Whitetail Calling Tactics to Use Before the Rut

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Late October, Early November Calling Strategies

Toward the end of October and early November, again depending on the region you hunt, mature bucks are really getting fired up, swelled up and ready to get the party started. Scraping and rubbing activity intensifies and dominant bucks are likely to fight like battle-tested gladiators in a UFC match. These lovesick brawlers are experiencing territorial emotions, raging hormones and increased testosterone levels. As a result, this is one of the best times of the entire season to apply aggressive calling strategies specifically designed to provoke agitation and invite confrontation among the biggest bullies in the woods.

Calling tactics that generate deep-toned grunts with serious bass, intense rattling sequences and assertive snort-wheeze vocalizations are money throughout this phase of the season. Hitting bucks with an aggressive series of two to three challenging grunts followed by a hardcore rattling sequence can really crank up the action in a hurry.

If you see a potential shooter out-of-range or traveling the opposite direction, try a loud sequence of grunts ending with an agitated snort-wheeze. I’ve watched bucks stop on a dime, bristle up, change directions and march straight to my stand all stiff-legged and mad with this calling technique.

Without question, the weeks ahead of the whitetail rut is one of the best times of the entire season to take a proactive approach and utilize calling to mess with a buck’s head. The right calling sequence is capable of grabbing a shooter’s attention, striking a nerve, and picking a fight. All of which are capable of pulling him in from a long distance or making him take those extra-few steps needed to close the deal.

Don’t sit idly by on the sideline and wait for something to happen. Instead rely on your calls and custom-matched calling strategies to make it happen on your terms.

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