Hunting and Grunting
What is a Grunt Tube? A Grunt Tube is used on deer and elk in the same manner a duck call is used to call in ducks. It is usually plastic with an interior reed and a plastic flexible tube to direct the sound. In most grunt tubes the reed is accessible allowing you to change the pitch of the grunt from a deep pitch to a high pitch. Grunt tubes generally cost between $10 and $20 dollars.
What does a grunt sound like and when do I use it? A grunt sounds a lot like a soft pig grunt. A grunt is more common during the rut and infrequent during the other times of the year. Deer do not wander around the woods grunting at random like pigs do. The grunt is commonly used by bucks and less commonly by does. A doe will grunt at her fawns to keep them together. When a fawn starts to stray she will usually grunt them back to her. A buck’s grunt however has a totally different meaning. A buck’s grunt is mainly used to persuade the doe into mating. Similar to the stereotypical male that try’s to sweet talk the prettiest woman at the bar, so is the grunt of the buck. Smaller bucks also understand the idea that a larger buck has priority over the does. Younger button or spike bucks will start chasing does earlier in the season than the older bucks will.
Why use a Grunt Tube? A grunt tube is an excellent decoy. When you produce a grunt, the bucks in the area will become aware that something is going on which will peak their interest level. The grunts will create extreme jealousy in larger bucks causing them to almost "stampede" towards you. It is important, however, to not over grunt the bucks.
How do I use a grunt tube? When you are in your hunting position and you begin to grunt, the most important aspect is to realize that over grunting scares deer away. Usually 4 to 5 short muffled grunts every 15 minutes will do the trick UNTIL you see a buck. The grunts do not need to be loud. The grunts large and small deer make are soft and muffled. Give 4 to 5 grunts in as many different directions around me as possible. Space the grunts about 3 seconds apart and wait about 15 minutes between sets of grunts. The reason for waiting is in case a buck, that you may not see yet, heard you. If a buck did hear you, they may start a fast walk toward you. If you continue to grunt, without waiting 15 minutes between a series of grunts, the buck in your area will know it’s not real and will disregard you. AFTER you see a buck, wait until it his attention is turned in your direction and give one quick grunt. If their ears do not turn towards your direction, give another grunt about 5 seconds later but slightly louder.
Continue cautiously (trying not to over grunt) until you see them turn their attention and ears in your direction. If they are looking for doe’s and he is ready to mate the buck will begin staring in the direction the grunt came from looking for competing bucks. If the buck stares in your direction for 15 to 20 seconds but does not make a move towards you, give him one more short "muffled" grunt. You can achieve this muffled sound by either placing the grunt tube inside your jacket or by placing your glove over the end of the tube MAKING SURE, however, that it is soft. This will give the impression that the doe and the competing buck are moving away.
Once the buck starts walking toward you, DO NOT grunt anymore. The closer he gets, the better he can hear you and the more likely he may figure out that you are a fake. In addition, once they start walking towards you, their curiosity will continue to draw them in. If the deer hears you but begins walking away, try another quick loud grunt. If his interest now turns toward you, wait for his reaction. If he stares in your direction for 20 seconds for so, then give him the muffled grunt and watch his reaction. If the buck still does not respond he may not be in rut yet, or may have figured out that you are a fake. If you want a chance to practice these techniques, try it out on any buck you see. Don’t always have the motive to shoot the first deer you see. If you let many deer pass you by while trying different grunting techniques, you will learn first hand what works and what doesn’t.
