand area. This seems to work very well. Several deer stands right around my stand and walked by, even with the bad wind. I will tell you this story. I was sitting on a side hill with a tree behind my back. I was watching a small open area just down below me that deer have been going through frequently. While sitting I heard something coming down the hill behind me. All I had done was spray myself with my homemade natural cover scent. What I was hearing was 4 deer coming down by me. They ended up standing right beside me. They were so close would be able to touch them by just reaching out. The first big doe was sniffing me and around on the ground, the doe behind her did the dame, They had two young bucks with them both looked to be 2 yrs old. after about I would say 5 or 8 min they continued down the hill. They went right in the valley I was watching. I now stick to just this and has been working very well. I ended up harvesting the first doe that stopped and sniffed me. Thanks again for this great video
Your grunt advice is perfect for many situations. Had a sales guy training me many years ago. Sidney would say; “You asked the question, so shut up and wait for the answer.” The grunt is the question, so shut up already. 😉
I absolutely killed my honey hole last year by building a massive enclosed stand in September. Called on October 8th and a nice buck peeled off out of there. I used a grunt tube and fully extended the pipe (deep throaty grunt). He ran away over 1km blowing every 200m. No noise is better. After watching you videos I took on your tips. Already have a 10-point back in the same spot on camera this year.
@@200130769 They weren't even close to rut when I was calling. Shot a dear 2.5 hours into gun opener this year. You are right, calling isn't the best where I hunt, and I call very rarely now.
I did this recently. Put the dreaded mock scrape drip out, three days after and I had half the amount of deer on cam. Removed it and 3 weeks later back to normal. So frustrating, but the truth is there. If all is there, stick to the basics and hunt the good weather days and stay downwind. Thanks for another great video 👏🏻
I just want to take the time to thank you for all your videos. You have educated me in being a better hunter. I have had more success in my hunts since I started watching your videos.
I have brought in numerous big bucks with a grunt call especially in standing corn when I see the rack in there. Also Primos can call will bring in a buck that is looking for a new doe to breed. Most of the time I will let out 3 doe bleets then hit the grunt tube a couple of times next. Works like a champ. All of your five on your chart actually work as long as the hunter knows what time and how to incorporate them at different phases of the rut.
I hope to get my first buck this season by following your guidelines. i dont have the best hunting areas but im going to do my best and i really appreciate the tips. You are a very skilled Hunter. Cheers from upstate NY
We just had any amazing snort/wheeze encounter on the way I to the stand this morning. Sounded like a raging bull. It was awesome, he was doing diagonal movements in the bush, then turned around coming back towards us. Very cool experience. Never saw him once, all taking place in the bush beside us as we walked the edge of a rye field.
Last season I called in a beautiful buck running a doe down. Was very exciting and the first time in about 15 years that worked for me. Unfortunately he came in behind me and didn't offer me a shot. But loved that experience.
Tried rattling last season hunting next to this buck haven that nobody is allowed to go in to (including me) and in the past 8 years have never seen another person in there so the bucks are there a lot. I hunt next to this haven and was hoping to draw the bucks toward me but instead of that they eventually walked out into the field where they were visible and they started walking the opposite direction. I then tried rattling again and it just made them walk away faster so I put the antlers away and have not used them since. It may have been operator error but whatever it was to me it was proof that it didn't work for me.
I have hunted for several years and am one that likes to experiment with calls and making my own scents.The most positive things I have had great turnouts with are the grunt,decoy at the right time and the bleat.
@@campbellmarty36 I don’t know who you are but you are so wrong my friend.Yes a lot of them are a waste of money but there are some that work awesome.A person just needs to know when to use them.
SW Michigan hunter, and have never had any of these tools work for me. One thing you didn't cover is the "calming scent". I had a young buck run in all jacked up, took a couple wiffs of the Evercalm, gentled right down and started feeding
Snort wheeze has called in multiple deer for me. Haven’t experienced a wheeze scaring a buck as of right now but im newer to snort wheeze as well. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks Mr Jeff I have been hunting white tail for about 30 years now there's not a mistake I have not made and I have killed my fair share and your videos are awesome and I agree with you on everything that you said in this video Thanks very much for your time.
Just wanted to say thank you. My dad really isn’t into hunting but I love it. I’m tracking this 12 point and this video just made a lot of sense and is very educational. You just got a sub man keep making them I’m learning from the internet
I remember when I didn’t need a big pack to hunt deer. That was when I hunted mostly private land. The last few years I’ve been hauling my elk pack filled with my clothes because I’m walking at least 3/4 a mile back. Then, strapping on sticks and stand to move every 24 hours at least. I enjoy the work! My season is more rewarding and fulfilling these days and I shoot plenty of mature animals. I appreciate the wisdom shared on this channel
I agree with this gentleman completely with one exception. Huge believer in scents use. I can't tell you the number I have had bucks respond to " tinks 69" . Shot bucks right in the middle of full lip curl many times. For cover I use skunk around stand after talking to wildlife photographer who has had several published photos and he was a big believer in skunk. As an aside Mississippi state researchers have now found that rattling is effective all season long and in fact slightly more effective in late season. This shocked me. Happy hunting!
