Extinguisher Deer Call vs Primos Comparison

Pick One Based on Your Season, Not the Hype.

If you want one call that covers 90% of whitetail talking, I’d buy a Primos (specifically a Primos Buck Roar) over the Extinguisher..

If you already know you like snort-wheeze and short, aggressive buck sounds in late October and November, the Extinguisher is worth owning..

I have hunted whitetails for 23 years, and I started with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12.

I still hunt 30-plus days a year, mostly bow, and I split time between a 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois and public land in the Missouri Ozarks.

The Real Decision. Do You Need “Easy Loud” Or “Easy Real”.

You are picking between two things here.

You are picking between a call that helps you sound like a buck right now, and a call that helps you sound like a buck after you practice.

Here is what I do when I test a call in the garage.

I record it on my phone from 20 yards away, then play it back at half volume, because that is how it sounds to a deer at 80 yards in timber.

The Primos stuff usually sounds “clean” faster.

The Extinguisher usually sounds “mean” faster.

If you are hunting the Missouri Ozarks in thick cover, forget about “loud” and focus on “natural tone”.

If you are hunting edge cover over beans in Pike County, Illinois, forget about “perfect tone” and focus on “reach”.

Extinguisher Deer Call. Buy It If You Like Aggression.

I am not going to pretend the Extinguisher is magic.

It is a tool that is best when you are already in the mood to get a buck mad.

Here is what I do with an aggressive call.

I only use it after I have a reason, like a fresh rub line, a hot scrape that is wet, or a buck that just hung up at 70 yards.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, the morning after a cold front, I had a buck stiff-leg at 60 yards and stare a hole through me.

I hit him with a short grunt, then a snort-wheeze, and he turned like I insulted his mom.

I killed that buck, and he taped 156 inches typical.

The Extinguisher style of calling fits that moment.

My buddy swears by aggressive calling from the first week of October, but I have found that it burns spots out fast on public land.

In places like Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country, pressure makes deer act like they have PhDs.

This connects to what I wrote about are deer smart because the older bucks learn what “fake” sounds like quick.

Primos Calls. Buy Them If You Want Consistency.

Primos makes a bunch of calls, and some are better than others.

For buck vocal stuff, the Primos Buck Roar is the one I actually keep in my pack.

Here is what I do with a grunt tube style call.

I set the tube to deeper than I think I need, then I soften my air and “talk” through it instead of blasting it.

I learned the hard way that loud calling covers up bad timing.

Back in 2007 in the Missouri Ozarks I got impatient, called too much, then gut shot a doe and pushed her too early and never found her.

That is a tracking mistake, but it came from the same problem, which is me trying to force an outcome.

If you want to tighten up your shot choices, read why I aim the way I do in where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks.

Primos calls are not perfect, but they are forgiving.

Forgiving is what I want when I have my kids with me and I am trying to keep things simple.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If it is October 10 to October 25 and you have not seen a buck yet, do light grunts with a Primos and shut up fast..

If you see a buck bristle up, turn broadside, and stare into cover, expect he is looking for the “other buck” and he might circle downwind..

If conditions change to peak rut with does being chased and bucks running, switch to short aggressive sequences with the Extinguisher, then be ready to shoot in 30 seconds..

Big Mistake To Avoid. Calling With No Cover For The Downwind Swing.

Most bucks do not walk straight in like a turkey.

They swing downwind, and they do it fast.

Here is what I do before I ever call.

I pick a lane on my downwind side and I pre-range it, like 22 yards, 31 yards, 38 yards.

I also set my body so I can draw without moving my feet.

If you are hunting a funnel on public land in the Mark Twain National Forest, forget about calling from the middle of it.

Focus on calling from the side, where the buck has to expose himself to check the wind.

When I am trying to plan that setup, I check deer habitat because terrain and cover decide where that downwind circle happens.

Tradeoff. Extinguisher Can Pull A Fighter. Primos Can Pull A Curious Buck.

This is the best way I can say it without making it complicated.

The Extinguisher is a “come fight me” tool, and Primos is a “come check me out” tool.

In southern Iowa over big ag fields, I have watched bucks cover 250 yards to a deep grunt on a calm, cold evening.

In the Missouri Ozarks, I have watched the same kind of buck stop at 90 yards and try to wind me for two minutes straight.

If you are hunting thick timber and swirling wind, forget about aggressive calling every 15 minutes.

Focus on one short sequence, then let the woods settle for 20 minutes.

This ties into how movement changes because I watch do deer move in the wind before I decide if I will call at all.

What I Actually Carry. One Buck Call, One Doe Sound, And I Stop There.

I burned money on gear that did not work before I learned what matters.

The worst was $400 on ozone scent control that made zero difference for me.

Now I keep my calling simple so I do not fidget and screw up a draw.

Here is what I do in my pack.

