Mastering the Grunt Call: A Game-Changer for Big Woods Whitetail Hunting

Mastering the Grunt Call: A Game-Changer for Big Woods Whitetail Hunting

Grunt calls are an essential tool in my whitetail hunting arsenal—right behind my rifle and a sharp knife. But I didn’t always consider them a must-have. Like many hunters, I once believed grunt calls should be used sparingly, with advice from online sources suggesting intervals of 30 minutes to an hour between calls. However, a surprising discovery on my game camera one morning in Northern Maine completely changed my perspective and turned into one of the best teaching moments of my early big woods hunting career. 

A Lesson from the Big Woods

A couple weeks before the Maine rifle opener, I set up some game cameras along an active rub line to monitor buck activity. When I retrieved the cameras, I realized I had mistakenly set one camera to video mode instead of photos. Initially annoyed, my frustration quickly turned to fascination as I watched a 10-point big woods buck appear—not once, but three separate times.

Turning up the volume, I noticed something that contradicted everything I’d read online up until that point. The buck wasn’t grunting every “half hour”—he was vocalizing constantly, emitting short grunts with nearly every step. This behavior made me reconsider the standard advice geared toward stand hunters. If real bucks grunt this frequently, why shouldn’t I incorporate that into my still hunting and tracking strategy? Especially in the noisy, crunchy conditions we often face in the Northeast, mimicking a rival buck could be the key to success.

Putting the Grunt Call to the Test

November arrived, bringing a frosty morning where every step sounded like crunching potato chips. I set out for a spot I’d scouted on OnX, a location I believed might hold a mature buck. Fresh rubs and scrapes confirmed my suspicion, so I slowed my pace down to a creep and began using the grunt call just as I had observed the buck on my game camera—short grunts with every step or two. Step, crunch, grunt. Step, crunch, grunt.

After covering about 200 yards, crossing a brook, and cresting a small knoll, I paused for 30 seconds to scan the area. Movement caught my eye—30 yards ahead, a buck emerged from the brush. He stopped behind a blowdown, made a scrape, and worked over some alders, clearly coming to investigate my calls. When he stepped into the open, I took a well-placed shot just below the white patch of his throat and down he went. He ended up dressing out at 206 pounds. That hunt solidified my belief in this aggressive grunting strategy, and over the years, it has helped me harvest several more bucks and call in numerous others.

(206-pound big woods buck I grunted in using the “frequent grunt” technique)

Key Takeaways from Nearly a Decade of Using Grunt Calls in the Big Woods

How to Use It

The goal is to mimic a real buck’s movement and vocalization. Instead of walking at a steady human pace, take a few steps, grunt, and pause frequently—just like a deer naturally would. Step, crunch, grunt. Step, crunch, grunt. When stopped, let out a few additional grunts and listen for responses. Stay alert—bucks can approach from any direction and often times they’ll circle downwind. 

Don’t hesitate to be vocal—real bucks certainly aren’t!

Where to Use It

Pre-season scouting is extremely helpful, but this method also works when you stumble upon fresh sign mid-hunt. If you find an area with heavy buck sign—especially early in the season—there’s a strong chance bucks are still close by before the chasing phase of the rut fully kicks in. Positioning yourself on the downwind side of these areas maximizes your chances. While blind calling can and has worked for me, narrowing down the sheer vastness of the big woods by hunting the sign will dramatically increase your chances of success.

When to Use It

This technique shines on noisy days when moving quietly is nearly impossible—whether there’s snow or just dry, frosty ground. I’ve used it successfully throughout the entire season, from opening day of rifle to the last week of muzzleloader. The key factor isn’t the time of year, but whether a buck is within earshot (That’s why it’s important to hunt the sign). If he hears you and the wind is right, odds are he’ll investigate. Whether or not you’re able to get a shot is a different story and one you’ll experience as you grunt more bucks in. 

(I grunted this buck in while tracking him on crunchy conditions during the last week of Maine rifle season)

My Unique Approach

Many hunters view grunt calls as a tool for periodic use, but my experience has taught me otherwise. By incorporating short, frequent, natural-sounding grunts into my still hunting and tracking arsenal, I’ve consistently drawn in curious bucks every year I’ve used the technique. I believe it can work for you too. With practice, you’ll recognize how bucks react and fine-tune your approach for even better results.

If you’re discouraged with noisy conditions or looking for a new way to bring a big woods buck into range, give this method a try—you might just be surprised by the results.