I totally agree with you Jeff.. ever since I quit using everything I’ve seen and harvested older bucks.. just me my bow and maybe a grunt tube.. stay still silent and as scent free as I possibly can. 👍🏻
Times that I've witnessed a deer wheeze is when one is running away after I've spooked them... Great information out of all your videos, new subscriber
always have been an avid hunter. But after 12 years i finally seen my first big trophy buck. a real nice 11 point. i have been watching this buck for 3 years in the up of michigan. let him walk once as an 8 point, and never seen him after halloween last year. so lately i've been studying more whitetail habits and trying not to over think and over act on everything to tag this buck. your video really helps decipher what i could have possibly been doing wrong last year! thank you for the great information!
I use a doe bleat way more than a grunt tube. I called in and shot a tank last year with the bleat. 2 more mature bucks followed him in. But the call would've been useless if I wasn't within ear shot of those deer.
I've hunted high pressure areas for years. A distress call works for does. One half second grunt has brought young bucks in from 300+ yards to within 30 yards of my stand.. Scents and decoys have only had the effect of alert snorts. Making a mock scrape has brought deer to me while not even hunting. Chase grunt have brought in my 2 best bucks.
I've seen and heard one Snort/Wheeze on stand in MI. 2-3 small bucks were following a Hot Doe and 8 pt about 20 yards away during the pre rut. The dominant 8 pt. didn't want those punks following him and his doe. He turned around, postured and Snort Wheezed.
Great advice Jeff ! I took your advice last year with hanging a grapevine and creating a mock scrape underneath. Within a day the deer were constantly licking the vine ! I was shocked it occurred as quickly as a day. Thanks and best of luck this season to everyone !
@@ryanwooden783 if you look at the 3:50 and 4:30 marks in the video I set up a vine from a tree just like this setup. Cut the vine to about 3’ length and hung it from limbs. My description of grapevine was supposed to be a vine from a tree about 1”-2” diameter. Hopefully this helps as I was shocked at how well it worked on the property I hunt. Hope this helps !
im a total noobie to deer hunting and am just really getting into it this year. the snort/wheeze - perhaps the best time to do it would only be if you heard another buck do it already? great vid btw, i was wanting to find a channel to start watching vids to learn about deer hunting and this is the first one i looked at, after reading others comments below i dont think i'll need to look any further lol
15:00, I had the exact same thing happen last night with the Buck I've been chasing this season (a wide 8 point I call "The Ocho"). Grunted at him and got his attention, he continued to tend a scrape/sniffed around for another 10 mins and then I got impatient and grunted again. He didnt immediately turn and run but he eventually walked away in the other direction. Wont make that mistake again...
Great video. I agree with almost everything you said. The exception is the scent. I have NEVER had old Indian Buck Lure to spook an animal. The other scents have a place and time and if you use them wrong they WILL spook deer. Back in the 80's skunk scent was a big thing. Problem was a deer knows if a skunk sprays he was alarmed at something. Another problem was if you used too much skunk scent and got an updraft you could get sick. LOL, Don't ask how I know.
Jeff, great video. This is my 51st season bowhunting. I have tried all of these back in the 80's and 90's. Learned the same lessons the hard way. I now just carry a grunt call. I do carry a turkey call and use it to cover my approach in the afternoon if the leaves are dry and there is not much wind cover.
Love your content I try to watch every thing you put up. I've been following your information for about 2 years now and I love it. Keep up the great work sorry to hear about your father. Don't worry about these stupid comments people have made. I guess they are just lonely and need attention.
I'm a brand new hunter so I got a lot of questions! 1. As far as the snort/wheeze call.... Since this seems to be the indicatior on whether or not you should do it, how do you know when a buck out in the distance is aggressive? 2. As far as decoys go, do you recommend these for open fields when hunting from stands like a ghostblind?
Absolutely awesome video (as all yours generally are). I just sent this link to my friend. The grunt call has been my major go to when I spot a mature buck, they are either going to buy into it and walk in, or look around and see nothing and keep going about their business. Of course the times where they go about their business I always wish I had my decoy there for them to see. That being said, my decoy has spooked more deer than lured them in, in fact it has lured no deer in. I think it would work in those situations where the buck is looking for the buck that makes the grunt and there isn't one there, at least it would up the odds. But I haven't used the decoy this year simply because the odds of it spooking deer are greater than the odds of it pulling one in.
I’ve been hunting strictly public land in the south east for 20 years now. Almost nothing works like it does on the videos. I’ve had grunt calls clearly work maybe 4 or 5 times in those 20 years and only once with a mature buck that still managed to slip away. Very little agricultural land. Mostly big stands of pines, clear cuts and swamps and you do your best find some oaks. The deer eat where they bed and bed where they eat. Even finding a deer run down here is typically rare. Best bet is to find some semblance of a geographical funnel to try and pinch down deer that browse all over and stay quiet and still. Less is more most of the time.
I think you made a video a couple years ago about grunt tubes. I have since always carried one with me. This year I added the doe bleat can. I killed a nice buck last year by calling him in from a distance. This year I have called in a few small bucks but like you I messed up grunting a nice buck. He was about 200 yards out. I grunted loudly and he instantly came in my direction but disappeared in some brush. He then let out a loud snort wheeze and I grunted back. Needless to say he never came in so I'm wondering if I should have just stayed quiet.
