Early season deer hunting requires a different approach to calling than during the rut. Bucks are not as aggressive during this time of year and spend most of their days feeding early mornings and late evenings when it is cooler, then slowly travel back to their bedding areas during mid-day. Therefore, hunters should not use aggressive calls during early season deer hunting. Instead, they should use subtle calls that mimic the sounds of deer in the area. Here are some deer calls that hunters can use during early season deer hunting:

• Contact Grunt: A contact grunt is a great way to let other deer know that a deer is in the area. When making a contact grunt, hunters are essentially saying, “hey, Im over here, Im a deer, whats up?".

• Fawn-Bleat Call: Fawn-bleat calls are a good choice for luring does into bow range, but they can also bring in a buck looking for company.

• Social Grunt: The most common sound for a buck is the social grunt. This is a call that bucks will make by grunting. It is nothing loud or exciting, instead, it is a subtle call that lets other deer know that a buck is in the area.

It is important to set up in an area where a buck can casually approach the call while staying hidden. A good old-fashioned timber setup is the ideal location for an early-season stand. Hunters should avoid using their grunt call aggressively and instead make two or three subtle social grunts to let other deer know that a buck is in the area.