There’s nothing like rut season to get folks reaching for their calls, and then wondering if they’re using the right one.
One of the questions I get the most is:
“Should I be using a doe bleat or a buck grunt right now?”
The answer?
It depends.
Both sounds work. But they do different things, and if you use the wrong one at the wrong time, you might be pushing deer away instead of pulling them in.
So let’s break down the deer call differences between doe bleats and buck grunts, and more importantly, when you should be using each one.
What’s the Difference Between a Doe Bleat and a Buck Grunt?
Buck Grunt
A grunt is a short, deep, throaty sound that bucks make year-round. During the rut, it’s usually used to signal dominance, trail a doe, or challenge another buck. You’ll hear more grunting the closer you get to peak rut.
What it says to deer:
“There’s a buck over here. He’s either following a doe or getting ready to fight.”
Doe Bleat
A bleat is a higher-pitched call that does use to communicate, especially when they’re in estrus or calling to fawns. During the rut, a bleat from an estrus doe is basically saying:
“Hey, I’m ready.”
What it says to deer:
“There’s a hot doe nearby.” And bucks come looking when they hear it.
When to Use a Buck Grunt
Grunts are more versatile than bleats. I use them throughout the season, but especially during. If you want to dig deeper, here’s how to use a grunt call effectively from beginner to advanced.
Pre-Rut
- Use soft to medium grunts to simulate a young buck poking around
- Can trigger curiosity or dominance from a nearby buck
Rut
- Use deeper, louder grunts to sound like a mature buck chasing does
- If you see a buck out of range, give a single grunt once he passes your position to make him circle back
Post-Rut
- One or two soft grunts can still pull in a worn-down buck looking for one last opportunity
Tip: Space your grunts out. You don’t need to grunt every five minutes. Make it count, make it real. Matching your deer calling cadence to the season makes all the difference.
When to Use a Doe Bleat
Bleats are great tools, but I’m more selective with when I use them.
Best Time:
Peak Rut, especially if you haven’t seen much action and you know bucks are cruising.
When I use a bleat:
- When I’m hunting near known bedding or travel routes
- When it’s calm and quiet, and I want to grab attention
- When I’ve seen a buck that’s still searching for does
How to use it:
- One or two bleats every 30–45 minutes
- Keep it subtle and realistic
- Combine with a grunt if you want to mimic a buck tending a doe
Caution: Don’t go crazy with it. Calling too much can hurt more than help, especially if it doesn’t match the behavior bucks expect.
Should You Use Both?
Absolutely, but with a plan.
I’ll often start with a bleat to suggest a doe is nearby, then follow up with a light grunt 30 seconds later. This combo mimics a buck trailing a receptive doe, and it’s pulled more than one big boy into range.
Pro tip: If you do this combo, be ready. They don’t always make noise coming in.
Final Thoughts
So which should you use: doe bleat or buck grunt?
Both work. The trick is knowing when, how often, and how loud to use each one. If you're still wondering about when to grunt at deer, I’ve got a full breakdown on timing and cadence that’ll help.
Doe bleats = attract attention
Buck grunts = provoke a response
Use them like tools in a toolbox, not toys in a toy box.
And if you’re looking for deer calls that sound right every time, check out our handmade deer grunts. I tune every one by hand to make sure they work like they’re supposed to when it matters most.
Good luck out there, and as always, hunt safe.
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