I hunted over a bait pile for my first eight years of hunting from 9 to 17 I never seen a single deer. One day I decided I’m not hunting this way anymore so I started walking and climbing trees and I would spot a deer hundreds of yards away and then I would see how close I could stalk up on it. That’s how I killed my first deer it was hard, but it worked so then I started getting smarter. I discovered that deer trails are pretty much like highways for deer if you can find their main trail then all these other little roads branch off of it. That’s how I got my second deer, then from there I just kept thinking and using different tactics figuring out what worked what wouldn’t work now I use a combination of watching their heavy trails, stalking, and calling, calling usually does not work out too great but every now and then you get lucky. Last year I took my daughter out October 1 opening day of archery in Michigan. We sat in an area where I knew there was usually pretty good activity the year before I hadn’t scoped it out this year. We seen three deer walk almost the same exact path hundred yards away, so we packed up and got within 30 yards 20 minutes later a buck walked out 45 yards away. I said don’t shoot. It’s too far then I hear waaaathaaa I said Hailey girl that was too far you missed it. You should’ve went to the third dot down if you were going to shoot she said Dad, I went two and a half down and I smoked him. I watched him run 30 yards and was dead. Luckily, the two weeks prior I had been working on distances with her starting from 15 yards and going all the way out to 50 yards to teach her how an arrow drops and she knew exactly what mil dot and where I put that scope in that situation. She was 11 then and deer hunting is our thing now. I’ll never question her shot if she thinks she can smoke it I’ll never doubt her.
Never hunt the way somebody teaches you never hunt the way somebody tells you how to you have to figure out what works best for you and the situation you are in and what you encounter in the woods in your area I hunt three different areas in Michigan and I do not hunt any of them the same.
First season bowhunting (second season hunting in general) and I've watched a lot of your videos these last few months to further my understanding of it all. I just took my first deer ever (7 point buck) on state land (Michigan) yesterday, hunting from the ground without a blind, no calls. We had a 20 point temp drop into the 30s, full moon, and rain 2 days leading up to the morning of the hunt. What an experience to say the least. Going into each scout/sit, I've utilized a lot of your methods taught! Will definitely stay tuned to your channel!
Congrats man. First year bow hunting for me too. I missed at a 6 point on my first day, but nailed em the next day.
Wise man once told me "a lot of lures are meant to catch fishermen" and that has always stuck with me cuz it's so true.
Like my grandad used to say,"There's a sucker born every minute"
You can learn a lot from a fisherman.
Another great video. It’s s so refreshing to hear a straight forward nonsense approach to hunting white tails. No gimmicks, just solid techniques.
I’ve found exactly what you said was very true. My favorite caller in thick brush is a turkey caller that masks my movements and deer favor areas with turkeys as they often will move together.
That's exactly how I was able to get into my stand and he set up by doing that coming in ..I knew the deer was on my plot and near by and a turkey call actually relaxed them enough to stay in my area until I made a kill later that morning..
Thats interesting i never thought of that......do you do a gobble or little clucks or what?
Sorry to hear about your father, I am sure he was a great guy. Lost mine 10 years ago and I still think of him and miss him, hope that feeling never goes away. Been deer hunting 40+ years and only take a grunt tube and only use it when I see a buck when I'm sure he is bypassing me, and the old saying, never grunt when a deer is looking at you is painfully true!
Oh man, so true! I actually shot a video about my dad during that time...tough to do, but still hard to this day. Thank you...really means a lot to me!
I never heard a snort wheez but I heard a buck growled sounded like a cat getting ready to fight
I’ve been snort wheezed at once and snorted at by does quite a few times. I was once sitting against a tree and a fawn walked up 15’ from me and bedded down unknowingly staring right at me. It was inevitable I would have to move at some point and I didn’t want it to spook the buck in the next 2 hours when the sun went down. So I moved my arm, her ears and head went up, moved my arm again and off she went back to mum. 20 seconds later mum came charging through the woods, got close and let out a HELL OF A SNORT. hahaha
Following the path our fathers paved for us sons
@@raysmallwood7495 yes caring on the outdoors what me and brothers where taught from our father rip 🙏 Dad 11/21/2012
Good timing, Jeff, got my cup of coffee done and started on the bagel! Good morning fellow hunters!
Side note on snort wheeze
One evening i sneezed in stand and that spooked a doe i never knew was there. To save the sit, i immediately blew my grunt call. That made a huge buck stick his head up and do the "Predator" clicking noise. Super super aggressive. He never gave me a shot in the thick stuff but it was unreal to hear that noise come from a deer. I will never forget it.
So dang cool Gabriel!!
Good morning, just grabbing some coffee 😊
I heard that clicking once. Big buck following two does. That was awesome.
I read about a guy who finally broke down and blew his nose, we’ve all heard the trumpet style lol but that’s all it took for an aggressive buck to meet his maker. I dunno but I wouldn’t recommend it lol
I gave all three of my kids when starting out: a bow, a stand or blind and a grunt call. I taught them to only use the grunt call on a buck that you don't think he is going to present a shot opportunity. I have over the years experimented with all but your advice here is spot on. I've scared the crap out of my fair share. LOL. It's better to just sit quietly and hope to not alert any of the deer's senses. If you do get lucky enough to get a deer to come to a call, he is doing so on high alert and his senses are working O.T.
