Here are my comments after "playing" with it for 30 minutes. This is a very preliminary report. Sort of a "just home from the store, just out of the bag" impression of a potential consumer. Packaging: is attractive, I feel that the instructions provided are pretty self-explanatory. Heck, I even get a free window decal. Bag: seems to be made of a vinyl material. Will it hold up against repeated opening to remove and wash the foam? Only time will tell. First impressions is that the seams will start to come apart after a few times removing and inserting the foam. But again only time will tell. Foam: it's foam.....no comment. Pull String: seems to be of good quality and I really gave it a good yank to secure the grunt tube after reading the other posts. I do give credit to the manufacturer though. In the instructions it does say to pull the string tight. To test if my tube would come out, I literally threw the product around, tube did not come loose. I gave it to my 4 year old daughter to give it a good shake test...tube still did not come loose. Grunt Tube: In my early review of this product, this is what I can see or rather hear where the biggest improvement may be made. Like some of you have said already, the grunt sound it makes is sort of a cross between a doe and a young buck. Well I broke out my 4 in 1 H.S. Calls, Quadgrunter, and verified this to be true. The sound of the Stinkin' Grunt is a bit lower than the Doe setting and a bit higher than the Young Buck setting on my call. Adding scent: This is where I find this a little tricky. How much do I add (I guess experimentation is the key) and what type (Doe in Heat or Buck Urine ) due to the inconclusive grunt. Possible modifications: Again, after a short look over I feel the actual grunt tube is the weak link in this whole package and after a few tries I may end up replacing the provided grunt tube with my own Quadgrunter. This way I can match for certainty the scent to the grunt. Overall Impression 30 minutes after opening the package is a 6 out of 10. I really like the concept. I think the makers of this product designed the grunt call to be either a young buck or doe. Unfortunately, in real life they do not sound alike and one call is more effective at certain periods of the rut phases. Possible Improvements: I think after 30 minutes from opening the package is to fix the grunter. Make it adjustable between a doe and a buck to enable the hunter to match the scent and I think we have a winner here folks. I plan on giving this thing a real good work out during the upcoming gun season next week and the following bow season afterwards and will post my report by the deadline. |
Field Tester #2 Our second field tester is from Ontario Canada, and has the handle of RRC. Richard had this to say when I approached him as a tester: "I typically get out with my bow a minimum of once a week, and of course the whole week during the firearms season ( Nov 4-9 in my part of Ontario)." Post by: RRC on 10/31/02 at 11:46:19 |
The "Stinkin Grunt Call" manufactured by Pro Hunting Products A Gear Review by Daniel Wood (indiana_dan), Jan. 2003 |
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Different strokes for different folks. We all know what the phrase means, or do we? When it comes to product performance, we all have different wants. The variables contained in these differences make "field testing" the ultimate tool for new product evaluation. What better way to develop a product for a targeted market than to go to the very people you intend on selling your product to? Art Jasmer, of Pro Hunting Products has done just that, by contacting ModernSportsman.com and "recruiting" some field testers to evaluate his latest invention, "The Stinkin' Grunt Call". With the assistance of myself, and personnel from ModernSportsman.com, Art's request has been fulfilled. Members of ModernSportsman.com were selected from a vast geographical area covering the largest markets of whitetail deer hunters in the USA, as well as a member from Ontario Canada. The following report was compiled from the comments submitted by the 12 selected "field testers", including myself, on ModernSportsman.com's Outdoor Gear Forum. The Product Any deer hunter knows that any movement he makes can be detected by the sharp eyes of a big buck, and if the wind is not in his favor, his very presence could be enough to send the buck out the other way without ever seeing him. "The Stinkin' Grunt Call" is an innovative idea that combines the use of a "scent" and a deer grunt call all into one "hands free" configuration. A piece of foam to absorb a few drops of "Doe in Heat" or other cover scent is contained in a durable bag, which holds in place a tube call. Compression of the bag with either a foot or a hand, produces a "grunt" sound, which at the same time dispenses the scent into the air. The concept was well received by the field testers, and all were anxious to try it out. Field Tester #1 Our first field tester hails from the state of Pennsylvania, and goes by the handle of Chuckhunter. Chuck told me " I am an avid deer hunter, with rifle and bow." Below are Chuck's comments on the "Stinkin' Grunt Call." Post by: Chuckhunter on 11/21/02 at 18:57:31 |
