My favorite deer caller is going to be the Illusion Extinguisher because it sounds very realistic and is also versatile because it can mimic the calls of all the deer types which include the fawn, doe and a buck.
When hunting deer, you must be willing to wait a couple of hours before there is some activity. There is also the chance that you will wait for the whole day without any activity at all.
I think you can you agree with me.
This is just something that you must accept as a hunter. Sometimes you will have good days, and some days it will be better to stay at home. There is nothing worse paying for a hunting trip and not even spotting one animal.
This problem is about to end.
Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to improve your chances of spotting some deer. Some of it might include scents, night vision scopes, and even deer callers.
Deer callers are going to be the focus for today as I am going to reveal the 10 best deer callers on the market today. Please take in mind that I am not going to cover antlers as they have never worked for me in the past.
Here is what I will cover:
I am going to reveal my top ten callers for both the doe and buck. I am also going to give each one a difficulty level from beginner to intermediate to expert. There will also be a buying guide next that will make you a deer calling pro in no time.
How to Choose the Right Deer Caller (Beginners Guide)
Choosing the right deer caller does not need to be that hard. If you have zero experience regarding deer callers, then this guide will help you a lot.
These callers, in general, are also not that expensive compared to some of the other high tech products related to hunting. So there is not an excuse not to have one as they can make or break your hunting experience.
In this guide, I will go over three areas that you need to understand before buying a deer callers. These areas include the type of caller, the gender that it attracts and also the ease of use.
Let’s start with the types available.
1. There are 3 types of callers available
The types will include electrical callers, air callers and also mechanical callers. I will discuss each one below:
a) Electrical callers
This type of caller makes the use of sound recording to call the deer. This type is also the easiest to use as you do not need to learn how to produce the calls yourself.
There are two cons that you also need to take into consideration. The first con is the sound quality. Some of the electrical callers will produce the same sound over and over again. The problem is that the deer will start to get used to the calls made.
It is also important to note that you have insufficient control over the calls which can become monotonous. The second con is that these devices need to use batteries. If buying batteries is not a problem for you, then you might want to scratch this con off of your list.
If you decided on electrical callers, then I would highly recommend the Cass Creek Ergo Deer Call.
b) Air callers
This type of caller makes the use of a mouthpiece where you need to blow through to make a sound. This type is much harder to use, but you have more control over the sounds that you make. The sounds will also not become monotonous such as that of the electrical callers.
The only problem with this type is that it might take more experience and some practice to perfect. You will need to learn all of the call types and how to reproduce them with the caller.
If you want to have more control and are willing to learn how to use the caller, you can have a look at the Illusion Extinguisher which also comes with a DVD that will show you the ropes.
c) Mechanical callers
This type of caller does not make the use of speakers or blown air to produce a sound. This type of caller makes the use of gravity and rubber that will provide the sounds.
To be honest, I am not sure how they work precisely so I will have to show you what I mean.
This product is straightforward to use and does not require any practice or training. If you are interested in this type of caller, then I would highly recommend the Primos The Original CAN which creates calls of does in estrus.
2. The gender it attracts
To attract a gender, you need to use the right call. Your timing also needs to be right.
a) Doe in estrus
For attracting bucks, you will either need to use a call that represents a doe that is in estrus during rut season. This mating call will draw in the bucks that want to reproduce.
What is better than a doe calling to mate?
If you are a buck, then it is important to note that you are not the only male in your area. So if a doe in estrus calls for a mate, then you need to hurry before another buck takes your place.
Watch the video below on how to do just that:
To further amplify the effect, you can follow the bleating doe in estrus with a buck that is ready to mate. This tactic will make the buck more desperate because now he needs to compete with another “fake” buck that you brought in.
b) Aggressive buck call
Another tactic that you can use is the aggressive buck call. This call is designed to draw dominant buck into the area.
Like all males in the wild (and in society) there is always an alpha male that needs to protect his right to breed, and this tactic is one of the best ways to bring that alpha male closer toy your crosshair.
The aggressive grunt from the buck can also bring in curious does for that matter.
c) Fawn in distress
Another call that most people forget is the fawn in distress. This call will mimic a fawn that is being left behind. This call can draw in dominant bucks that want to protect their herd or the mothering instinct of a mature doe.
3. Ease of use
Knowing when to use the right call will take some experience to muster, that is if you execute it correctly. Also knowing HOW to use the caller will affect how productive your call will be. To do this correctly, you need to understand the deer language.