Very good point on how “if you do get a buck to respond to your grunt he’s on HIGH ALERT!” And hence he’s watching every single leaf movement, and can hear a pin drop. Sometimes it does work out but I’ve been hunting for over 40 years now and I can honestly only think of maybe three times that it did work and everything fell into place. I just don’t use it anymore whatsoever. I just let them go and come back until the golden opportunity presents itself. I don’t use scents, calls, nothing. Just set up where they naturally are for the natural reason of the area!!
@@robertwhite3752 that’s how I’ve hunted for almost 50 yrs. I learned it’s all about a lot of patience and more patience.
I just got a buck yesterday here in Connecticut. Passed in front of me about 70 yrds out. Went behind me heading to a field. I grunted Once and then I SHUT UP! He ate it up and came 20yds. First one for the season. Great channel I'm always learning something . Keep it up
Fresh cup of coffee, kids are fed and playing, time to relax and watch your awesome videos. They get me so pumped up for the early season coming on the 2nd!
That is great to hear...sounds like a good morning 😊 Enjoy the day!
Last season on Novemver 4th I used a doe bleat can. I could hear chasing and grunting over the Ridge from me. 1 turn of the estrus can brought my target buck within range and I was able to harvest my first every archery buck. Was an awesome moment!
Impossible!!! On all the hunting shows as soon as they rattle they just come running!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
🤣 I love it!!
It’s called ✨magic✨ or sponsors
Yes those tame deer don't mind..lol.lol
I hunt eastern whitetails in MD...they are extremely hard to hunt.. especially big buck..the younger dumb one easy...they may come to rattling 1 out of 50 times...same with grunting....swirling winds around the Chesapeake bay make it tough
Game farm
I got my trophy buck with a snort wheeze last year was really cool watching him March in it’s good/humbling to know that won’t work with every buck thank you
As a PA hunter, all this information is spot on.
Thanks Wayne...good luck on the 2nd!
Solid info for those that haven’t had a lot of seat time hunting MI deer. It takes some restraint to not hunt like they do on TV, but how they hunt on TV does not work. Unless you go to southern Illinois or Iowa and then it’s just easy.
So true Blake...this advice may or may not apply to the fantasy land states 😊
Jeff, what is the window for grunting where you’ll likely get a response? Obviously a mature buck is going to respond very differently November 1-19 than October 6 or January 7. What is that hot window when they really are much more likely to react to the Grunt call?
@@jonmarcos8488 It's typically the rut where calls work. Early to mid November, but no calling can be just as effective. I strongly suggest a bleat can.
I think it's ignorant to say oh go to southern IL then it's just easy lol. That's not the case at all. I'm in so. Illinois and I'm telling ya we can't just hunt like they do on TV
@@deanwienstroer8079 that may be the case for you not growing up hunting in MI, but for me I’ve hunted in southern Illinois 6 days in my lifetime and killed 3 wallhangers in 10 sits. It’s easy there for me.
THIS!!!Gotta like the topic Jeff,some of my most memorable hunts have involved calls. What you use and when you use it is most important.I have used a Doe bleat ,doe grunt in conjunction with a Fawn whine from Nov 7th until Nov 16th, over many years and have called many bucks in SE Michigan.Many times a buck grunt will frighten a buck away especially less than 3 YO's.It has worked for me,and i consider calls to be another tool to use.NEVER OVER CALL! SPOT ON!!!
Amen Tex!! Soon for you...it's coming 😊
This advice has really helped me a lot. I always bring a grunt call with me when I go hunting but only blow it once every 15 to 30 minutes or even an hour and I've had success bringing in bucks with it.
Does this work from the start of the season or only during the rut? See I take it with me from early season and grunt every 20-30 minutes. Idk if that's good or not?
Had a buck run by last Wednesday gave him a little grunt and he stopped turned and came towards me. Now his is in my freezer!
There’s a lot of was to distribute scent from your stand;use a sling shot ,put scent pad on an old arrow,even a frisbee can be used to put scent out around your stand with out leaving your stand
Jeff, my 2020 buck, Slim, had the same personality as Venty in that he was very passive.
4 years of post season pics never showed a single broken tine.
I never laid eyes on him until 4 days before I arrowed him on November 1st and he was dangerously close to getting my downwind so I grunted and he tucked tail and slipped away.
It was key info I used when he appeared 4 days later and I was patient to let him make the mistake of turning in my direction vs forcing the issue.
I completely can attests to the situational nature of the “Snort-Wheeze” I once had a mature 4X4 buck come in escorting a doe and her fawn. The doe and fawn walked across a little field toward my blind to come to the feed site, the buck went straight through the trees for the food... I snort wheezed, and he IMMEDIATELY bristled up and marched his tail toward my blind because his doe and fawn were behind me. I let him walk. I knew there was a bigger buck (which I might add, I got him!)
An extremely situational call, the snort-wheeze.
