Calls

[clayton86]

Ok so I know all about calling coyotes and other predators even good at calling raccoons but i never use calls when deer hunting at all. This year I'm takin up bow hunting and I think I might wanna pick up a rattle bag or alike and then like a grunt tube or something.

What do you guys recommend and when do you use em. I've always gun hunted and its usually drives so we don't call we just sit and wait they are either runnin at Mach 5 or strolling threw before the pushers get close but not during bow season so its gonna be new and different.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I'm a fan of "The Can" estrous call.

 

Grunt calls are finicky and unless your population has aggressive deer, I've seen some large bucks get very alert when I grunted and not in a good way. The estrous calls don't seem to bother them as much and I've actually had spooky deer calm down with soft estrous calling.

 

Deer are different everywhere, but I know NY has deer pressure like PA. I think it would likely apply to you. Only one way to find out and that's give it all a shot.

[clayton86]

Sweet deal yeah we have a ton of pressure where I hunt.

[Gatorbassman]

Get "The Can". I use it most when stalking through the woods and I'm unable to keep my footsteps quite. I've also used it to call in several deer. It's not very loud so it's not going to call them in from a distance. 

 

I only use a grunt call for about a week and a half of the season. As soon as I notice sign of bucks cruising I will use it sparingly for then next week or so. The "cruising" stage of the rut starts when the does are about 48 hours from coming into heat and the bucks are traveling around more than normal looking for them. This is also the best time to rattle. I will use a grunt to stop a buck and I'll use it to peak his interest. But the can call usually closes the deal.