OK guys, here is what I think so far. I am in agreement with the other field testers when it comes to the concept of this product. Operation by foot is a great idea. The option to use a scent in conjunction with it is again a good idea. Now, after having used it in the field I have come up with a few comments and ideas regarding the use of this product. 1) Foot Operation Although the kit provided Velcro pads to allow mounting the bag to a tree stand, this does not work at all for a ground blind. The grunt call constantly got kicked around and out of position. I had some does come running out in front of me, but could not feel the call under my foot to give it a try. I knew using my mouth operated call was out of the question. My suggestion would be to forget the Velcro pads, and include an elastic strap to allow the thing to slip over a boot. This way the deer call can remain in position at all times. When your eyes are on the deer, you can't be looking around your feet looking for a deer call. 2) Sound / Tone of Call While in the house and trying the call, I was not impressed with the volume, or the duration of the sound. I felt the short grunt, almost a snort, was way to low in volume to be of much use. And when I stomped on the thing, the tone of the call was not right. However, when in the woods I found the sound to be plenty loud enough. I also felt the short duration and tone of the call to be much better. I was actually impressed with it, and said to myself, "Man, that sounded pretty good." 3) Sound Variability This call offers one sound only, no variations. The packaging states the bag can be used with other calls, which I have failed to try at the time of this writing. I am concerned that there is not enough wind behind the "grunt" to generate much of a different grunt. While sitting in my deer blind, I gave this a lot of thought, and came up with an idea. Try and picture in your mind, a kids toy. One of them toys that has a "bellow" that when compressed blows a ball from a tube, or generates a noise of some type. I am thinking that by removing all the foam except for a smaller piece near the opening of the tube, a bellow could be placed in this same sized bag. The bellow would allow more air to be forced through the tube if desired. Also, the reed could be designed to include an O-Ring for tone adjustment, like on other calls. I think with a combination like this, and the strap so it is attached to your boot, various types of calls could be generated. The hardest part of this idea would be to come up with the right size bellow. 4) The Bag After 4 days of field use in a ground blind, my "stinkin grunt call" looks pretty dirty and beat up, but it is still in one piece and full working order. The tube remained intact, and never fell out even once. I would feel more comfortable if there were a better way to secure the tube. However, I understand the way it is designed now does allow for any tube call to be used with the bag. Again, I need to try another call tube just to see how well that works out. I have not washed the bag yet either. 5) The Foam I have not applied any scent on the foam yet. My method of hunting has not required it. I use a cover scent on my deer blind, and the actual buck lure I use is applied out near a buck rub, or a place where I would hope it would stop a buck long enough for me to get a shot off. 6) Overall Performance I will be honest, my first impression was not real favorable. I had my doubts. However, this product transforms itself once taken from the confines of the house and brought into the field. As I stated, the mild little grunt can easily be heard while in the woods. I had no problem with the tube. I left the rubberband on it, which I think helps keep it a small package, and less likely to knock the tube off. I love the concept of hands free operation. A little tweaking to aid in keeping it in contact with your foot would really improve it's use. I like it, and I think it will sell. |