Greetings from Saskatchewan Canada 🇨🇦
Perfect timing for this. I have been searching daily for information on early season calling. I have always left calls away until November. Great video, good luck hunting everyone!
Thanks a lot Kevin, good luck!!
Thanks for sharing. Some good information. I had an interesting experience once while I was ground hunting in a river bottom. I had a doe bleat "Can" and I made a couple of soft doe bleats and then put it away. Several minutes later, a squirrel, way off in the distance, started barking and whining. I knew something was up and I was on high alert. The rifle I had with me was resting on a bipod and was snugged up against my shoulder. It was a 45-70 loaded with a 405 grain lead bullet. As I was peering over the scope I caught some movement about 20 yards out. It was a Coyote that had heard the call and was sneaking in to get a chance at a meal. It was going to be his last supper. By the way, 45-70 is a great Coyote round. LOL
I've had luck with it here in South Louisiana during the rut.
Great for what splitting it half?? 😆
Best deer hunting advice i ever got was from lt. Dan. He used to tell us to sit down! And shut up!
Great info. I agree with the "when" to use...even then you have to be cautious. I tell the people that come hunt my land, don't call from the box stand...because it's not a 360 view...only call from the open stand/tree stand...and that's after browsing the entire area. Now I just try to make sure I cover my scent in and out....I love this video. Still and quiet is the best advice I got on bucks. I grunt or bleat when I have a 360 degree view....and that's only sometimes. My best hunts have been getting in my stand, getting still and quiet. Last season, I was out specifically to do some doe management. Nothing on me, to attract or whatever, strictly just set up to get this one doe in particular. Like the camera's had shown, here she comes. She turns and gives me that perfect shot, I get on her, safety off....I hear leaves and branches to my right...Huge 11-point, got his eyes on that doe as well. she starts to make her way back across the field. Im in the woods, the buck doesnt cross the field but he walks the edge of the woods to circle, but crosses right in front of me. I drop him. In the woods just still and quiet, no calling, scents or whatever. Good hunting !! Great video! Definitely have a subscriber here....
I wish this video was around when I started bow hunting 15 years ago. I wasted so much time, effort and money doing all of the things mentioned. Thanks for putting this out to the community. It's nice to see someone not towing the line of bullshit to help sell needless products.
Very helpful. I haven't been hunting much yet, 6 years in. I've had success the past two years early november with a grunt call - 2-3 grunts in a row, wait 20 mins. Haven't seen any bucks at the time, but trying to call them from their beds and the marsh. I still don't really know what I'm doing, so your channel has helped a lot. Greetings from East Troy WI!
I had a nice 8 come in chasing a doe up on a ridge. I gave a wheeze and buck stopped looked down near me and headed my way looking for a fight. Shot at 25 yards but he ducked the arrow. The wheezing works for the big boys but anything small will run away knowing their place in the pecking order. I learned to only use it when i see a bigger buck but isnt moving towards my shooting lanes and hopefully the wheeze will bring him in. Its really cool when it works
At 9:32 they should make a scent ball. Like a marble size that one can use a sling shot to shoot the scent away and from their stand so they don’t have to actually go to the area where they are wanting the scent to go. Am I really right? Thoughts?
This was greatly needed for me who is a new hunter in PA!
I screwed up a lot last couple of years trying to call.
Experience in the woods is the best teacher. Keep trying. Once you get some success, it will come a lot easier. :)
You are awesome... This is how I've hunted for many years. The one doe bleat I use (only sometimes)is the can, but there's a trick to it that I'm not sharing. Stay clean and ambush.
I agree 99.9%. My best hunts have been when I'm just hunting and not trying to call or get a bucks attention. Only once did I do a snort wheez to get a 160+ bucks attention and yes he turned around after he pissed on his hocks and he did come back to see what buck I was, he did hit the scrape 45 yards downhill to show his dominance and he looked uphill and he didn't see another buck and he turned around and walked away the way he came in. Best hunt of my hunting experience. I was in awe and glad I had the experience!! No I didn't take the shot but instead I took photos 🤷🏻♀️Great video Jeff.
The Can I used the first time and it called in a deer. Was the most exciting time in my short hunting experience.
Crazy good information! Thank you so much for all of your experience and wisdom. There’s not a ton of these informational videos on TH-cam. So when I find one I feel like I struck gold. I watch a lot of The Hunting Public and learned a lot but just got my first bow last year and still learning. Hope all is well!
I've had zero luck with calling out "Here, deer!! Here, deer!"
Add it to the list.
Haha
Should have said come here deer
That is one thing I was doing right. I never use those toys other than an occasional grunt call. Thanks for the helpful videos. The amount of knowledge one can obtain from your videos is amazing. Keep up the good work!
Out of experience I’ve found that a doe bleat will bring in a multitude of bucks, usually in mid to late October. I only use a buck grunt to make that low rattle bucks often make when just cruising or feeding and when around other deer. Never use scent or scent blockers or eliminators because I position myself and my stands where it makes those products useless.
Thats why you use a drag bag and scent a path in about 75 yards out about 5 feet off the ground. Spay a little dominant buck about 10 yards on a tree off that. A portable scrape. I've had many pick up the trail and walk right to it. Dont put it on your boots or clothes.
