The Best Deer Grunt Call Tips to Call in a Buck

But whitetail deer are different. You can hunt them for years without hearing anything but stomping and blowing.

I'd bet good money that most deer hunters never hear a real buck grunt during a season. Most only see highlight reel videos of hunters calling to lightly pressured deer. They only see the success, so many hunters start with a skewed idea of how deer calling works.

While I can't stop the deer from blowing at us, I can share the best deer grunt call tips I know. The trick is knowing when to use them and how to make them sound as natural as possible.

Why Use a Grunt Call?

A grunt call is how you speak the buck's language. They recreate the short, deep vocalizations bucks make when they're interacting with other deer, chasing does, or asserting dominance.

Hunters use grunt calls:

• To mimic competition: Grunt calls replicate natural communication.
• To draw in curious bucks: Stops cruising bucks looking for a rival or checking for does.
• They're beginner-friendly: Grunts are easier to master than some other deer calls.
• They add realism: Grunt calls shine when paired with rattling.

Pro Tip: Over the years, I've had bucks swing downwind, circle, and then charge in simply because they thought another deer was nearby. A soft, realistic grunt is sometimes the one thing that turns a watcher into a closer.

When to Use a Grunt Call

Knowing when to use a grunt call is half the battle. I think of it as telling a story and creating an illusion, so timing changes the performance.

How to Call in a Buck with a Grunt Call

Calling in a buck with a grunt call is about matching your performance to the mood and conditions.

• Start Light: Open with 1–3 soft grunts. Wait. Many bucks approach silently.
• Escalate When Needed: If nothing moves after 45 minutes, increase volume or frequency to mimic a tending buck or light confrontation.
• Create Sequences: Grunt, lightly rattle, then grunt again to imitate sparring near a doe.
• Read Reactions: If he circles downwind, be ready. Circling is often a sign he's testing what he heard.

Pro Tip: Wind and position matter. If they aren't rutting hard and charging in, bucks will often swing to scent-check the source. I try to set up so my downwind side is harder for them to reach quietly.

Specialty Grunts and When to Try Them

Grunts basically fall into these categories:

1. Contact Grunts

A short, soft grunt meant to grab attention without sounding aggressive. This grunt works all season and is great for coaxing lurking bucks into range.

Pretend there is a buck in the brush you can't see, and make a non-threatening soft contact grunt.

2. Tending Grunts

Rapid, soft grunts timed to a buck's steps when chasing or shadowing a doe. These work best during peak rut.

Looking from left to right and adding realistic movement noises like leaves and sticks makes it even more convincing.

3. Primal or "Roar"-Level Grunts

Years ago, the "buck roar" craze swept the market. Most hunters never hear it in real life, but it does happen. I heard one in Georgia during the rut, and it was midday.

If the rut is raging, and you have line of sight on a buck that's 200–300 yards away, that's when you want to use a roar. You can learn to pair it with a wheeze, but use it sparingly.

Best Practices for Grunt Calling

I can't say it enough, sell the performance. Craft the illusion you want the buck to believe.

• Match the mood: What have you seen that day, or weekend? Body language tells you whether to stay soft or get aggressive.
• Stay concealed: Grunt calls can bring deer in very close, so scent and movement control are critical.
• Avoid overcalling:  Too much calling will educate a deer. When blind calling, space sequences 30 minutes apart, at least. Longer is better.
• Practice cadence: Look for masters online, and learn from them. Every grunt type has its own rhythm.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, call softly. Big bucks check on smaller bucks, but small bucks avoid big bucks.

Pair Calls with Modern Advantages (like HuntWise)

Grunt calls work best when paired with solid scouting, and HuntWise helps you do both. I use the app to track RutCast predictions, so I know when bucks are most responsive to which calls. 

I also log my calling results so I can fine-tune what works in different locations and at various times of year. 

Over time, that log becomes a personal calling playbook. You'll have your hunting property dialed in this season and have a frame of reference for next year, too.

Use the Best Deer Grunt Call Techniques and HuntWise to Tag Out

What call should you use? The best deer grunt call is subjective, but the implementation is not. It's all about knowing how to sell the performance and craft the illusion. 

By learning the different grunt types, practicing your cadence, and timing your calls to the season, you'll turn encounters into opportunities. Pairing your grunt calling with HuntWise's scouting and rut-timing tools is how you'll get those scent-checking bucks to come within bow range. 

Make the right call. Download HuntWise and try it free for your first week!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to common questions about the deer grunt call!

Q: What is the most effective way to use a grunt call?

A: Use short, realistic grunts with pauses, mimicking a calm buck. Don’t overdo it, tho. Natural sounds are key.

Q: How many times should you grunt when calling a deer?

A: Try 2 or 3 soft grunts, then wait several minutes. If you don't get a response, repeat sparingly.

Q: When’s the best time to use a grunt call?

A: During the pre-rut and rut, when bucks are most responsive to calling.

Q: How far away can a buck hear a grunt call?

A: Bucks can hear grunt calls from 100–200 yards away in calm conditions. If it’s windy or noisy, they may not be able to hear that far.

Q: Should you grunt back if you hear a deer grunt?

A: Yes. Respond with a soft, natural grunt to keep the buck interested. However, avoid aggressive tones unless it’s the rut and you want to challenge him.