Muntjac calling

[Moonraker68]

I'm off to a new high seat tonight to try for a muntjac, and am going to try calling for the first time. Any advice would be welcome; I have a choice of either a Buttalo or Hubertus call.
Thanks

 

[Kjf]

Try both , and see what happens,

they are are both great calls,

kjf

 

[EMcC]

I use a buttalo and on one occassion nearly got ran over by a charging Munty !

 

[Uncle Norm]

There are lots of old threads on this subject. It can work from a high seat but not the best. Don't overdo it, just three of four squeaks then leave it several minutes.
Keep a sharp lookout as they will stalk in very close making maximum use of cover.
If a Doe comes charging in, don't shoot her as she will have a youngster nearby. Calling Muntjac is a fascination of mine, so let us know how you get on please.

 

[nun_hunter]

I've called in a couple, both does. One was the other side of the boundary so just watched her as she barked. Away for 15 mins. The other came charging in to about 15m and took a round to the neck. She was quite heavily pregnant so I imagine she thought another mature female and kid were in her territory and she came to investigate. Never seen a buck let alone called one in.

 

[Uncle Norm]

I've called in a couple, both does. One was the other side of the boundary so just watched her as she barked. Away for 15 mins. The other came charging in to about 15m and took a round to the neck. She was quite heavily pregnant so I imagine she thought another mature female and kid were in her territory and she came to investigate. Never seen a buck let alone called one in.

With all wild animals one can not say 'never' nor 'always' and your exception perhaps proves the rule. I have only once had a doe charge in, that was obviously heavily pregnant and accompanied by a well grown fawn.
We shoot at least 4:1 bucks to does when calling, so it wont be long before you get a nice buck if you keep trying the call. Good luck .

 

[nun_hunter]

Always see evidence of muntjac about but have seen them only on 4 occasions and have called many times more. I'm out on Sunday eve so I'm sure I'll see something, most likely fallow. A roe buck or muntjac Buck would be ideal though.

 

[FISH BOY]

Called in a nice mature buck last week with the blatter.

See what happens tomorrow...

 

[rodp]

So, with a Buttalo do you use the high pitched squeak at the very end of a press. Never heard a munty let alone called one, but I have seen a couple over one shoot. Probably never heard one because I usually take my hearing aids out before shooting, expensive to lose.

 

[Cris]

I have done it successfully to the point of getting almost run down by a charging doe and had a buck stalk me to within 5 feet before I was aware he was there just off to my right with no chance of getting the rifle round on him. Just ended up staring each other down till he lost his nerve and gave me the flag!

 

[Moonraker68]

Thanks for the replies; I saw my first muntjac in this area in 1985, and although they are almost endemic around here, I have shot very few in comparison to roe. I wasn't lucky tonight (or more likely, my technique needs perfecting!) but I plan to be out again on Saturday.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for the replies; I saw my first muntjac in this area in 1985, and although they are almost endemic around here, I have shot very few in comparison to roe. I wasn't lucky tonight (or more likely, my technique needs perfecting!) but I plan to be out again on Saturday.

Calling using a buttolo has worked 3 times in the past, a young doe turned back after trotting away down a trail.

Also two bucks came out of cover around 3 mins apart to the call, all shot of sticks.

I must have sent the wrong call (which has me wondering) as a buck jumped straight back into cover around 150 yards away after I used it. I hung it in the hedge and waited....he wandered out only a 100 yards which was the wrong move.

Never any results from high seats using it, maybe my big fat welders hands are not in tune...lol


Tim.243

 

[Uncle Norm]

So, with a Buttalo do you use the high pitched squeak at the very end of a press. Never heard a munty let alone called one, but I have seen a couple over one shoot. Probably never heard one because I usually take my hearing aids out before shooting, expensive to lose.

Rod. My experience is not to use the final note as it seems to scare them off. I use a series of 4 or 5 short, quiet squeaks, then wait a few minutes before repeating. I usually give each location about 20 minutes before moving on. Always scan very carefully with binoculars before moving as one can be present but unseen.
I have found that calling from the rides doesn't work well. My method is to quietly enter the woodland block, creep about 40 yards in, then set up my sticks, with my back against a tree. Face mask and gloves to help hide movement, with rifle on sticks at the ready and wait a few minutes before you start calling. Keep movement to an absolute minimum and don't overdo the calling.

Muntjac will often creep in close and may try to get round behind you to get your wind too.

My ideal location is where light to medium cover is in front for 50 or 60 yards, with heavy cover in the background. Best results come from them leaving the heavy cover and approaching in the lighter cover, where I can spot the movement. Muntjac will seldom completely leave cover when coming to the call.

