Frequency of calling, intensity of call

[Camo tung]

Yesterday was a miserable windy day in Central Alberta with the remains of the storm blowing through but I went out anyway. Using the wind and tree noise as cover I checked a few areas and set up to call using a doe bleat and a grunt tube. During one lull in the wind gusts I let loose with the doe bleat quite vigorously as calling with the wind wasn't producing results despite fresh prints, droppings and beds in the immediate area. After approx 20" of this I was able to call in a cow/calf moose pair to about 30 yards - whether it was curiousity or pity on their part the jury is still out.

I was wondering if the members here that regularly use calling as part of their tactics use a particular sequence of calling or calls (doe vs. buck?), and what type of frequency? How do you initiate your sequence, when do you repeat it etc? I'm wondering if I was overdoing it to compensate for the wind or whether it just wasn't what they wanted to hear.

I did manage to scare up two does while walking out of the area, and after the fresh snow there's plenty of sign and 2 fresh scrapes so I'm in the ball park geography-wise. I was using an Olt doe bleat and a Berry buck tube.

Any tips?

 

[daveg01]

Most people "blind" call too much. Deer aren't that vocal most times in my experience.

I usually use grunts and bleats to attempt to call a deer that I see in an attempt to get them into range or to a better position to shoot.

It can work very well if you have a visual on the deer. I grunted at a deer that I couldn't ID in the thick stuff about 20 yards away one time. He made a bee-line right to me and I had to shoot him so he wouldn't run me over!

"Blind" calling can work, but I would say no more than a few grunts or bleats every 30 minutes or more. Usually if they hear it, they take their time coming to it rather than running right in. Often, deer will attempt to circle downwind of the sound so they can scent it before coming in. Also, if a deer responds and gets close enough to see that there is no deer making the noise it could spook them.

Bottom line is that you can call too much and deer are smart enough to learn from it.

Just my experience, YMMV.