Best Grunt Call Settings for Pre Rut

Pick One Setting and Commit to It for 20 Minutes

The best grunt call setting for the pre rut is a low, short tending grunt, with just enough volume to reach 80 to 150 yards.

I keep my call on the “buck” end, not the “doe” end, and I run 2 to 3 notes, each about 1 second long, then I shut up.

Pre rut is when bucks are touchy and curious, but not always ready to sprint in like peak rut.

If you blow loud and fast like it is November 10, you will get more “ghost looks” than committed walks.

Here is what I do every October sit in Pike County, Illinois, and on my public land runs in the Missouri Ozarks.

I set the call for a deeper tone, soften the volume with my hand, and I only call when I have a reason.

Decide If You Are Calling a Buck You Can See, or One You Cannot

This decision changes the setting more than anything else.

If I can see the buck, I match his mood and I go quieter than I think.

If I cannot see him, I use a slightly longer grunt sequence and I point the sound away from my tree.

Back in October 2019 in Pike County, I watched a 10-point stand up from a ditch at 92 yards.

I hit him with two low grunts and I did not touch the call again for 10 minutes.

He came in stiff-legged and bristled, and I shot him at 18 yards.

I learned the hard way that blind calling every 5 minutes just teaches deer where you are sitting.

I did that on public in the Missouri Ozarks in 2006, and I watched does circle me like I was the problem.

Use the Deep End in Pre Rut, and Avoid the “Teen Buck” Sound

I want my pre rut grunt to sound like a buck that owns a bed, not a buck that got kicked out.

That means deeper tone, fewer notes, and a slower rhythm.

My buddy swears by cranking the call to the highest pitch because he thinks it sounds “young and dumb.”

I have found high-pitched grunts get more head turns and fewer commits, especially on pressured public.

If you are hunting Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country with a lot of bow pressure, forget about loud high grunts and focus on a soft tending grunt and good wind.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer move in the wind because if your wind is wrong, calling just brings them downwind faster.

Here is what I do with an adjustable tube like the Primos Buck Roar.

I set it to a deeper “buck” tone, then I muffle the bell with two fingers to keep it from sounding hollow.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If it is early pre rut and you are not seeing chasing, do 2 low tending grunts every 30 to 45 minutes.

If you see a buck cruising with his nose down, expect him to angle downwind before he commits.

If conditions change to a fresh cold front with 10 to 15 mph wind, switch to 3 grunts with slightly more volume and call once per hour.

Choose Between a Tending Grunt and an Aggressive Challenge Grunt

This is the tradeoff that matters in pre rut.

Tending grunts pull in curious bucks that are checking doe groups.

Challenge grunts can bring in the right buck, but they also blow out the wrong deer fast.

Here is what I do 90 percent of the time.

I run tending grunts unless I see a buck posturing, ears back, or raking hard.

If I see that body language, I will add one longer, rougher grunt and then I shut up.

I learned the hard way that “more emotion” is not always better.

In November 2007 in Iron County, Missouri, I got too aggressive on the call and rushed a shot later that night.

That is the same year I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, and never found her.

That mistake still rides in my head every time I think about forcing things.

If you want the shot part tighter, this ties into my own notes on where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks because pre rut bucks can be amped and jumpy.

Set the Volume for Your Woods, Not Your Ego

Most guys blow grunt calls too loud because they want something to happen.

I get it, because I have been bored in a tree plenty of times.

But volume is a mistake you cannot undo once it leaves the tube.

Here is what I do in tight cover in the Missouri Ozarks.

I blow into the call like I am trying to fog a pair of glasses, not like I am trying to win a contest.

I also aim the bell 45 degrees away from the trail I expect the deer to use, so the deer does not laser my tree.

Here is what I do in more open edge stuff like southern Iowa style ag and timber seams.

I let it carry a bit more, but I still keep it under “yell” level.

When I am trying to time deer movement, I check feeding times first because calling at the wrong time just means you are calling to empty woods.

Pick the Right Call Type and Avoid the Ones That Sound Fake

I have owned cheap calls that sounded like a kazoo and expensive calls that still did not fit my mouth.

I wasted money on $400 worth of ozone scent control that made zero difference, so now I am picky about gadgets.

A grunt call is one of the few tools that can actually change your hunt if you do it right.

My go-to is a simple tube call with a flexible mouthpiece and an adjustable tone band.

I want it to do a deep grunt without squealing when it is 34 degrees and my hands are stiff.

The Primos Original Can and the Primos Buck Roar both work, but they do different jobs.

The can is easy and consistent, but it can get you in trouble if you tip it too much and overcall.

The Buck Roar gives me more control on tone and volume, which is what pre rut needs.

I have had a Primos tube crack at the bell after two hard seasons in my pack.

I wrapped it with black tape and finished the year, then I bought another because it still sounded right.

Match Your Grunt to the Deer You Actually Have Around You

If your area is mostly does and small bucks, a super deep “old buck” grunt can spook them.

If your area has older bucks, a tiny squeaky grunt can get ignored.