If you get one barking at you from cover, just give it the odd single squeak in response. Such a 'conversation' may go on for several minutes and you may get the chance of a shot if you can spot it as it barks. If you shoot one, don't move immediately, as there may be others present that you are not aware of. Try calling again, as I have shot more than one on such occasions.

Sometimes it works like a dream, other times they completely ignore me. I have never sorted out why. I think that is the main reason why trying to call them fascinates me so. I have shot a lot of Muntjac that came to the call over the past decades.

 

[Uncle Norm]

Thanks for the replies; I saw my first muntjac in this area in 1985, and although they are almost endemic around here, I have shot very few in comparison to roe. I wasn't lucky tonight (or more likely, my technique needs perfecting!) but I plan to be out again on Saturday.

Once you get your approach method and calling technique right, I am confident you will have success, particularly so if you have lots of Muntjac.
The main long-term problem that I have is that calling seems to attract a disproportionate number of bucks. Consequently there can be too many bucks getting shot, when it is the does that control the population. Our DMG has managed Muntjac in conservation woodlands since the 1990s and we need different approaches to achieve sufficient culls to keep the deer damage down. Calling is a valuable tool in your box, but one of many. Good luck

 

[Erik Hamburger]

I use a Buttalo call and find it results in a response from Roe (but not always a shot from me) about 50% of the time, generally during the rut, bucks and does, but I have had a Roe buck coming in as early as April once. The Buttalo has only ever resulted once in a Muntjac buck showing some interest. However, I know several stalkers who say they have more regular success with it.

 

[rodp]

Rod. My experience is not to use the final note as it seems to scare them off. I use a series of 4 or 5 short, quiet squeaks, then wait a few minutes before repeating. I usually give each location about 20 minutes before moving on. Always scan very carefully with binoculars before moving as one can be present but unseen.
I have found that calling from the rides doesn't work well. My method is to quietly enter the woodland block, creep about 40 yards in, then set up my sticks, with my back against a tree. Face mask and gloves to help hide movement, with rifle on sticks at the ready and wait a few minutes before you start calling. Keep movement to an absolute minimum and don't overdo the calling.

Muntjac will often creep in close and may try to get round behind you to get your wind too.

My ideal location is where light to medium cover is in front for 50 or 60 yards, with heavy cover in the background. Best results come from them leaving the heavy cover and approaching in the lighter cover, where I can spot the movement. Muntjac will seldom completely leave cover when coming to the call.

If you get one barking at you from cover, just give it the odd single squeak in response. Such a 'conversation' may go on for several minutes and you may get the chance of a shot if you can spot it as it barks. If you shoot one, don't move immediately, as there may be others present that you are not aware of. Try calling again, as I have shot more than one on such occasions.

Sometimes it works like a dream, other times they completely ignore me. I have never sorted out why. I think that is the main reason why trying to call them fascinates me so. I have shot a lot of Muntjac that came to the call over the past decades.

So the call is more of a "fart" noise than a squeak then?
Thanks for the reply

 

[Uncle Norm]

So the call is more of a "fart" noise than a squeak then?
Thanks for the reply

When one gets to a certain age best practice advice is to never trust a fart . Puckering up to produce a sufficiently high pitch would doubtless be more productive than one would wish . I'm sticking with the Buttolo blatter or Cherrywood calls, producing a nice quiet squeak and keeping my underpants clean too.

 

[Dudleys1]

This happened to me yesterday
i was calling on the edge of a wood when I heard a stamp behind me then movement in the cover then barking almost like a terrier, the bark settled to about one every 20 seconds so I just kept squeaking in between, light was fading so I took my rifle off the sticks and a small doe appeared and bolted the second I raised my gun, lessons to be learnt for me but really enjoying this, just before I took my rifle off the sticks as I was convinced the deer was not coming I got a short video of it barking but have no idea how to put it up.

 

[loosehead]

I've used both buttolo and a cherrywood one. I've found it quite hit and miss. Shot a few muntie bucks who've been very nosy when I've used them. They do work quite well if a muntie is meandering away from you. Stops it well and may prompt a half-turn to look back, giving you a decent shot. Good luck.

 

[geoffw]

I've had two muntjac bucks to the buttalo this last 2 weeks, both shot at 15m from a high seat as they came out into lighter cover, but not seen any does responding. Perhaps I should vary the note to see the effect. Will the does respond during the winter months to the right call? Any thoughts or advice welcomed please..