Dan, I have been using the call in two states. Here are my humble opinions on the stinking grunt tube. (Positives) a) lightweight, attractive packaging b) can make soft calls while hands are down. (Negatives) a) Tube isn't attached to foam very well, it's to bulky to suit me, b) longer grunts cannot be sustained, c) short bursts from the foam make it sound more like a cough than a grunt, d) not easy to control by foot, when used on a stand with a slotted platform such as on my Summit Viper. A piece of thin plywood or something hard and flat has to be placed underneath it to keep call from sliding through slots. e) As far as dispersing scent, it does but to a limited degree. There are better ways to get scent around your stand. In summation, I still like the idea of controlling a call with my foot, perhaps with a little more R&D, perhaps something like the rubber ball on a battery filler would give it more volume and the ability to sustain the grunt longer. I have to make a confession that one evening, after becoming very frustrated trying to control the call, I did manage to call a nice Y-buck (fork) within eight yards, however at the time that happened I was blowing the tube like a regular call. Could have killed the buck but this year in Pa. we have a three point rule, so I let him walk thinking of how nice he will be next year. Wish I could have been more positive but I think the manufacture would want the truth. Sincerely................Chuckhunter |
After use during the gun season and with me on a few bow hunt outing's, I'd have to say that my original report above still stands with some updates: 1) the bag has not shown any wear, although I did not take out the foam repeatedly as I did not use the scent feature. 2) still feel that the grunt tube needs some improvement. I added my own Quadgrunter at times, but as above did not add any scent as I didn't want to put my deer call in deer urine and then put it to my lips at a later date. Overall not a bad product. |
Post by: RRC on 11/22/02 at 19:03:51 |
Field Tester #3 Our third field tester is Teach, and comes from Tennessee. I've met Jerry in person, and know Jerry has plenty of land to do all the hunting his heart desires. Jerry is also quite the "tinkerer", and I felt his vast knowledge of so many different things could prove valuable to this review. Post by: Teach on 10/28/02 at 18:38:10 |
Mine arrived today, also. I got all decked out in my camo, jumped on the 4-wheeler, and rode to within about 300 yards of one of my deer stands. Since I'm fresh out of doe pee, I figured I'd just try out the "grunt" part. So far, so good, except when I decided to use it, the grunt tube was missing! I guess it fell out of the bag section on the way to the stand! I'll retrace my route in bright daylight and try to find it, but I might need some repair parts! My first product improvement suggestion would be to devise a little more secure method of attaching the tube, as it seems the drawstring they're using now might come loose at an inopportune moment! Jerry |
Post by: Teach on 10/30/02 at 15:02:02 |
I'm working on a way to have a screw-on attachment for the tube assembly, and possibly improving the bag-to-tube seal in the process. More on this as it progresses, and I don't think it would increase the production cost that much. Jerry |
Post by: Teach on 12/07/02 at 15:49:17 |
I haven't had an opportunity to give the call a fair test, but the second phase of Tenn. deer season is coming up from mid-December to mid-January. The first time I tried to use it, the grunt tube fell out on the way to my stand, found it the next day. The Mfg. sent 2 replacements quickly, so score a big point for customer service! Next try, a buck appeared nearly 200 yards out, and I shot when he gave me a good broadside at 175. I would have needed the volume of a Peterbuilt horn to get his attention, so I'm sure the occasional grunts I'd been giving on the call didn't attract him. I did manage to stalk within 100 yds or so of the next kill, using the grunter to mimic a deer while I was moving. I was stalking what appeared to be a group of does, although the one I shot wound up being a button buck. Don't know if the grunts kept this group from bolting, but at least I got within good off-hand range while still-hunting by using it. Wind direction was wrong for the scent to carry their way. I'll use it more in the next gun season. I'm prone to use stands which offer long-range shots, since I'm confident in the abilities of my home-brew rifles out past 200 yards. It seems the tone is good enough to fool a deer at fairly close distances, and if the wind is right, the scent might be a plus. I haven't had the opportunity to test the scent part yet. Maybe next time, I'll have more favorable circumstances. Overall, I'll give it a "6" rating. Jerry |
Field Tester #4 Our next field tester comes from southwestern Ohio and is known to ModernSportsman members as Chuckeye. Post by: chuckeye on 11/15/02 at 20:39:53 |
I just finished two weeks of bow hunting in Eastern Ohio. I used the Stinkin Grunt Call strictly as a call. I didn't use the scent capabilities of the call at all because that feature doesn't fit my style of hunting. There are pro's and con's with this call. The biggest fault of this call is its bulk. Its biggest asset is its ability to be operated by hand or foot. Its sound is soft, and I'm sure that it brought at least 1 deer to me. I'll post a more detailed report in a day or two. chuckeye |
Post by: chuckeye on 11/21/02 at 18:13:53 |