This aspect of the call will require some training on how to generate buck or doe calls that are realistic enough. The mechanical and electrical calls will already be built into the caller, so you do not need to learn these calls by heart.
The air callers are a different story.
Luckily that are some air callers that also have some form of “memory” that you can use that will help you make your call more realistic. Some callers have built-in preset options that you can choose from that makes this process easier. You will also note that I will give a difficulty level to each caller which are the beginner, intermediate and even the expert levels.
a) Beginner level
The beginner level is best for those hunters that are new to deer calling. For the beginner levels, I will recommend the electric or mechanical calls as they require no experience to produce realistic sounds.
The best beginner caller is the Primos The Original CAN.
b) Intermediate level
Hunters that already know how each call sound like but do not yet know how to create them effectively will benefit from the callers in this category.
The callers that I recommend for this category is those that have built-in options that you can choose from which makes it easier. These callers will also give you more controls over that of the mechanical and electrical callers.
The best caller in this level is the Illusion Extinguisher.
c) Expert level
The expert level represents callers that do not have any built-in options to choose from which makes it harder for the beginner to start.
These callers will give you complete control but are also the hardest to use. Most of them have a flexible tube that you can use to change the volume or pitch of the call.
These callers are also the least expensive as they have a straightforward build. The best caller in this category is the Primos Hardwood Grunter.
#1 Illusion Extinguisher
Best For: This product is best for those hunters that want full control and also an all-in-one caller that covers all types of deer.
For this article, the Extinguisher Deer Call is going to be my favorite, and you will soon learn why. This caller can mimic a fawn, doe and a buck which is excellent for when you do not want to carry more than one caller. The way to use it is to blow through the mouthpiece and then control the volume and pitch with your opposite hand. I must also add that this caller sounds very realistic.
This product has a Modislide that enables you to quickly switch between all three deer types by moving the slider up or down. This caller comes with an instructional DVD that will teach you everything you need to know on how to use this product. This DVD will show you how to make each call type on how to speak the full deer language.
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#2 Bucgrunter
Best For: Best for hunters that prefer only to mimic bucks and wants to save money.
If you are a hunter that wants to mimic bucks and also want to save money, then the Bucgrunter is for you. It is similar to the Extinguisher in regards to the fact that you have to blow through the mouthpiece. This product has a flexible tube that you can use to channel the sound in any direction. It is essential to keep in mind that you can only use this product to call bucks. You can also cup your hands on the end to change the volume and the pitch. You will even get an instruction manual that will show you how to use this caller.
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#3 Primos The Original CAN
Best For: Best for beginners that want to mimic a doe in estrus.
If you want access to a caller that requires to skill and also mimics a doe in estrus, then The Original CAN from Primos is for you. This product is straightforward to use and only needs you to turn it upside down. This action will then make a noise similar to that of a bleating doe in estrus which is very powerful in attracting mature bucks for mating. The top and bottom will also be rubberized for non-slip use. This product is ideal for drawing in bucks during all the phases of the rut. This product can be used for most deer species such as the whitetail, mule and blacktail deer.
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#4 Cass Creek Ergo Deer Call
Best For: This product is best for hunters that prefer an electronic caller that is suitable for hunting the entire herd.
If you are into electronic callers for deer hunting, then the Cass Creek Ergo Deer Call is for you. This caller is different than most callers on the market where it makes use of real recorded sounds of deer. It has five different sounds to choose from which include the buck grunt, snort tending grunt, lost fawn and rattling antler. This product makes use of 3 AAA batteries. This product is also straightforward to use as no training is required. It is also not that expensive compared to what it can do and can be used for hunting the entire herd.
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#5 Primos Hardwood Grunter
Best For: For experienced hunters that want full control over the calls.
For a good quality call that can work for the entire herd, I will recommend the Primos Hardwood Grunter. This caller is suitable for both the buck and doe with regards to the type of calls. They manufactured the mouthpiece of this product from hardwood which gives it a more natural look. This product has only one problem, and that is the ease of use. With this product, you will need to adjust the hose to change your call, and this will require some practice getting to the right call. This is the reason why I recommend this product to expert callers that already know their sounds.
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#6 Primos Hunting SpeakEasy
Best For: Best for beginner hunters that are looking for electronic callers.
