Calling in mule deer?

[LandSeig]

Has anyone had any luck with using a grunt call, bleat, or rattling horns for calling in mule deer, especially during the rut?

 

[RockAndSage]

I've heard stories, mostly really, really old stuff, of ratting sometimes working for one guy one time, but nothing personal and nothing consistent. Kinda goes in the category of, "Huh, that's interesting", and it gets filed way but never used.

 

[bigunit]

I've had more luck with a predator call. Not sure if they are just curious or they think its something else but ive called in quite a few mulies during the rut with rabbit in distress calls

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

A cow elk call will bring them in for curiousity sometimes.

 

[Kara Brian Frazier]

Never been able to call them in.

 

[Pjd243]

had this work more often than not

 

[braydencase7]

Called in a bunch of does with a fawn in distress call once

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[Grassymike]

I have used the call that Pjd 243 shows above for close to 20 years. It works. I think the guy who made those was Don Laubach, he also had books on how to use them called "Deer talk" as well as an Elk call and book too. One end was supposed to be 'tuned ' for a common doe sound and the other was a fawn in distress higher pitch and longer and much louder. It also is excellent for calling in coyotes.

 

[Bigred323]

While we hunted down in Sonora, it was either fawn in distress or jackrabbit calls they used to try and call them in.

 

[Bubblehide]

I prefer to use their nose against them if they are rutting, and or very close to rutting. If I find a mule deer scrape, I add to it and slightly increase the size.

My thoughts on calling and ratteling during the rut is that a smart buck will gather his does, and move them away. After all, he doesn't want to lose them, nor share them.

 

[coyoteman]

had this work more often than not
View attachment 954427

We've had bucks come in on a string to within 15 yds during the rut with the Deer stopper. Just making nice doe bleat sounds.

 

[kscowboy01]

had this work more often than not
View attachment 954427

Is it pretty similar to this call? One of the guys on another site had a lot of great archery rut hunts on CO’s Eastern Plains and loved this call.

 

[Waugh]

I have also had luck with the Lohman K’meer deer call. Mostly on does but have had success when close to bucks in bedding areas especially during the rut.. Got the idea years ago watching yearling fawns talking to their mother while feeding along an edge in the timber. Started using it when still hunting as well similar to how I sometimes use a cow call when sneaking on elk. As I still hunt along if I roll a rock, accidentally snap a twig, or other “natural” sound I’ll “mew” like a fawn. Then stay frozen listening and watching for several minutes. The idea being to make any deer that heard the noise believe it’s just another deer or two moving along. The call weighs almost nothing and is small and compact so it doesn’t hurt to have it along.