I'm a bow hunter and I have hunted from the ground exclusively for over 15 years now. I hunt from a make shift ground blind, stand next to a tree, or I still hunt. This isn't the most productive way to hunt but it is the way that I enjoy the most. I have had my share of success using this method. Because of my hunt-ing methods calls and scents have limited use for me. They are used primarily to stop deer. A drop or two of doe in heat or a matrix lure like "Pete Rickards Original" on the ground will stop a deer in its tracks. A toot on a grunt tube will do the same thing. After explaining how I hunt, I was still asked to be a tester and I agreed. I put my review into 4 stages; first impressions, in the field, final thoughts, and recommendations. I also avoided reading any other reports before I finished my own testing to avoid any bias. FIRST IMPRESSIONS It is bigger and bulkier than I expected Pat pending Made in?? I like the foot / hand operation idea It sounds good while warm and in the package Its not over packaged ( you can see it and hear it before you buy it) It has Velcro tabs that can be attached to, and easily removed from, a stand IN THE FIELD It fit into a cargo pocket of my hunting pants but left little room for other equipment I liked being able to reach down with my hand and make a grunt call It's a little hard to find the "sweet spot" especially when its on the ground and I'm using my foot Volume isn't too loud and it sounds good when cold and in the woods I'm not sure but I believe the grunt attracted the attention of a previously unseen doe. She was acting strangely, and possibly may have been coming into heat. A small buck walked by quickly and was out of range as I was making a stand in the early AM. I reached into my cargo pocket and made a grunt. Although this deer was out of sight when I made the call, I'm sure he heard it and came up on the ridge where I was at. FINAL THOUGHTS The bulky size of the call is probably the worst feature of the call The hand or foot operation is the biggest asset of the call and can offset its bulkiness Because of my style and specialized use of scents I'll never try the scent dispensing feature RECOMENDATIONS Obviously Pro Hunting Products wants people to buy their product. That's the reason they gave us a dozen of them and said "try em and tell it like you see it". I like the "Stinkin Grunt Bag" after using it for two weeks in Eastern Ohio. Movement was kept at a minimum while using this call, there wasn't a call hanging from my neck to interfere with the bowstring, my hands were free, and operation was fast and easy. If the call is competitively priced, I will replace mine when it goes bad. I would recommend it to others as well. chuckeye |
Field Tester #5 The fifth field tester goes by the name of MTNMAN, and hails from the Hudson Valley area in New York. Like living in a dreamland, Jeff has his own mountain and is surrounded by wildlife. Post by: MTNMAN on 10/29/02 at 11:30:39 |
Mine showed in this mornings mail... Nice packageing, compact and easy to carry...should catch the buyer's eye in the store... I Like the fact that this can become a permanent attachment to whatever and the fact that the Mfg has included both sides of the Velcro tabs. My 4 year old grandson has yet to break it, which in itself is a great accomplishment. I found it to have a weak volume at first, but with a little tinkering it will match the volume of my other grunt tubes. If nothing else it will stop a buck. The acid test will come in the middle of Nov when my gun season opens. Like someone said, another foam pad may be just the kicker for using more than one scent. I'm all for carrying less into the woods at my age. And already got my scent bottles in the plastic carry bag. Instructions would be nice for the Newbees although not necessary for the guy that's used any tubes before. And Teach, Ya just had to tear that Lil' Stinker apart to see how it worked. Watch that rubber band, I found it to be an integral part of the whole nine yards. Now for the field report part 2...Later, MTNMAN |
Post by: MTNMAN on 10/29/02 at 18:07:33 |
By tightening the cord against the tube, it did make it louder. I also found that varying the pressure on the bag I could some what change the tone of the call. I haven't taken it totally apart but would imagine with a rubber O-ring placed over the reed and barrel you could vary it from a Grunt to a Bleat to a fawn, much the same as some of the other call mfg's do. Of course the guy's got to do a lil' retooling, but it might be worth his while. Anybody have any idea what this thing retails for?? A couple of cents more in production cost could maybe be the difference in a million Bucks, no pun intended...MTNMAN |
Post by: MTNMAN on 12/07/02 at 10:23:38 |
