| There are some who believed that deer could | | | | deer. I traveled this trail for about two |
| be called with some noise. And some even use | | | | miles at a time when the deer were moving |
| what they called deer calls found in the | | | | from the bedding grounds to the feeding area, |
| market. But the use of these things I think | | | | and in this distance I was challenged no less |
| can take away the fun of the sport and you | | | | than eight times by bucks which wanted to |
| will not enjoy the hunting anymore. | | | | cross the trail. None of their calls were |
| | | | answered by other bucks even though there |
| I have never used any of the deer calls that | | | | must have been dozens of them within hearing |
| are on the market. I have been quite | | | | distance. If this sound is a call to combat, |
| successful in bagging my deer without the aid | | | | this experience should have provided some |
| of such a call and I would have to be | | | | evidence of the fact. I heard no calls made |
| convinced of their effectiveness before I | | | | by any deer other than the ones which were |
| would buy one. Perhaps I have been missing an | | | | alarmed by my presence. |
| aid to hunting enjoyment by not trying them. | | | | |
| I know that most animals can be attracted by | | | | Many people think that when two bucks fight, |
| some sort of a noise, and the fact that I | | | | the fight is over the possession of one |
| have never called a deer is not proof that | | | | particular doe. My observations show that |
| they cannot be called. I know that the cry of | | | | this is not the rule. On one occasion I saw |
| a fawn will call a doe during the summer | | | | two bucks fighting and there was a doe |
| months, yet I have never heard this call in | | | | present as an apparently disinterested |
| the hunting season. The fawns are large | | | | spectator. At the scene of a few other |
| enough to be on their own at this time and | | | | encounters, I have seen tracks that showed |
| the doe has other things on her mind, I have | | | | that there might have been a doe present, but |
| halted running deer by imitating the cry of a | | | | most of the fights which I have checked seem |
| fawn, but I have also stopped them by making | | | | to have been the result of casual meetings |
| other sounds. I have found that if a deer | | | | and were fought without spectators. The rut |
| hears any sound that it cannot immediately | | | | is the cause of the fighting, but the object |
| locate and identify, it will stop and make | | | | seems to be the driving of the weaker male |
| sure that it is not heading into danger. | | | | out of an area rather than a desire for any |
| | | | one female. |
| I have never heard an uninjured deer make any | | | | |
| vocal sound during the hunting season except | | | | I have never used any of the commercial |
| the sound made by startled deer. This sound | | | | scents to attract deer, but any scent that is |
| (more nasal than vocal) seems to be more of a | | | | based on sexual attraction should be |
| warning to other deer than a challenge to | | | | effective if properly prepared and used. The |
| combat. Perhaps I am wrong in thinking this | | | | use of deodorizers to remove or disguise the |
| way, but until I hear another deer answer, | | | | man scent can do no harm, unless the |
| and accept this call as a challenge, I will | | | | substance used is something that is repulsive |
| continue to believe as I do at the present | | | | to deer. |
| time. | | | | |
| | | | In this article we've learned that some bucks |
| One evening I was traveling a trail that was | | | | do not always respond to the call of the |
| located near the foot of a beech ridge that | | | | other to challenge. But it is better to be |
| was the feeding ground of at least a hundred | | | | safe by being known what kind of sounds do |
| deer. Across the trail from this ridge was | | | | the deer makes and for what. |
| the daytime bedding ground for these same | | | | |