Bernie gives us valuable insight on the buck roar call.

 It was in the early 1980s when I first heard a buck make the loud guttural grunt that has become known as the “roar” or “growl,” depending on who is selling the call that tries to imitate that sound. Let’s just say it was the loudest, most distinctive grunt I had ever heard. It was an aggressive sound that would bring in a big buck if I could make it. I spent years trying to imitate that sound with grunt tubes but nothing worked, mostly because they turned into a squeak when I tried to get the necessary volume. Then Primos introduced the “Buck Roar” and I finally had a call in my hand that could make that sound.

In order to overcome the rushing wind on that November day in Iowa, with a buck 100 yards away, I blew into the Buck Roar as hard as I could, “BLAAAAAAAAAT!” Just like in the movies, the buck turned and walked right to the base of my tree where I watched my arrow slice between the ribs of my largest buck to date.

This call has limited application, but when it’s right, it’s super effective. Mature bucks on the prowl and looking for action simply cannot resist the urge to check out the source of the sound. The reason? Because bucks make this noise when they are in the presence of a doe in heat that won’t let them mount her. This is a frustration sound bucks make when they are just hours, sometimes minutes from being able to breed. Any buck who hears this sound knows it means a hot doe is in the vicinity. He is going to check it out.

To learn the other essential calls for deer, look for Bernie Barringer’s full article in the November issue of MidWest Outdoors magazine, available the first full week of November on the newsstand or by subscribing on the MWO website.