Mine has now been in three states, thru 2 seasons, bow and rifle. Maybe it accounted for one deer in PA on the opener, but as my buddy said, "there were deer every where, and this one looked back." He added scent, but at 15°F, said it sounded more like crushing ice than a deer grunt. I carried it thru my season here in NY but never really got to use it the way it should be used because the deer were all shot still hunting (Jumped) and it was easier just to whistle at them. Another friend used it and had many of the same comments that most of us had, too quiet, Etc. I still say if it had an adjustable reed, and another piece of sponge it would be a better call. Last friend, didn't wash it out before returnin' it to Momma who brought it inside from the cold and after about an hour wondered what that musky smell was, and why OBD and the cats were going nuts over my call... due have to admit the bag stood up to a four year olds punishment (Grandson) and OBD's teeth... As long as the Polident keeps the store boughts secure, think I'll stick with just whistlin'... That's worked for 50yrs and has been a freebee... Thanks for thinkin' about me...Later, MTNMAN |
Field Tester #6 From Wisconsin comes ModernSportsman member Mauser98. Pat lives in the thick of deer country, and had this to say. Post by: mauser98 on 11/04/02 at 18:32:58 |
As for my initial impressions: * very nice packaging * excellent concept as for hands off use * like the idea of spreading a puff of scent in ambient air * * the sound volume is pretty low * I agree that sound pitch is similar to young buck or doe* durability may be an issue, however I beat 'er up a little and it did not fall apart * I strongly like the hands free use as traditional calls require visible motion, at least when I use them* An opinion: I think that subtle is the word to describe what this call is about. A soft grunt and trace of scent may be just right in a quiet woods. Also, "Stinkin Grunt Bag" fits for me as a name. Best to ALL, M98 |
Post by: mauser98 on 12/07/02 at 12:20:49 |
Hello All, Stinking Grunt Call Results: 1) My bow hunting buddy Phil used it to pull a buck back to him that was moving away. Phil was setup in an area actively being used by deer as a travel route by both buck and doe. Buck was nosing around looking for doe moving away from Phil. One grunt brought buck back but Phil unable to get clear shot. 2) I used the call for my gun hunt. I did not have positive results calling deer towards my setup (ladder stand). * The wind was gusty all four days hunting. Sometimes still, other times fairly strong. I believe that the call volume was too soft to be affective. * The ambient temp during morning was single digits on two mornings. The bag material seemed pretty stiff in this weather and, to me, made more sound than the call did when squeezed. Best to all, M98 |
Field Tester #7 Our next field tester is from western New York, hence his handle WNY_Whitetailer. Mike really gave the call a good workout, and here are his comments. Post by: WNY_Whitetailer on 11/12/02 at 12:20:04 |
I took mine out in the field last weekend for some stand time. I loaded some drops of Tinks 69 into the foam and went out to give it a try. I was curious to see how it worked from my treestand. First, I hung it from my EZ Hanger and reached up to give it a squeeze once in a while...Nice. Then, I placed it down by my feet to give it a little foot action...Also nice but I couldn't fasten it to my stand so I was a little concerned that I would kick it off at an inopportune time... I was a little worried about the volume that the tube produced. It doesn't seem to be loud enough. But then again, I didn't have any deer near me to try it out on... I am also a little concerned about the bag itself...It doesn't appear to be all that rugged. I don't think it will make it more than a couple of years if that... More reviews to follow as I rack up more hours in the stand this weekend. |
Post by: WNY_Whitetailer on 12/16/02 at 13:03:11 |
This is to follow up my previous post from last month. I have had some more time in the field with the "Stinkin' Grunt Call" and I like it more than I thought I would. Positive Points: · Ease of use · Size · ability to use scents with sound · Portability · Ease of Cleaning · Packaging · Sticker...Nice Added Touch Room for Improvement: · Lack of strap to hold call to treestand · Questionable bag durability · Sound volume of call For the most part, I was impressed with the function of this unit. It dispensed enough scent with each squeeze that even I could smell it. I did not have a chance to call in a buck with it but I did make some doe turn their heads. They did not spook, they just looked my way for about a minute and then went about their business of filling their stomachs. I would certainly give this unit a second look in a store. I'm not saying that I would buy it, but I would take a look at it. This might be something I buy after the season when the prices come down. |
Field Tester #8 The eighth field tester was myself, indiana_dan. I reside in southeastern Indiana. I waited until I had used the call in the field before giving my report. Post by: indiana_dan on 11/20/02 at 17:34:49 |
Summary: |