What’s the Best Way to Silence Snort-Wheeze Calls During Hunting?

Reducing Alerting Sounds

When using a snort-wheeze call, the goal is to mimic the sound of a buck in distress or warning other deer of potential danger. However, these calls can sometimes alert other animals to your presence, including other deer, hogs, and even predators. To minimize this risk, use a call with a pre-programmed snort-wheeze pattern, such as the “Distress” or " Warning" setting on a digital call. This can help you produce a more realistic sound without attracting unwanted attention.

Recording Your Own Calls

For a more authentic sound, try recording your own snort-wheeze calls. This can be done using a smartphone or digital recorder, and then played back through a speaker or electronic call. When recording, try to capture the sound of a buck snorting and wheezing in different scenarios, such as when it’s startled or during courtship. This will give you a more versatile library of sounds to use during hunting. When playing back your recordings, adjust the tone and volume to match the situation, and use a speaker or call with a good quality sound system to ensure the sound carries clearly.

Electronic Call Settings

When using an electronic call, pay attention to the tone and volume settings. Bucks have a highly developed sense of hearing, and can detect even slight variations in pitch and volume. Experiment with different settings to find the one that produces the most realistic snort-wheeze sound. Some electronic calls come with built-in settings for different types of sounds, such as “snort-wheeze” or “buck in distress.” Use these settings as a starting point, and then fine-tune the sound to match the situation.