@@joekelly4870 Why would I change what I am doing when I fill my freezer with 6 deer every year, not counting elk? Besides, what I am doing has also given me the chance to put some Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young all time trophies on my wall, why would I change that?
@@richardkramer1094 6 deer is also geographical I only have 12 deer around me I couldn’t kill 6 a year or a wouldn’t have a herd
@@richardkramer1094 cool fake story bro
@@rickityrandy4156 you only have 12 deer around you? How could you possibly know that?
I am glad to see this video. Very nice. I have stopped using deer urine and a lot of scents. I do my mock scrape setup by using my own urine. then once the deer start using the scrape and licking vine I leave it to them. He has been my better success than when I was using scents. I also make my own cover scent from using natural foliage including apples and berries in the area. I boil this to make a tea and strain it. I spray this on my clothes and on my stand area. This seems to work very well. Several deer stands right around my stand and walked by, even with the bad wind. I will tell you this story. I was sitting on a side hill with a tree behind my back. I was watching a small open area just down below me that deer have been going through frequently. While sitting I heard something coming down the hill behind me. All I had done was spray myself with my homemade natural cover scent. What I was hearing was 4 deer coming down by me. They ended up standing right beside me. They were so close would be able to touch them by just reaching out. The first big doe was sniffing me and around on the ground, the doe behind her did the dame, They had two young bucks with them both looked to be 2 yrs old. after about I would say 5 or 8 min they continued down the hill. They went right in the valley I was watching. I now stick to just this and has been working very well. I ended up harvesting the first doe that stopped and sniffed me. Thanks again for this great video
Great info Jeff the calls suck you in if you're anything close to obsessive-compulsive
Your grunt advice is perfect for many situations. Had a sales guy training me many years ago. Sidney would say; “You asked the question, so shut up and wait for the answer.” The grunt is the question, so shut up already. 😉
Ha, I love that story and advice...so true!
I use the call the extinguisher up in Vermont and I've had it work in November and December
Great to hear Corey...still a little ways to go then 😊 Good luck in the early season!
Thank you good luck to you also
Same call here! Got my first buck with it a couple years back. Cheers!
Good info. I've had the best luck with soft contact grunts. One or two every 15 -20 minutes.
I absolutely killed my honey hole last year by building a massive enclosed stand in September. Called on October 8th and a nice buck peeled off out of there. I used a grunt tube and fully extended the pipe (deep throaty grunt). He ran away over 1km blowing every 200m. No noise is better. After watching you videos I took on your tips. Already have a 10-point back in the same spot on camera this year.
Want to know why it didnt work? Because you're hunting in a big enclosed stand. And calling from it.
@@200130769 They weren't even close to rut when I was calling. Shot a dear 2.5 hours into gun opener this year. You are right, calling isn't the best where I hunt, and I call very rarely now.
I did this recently. Put the dreaded mock scrape drip out, three days after and I had half the amount of deer on cam. Removed it and 3 weeks later back to normal. So frustrating, but the truth is there. If all is there, stick to the basics and hunt the good weather days and stay downwind. Thanks for another great video 👏🏻
Amen Tyler...that happens so often!
I’ve been using mock scrapes for a long time. I never use scent….a simple visual cue, will bring both bucks and doe.
I just want to take the time to thank you for all your videos. You have educated me in being a better hunter. I have had more success in my hunts since I started watching your videos.
I have brought in numerous big bucks with a grunt call especially in standing corn when I see the rack in there. Also Primos can call will bring in a buck that is looking for a new doe to breed. Most of the time I will let out 3 doe bleets then hit the grunt tube a couple of times next. Works like a champ. All of your five on your chart actually work as long as the hunter knows what time and how to incorporate them at different phases of the rut.
Awesome instructional video. Hunting pressure is the key to almost all calling conditions.
I hope to get my first buck this season by following your guidelines. i dont have the best hunting areas but im going to do my best and i really appreciate the tips. You are a very skilled Hunter. Cheers from upstate NY
That's great to hear Daryll, good luck!!
Don’t know you but good luck getting your first.
We just had any amazing snort/wheeze encounter on the way I to the stand this morning. Sounded like a raging bull. It was awesome, he was doing diagonal movements in the bush, then turned around coming back towards us. Very cool experience. Never saw him once, all taking place in the bush beside us as we walked the edge of a rye field.
It’s exhilarating hearing it 👌🏽
Last season I called in a beautiful buck running a doe down. Was very exciting and the first time in about 15 years that worked for me. Unfortunately he came in behind me and didn't offer me a shot. But loved that experience.
One of the best realistic videos on this subject I have ever seen. Real world experience at its best . The scent and call industry must be pissed 😂🤣👍
Jim, I used Ur vine mock scape for the first time this yr. 11/2024 & it works! I wish you could see the pix.
Tried rattling last season hunting next to this buck haven that nobody is allowed to go in to (including me) and in the past 8 years have never seen another person in there so the bucks are there a lot. I hunt next to this haven and was hoping to draw the bucks toward me but instead of that they eventually walked out into the field where they were visible and they started walking the opposite direction. I then tried rattling again and it just made them walk away faster so I put the antlers away and have not used them since. It may have been operator error but whatever it was to me it was proof that it didn't work for me.