I carry one grunt tube, one bleat can, and I leave the rattling horns at home unless it is the right week.

For Primos, I like the Buck Roar, and for bleats I have used the Primos Original Can for years.

I have tried off-brand bleat cans that stuck in the cold and sounded like a dying goose.

In late season in the Upper Peninsula Michigan, cold turns cheap plastic into junk fast.

If you want to understand why some days deer seem to vanish, I look at deer feeding times before I blame my call.

Product I’d Buy. Primos Buck Roar For Most Guys.

The Primos Buck Roar is the one I suggest to a new caller because it is hard to mess up.

It is usually around $20 to $30, it is loud enough for field edges, and it does not take a month to learn.

I learned the hard way that complicated calls make you practice less.

If you do not practice, you blow deer out, then you blame the call.

Product I’d Add Later. Extinguisher For Hang-Ups And Late October Ego Bucks.

I do not think the Extinguisher should be your only call.

I think it is a second call for a very specific problem, which is a buck that wants to posture but will not commit.

Here is what I do when a buck hangs up.

I wait until he looks away, then I hit one short grunt, one snort-wheeze, and I shut up and get my bow up.

If he does not react in 60 seconds, I stop calling for good.

The biggest mistake is calling again because you “almost had him”.

That is how you teach him.

Calling Strategy That Works. Match The Sound To The Deer In Front Of You.

I do not blind call much anymore on pressured ground.

I use calling as a closer, not a locator.

Here is what I do on my Pike County lease in November.

I start with silence for the first 45 minutes of daylight, because deer are already moving and I do not want to stop them to “listen”.

Then I use one soft grunt if I see a buck cruising out of range.

If he turns his head and keeps walking, I let him go and I do not educate him.

In the Missouri Ozarks, where sight lines are 40 yards, I call even less.

I set up tighter to sign and let them walk into bow range.

If you want the basics on buck and doe behavior during breeding, this connects to deer mating habits because calling works best when bucks are actually looking for trouble.

Another Mistake To Avoid. Thinking Calls Fix Bad Setups.

If your access is loud, your wind is wrong, or your stand is in the open, a call will not save you.

It will just make deer stare at the exact tree you are in.

Here is what I do instead.

I spend my effort on getting in clean, hanging quiet, and having one good shooting lane at 20 yards.

My best cheap investment is still my $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons.

Those sticks got me into more right trees than any fancy call ever did.

If you get busted and you are tempted to “call him back”, forget about that.

Focus on backing out and hunting him a different wind the next sit.

This ties into my take on deer reactions because I reference how fast can deer run

FAQ

Which is better for early season, Extinguisher or Primos?

Primos is better early because you can stay subtle and not sound like a buck looking for a fight.

In September and early October, I want curiosity, not combat.

Can an Extinguisher call scare deer away?

Yes, if you rip it loud in tight timber or on pressured public ground.

I have watched bucks in Buffalo County, Wisconsin stop dead at 80 yards and melt out after an aggressive snort-wheeze.

What Primos call should I actually buy for whitetails?

I would start with the Primos Buck Roar, then add a simple bleat can later if you want it.

If you only buy one, buy the one you will practice with in the truck and not feel silly doing it.

When should I use a snort-wheeze instead of a grunt?

I use snort-wheeze in late October through peak rut when I see a buck that is already acting dominant.

If he is relaxed and just browsing, I stick to a soft grunt or I stay quiet.

How often should I call while sitting a stand?

I call way less than most guys think, like once or twice in a 3-hour sit unless I see a deer.

I learned the hard way that constant calling makes the woods feel wrong, especially on public land.

Do doe bleats help, or are they a gimmick?

They help during pre-rut and rut when bucks are checking does, but they are not a remote control.

If you want the language right, I still think it matters to know what you are calling, and I keep what is a female deer called

Next I am going to get specific about how I run these calls in three exact setups, including a field edge, a timber saddle, and a Ozarks ridge point.

I am also going to lay out the “one call sequence” I use when a buck is cruising at 70 yards and I have less than 10 seconds to make a decision.

Three Setups Where These Calls Actually Matter.

I do not care what a call can do in your living room.

I care what it does in a real setup with real wind and a buck that has been shot at before.

Setup 1. Field Edge Buck At 70 Yards. Decide If You Want To Turn His Head Or Turn His Feet.

This is Pike County, Illinois stuff for me.

Beans cut, standing corn on one side, and a thin ditch line that bucks use like a hallway.

Here is what I do when a buck is cruising at 70 yards and I have 10 seconds.

I check wind on my face, then I decide if I can kill him if he turns downwind of me.

If I cannot cover the downwind lane, I do not call at all.

I learned the hard way that calling a buck you cannot shoot is just training him.

Back in November 2018 on my Pike County lease, I called at a buck on a field edge with no downwind cover.

