Deer calls

We’ve been using blunt, grunt, and wheeze calls for far too long. Only now have we appreciated what a rattle could do! All thanks to our Editor’s Choice, Black Rack by Illusion Systems…

With this…

You’ll effectively fool nearby deer into thinking there’s a buck fight in the area. Experts say that bucks and does alike are extremely curious about who’d win a certain fight. So once they hear Black Rack, they’ll come running to the source.

The material may be plastic, but its bone-core technology and full-rack design realistically mimic antler sounds. But that’s the only sound that it makes. It may not be a jack-of-all-trades, but it is a master of one! And that one is the sound of bucks fighting.

Also…

You don’t have to hit it together too hard to get the best sounds. Anyway, it needs careful handling because it’s made of a light plastic material. It’s not that flimsy, but our Black Rack chipped off after several uses.

But even then, it’s still effective in deer calling. For its price, you’d be surprised how useful Black Rack is!

The right deer call doesn’t have to be expensive. And Primos proves that with their Big Bucks Bag Call!

What’s it about?

Looking at it and its super affordable price, we didn’t expect much. Not to mention how light and flimsy it seemed. But when brought to the test, it passed with flying colors!

With even the slightest movement, the call is loud and clear. It sounded a bit like plastic, but it effectively called deer, so we figured the animals couldn’t tell. Even from about a hundred yards, a buck will be able to hear it and be curious.

Only…

You won’t be able to make any other sound from this deer call. The rattling sound may be a good mimicry of bucks fighting, but that’s it.

That’s why we recommend Big Bucks for use in the pre-rutting season. During this time, mature bucks are most curious about which of them is the dominant buck. Come the breeding season, and you won’t be able to distract them from the does.

So, the verdict is…

Big Bucks Bag Call by Primos gives more value than what you paid for! It’s easy to get a loud and realistic sound out of it thanks to its Power Tine tone holes and camo net bag.

No wonder it’s our Best Value deer call!

If you’re planning on hunting during the deers’ mating season, you’ll need a buck grunt call or a doe bleat call. But if you’re up for a pre-rut hunting season, you’ll need a rattle.

What if…

… you can have both? Well, you can – with our Top Pick Extinguisher and Black Rack set by Illusion Systems!

We were hesitant about it at first because of the price. But we were surprised to learn that it’s a set of an Extinguisher, a Black Rack, and an instructional DVD. Not to mention, they all work perfectly well!

That’s why…

… this set got a perfect Versatility score. With the extinguisher, you can attract a dominant buck with its grunt call. And with just a simple slide of your finger, you can change to a doe bleat to attract a mature buck.

Extinguisher’s ModiSlide innovative technology makes the switch super easy! The only downside is that the bleat sound it makes comes with deeper tones than real bleats. But its deer grunt calls are on-point.

Add to that…

You can switch to the Black Rack in the early season when the bucks are more curious about the antler sounds of fighting. It’s loud, easy to rattle, and its Bone-Core technology and full-rack design give the most realistic sounds.

Just remember to hit the Black Rack carefully to avoid any damage. But, all things considered – you won’t regret a single penny on this set!

Aside from making realistic calls, Nationwide Scents impressed us by the number of call types it can make!

Namely…

… young buck call, mature buck grunts, rutting buck grunts, breeding buck, estrus doe bleat, regular bleat, and fawn bleat call. You can switch sounds just by adjusting its reed ring. And you can also adjust the volume by covering either the small or large hole at the tip.

But you’ll need to be careful when adjusting the sounds. Two rubber O-rings make that easy, but they roughly rub against the wood because it’s too dry and porous.

But that can be an advantage!

It’s made of wood that easily dries up and doesn’t lock moisture. So even when it rains or snows, Nationwide Scents deer call is designed to avoid a freeze-up. 

Whatever the weather, loud and realistic deer sounds will come out of this call! 

Not to mention…

It can survive rugged conditions. It’s slightly more brittle than plastic, but overall, this call is durable and sturdy.

But, since it has many options, it requires specific mechanisms to release each sound. And that takes practice. If you’re a beginner, you might want to get used to it first before you try it on the field. 

And then…

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to lure deer effortlessly. In the end, we didn’t mind its price at all!

During the pre-rutting season, the best way to lure dominant bucks out is to trick them into thinking there are other bucks in their territory. You can do that by using antler sounds or the snort-wheeze sound.

Most buck calls only bleat or buck grunts. Finding one with a snort-wheeze is very rare.

Lucky for you…

We found it! And it’s one of the best calls you’ll find on the market. Not to mention, it’s an affordable one too!

Big Rock Sports brings us the Headhunter. You can attract bucks during rutting season using either bleat or deer grunt calls. And in the pre-rut season, you won’t need to bring a rattle because the Headhunter has a snort-wheeze option!

The snort-wheeze is especially recommended when hunting whitetail deer. It’s proven to be more effective than rattles.

And the best thing is…

The Headhunter is equipped with its patented X-Glide system! With a slide of your thumb, you can switch from one sound to another. 