I have hunted for several years and am one that likes to experiment with calls and making my own scents.The most positive things I have had great turnouts with are the grunt,decoy at the right time and the bleat.
Throw ALL deer calls away!!!! Waste of time !!! They are for making money!!! PERIOD!!!!! 99.99% wasted time!!!
@@campbellmarty36 I don’t know who you are but you are so wrong my friend.Yes a lot of them are a waste of money but there are some that work awesome.A person just needs to know when to use them.
@@ronmacdougall9612 to every man his own!!👍 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!🎄
Shot my biggest buck to date 173” with a doe bleat, and a grunt sequence. Came in lip curling and scraping and rubbing trees what a show!
SW Michigan hunter, and have never had any of these tools work for me. One thing you didn't cover is the "calming scent". I had a young buck run in all jacked up, took a couple wiffs of the Evercalm, gentled right down and started feeding
Yeah Evercalm is an amazing product
Evercalm works for sure.
Snort wheeze has called in multiple deer for me. Haven’t experienced a wheeze scaring a buck as of right now but im newer to snort wheeze as well. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks Mr Jeff I have been hunting white tail for about 30 years now there's not a mistake I have not made and I have killed my fair share and your videos are awesome and I agree with you on everything that you said in this video Thanks very much for your time.
Just wanted to say thank you. My dad really isn’t into hunting but I love it. I’m tracking this 12 point and this video just made a lot of sense and is very educational. You just got a sub man keep making them I’m learning from the internet
Thank you! Took me a very long time to figure out that when you use calls you are almost always positioning the deer to come to your down wind side.
Watched a few if your videos and when you mentioned readstown that made me watch a few more 😂 I'm in Viroqua and hunt 10 minutes past readstown
Thanks for the information! I’m relatively new to bow hunting and trying to absorb as much as possible.
I bet you will love bowhunting...good luck 😊
I remember when I didn’t need a big pack to hunt deer. That was when I hunted mostly private land. The last few years I’ve been hauling my elk pack filled with my clothes because I’m walking at least 3/4 a mile back. Then, strapping on sticks and stand to move every 24 hours at least. I enjoy the work! My season is more rewarding and fulfilling these days and I shoot plenty of mature animals. I appreciate the wisdom shared on this channel
I agree with this gentleman completely with one exception. Huge believer in scents use. I can't tell you the number I have had bucks respond to " tinks 69" . Shot bucks right in the middle of full lip curl many times. For cover I use skunk around stand after talking to wildlife photographer who has had several published photos and he was a big believer in skunk. As an aside Mississippi state researchers have now found that rattling is effective all season long and in fact slightly more effective in late season. This shocked me. Happy hunting!
I totally agree with you Jeff.. ever since I quit using everything I’ve seen and harvested older bucks.. just me my bow and maybe a grunt tube.. stay still silent and as scent free as I possibly can. 👍🏻
WHS has the best videos. 100%
Thank you I really appreciate that!
i like to use the Montana style decoys for early bow season when im on a mission to cull does. you get the doe that will come in to challenge and swak
Great information Jeff! Great timing as here in pa season opens Oct 2.best of luck to ya this year! Thanks again.
Thank YOU Mike...not that is soon, good luck in PA! I am planning on gun hunting the opener again this year and can't wait!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 what part of pa are you gunna be hunting in
Times that I've witnessed a deer wheeze is when one is running away after I've spooked them... Great information out of all your videos, new subscriber
I've used plain doe urine (non estrus) in a scent hanger pretty effectively all season
always have been an avid hunter. But after 12 years i finally seen my first big trophy buck. a real nice 11 point. i have been watching this buck for 3 years in the up of michigan. let him walk once as an 8 point, and never seen him after halloween last year. so lately i've been studying more whitetail habits and trying not to over think and over act on everything to tag this buck. your video really helps decipher what i could have possibly been doing wrong last year! thank you for the great information!
I use a doe bleat way more than a grunt tube. I called in and shot a tank last year with the bleat. 2 more mature bucks followed him in. But the call would've been useless if I wasn't within ear shot of those deer.
Thanks for these tips. First time properly hunting since I've had my kids. I missed it so much.
Instant follow when I know them UP locations you speak of.
I've hunted high pressure areas for years. A distress call works for does. One half second grunt has brought young bucks in from 300+ yards to within 30 yards of my stand.. Scents and decoys have only had the effect of alert snorts. Making a mock scrape has brought deer to me while not even hunting. Chase grunt have brought in my 2 best bucks.
I've seen and heard one Snort/Wheeze on stand in MI. 2-3 small bucks were following a Hot Doe and 8 pt about 20 yards away during the pre rut. The dominant 8 pt. didn't want those punks following him and his doe. He turned around, postured and Snort Wheezed.
Great advice Jeff ! I took your advice last year with hanging a grapevine and creating a mock scrape underneath. Within a day the deer were constantly licking the vine ! I was shocked it occurred as quickly as a day. Thanks and best of luck this season to everyone !
