Thread: Are White tails vocal?

Wondering if whitetail bucks are vocal during the ‘roar’?

They are in the US, But dont know if they grunt over here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRcpz45Mlbw

Yes they do but unless your very close you won't hear it. Hinds are more often heard. Usually a snort or two as they depart. A friend had a pet buck that made all sorts of noises but once again he was in front of us behind wire. I all my years of hunting whitetail on Stewy Ive never heard the buck grunt or snort wheeze sounds in the wild.

Yes they’re vocal. It’s what usually gives them away when hunting. You’ll hear them before seeing them. Doe bleat quite a bit also. During the rut bucks are constantly grunting. Out in the fields you’ll hear them a couple of hundred yards away sometimes more if the wind is right.

I shot a Stewart island buck that was making a lowing/low moan sort of sound, pretty quiet but i know it was him as i could see his head and mouth as he was walking, seconds before i pulled trigger.
Alot of them snort/sneeze and stamp their feet when they dont know what you are.
This was at the back far edge of a block where they aren't getting the human contact like around the huts.

Thanks guys, I was pondering about it as I’ve never heard any mention of a whitetail ‘roar’ and never heard whitetails making any vocal noises.

While whitetail are vocal..they are not nearly as vocal as elk or red deer..or fallow. Their vocalizations are not loud. I have heard bucks grunt and I also heard them baa like I sheep when chasing a hot doe…but I don’t hear them often.

During the rut period they are susceptible to calling. There are lots of calls on the market that work. Whanahuia can attest to that! A grunt tube used in conjunction with a doe bleat call can be very effective. I have called in bucks using just the doe bleat as well. Rattling antlers and using the grunt tube works too especially in the pre rut period.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Wondering if whitetail bucks are vocal during the ‘roar’?

The word ‘roar’ in the context of whitetails on Rakiura is misleading as the period is generally referred to as the ‘rut’ Whitetail do not roar like reds or even like fallow. In 47 years hunting them there mainly around rut time I have only heard a buck grunting on one occasion.