It doesn’t adjust the volume, so you have to be at the safest distance from your target. But despite that, this mechanism is very convenient.

Especially…

… because the X-Glide system prevents the sound from freezing up. So, whatever the weather is, you’ll be sure to get a call out of the Headhunter.

Just remember to be more careful with it during the rainy season. Its wood parts aren’t as durable as we hoped. But it’s still going to last long enough – and bring you enough game – to get the most of what you paid for.

Big Rock Sports Flextone is one of the most affordable deer grunt calls we found on the market. So we thought that its slightly less durable build was expected.

But…

It surprised us with how realistic it sounds! You can only make a grunt call with it so it’s best for rutting season when the bucks are feeling territorial. But the good side is that its volume is adjustable.

A simple blow would be sufficient to get a good deer call out of it. There’s no need for any expertise. You’ll be sure to lure a buck or two with a single call from Flextone.

And you can make it quieter or louder just by squeezing its flexible body.

That’s right!

Its build is flexible, which is both an advantage and disadvantage to its durability. But it’s super easy to find the right pressure.

So, overall, this compact, lightweight, and pretty-looking call is great for beginner deer callers. It’s perfect for practicing while winning games at the same time.

True Talker comes in a plain black reed design that we found classy. But it’s more than just the appearance!

Also…

True talker has a soft rubber exterior that gives the caller a comfortable and secure grip. That’s an advantage during rugged hunting situations.

We were so impressed because it was not that expensive.

However…

When the package came, we were disappointed because it was disassembled. It would’ve been better if they included a manual. Good thing the internet has more than enough tutorials about assembling True Talker!

Also, we hoped that it could do more than grunt and growl. Or it could’ve had an adjustable volume, at least.

Then again…

Those are just minor features. True Talker still delivered more value to us because of its realistic sounds. It’s not a jack of all the deer calls out there, but it sure is a master of grunts and growls!

Any nearby territorial buck would come looking for the source with one blow. You’ll surely have a great experience with True Talker in the deers’ rutting season.

Woodhaven calls its product “The Intimidator” for the right reasons. With just the slightest blow, this deer call grunts like a mature buck trying to intrude. And any nearby deer come out and investigate.

The Intimidator needs only a minimal amount of air pressure to sound realistic. But if you want to increase the volume, you only need to increase air pressure!

Plus…

If you’re up for pre-rut season deer hunting, no worries! The Intimidator has a built-in snort-wheeze feature. And it’s just as effective as its grunt call.

However, it’s not that easy to operate. Since there are no switches, you’ll have to keep practicing to find the right air pressure and position to get a certain sound type. You’ll need experience for that.

Also…

The Intimidator is a little hard to grip, and if you ever drop it or hit it against your firearm, it makes a relatively loud noise that may spook the deer. 

But, though it’s not made for comfort, the Intimidator is made for durability! You may hunt under the scorching heat or cold weather – this deer call is not going to freeze up.

Not to mention, the Intimidator comes at a great price!

What else can you ask for when you have a deer call that can get you through any season you choose to go deer hunting? 

Flextone is as flexible in its sounds as it is in its build. It’s a deer grunt call, doe and fawn bleat call, and snort-wheeze call – all in one pipe!

Add to that…

Each sound is so realistic and loud that it will surely beckon deers to your sightline. But you have to be at the right distance because there’s no mechanism for adjusting Flextone’s volume.

And you can switch sounds by manipulating the pipe – which is why it’s flexible. And that takes practice to get the right and realistic calls out. But the doe and fawn buttons help a lot with the bleat option.

Overall…

Flextone is a durable deer call. It won’t crack if you drop it, and it’s easy to carry. But it would’ve been better if it had a freeze-proof tip so you could have a worry-free hunting trip.

But besides that, this affordable deer call won’t give any more problems!

Let’s face it…

Appearance is a factor of quality. Straight out of the box, we figured that Faulk’s deer call is a premium brand! Well, the price says it all – but we were quite impressed by its looks.

It’s handcrafted from Walnut wood, shaped like a gentleman’s pipe, and finished with shiny varnish.

And the best thing is…

… when put to the test, it was as effective in deer calling as it is pretty! And it’s durable too – with its freeze-free design that would get the sound through under any weather.

And even if you drop it, it might get scratches but no serious damage. The wood can withstand impact and maintain its sound performance.

Only…

Faulk’s deer call isn’t as realistic as we hoped, especially for beginners. You’ll still be able to find the right sound, but it’s going to take practice, unlike with the other less expensive deer calls we’ve tried.

And we also thought that it would be more versatile, considering the price. But, though the volume is adjustable by the amount of air pressure you blow, it can only make the one sound type – the deer grunt calls.

Still…

We highly recommend Faulk’s deer call – it’s specialized for whitetail deer. Snort-wheeze might be the most common choice for this species, but it’s best for the pre-rut season. 

What if you wanted to hunt whitetail deer during breeding season? Faulk’s deer call is your guy for that!