This is not theory to me, because I hunt both ends of the spectrum.

On my 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois, I have seen mature bucks bristle at a deeper tone.

On public in the Missouri Ozarks, I see more 1.5 to 2.5 year old bucks, and they react better to a medium tone.

Here is what I do to split the difference.

I set the band to medium-deep, then I add “age” by grunting through my hand to make it rasp a little.

If you are new to deer terms, I laid it out in plain talk in what a male deer is called and it helps when guys start saying “buck,” “stag,” and “hart” like it matters in the woods.

And if you are trying to judge what you are shooting, this relates to how much a deer weighs because bigger bodies usually mean older deer, and older deer respond different.

Use a Grunt Call to Turn a Buck, Not to Drag Him 400 Yards

The biggest mistake I see is guys trying to call a buck across the county.

Pre rut calling works best as a steering wheel, not a tow strap.

Here is what I do when a buck is walking and I need him to take five more steps into my lane.

I grunt once, soft, then I stop and watch his feet.

If he stops and looks, I do not call again until he starts walking away.

Back in November 2019, the morning I killed my 156-inch typical in Pike County, I only grunted one time.

It was 29 degrees after a cold front, and he was already moving, so I did not need to beg him.

This connects to what I wrote about are deer smart because they learn patterns fast, especially on small parcels.

Decide If You Are Mixing in Rattling, or Keeping It Simple

Rattling plus grunting can be deadly in pre rut, but it can also blow a bedding area up.

The decision is about distance and cover.

If I am set up 80 yards off a bedding point with thick cover, I keep it to grunts only.

If I am on a ridge saddle or a field edge with 200 yards of hearing range, I might rattle lightly and then grunt once.

My buddy swears by rattling hard every 30 minutes in October.

I have found light tickling works better until I see real chasing, then I get more aggressive.

If you are hunting calm mornings, forget about loud rattling and focus on a single grunt timed when the woods is quiet.

If you are hunting a steady 12 mph wind, forget about whisper grunts and focus on enough volume to cut through it once.

Stop Overthinking “Doe Grunts” and Focus on Buck Mood

I see guys flipping calls to “doe bleat” mode in pre rut and expecting magic.

I still carry a bleat, but I treat it like salt, not the meal.

Here is what I do.

I grunt first, then I only bleat if I have a buck hung up at 70 to 120 yards that keeps scanning for the deer he heard.

Even then, I do one short bleat and I wait.

If you keep bleating, it can sound like a dying goat, and I have watched deer leave over that.

If you are trying to keep your deer talk straight, it helps to know what a female deer is called and what a baby deer is called

FAQ

What grunt call setting should I start with in early October?

Start medium-deep and soft, then do two 1-second grunts and wait 20 minutes.

If nothing reacts, do not crank volume right away, because you might already have deer close.

How often should I grunt during the pre rut?

I call every 30 to 45 minutes if the woods feels dead, and less if deer are already moving.

If I see deer, I only call to change their path or stop them.

Should I grunt louder on public land because deer are used to noise?

No, I grunt quieter on public because pressured deer swing downwind and leave fast.

My best public land spot is Mark Twain National Forest, and soft calling has worked better there for me.

Can a grunt call pull a buck out of a bedding area in the pre rut?

Sometimes, but it works best if he is already on his feet and checking does.

If he is locked down and bedded, calling usually just makes him circle and scent check.

Do I need a fancy grunt call to sound like a mature buck?

No, but you need a call that can go deep without squealing.

I would rather have a $15 tube I trust than a $45 call I hate blowing in the cold.

What if a buck answers my grunt but will not come in?

I stop calling and I assume he is trying to get downwind.

I watch my downwind edge and I get ready for him to pop out at 20 to 60 yards.

What I Do After I Grunt, So I Do Not Ruin the Setup

After I call in the pre rut, I go quiet and I hunt my downwind side like the deer is already there.

If you keep calling, you turn a curious buck into a suspicious buck.

Here is what I do in the Missouri Ozarks on public when I know a buck is close but I cannot see him.

I put my release on the string, I shift my feet slow, and I stare at the first downwind opening instead of the trail I “hope” he uses.

I learned the hard way that the best grunt in the world cannot save a sloppy tree setup.

Back in October 2006 on Mark Twain National Forest, I grunted at a buck and kept looking straight ahead like a rookie.

He came in silent, got my wind at 35 yards, and all I saw was a tail and a white throat patch leaving.

Decide If You Are Calling in the Morning or the Evening

This is a tradeoff, because buck mood changes with daylight and destination.

In the morning, I call less because bucks are often headed back to bedding and they do not want a fight on the way home.

In the evening, I call a little more because bucks are on their feet earlier in pre rut and they are looking for the first hot doe.

Here is what I do on my Pike County, Illinois lease in the first two weeks of October.

I call once between 5:10 and 5:40 PM, then I do not touch the tube again unless I see a buck.

When I am trying to time that evening movement, I check feeding times first because my best calling window is usually the same 45 minutes bucks start staging.

Here is what I do on cold mornings in Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country.

