if one doe snorts, they all usually do: Use one of these tricks to stop them. Yep, deer season may be closed now in Michigan and many other states where whitetail deer are hunting, but I maintain that learning about deer and deer-hunting is a never-e

if one doe snorts, they all usually do: Use one of these tricks to stop them.

Yep, deer season may be closed now in Michigan and many other states where whitetail deer are hunting, but I maintain that learning about deer and deer-hunting is a never-ending endeavor, especially during the winter month.

It happens at least once every fall. A doe, and possibly one that has been shot at with a bow or been close to buck that was shot with an arrow, will start snorting for no apparent reason.

The doe is uncomfortable for whatever reason, and she begins blowing and snorting. If allowed to carry on forever, it could chase all the other deer from the area.

Snorting deer are a problem for every hunter. A few tricks can help.

There are a number of things that hunters can do. Nothing works all the time, but any of these little tricks can satisfy her curiosity. Once satisfied that all is well in her little corner of the world, she may move off or stick around but quit snorting and blowing.

One thing to try is a very soft buck grunt. Keep the tone soft, and blow it once or twice, and if she keeps snorting blow it a bit louder. It doesn't hurt to bang two antlers together once or twice to give the idea that what she thinks she has seen or heard is nothing more than one or two bucks getting ready for the run. Of course, don't bang antlers if she is in a position to spot your movements.

Many turkey hunters have learned that it's sometimes necessary to fool the hen, and if the hen comes to investigate, a spring gobbler won't be far behind. Many deer calls can be adjusted to give a doe or fawn bleat, and that is my second choice. It won't alarm an incoming buck, and it may fool the doe.

The fawn bleat alone can be an awesome call. Give one or two fawn bleats, and a snorting doe may charge in to determine the problem. A buck standing nearby but out of sight, having seen the doe move, may move in the same direction to check things out. Deer can be very curious, and at other times, are very cautious.

A deer that looks up in the trees may have seen a slight movement. If she continues to snort, try imitating the little pig-like grunting sound of a porcupine. I can make the sound but can't describe it to someone else. Anyone who has ever been close to a undisturbed quill pig can try to imitate the sound it makes as it moves around.

Make porcupine-like noises and drop some bard & deer calm down.

The sound is almost continuous, and scraping the bark slightly (if it can be done without being seen by the doe) will add to the realism. Does often will accept a porcupine on the ground or in the tree if they hear the noise and see and hear bark falling to the ground.

The same holds true for ruffed grouse. It's not uncommon to see grouse moving about in the bracken ferns just before sundown, and they too make a soft little cooing sound that is easily duplicated. It doesn't need to be exact but it does need to be soft.

I've had ruffed grouse fly up into the tree I'm sitting in, and prepare to roost there for the night. If they make that cooing little sound while in the tree, so much the better. However, if you move or try to come to full draw, the grouse will see the movement and flush loudly from the tree and that will blow most chances for a shot.

I've seen this work in just the opposite fashion. A buck will move into the area, startle the ruffed grouse, and it will explode loudly from cover, startling the deer. If the grouse lands in your tree, sit still and don't move.

If the bird flies 30 feet and lands in a different tree or on the ground, be ready for a shot because the buck will almost always follow the noisy flight of the bird. Wait until it turns its head to follow the flight, and when the head is turned, ease back, aim and shoot.

Watch ruffed grouse. If they flush near deer they don’t fly far.

As I said, nothing works every time with snorting does. I know people who can call turkeys with their voice, and sometimes the soft contented clucking of a hen turkey will put a snorting doe at ease.

Bow hunters need every trick they can master to fool deer. A snorting doe can be bad news, but occasionally it's possible for a hunter to turn this into an asset by giving the doe a sound she is accustomed to hearing. Figure out what she wants to hear, as so often holds true when calling turkey, and there is a good chance of fooling her.

Fool the doe, and it's no problem fooling a buck.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors