4 Tips for Calling Bucks During the Rut

The weeks leading up to and shortly after early November are a hunter's favorite time of year, when does are coming into heat and bucks are up and moving, searching for their mate. With increased buck movement comes more opportunities for you to bag your next trophy.

So, how do you draw bucks into shooting range during the rut and this period of increased movement? Whether you are hunting the pre-rut, the middle of the rut, or the tail-end of the rut, here are the best tactics to call in shooter bucks.

1. Can Calls

When fawns are distressed or simply want comfort from their mother, they make a high-pitched bleating noise. This call causes a doe's maternal instincts to kick in and causes them to investigate the noise, even if they don't have fawns of their own.

Can calls are used to imitate a fawn or does' bleating noise depending on how high or low pitched you make the sound and how many holes you cover.

This call is best used just before and at the beginning of the rut. Bucks begin looking for does during the pre-rut, so a doe that comes to your call may have a buck close behind her. Bucks may also hear your call and come in to investigate themselves.

Once the rut is in full swing, fawns are stable, and does disregard their maternal instincts. If you are hunting during the early season or the rut, letting out a few can calls even when you don't spot a deer isn't a bad idea.

Deer have exceptional hearing. You may have a big doe just beyond your visibility. However, make sure not to overcall either, as this behavior is not natural or believable.

2. Grunt Tubes

Whitetail bucks actively grunt throughout the rut to assert their dominance over younger bucks and attract nearby does. That's why you need a grunt tube if you are hunting the rut.

This call imitates the grunt bucks make, causing mature bucks to head your way to investigate or challenge what they think is a smaller buck encroaching on their territory. Typically, the bigger the buck, the lower the grunt, so when using a grunt tube, your call's pitch should imitate a younger buck.

Grunting too deeply makes it sound like you're a massive male and will intimidate and push away smaller bucks who feel they can't compete.

"Once most does are receptive, and the rut (breeding) is in full swing, I will grunt at any buck I see cruising UNLESS they appear to be coming within range. I've seen bucks respond from long distances.  I blind call about every 15 to 30 minutes to pull in those bucks that might be in the vicinity of the sound but outside my range of vision." – Grant Woods, Growing Deer.tv.

3. Rattling Antlers

Rattling mimics the sound of two bucks fighting and is a useful tactic to use throughout the rut.

This attracts other bucks because they want to see what the fuss is all about and what other males are in their territory. If you've never heard two bucks fighting, check out YouTube to get an idea of how aggressive you should be with your rattling.

If you have some old antlers laying around, that is as real as it gets. Use antlers that are reflective of the deer in your area; you don't want to scare away a good buck by making it sound like two monster bucks are fighting nearby.

Sometimes, carrying full-size antlers around can be bulky and inconvenient, so another option is to purchase a rattle bag. This bag mimics the noise of antlers but is far easier to haul around.

4. Play the Wind

While calling is an effective way to lure mature bucks towards you, it will all be for nothing if you get busted by the wind as the buck approaches your location.

Use HuntWise to check the wind direction and think about your scent drift before you start calling. Always be mindful of where you're set up and what direction a buck will likely approach you, as it could be the difference between filling your freezer or going home empty-handed.

While there are many techniques, tactics, and opinions on how to call in big bucks, these are our tried and true favorites. Regardless of the type of call you have, or when you use it, your goal is always to sound as authentic as possible. So, use these tips to blend in and stealthily lure your next trophy to you.

Use HuntWise and Deer Calls to Tag Out During the Rut

Successfully calling bucks takes time, patience, and practice. We hope these tips are helpful, but the best thing you can do to improve your chances of tagging out during the rut is to practice your calls during the off-season.

As you notice how bucks respond to your calls, make notes in your Huntwise app. You can also use the app to mark locations of deer signs (rubs, scrapes, and more), pinpoint the wind's direction, e-scout land, and more to prepare for a successful season.

If you don't have the app, now's the time to get it! Download it and explore every feature for free for a week.

Content updated June 7, 2024.