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Blind Calling????

THA4

A Few Steps Ahead Of You
i know this has been discussed before, but a recent post sparked this question.

-For those of you who blind call, why do you feel it is effective??

-For those of you who dont believe in blind calling, what are your reasons for not employing this tactic??
 
I like to blind call once in a while. Sometimes I use it as a last ditch effort. Sometimes I try because I feel like there might be a deer near, I just can't see 'em. One thing I don't like about doing it is that they normally will circle and come in downwind. This makes it difficult to get them close enough for a shot. But, when they are in the mood, sometimes they will charge right in.
 
I do what I call "semi-blind" call. I try to only call when I can see a deer, or think I see one. I'll grunt at the deer even if I can't tell if it's a buck or doe. I figure I'm better of trying to see what will happen as opposed to sitting back and letting them wonder at will.

I prefer calling to an animal I can see as opposed to blind calling because I like to see the reaction to the call. Anyone that's had success with calling, knows how quickly a deer can show up. I don't like blind calling because if a deer has slipped in on you, you can be stuck with a call in your hand and not a weapon.

At times though, I must admit, I'll blind call. It's more to entertain myself, usually when I'm not seeing anything.
 
I love blind calling and do it quite often. I hunt alot of areas where I can't see more than 40-50 yards and I know deer are within ear shot, 9 times out 10 something will come in to investigate. I would almost rather grunt at a deer that I do see then one I do see. Mainly because if I can see them then they are almost too close, and it is easy for them to pin point my exact location. when they are 100 yards out or so, it seems like they come in, but they aren't dead set on the tree you are sitting in. I only usually do this in really thick areas.
 
My second largest archery buck to date was killed by blind calling. 3:00 pm Nov. 11th. My timber is steep hills and thick wooly cover so same as LIV, if I see a deer it is usually to close to call to. I rattled for about a minute every 30 min. I just put down the horns and I could hear dead limbs cracking from about three ridges over. This 150" 10 pointer was pissed and coming to fight. It took him about 10 min to get into my shooting lane but at 20 yds he came stomping in with ears back, legs stiff, knowing he was in the location of the fight he had heard. Had I not called he may have freshened a scrape three ridges over and continued in the wrong direction. Every situation is different and yes I have been caught by deer while blind calling but in the right scenario it can pay off big.
 
I will hit some blind grunts depending on the stand I am hunting. If it is on a field edge I will usually refrain from doing so unless I am just flat out not seeing squat. However, in the thick stuff or in the middle of the timber I like to let out some blind grunts once or twice a hunt, have had a lot of deer come in this way.

Kratz
 
I only like to do it during the hard rut. I feel like bucks aren't as wary to check out the wind if they think there is another buck in the area. I have ruined a couple spots before by blind calling during the pre-rut and I may have been a little early on it. They always seem to wind you early in the year. Later in the year I just don't think calling in general is as effective. But these are just my observations...
 
I have been blind calling the last two weeks. I have yet to have a "night" where I didnt call one in.
 
I have posted on this other spots, but deer are all different, and you have to get the right deer, but one of the writers for deer and deer hunting, wrote me back about this question last winter. He has many trophies to his credit so I listened.Also nice enough to personally write me back, which few ever do. He said be very careful blind calling. He said he only called if he saw a buck. Said for every 1 you might call ,he believed you spooked 9. I refrain from this now. I am not high in the tree tops, and where I hunt deer could easily sneak around behind and eventually get my scent. Also I think depends how wary your deer are. On large tracts, where there is not much pressure, like hunt videos, bucks prob not so cautious. Where I hunt,,,lots a bow hunters.
 
loneranger i think that guy hit the nail on head. public land is hard to blind call on , also small areas. Ive tryed it , and they seem to spook and head out . deep timber with no pressure , seem`s to work . i think they want to check out the competion, and run off any smaller buck`s
 
So when you guys are talking about blind calling, do you mean just with a grunt or a bleat, or are you also talking about rattling?
 
I almost always blind call.

I hunt mostly timber. Lots of my stands 100yards is as far as I can see. Blind calling is a great way to get deer out of their beds and on thier feet. I rarely call when I see a non-shooter becuase I dont want the deer under me looking for what did the calling.

Dean
 
Keeps me entertained and it works from time to time.

Keep it soft unless you see deer or the wind is blowing like it is today.

Some hard and long rattling will be in order about anytime now. Every 20 minutes to 1/2 hour pound them together like it is your job.
Had the only shooter buck I saw from my stand come in to this technique last year. He swam across a creek to get to the fight. Unfortunately he ended up making a visual on me just before stepping into a shooting lane and the deal was over. What a rush though. All fired up with his hair standing on end.
 
I get a rush any time a buck comes to rattling... I about lost my mind tonight... Temps before were down around 30 and wind was blowing hard out of West. I rattled a 120in 8point and a fork in at the same time from two directions both into range. I was shaking like i was having a siezure. Combination of the cold and the excitment, and I couldnt even try to control it.

Dean
 
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