If you did not like the Cass Creek Ergo Deer Call but you would still like to have an electronic deer caller, then the Primos Hunting SpeakEasy is for you. This caller is also an electronic caller that is very easy to use. It has up to six different calls to choose from which include Buck Grunt, Buck Roar, Challenge Wheeze, Estrus Bleat, Fightin Horns and also Tree Rubbing.
This variety will allow you to hunt for the entire group instead of only the buck or doe. It makes the use of 1 AAA battery, and the calls can reach up to 50 yards in the distance. The only minor problem I had with this caller is that the quality of the calls was not authentic enough. This can be expected from most electronic callers.
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#7 Flextone Buck Commander Rut Hunter
Best For: Best for deer hunters that want an easy to use callers that will also give you more control over the calls.
The Flextone Buck Commander Rut Hunter is very similar in form and function than the Illusion Extinguisher which was my favorite. This product can mimic the call of a buck and also that of a doe. You can use this product by blowing into the mouthpiece and also squeezing the end part to change the volume and pitch. There is a “D” button that you can press that will allow you to perform a desperate doe bleat. This product is not that hard to use but will require some training at first learning the calls.
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#8 Primos Up Roar
Best For: This product is best for beginners that want the most realistic caller that can attract the whole herd.
If you want an easy-to-use caller that is best suited for calling the entire herd, then you will love the Primos Up Roar. This caller has three calls which are estrus bleat, wheeze, and aggressive grunt. This caller makes use of 3 chambers where each one will produce their sound. The great thing about this setup is that the sound will also be more consistent. This caller also sounds very realistic and is not that hard to use. This product will be the second best product in this listing due to its abilities and ease of handling.
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#9 Extreme Dimension iHunt XSB
Best For: Is best for hunters that would like to involve their iPhone in calling deer.
For those hunters that want the most versatile electronic caller, I would highly recommend the iHunt XSB. This caller will connect to your iPhone via Bluetooth. You can then download the iHunt app to your phone and use it through the caller which is like a speaker. The best part is that you will have access to over 700 calls which also covers 50 species which is not limited to deer. This caller makes use of 4 standard AA batteries. The only problem that I could find is that you can become overwhelmed by using a large speaker and phone at the same time which can be a handful.
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#10 Hunters Specialties Nemesis
Best For: Best for hunters that want an easy-to-use caller that has more than one buck call.
- Entire Herd
- Beginner
If you want further differentiate between different buck calls, then you will love the Hunters Specialties Nemesis. This caller can call both the buck and does but has three options for the buck and one for the doe bleats. The three buck options will include the young buck, mature buck and also the rutting buck. What I loved about this caller was the ease of use. You need to twist the mouthpiece to select your call and the blow into the mouthpiece to generate the desired sound. There is also a tube on the end that you can move around to change some of the sounds. The only problem with this product is how easy it is to take apart.
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Deer Caller Comparison Table
| Product Name | Type | Difficulty Level | Price |
| 1. Illusion Extinguisher (Top Pick) | Entire herd | Intermediate | $$ |
| 2. Bucgrunter (Least Expensive) | Buck | Expert | $ |
| 3. Primos The Original CAN | Doe | Beginner | $$$$ |
| 4. Cass Creek Ergo Deer Call | Entire herd | Beginner | $$ |
| 5. Primos Hardwood Grunter | Entire herd | Expert | $ |
| 6. Primos Hunting SpeakEasy | Entire herd | Beginner | $$$ |
| 7. Flextone Buck Commander Rut Hunter | Entire herd | Intermediate | $$ |
| 8. Primos Up Roar | Entire herd | Beginner | $$ |
| 9. Extreme Dimension iHunt XSB | Entire herd | Beginner | $$$ |
| 10. Hunters Specialties Nemesis | Entire Herd | Beginner | $$ |
Whats next?
There is not much else that I can say about deer callers. These gadgets are very inexpensive which makes it even more awarding when you finally spot the trophy buck that you have waited for the whole season.
Do you have any experience when it comes to deer calling?
Please share with us some of your knowledge and also which caller you would recommend.
How effective are these calls for blacktail and mule deer?
I live on the West Coast and usually hunt pre rut (Sept/Oct). Can these calls be effective at bringing in a buck?
For the price, I think it would be worth the $$ to just try it out and see for myself. But I thought I would ask in case you had some experience with these calls on blacktail and mule deer.
Thanks!
Most of them will be useful for Blacktail deer. If you want to bring in the buck, then the Bucgrunter or the Primos Hardwood Grunter would be good options.