Hunting Strategies: Game Calling, Driving and Flushing

Game Calling

Calling is an effective technique for most animals. There are a variety of sounds that can be imitated to draw game to you:

• Territorial sounds: Deer "rattling," elk "bugle," or a turkey "gobble"
• Feeding sounds: A duck's feeding "chuckle"
• Distress sounds: Inviting predators to feed

There are hundreds of sounds that can attract all types of wildlife. A skillful hunter uses these sounds to attract animals close enough to him or her for an effective shot.

Driving

• Driving involves a group of hunters, some acting as “drivers” and others as “posters.”
  • Drivers spread out across a field or woods and push game out of cover.
  • Posters take positions at the end of the cover to intercept game pushed out by the drivers.
• The success of a drive depends on good organization and being familiar with the terrain.
• It is critical that everyone involved in the drive is aware of the position of other drivers and posters. Wear fluorescent orange, and never shoot in the direction of another hunter.

Flushing

• Flushing involves using noise, movement, or dogs to cause game to become nervous and leave cover.
• Pause frequently when attempting to flush game. When you vary your pace, your quarry may think it has been detected and be more likely to leave cover.