@@ryanwooden783 if you look at the 3:50 and 4:30 marks in the video I set up a vine from a tree just like this setup. Cut the vine to about 3’ length and hung it from limbs. My description of grapevine was supposed to be a vine from a tree about 1”-2” diameter. Hopefully this helps as I was shocked at how well it worked on the property I hunt. Hope this helps !
Your detailed examples of when and where you use/don't use each hunting aid are "spot-on!"
Thank you Cris...means a lot to me, I try to be accurate. Hope you are in a stand soon 👍
im a total noobie to deer hunting and am just really getting into it this year.
the snort/wheeze - perhaps the best time to do it would only be if you heard another buck do it already?
great vid btw, i was wanting to find a channel to start watching vids to learn about deer hunting and this is the first one i looked at, after reading others comments below i dont think i'll need to look any further lol
6 Days out here in Middle TN! Going to put your tips/advice to work another year. As always Thanks for the videos. 🤙
Good luck!! Coming in 🔥
I have tried all them and the grunt and shaking a tree works good for me
Taking my 9 yr old son out this yr. Picking videos for him to watch. Funny when you said Readstown for thats home.
Man I agree with you 100%. That's so you are spot on. I could put a lot more in there but I think you summed it up pretty well
I just use calls to call in does during the rut cuz they are more social and will come in and if you got does in the area then you'll have bucks to.
I’m other people not knowing what they doing are spoken bucks I like how he picked everything you are told to use
15:00, I had the exact same thing happen last night with the Buck I've been chasing this season (a wide 8 point I call "The Ocho").
Grunted at him and got his attention, he continued to tend a scrape/sniffed around for another 10 mins and then I got impatient and grunted again.
He didnt immediately turn and run but he eventually walked away in the other direction.
Wont make that mistake again...
I use scent. I take a slingshot and cotton balls. 30 to 40 yard's shots mostly and there right on the scented cotton balls
Great video. I agree with almost everything you said. The exception is the scent. I have NEVER had old Indian Buck Lure to spook an animal. The other scents have a place and time and if you use them wrong they WILL spook deer. Back in the 80's skunk scent was a big thing. Problem was a deer knows if a skunk sprays he was alarmed at something. Another problem was if you used too much skunk scent and got an updraft you could get sick. LOL, Don't ask how I know.
Jeff, great video. This is my 51st season bowhunting. I have tried all of these back in the 80's and 90's. Learned the same lessons the hard way. I now just carry a grunt call. I do carry a turkey call and use it to cover my approach in the afternoon if the leaves are dry and there is not much wind cover.
Love your content I try to watch every thing you put up. I've been following your information for about 2 years now and I love it. Keep up the great work sorry to hear about your father. Don't worry about these stupid comments people have made. I guess they are just lonely and need attention.
I’m a yooper and I do not do any blind calls but will use a decoy
I've always had success doing two or three doe bleats and then Grunt and I use synthetic estrus
I'm a brand new hunter so I got a lot of questions!
1. As far as the snort/wheeze call.... Since this seems to be the indicatior on whether or not you should do it, how do you know when a buck out in the distance is aggressive?
2. As far as decoys go, do you recommend these for open fields when hunting from stands like a ghostblind?
Absolutely awesome video (as all yours generally are). I just sent this link to my friend. The grunt call has been my major go to when I spot a mature buck, they are either going to buy into it and walk in, or look around and see nothing and keep going about their business. Of course the times where they go about their business I always wish I had my decoy there for them to see. That being said, my decoy has spooked more deer than lured them in, in fact it has lured no deer in. I think it would work in those situations where the buck is looking for the buck that makes the grunt and there isn't one there, at least it would up the odds. But I haven't used the decoy this year simply because the odds of it spooking deer are greater than the odds of it pulling one in.
Great information. Thank you so much for helping me learn how to hunt the mature bucks!
I’ve been hunting strictly public land in the south east for 20 years now. Almost nothing works like it does on the videos. I’ve had grunt calls clearly work maybe 4 or 5 times in those 20 years and only once with a mature buck that still managed to slip away. Very little agricultural land. Mostly big stands of pines, clear cuts and swamps and you do your best find some oaks. The deer eat where they bed and bed where they eat. Even finding a deer run down here is typically rare. Best bet is to find some semblance of a geographical funnel to try and pinch down deer that browse all over and stay quiet and still. Less is more most of the time.
In my state, decoys are only legal on private land, and scent lures have to be synthetic as CWD is in the next state over.
So true...have to consider if even legal!
I really have had great luck using Tinks intense sticks.
I think you made a video a couple years ago about grunt tubes. I have since always carried one with me. This year I added the doe bleat can. I killed a nice buck last year by calling him in from a distance. This year I have called in a few small bucks but like you I messed up grunting a nice buck. He was about 200 yards out. I grunted loudly and he instantly came in my direction but disappeared in some brush. He then let out a loud snort wheeze and I grunted back. Needless to say he never came in so I'm wondering if I should have just stayed quiet.
Say you don't see any movement all day long. Would you recommend using a snort wheeze to see if you can call in something closer to you
Thank you for the information, really appreciate it. I'm a young hunter, 3rd year in and all these tips help!
Question ? What's your opinion of using vanilla extract for deer hunting . Thanks .