Your pre-rut calling plan
The buck, the why, and the gear
The Setup
How to Call a Buck in the Pre-Rut
Late October is when calling starts to pay off. Bucks are moving more, checking scrapes, and paying attention to other deer. The trick is knowing which sound to use and when to stop.
This week’s gear notes come from Flextone, known for soft, flexible calls built to sound more like a real deer. Let’s get into it.
Grunt
Start With a Soft Grunt
As bucks start cruising in late October, a few soft grunts can turn one your way. The key is calling to a buck you can see, not grunting blind every few minutes.
Grunt once or twice and watch how he reacts. If he turns your way, put the call down and get ready.
Gear note
Flextone Headhunter’s Extractor
A slider moves between buck, doe, and fawn sounds, and it’s freeze-proof for cold mornings.
$19.92 Check price
Rattle
Turn It Up as the Rut Builds
Light sparring works early, but by late October you can add more noise. Rattle for 30 to 60 seconds, then wait a good while before the next sequence.
Be ready the whole time. Bucks often come in fast, or circle downwind to check things out before they show.
Gear note
Flextone Battle Bag Plus
Polymer sticks inside a rubber bag, built for anything from light sparring to a full rut fight.
$10.97 Check price
Challenge
When a Buck Hangs Up
Sometimes a buck stops just out of range and won’t come any closer. That’s when an aggressive grunt or a snort-wheeze can push him, because it sounds like another buck calling him out.
Use it sparingly. It can scare off younger bucks, so save it for a mature buck that’s already hung up.
Gear note
Flextone Buck Rage Plus
Comes with a Killer Wheeze call, and a tone bulb on the grunt call adds back pressure for growls and aggressive grunts.
$21.99 Check price
Dale’s Take
“Call to the buck you can see, not the one you hope is out there. Watch how he reacts, and let that tell you what to do next.”
Have you ever called in a buck during the pre-rut? Hit reply and tell me what worked.
Watch him first. Then call.
Dale Richey
Big Buck Journal
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