Deer calls...do you use them? Prefered kind?

[Lobo41]

I'm a reletivly new hunter here in PA. I hunt both the bow and rifle season. I was wondering how many people on here use deer calls. Are they usefull on public land? What are the better and easier types/brands to get started with? My GFs Dad uses calls but he has 3 or 4 that he carries with him and I'd really rather not have that much more stuff to keep track of. Any thoughts or help on the matter? Thanks guys.

[dartagnan]

I'm a reletivly new hunter here in PA. I hunt both the bow and rifle season. I was wondering how many people on here use deer calls. Are they usefull on public land? What are the better and easier types/brands to get started with? My GFs Dad uses calls but he has 3 or 4 that he carries with him and I'd really rather not have that much more stuff to keep track of. Any thoughts or help on the matter? Thanks guys.

In the past I have not used calls. I'm afraid if I don't use the call right, all I'm doing is scaring away any deer in the area. This year I am going to give it a shot. This will be my first year archery hunting. I live in 5d and have family in 5c. I will be able to hunt a large area September 15 through the end of January. Between this big window and using the internet for reference, I hope to refine my calling skills.

I will also try rattling.

[chrmm22sr]

I dont bother with calls in crowded public lands you might end up the target!! I will use rattling antlers if the woods seem empty theyre easy to use in the Rut and anyone can bang a few rattleing antlers

[A-5]

Rattle bag, and grunt calls are a must from about 3 weeks into October until the end of the season. A fawn bleet, and a mature doe calls should be carried also.

[chrmm22sr]

Not if hes not famiular with how to use them he will just spook any deer within range

Id say all the above calls are great if you learn to use them if not just use a rattle bag or antlers

[A-5]

These are not turkey calls they are not hard to use and can be perfected in about 30 seconds. Watch the hunting shows or look up how to call online. It is about the easiest thing in hunting. All you need is the right cadence 3 grunts with a second in between is just fine. All you do is blow into the grunt call nothing more, and the bleet can is really hard turn it over and it makes the bleet sound.

[chrmm22sr]

I never said it was hard to learn. I think he would benifit from using them after learning to use them I tought my 6 year old to use a turkey slate call and he does the squerill calls for when we go small gaming so OP calls can be easily learned as the above poster has stated

[thefirstndsecond]

No scent. No calls. Just one with the woods. Silence........

[bogey1]

These are not turkey calls they are not hard to use and can be perfected in about 30 seconds. Watch the hunting shows or look up how to call online. It is about the easiest thing in hunting. All you need is the right cadence 3 grunts with a second in between is just fine. All you do is blow into the grunt call nothing more, and the bleet can is really hard turn it over and it makes the bleet sound.

A friend of mine was using one last year. It sounded like a goose getting hit by a car
Yo ed, WTF? Your going to scare the deer away, ahh, it'll work....
Can you hunt about three hundred yrds "that way"?

[newhunter2012]

No scent. No calls. Just one with the woods. Silence........

I'm a new hunter so this is a genuine question,

how well does your approach, quoted above, work? Furthermore, what tips do you have to maximize its effectiveness?