[WestPhillyFam]

Does anyone try to call in does? I have the most time to hunt during the late season (until 1/28 down here) and I'm wondering if there are calling strategies I could use. I see deer every time I go out but the property I hunt is tough. It's a small suburban parcel. Deer tracks are on every inch of the property so I'm always set up in their "living room". There are no trees for a stand and there is heavy brush everywhere making clear shots difficult. Someone suggested to me that I might try calling them in but I haven't heard so much about calling deer except during the rut. What are some strategies to use otherwise? Any advice?

 

[BCozhunter]

I've had does react with curiosity by using a fawn bleat call. That was during archery season, not sure how it'd be this time of year. If nothing else, it might help calm them down if acting nervously.
Good luck!

Might also bring in a coyote. Only coyote I've shot was one of a pair that came in looking for the fawn making all that noise.

 

[Swamped]

I use the Lil Can-during early season the young ones often are curious.
Sounds like a good place for a tripod .
Good Luck

 

[redgreen]

all I can add to this conversation is when I go turkey hunting and start calling it never fails that a doe or two come to investagate

 

[HSY93]

I've had does react with curiosity by using a fawn bleat call. That was during archery season, not sure how it'd be this time of year. If nothing else, it might help calm them down if acting nervously.
Good luck!

Might also bring in a coyote. Only coyote I've shot was one of a pair that came in looking for the fawn making all that noise.

I have been experimenting with a fawn bleat by blind calling in late season.Nothing called in yet.Thought I may bring a yote in also.Never saw a doe that I could call to while in sight of me to see reaction.

 

[WestPhillyFam]

all I can add to this conversation is when I go turkey hunting and start calling it never fails that a doe or two come to investagate

. I've only been turkey hunting once with almost no experience calling. I called anyway with a mouth call and managed to get a flock of hens coming towards me. I was so surprised! Maybe I should use my turkey call for the does?

 

[WestPhillyFam]

I use the Lil Can-during early season the young ones often are curious.
Sounds like a good place for a tripod .
Good Luck

I just looked up the tripods - had never seen them before. Can you leave on up for the season or do you have to set it up each time? I have two spots - one down low which is wetlands so I'm not sure this would work. But there's a drier spot up higher where I used to ground hunt.

Thank you for the tip because I had no idea these existed. I was thinking I'd need a tree to strap a ladder stand on.

 

[WestPhillyFam]

I have been experimenting with a fawn bleat by blind calling in late season.Nothing called in yet.Thought I may bring a yote in also.Never saw a doe that I could call to while in sight of me to see reaction.

I will try it. I see deer every single time I am at this property very closeup within 50 years, many times much closer. Sometimes I spook them, sometimes not. It's the heavy brush and topography that prevents a clear and safe shot. Once I camped and ground hunted there. Just after moving into the tent after sundown I heard what sounded like a five gallon bucket being emptied about five feet from the tent. It was a deer taking a final pee before bedtime. Suburban deer!

 

[good ole boy]

I second the Lil Can Call.They are cheap and fun to use.I have a Fawn Call that I have had for years but this time of year these calls are mostly ignored.

 

[WestPhillyFam]

I second the Lil Can Call.They are cheap and fun to use.I have a Fawn Call that I have had for years but this time of year these calls are mostly ignored.

Thanks for seconding that. I wasn't sure if it would be useful this time of year because it's an estrus call, right?

I can swing by Gander Mountain and see if they carry it before I go out again.

 

[410-er]

Cheaper in the toy stores sold as "cow call".

 

[uncle buck]

I have called in does with bleat calls during the regular gun season... This video here will give you instructions on how to talk deer and what the sounds means.. https://www.woodswise.com/catalog/product/ww937 Basically you will see to call in deer they talk to each other as they graze through the woods. Believe it or not this is what I do to call them in.. Using a Bleat call make it sound say! "WHERE ARE YOU?" WHERE ARE YOU?" I have called in doe doing this about 2 times and then remain quiet..

Did you ever consider buying a Ghost Blind? Setting it up where you do see the deer at certain times... https://www.ghostblind.com/

 

[bohunr]

i manage to call deer about 4 out of 10 times when predator hunting using a rabbit in distress sound. but thats at night.

i also called in 6 doe, 3 at a time about 1/2 hour before dark, coyote hunting. i used my foxpro and a buck fawn in distress call.

both of these happened in the winter after deer season.

remember though, electronic calls are not allowed for deer. but they do sell fawn in distress mouth calls, that might work.

 

[pt1e]

I just looked up the tripods - had never seen them before. Can you leave on up for the season or do you have to set it up each time? I have two spots - one down low which is wetlands so I'm not sure this would work. But there's a drier spot up higher where I used to ground hunt.

Thank you for the tip because I had no idea these existed. I was thinking I'd need a tree to strap a ladder stand on.

You can leave the tripod up. They are sturdy and the one I was in had a 360 swivel seat.

I can't say how it would work in the wetland section...unless you found a dry piece inside it.

The only issue I had with tripods is that they tend to stand out...that being said I would try to put it in tall scrub or brush it in.....the stand out issue is a problem for people who like to steal stands...so depending on where you hunt, you may want to take it down each year.

 

[WestPhillyFam]

I have called in does with bleat calls during the regular gun season... This video here will give you instructions on how to talk deer and what the sounds means.. https://www.woodswise.com/catalog/product/ww937 Basically you will see to call in dear they talk to each other as they graze through the woods. Believe it or not this is what I do to call them in.. Using a Bleat call make it sound say! "WHERE ARE YOU?" WHERE ARE YOU?" I have called in doe doing this about 2 times and then remain quiet..

Did you ever consider buying a Ghost Blind? Setting it up where you do see the deer at certain times... https://www.ghostblind.com/

Thanks for the link. I have seen the ghost blind and they are so cool but I can't just keep buying blinds .

 

[WestPhillyFam]

You can leave the tripod up. They are sturdy and the one I was in had a 360 swivel seat.

I can't say how it would work in the wetland section...unless you found a dry piece inside it.

The only issue I had with tripods is that they tend to stand out...that being said I would try to put it in tall scrub or brush it in.....the stand out issue is a problem for people who like to steal stands...so depending on where you hunt, you may want to take it down each year.

Thanks for the info. They would not be visible from the road or to neighbors at this property, I don't think. I would definitely take it down in the off-season if I got one.

 

[bohunr]

Does anyone try to call in does? I have the most time to hunt during the late season (until 1/28 down here) and I'm wondering if there are calling strategies I could use. I see deer every time I go out but the property I hunt is tough. It's a small suburban parcel. Deer tracks are on every inch of the property so I'm always set up in their "living room". There are no trees for a stand and there is heavy brush everywhere making clear shots difficult. Someone suggested to me that I might try calling them in but I haven't heard so much about calling deer except during the rut. What are some strategies to use otherwise? Any advice?

with snow on the ground you can see where they come out to feed and paw the ground to clear the snow away from whats underneath it. go a little early in the evening and set up there.

Good luck

 

[WestPhillyFam]

with snow on the ground you can see where they come out to feed and paw the ground to clear the snow away from whats underneath it. go a little early in the evening and set up there.

Good luck

I've been waiting for snow and it hasn't happened yet (it's down in Southern Chester County so warmer than most places in the state). It's been frustrating. Maybe by the time I find another day to go out...

 

[HSY93]

Pretty sure I saw a video one time where a guy called in a mature doe with a fawn distress call in late season.

 

[Kip Feroce]

Have been calling in does for many years. At first it was to see a reaction in springtime. There is a much more aggressive reaction during birthing season. Out of desperation on the last day of the rifle season many years ago I bleated to try to make something happen in the wayning daylight. 6 does approached my position with much curiosity. I thought boy that worked.

Fast forward to the last day of rifle this year. A friend and I had a fire all day while hunting. The deer were actually coming to see the fire off and on all day. It was getting late and our fire was all but out. I could tell my buddy was ready to pack it up for the day. I told him to relax and hold out for the big one. I started to bleat repeatedly with a low volume grunt mixed in. It wasn't 5 minutes when 5 of the largest deer of the day came on a string to 30yds. I looked at him and said pick one. Made him a believer.

Yes you can call does.

I would like to add another sinerio: you are walking through the woods and a deer snorts at you. If it has not got your wind it might be able to be called in. Deer will " Blow" to tell other deer they are a deer. If you blow back to them it will 1st relax them and may coax them to you out of curiosity. Deer are very curious animals.

Blowing at a snorting deer in spring gobbler can help save from spooking the birds with repeated snorting. We have had deer snort at us while walking to a set up for turkey. One blow back most often will quiet them down allowing a more stealthy approach.

Bucks can also be blown in. My expierence has been it takes longer and many more blows to coax into sight.