I skip blind calling and I save my grunts for a buck I can see cruising a bench or a saddle.

Make One Smart Adjustment for Wind, and Do Not “Panic Call”

Wind is the part guys ignore until it burns them.

If the wind is steady at 10 to 15 mph, I add a touch of volume and I keep the tone deep.

If the wind is swirling, I call less, because calling just speeds up the downwind check.

Here is what I do if the wind keeps bumping my left ear, then my right ear, then dead calm.

I stop calling and I move stands the next sit, because I would rather be quiet in the wrong tree than loud in the wrong tree.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer move in the wind because wind does not just change movement, it changes how they finish.

Pick a Realistic “Hearing Range” and Set Your Expectations

If you think your grunt is reaching 400 yards, you are lying to yourself.

In thick Ozark timber with leaves still on, my effective range is about 80 to 120 yards.

On more open ag edges like southern Iowa style timber strips, I might hit 150 to 200 yards on a still evening.

That is why I keep saying pre rut calling is a steering wheel.

If you want to drag deer long distance, you need location and timing, not louder plastic.

Use Gear That Holds a Setting, and Avoid the Calls That Drift

I like adjustable grunt calls, but only if they stay where I set them.

Some calls creep from “deep buck” toward “nasal squeak” after being bounced in a pack.

Here is what I do every time I climb a tree.

I blow one test grunt into my sleeve before legal light, then I do not mess with the band again.

I have used the Flextone Buck Grunt’r for a season and it sounded fine, but the tone slide felt loose after a month in my pocket.

I switched back to a Primos tube because it stayed put and did not surprise me at the worst time.

Decide If You Are Hunting a “Stopping Shot” Lane or a “Walking Shot” Lane

This choice changes how and when I grunt.

If my best lane is 20 yards and tight, I grunt to stop him behind cover so I can draw.

If my best lane is 30 yards and open, I do not stop him unless I have to, because a hard stop makes bucks look for the deer they heard.

Here is what I do with a bow in pre rut.

I let him walk into my best opening, then I mouth grunt or tube grunt soft to stop him for a 2 second window.

If you want the recovery part cleaner after the shot, it helps to know how to field dress a deer ahead of time, because the last thing I want is learning with a headlamp and cold hands.

Know When to Shut Up and Let Curiosity Work

Pre rut bucks are not always looking for a fight, but they are always checking weird stuff.

That is why I like the short tending grunt, then silence.

Silence is what makes them take five more steps to see the deer they “should” be hearing.

I learned the hard way that constant calling makes deer pin you like a speaker.

Back in October 2013 in the Missouri Ozarks, I grunted every 10 minutes on a dead calm evening.

A doe group came in, stared at my tree for 40 seconds, and they left like they had seen a ghost.

Do Not Let the “Big Buck Fantasy” Make You Call at the Wrong Deer

I love big antlers as much as anybody.

My first deer was an 8-point buck in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri with a borrowed rifle, and that still sits in my brain like a snapshot.

But pre rut calling at every deer you see can wreck your sit.

If a doe is feeding at 25 yards, I do not grunt at her hoping a buck appears.

I let her be, because she is my early warning system and my cover scent.

If you want a quick reminder on why deer catch on so fast, I point guys to are deer smart because it explains what I see every season on pressured ground.

FAQ

Should I use a grunt call before I see any deer in the pre rut?

Yes, but only if you have a reason like fresh rubs, a new scrape line, or you are hunting a travel funnel.

If the woods is dead and you have zero sign, I would rather sit quiet and save it for the last 90 minutes.

What does it mean if a buck grunts back at me?

It usually means he heard you and he cares enough to answer, but it does not mean he is coming straight in.

I assume he is circling downwind and I get ready for a side entrance at 20 to 80 yards.

Can I use a grunt call during a light rain in the pre rut?

Yes, and I call a little more in light rain because the woods is damp and sound does not carry as sharp.

This ties into why I watch where deer go when it rains because their travel routes shift and your calling spots should too.

Is a grunt call better than a bleat can in the pre rut?

For me, yes, because a grunt matches buck mood and it is easier to control volume and tone.

I still carry a bleat, but I treat it like a last little nudge, not the main plan.

Do older bucks respond different than young bucks to pre rut grunts?

Yes, older bucks tend to come in slower and they try harder to get your wind.

If you are trying to judge age and body, I still use how much a deer weighs as a rough clue because bigger bodies usually mean more caution.

How do I keep from calling a buck right out of the area?

Keep it deep, keep it short, and do not repeat it every few minutes.

If you think you overcalled, stop for 30 minutes and watch downwind, because sometimes they still come to check.

Where I Land on Pre Rut Grunt Call Settings

I hunt 30 plus days a year, and I still think most grunt calling mistakes are volume and timing, not brand names.

I stay on the buck end, I keep it low and short, and I only call when it can solve a problem.

I am not a guide, and I have messed this up plenty, including that 2007 gut shot that still bothers me.

But I have also watched good bucks commit on a single soft grunt, and that is why I keep one in my pocket every October.