Last Call

Too often deer will respond to a hunter’s calling efforts long after the hunter is no longer in his tree stand. Typical scenario: a hunter sees deer feeding across the field; it’s 30 minutes before dark so he lets out three or four loud grunts from his call; sticks the call back into his pocket and just watches as the deer feed across the field. Right at dark the hunter climbs down and quietly vacates the area.
However, 30 minutes after he’s gone one of the deer in the field curiously ambles over to where it heard the grunting sounds only to get a nose full of human scent! Unknowingly the hunter in this scenario reduced his chances of harvesting any deer from that stand location.
The years have taught me that although deer are very curious animals they are not always very responsive. Sometimes it might take a while for their curiosity to get the best of them. For this reason, I don’t not work the rattling antlers or grunt tube unless I know I’ll be on stand for at least an hour longer. Granted, there’s always a chance you might lure a buck in by working the rattling antlers or grunt tube just before vacating the area. And, if it’s your last evening on stand, I’d say give it a try. However, if you plan on hunting from that stand location again, I feel you’ll increase your chances of tagging a mature buck by putting away your call at least an hour before calling it quits.

It doesn’t matter if I’m scouting, preparing a stand site or actually hunting, I never take to the timber without my pruners and folding saw. A few minutes spent trimming shooting lanes may be difference between sending an arrow on it’s way through the vitals of mammoth whitetail or ricocheting an arrow off a vine or branch.
Most of my trimming is done while I’m preparing a stand sites. However, I recall a cold November morning back a couple seasons ago when a single branch was blocking what I felt might be a potential shot opportunity. It seemed the more I stared at it, the more convinced I became that it had to go. Finally after 30 deliberating minutes, with my trusty folding saw in hand, I climb down, removed the branch and quickly headed back up my tree -- two hours later I arrowed a massive twelve pointer in that very spot.
In addition to clearing shooting lanes, prior to the season I clip away foliage that might brush my clothing as I go to and from my tree stands. Then during the season as I go to and from my stands, I try to take my time, choose where I step, and clip any potential “scent swabs” that my have grown since summer. In addition to reducing ground scent, this technique slows me down and helps to make my entry and exit much more stealthy. Thus I spook much fewer deer.

I believe many hunter’s calling campaigns are unproductive simply because they call too often and they call at the wrong times. Typical scenario: a hunter manages to rattle a buck in just outside of bow range. The buck holds up and stares in the direction from where he heard what sounded like two bucks battling it out. However, he sees nothing. After a tense 60 seconds the hunter tries to coax the wary buck in by tickling his rattling antlers together. Suddenly, the buck whirls and runs back in the direction from which he came. In this scenario the hunter would have been much wiser to hold tight, there’s a good chance the buck’s curiosity would have brought him in a little closer.
Keep in mind, I’m talking about a mature buck and not an adolescent. Young, lust-crazed bucks are often easily duped. Imagine you’re standing out in the parking lot at the local high school when you hear a band blazing in the gymnasium. Yet, when you step inside to have a look, all you see is a big empty room and not a soul in sight. You’d just stand there looking around and wondering what in the heck is going on! Sixty seconds or so pass and you’re about to leave when and electric guitar rings out right there under your nose and you still see no one. Wouldn’t you be real suspicious and maybe a little frightened? It would probably seem like something from out of the Twilight Zone. This scenario is very similar to what you’ll run into if you try to lure a mature buck closer with additional calling.
If a buck holds up and then turns and walks away, I suggest you cease your calling efforts and sit quietly; there’s a good chance he may still come in a little later.