He did exactly what a mature buck does, circled, hit my scent at 38 yards, and I never saw him again that season.

In this field-edge setup, Primos is my first pick.

I give one deeper grunt on the Buck Roar, then I shut up and get ready for him to angle in.

If he pins his ears and starts walking stiff, that is when the Extinguisher makes sense.

That is the tradeoff.

Primos turns his head more often, and Extinguisher turns his attitude more often.

When I am trying to time that field movement, I check deer feeding times first because a buck that is headed to food has a shorter fuse for detours.

Setup 2. Timber Saddle With Short Sight Lines. Decide If You Want “Natural” Or “Noticeable”.

This is Missouri Ozarks hunting for me.

Oak flats, a little saddle, and you might only see 40 yards through the brush.

If you are hunting this, forget about long calling sequences.

Focus on one sound that does not make the whole woods go silent.

Here is what I do in tight timber with a Primos call.

I make the grunt softer than I think it needs to be, and I angle the tube down at my boot.

That keeps it from echoing and sounding fake.

My buddy swears by snort-wheezing in the timber because “they can’t see you anyway”.

I have found that aggressive sounds in close cover get you busted faster, especially on pressured public land.

This ties into how deer react to weather because I watch where do deer go when it rains to decide if I should even bother calling in the timber.

If rain just stopped and everything is quiet, I go even softer.

If the wind is ripping and leaves are loud, I might add a second grunt because nature is covering my noise.

Setup 3. Ozarks Ridge Point. Decide If You Are Using A Call As A Closer Or A Locator.

My best public land spot is still Mark Twain National Forest, but it takes work.

The ridge points look the same until you sit enough of them to see patterns.

Here is what I do on a ridge point in late October.

I sit just off the tip where I can cover the leeward side, and I let deer move first.

I do not use a deer call like an elk bugle.

I use it like a last nudge when I already know a buck is close.

If I blind call up there, I keep it to a single Primos grunt every 30 minutes.

If I hear chasing, grunting, or I see a buck dogging a doe, then I consider the Extinguisher.

That is the exact condition it depends on.

It depends on whether bucks are already looking for a fight, or just traveling.

When I am trying to read how a buck will react in that terrain, I re-check are deer smart because mature bucks on public land learn fast and punish bad calling.

The One Call Sequence I Use At 70 Yards. Make The Decision Fast, Then Stop.

I do not freestyle calling anymore.

I stick to one short sequence so I do not talk myself into mistakes.

Here is what I do if I have a buck at 70 yards and he is moving across my front.

I give one grunt, then I watch his ears for 2 seconds.

If he flicks an ear or turns his nose, I say nothing else.

If he ignores it and keeps walking, I give one louder grunt and that is it.

If he bristles up or postures, I might add one snort-wheeze with the Extinguisher, then I shut up and get my bow up.

I learned the hard way that the third sound is usually the one that ruins it.

Back in November 2016 in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I had a decent buck coming down a logging bench.

I grunted, he stopped, and instead of letting him commit, I grunted again and he spun out like I slapped him.

If you want to understand why bucks react so hard sometimes, I think it helps to read do deer attack humans because deer are not “mean”, but they are wired to avoid weird threats.

A Gear Tradeoff Most Guys Miss. One Call Is Quiet In Your Pocket, The Other Is Not.

This sounds dumb until it costs you a deer.

Noise in the stand ruins more sits than “bad calling”.

Here is what I do so my calls do not rat me out.

I tape my call lanyard knots and I do not let hard plastic swing and click on my zipper pull.

I also keep one call in a chest pocket so I can reach it without looking.

I wasted money on fancy accessories and scent junk before I started fixing basic stuff like noise.

That $400 ozone scent control taught me a lesson I did not want to learn.

It is easier to be quiet and play the wind than it is to “buy” your way out.

Kid Factor. Decide If You Want Simple Or “Cool”.

I take my two kids hunting now, so I see this up close.

Kids love making deer noises, and they also love overdoing it.

Here is what I do when I hand a call to a new hunter.

I give them a Primos call and one rule, which is one grunt only when I say so.

If you are hunting with a beginner, forget about aggressive calling tools.

Focus on a call that is hard to mess up, because confidence matters.

If you are teaching basics, it also helps to get your deer language right, and I point new hunters to what is a male deer called so they stop calling every deer a “buck”.

So What Should You Do Next.

If you already bought a call and you feel unsure, practice one sound for 10 minutes a night for 7 nights.

Record it on your phone, then listen like a deer, not like a hunter.

If you are still deciding, I would buy the Primos Buck Roar first, then add the Extinguisher later for the weeks when buck egos are high.

I have lost deer I should have found and found deer I thought were gone, and I can tell you this is true.

A call will not fix a bad wind, and it will not fix a bad shot.

But used at the right moment, it will turn a 70-yard buck into a 22-yard shot you can actually make.