Gesundheit: When to Use the Deer Snort Wheeze

Seasons ranging from as early as September to as late as February, using archery gear and modern firearms, and some seasons restrict you to older firearms like a flintlock muzzleloader. With these many different season dates and harvest methods, it is no wonder many hunters go after this wonderful, majestic, and elusive creature.

I have been hunting whitetails in Iowa since I was a young boy at 13 years old, with my late grandfather and one of his best friends. I have hunted our archery season, shotgun season, and late season with a muzzleloader over the course of the last 19 years. Each season has its challenges and its perks, and I have learned a lot throughout the years.

Our archery season is my favorite as it runs from October 1st through (depending on the year) the first couple of days in December. This allows hunters to hunt during the pre-rut, rut, and post-rut with archery gear, which offers a wide range of tactics for harvesting deer. 

This leads to our topic of when to use a deer snort wheeze call. Let's get into what it is and when to use it for your next deer hunt.

What Is the Deer Snort Wheeze?

I have often used a snort wheeze when hunting bucks in the later part of the pre-rut, rut, and early part of the post-rut here in Iowa. It can be a very useful call, but it can also be the call that ruins a hunt in a heartbeat.

The snort wheeze is a very specific call used to bring bucks into range. It is a very aggressive call used by agitated bucks ready to fight another buck over a doe in heat.

If you have an aggressive buck in your area, using the snort wheeze could very well be your ticket to bringing him in close and punching your tag! But if you use a snort wheeze on a younger buck or a nonaggressive buck, you could end up watching him walk right out of your life.

I have personally used the snort wheeze on bucks that I was able to see and during blind calling (calling to deer you do not see) and have had success both ways. The snort wheeze is usually my last-ditch effort call because of the aggressiveness with which bucks in the wild use it.

If I have already tried grunt calls, doe bleats, and rattling antlers with little to no success, I will then break out the snort wheeze to see if I can't pull in an old warrior buck. 

What Does it Sound Like?

When heard in the wild by bucks, the snort wheeze is a distinct sound, unlike anything you'll hear while in the woods. It is a large exhale of air signaling to other bucks, "I'm mad, and I'm ready to fight."

You will also notice that if and when a buck snorts wheezes, he will also be all bristled up, stiff-legged, and posturing himself, preparing for battle with another buck. This, in turn, leads to another good time to use the snort wheeze call — and that is if or when you are hunting using a buck decoy.

This will give the illusion that you are a buck ready to fight an incoming buck (your target) and can really throw him into a tizzy, setting the mood that he can't resist coming in and investigating.

How Should You Use It?

If I am blind calling, I will use a deer snort wheeze call (and there are multiple brands out there). This just helps project the sound farther out into the woods.

But if I am calling to a buck that I can see, I will usually just use my mouth to push out the air. This allows me to be ready with my weapon (bow in my case) and not have to worry about fumbling around with a call during those crucial final moments before a potential shot. 

Use it During the Rut

If you find yourself still with a tag by the time you have entered the rut in your area, you may want to try this call. The rut will generally bring foreign deer into your area and may be your ticket to pulling in "Mr. Big" by your stand. He will be more aggressive than normal, fighting off intruders entering his area.

If you can use a buck decoy in your hunting area, this will be another great tool to use in conjunction with your snort wheeze call.

Use the Deer Snort Wheeze and HuntWise for a Successful Hunt This Season

There is no right or wrong way to use the snort wheeze, but depending on the mood of the deer you are calling to, he may not like it and decide to turn around and leave. However, if he is in the right mood, the snort wheeze might be the last thing he hears before having that arrow fly through the air!

One of the best tools to pinpoint where you should be during deer season (and where you're most likely to see deer to call in) is HuntWise. With the 3-D mapping features and various topographies, you'll find deer paths, bedding areas, feeding spots, and the ideal locations to set up your blind or tree stand.

The RutCast feature also tells you when it's the peak rut season. Plan your hunts around the rut and use the tips shared today to call in big bucks using the deer snort wheeze!

If you don't have HuntWise, now is the time to get it and start planning your opening-day hunt! Try it free for your first week.