Comparison Review: Best Calls, Scents & Lures for November Hunting

By November, every hunter in the woods has rattled, grunted, or sprayed something that smells like a doe. The deer have heard it all—and they’re starting to wise up. That’s why choosing the right calls, scents, and lures in late season isn’t just about what you use; it’s about how and when you use them.

The rut may be winding down, but the right tools can still trigger a response from weary bucks that have seen plenty of pressure. Here’s a breakdown of the best deer calls for November, top-rated scent attractants for late season, and how to put them to work before the season ends.

The Late-Season Mindset

By mid- to late November, deer behavior changes dramatically. Bucks aren’t as reckless as they were in early rut. They’ve bred, battled, and burned calories—and now they’re shifting to recovery mode.

Your goal is to mimic what’s real in their environment: the soft grunts of bucks regrouping, the lingering scent of unbred does, or the subtle scrape activity bucks maintain through the post-rut. The best tools this time of year sound and smell authentic without overwhelming an already cautious deer.

The Best Deer Calls for November

1. Grunt Tubes: Subtle and Strategic

When bucks are no longer frantically chasing does, loud, aggressive grunting can actually push them away. Instead, use short, low-tone grunts spaced every 20–30 minutes.

Top Pick: Primos Buck Roar 2 — compact, durable, and produces a deep tone ideal for mature bucks. Its directional tube lets you project sound exactly where you want it, preventing deer from circling downwind.

Runner-Up: Illusion Systems Extinguisher — offers a quick tone adjustment between fawn, doe, and buck. Perfect if you want flexibility without carrying multiple calls.

Pro Tip: Pair a grunt with light rattling (two or three soft sequences) to simulate bucks re-establishing dominance after the rut. Keep it realistic—short and subtle.

2. Rattling Antlers or Bags: Realistic Sparring Sounds

The loud, bone-on-bone clashes of early rut give way to more restrained “tickling” in November. Bucks are less combative now but still curious about light sparring sounds that suggest a hierarchy shift.

Top Pick: Black Rack System by Illusion — still one of the most realistic options and easily packable.

Rattle only when conditions are calm and visibility is good—you want a buck within 100–150 yards to hear and respond without assuming it’s a trap.

3. Doe Bleat Cans: Short and Seasonal

In late November, there are still a few does that haven’t been bred, and bucks know it. A simple bleat call can pull in a cruising buck searching for one last opportunity.

Top Pick: Illusion Systems Extinguisher — offers a quick tone adjustment between fawn, doe, and buck. Perfect if you want flexibility without carrying multiple calls.

Use this call near thick cover or during calm mornings and evenings when sound travels farthest.

The Best Scent Attractants for Late Season

Deer rely heavily on scent communication, especially after the rut when visual encounters decrease. Late November is about strategic placement and authentic smells.

1. Doe Estrus Scents: Still Effective in Pockets

While most does are bred, a few late-cycling does keep bucks hopeful. Doe-in-estrus scents can still spark interest—but use them in moderation.

Top Pick: Tink’s 69 Doe-in-Rut Gel Stream — its gel formula clings to vegetation and releases scent slowly, ideal for cold weather.
Runner-Up: Code Blue Platinum Estrous — sourced from a single doe, creating a more natural scent profile that’s less likely to raise alarms.

Pro Tip: Apply scent to a drag as you walk to your stand, then hang it about 20 yards upwind. Bucks will often follow the trail straight to you.

2. Buck Urine and Dominance Scents

When the rut cools, bucks return to establishing territory. Dominance scents can trigger curiosity and a territorial response from mature deer.

Top Pick: Deer Hunter Synthetics – A scent company with a new evolution of attracting deer and keeping them in the area. N-11 Active Scrape has proven to be a contender of best in the industry.

Use this near scrapes or mock scrapes to re-ignite activity. Combine with a grunt call for a more believable scenario.

3. Food-Based Lures

After weeks of burning energy, deer crave calories. Food attractants like apple, corn, or acorn-based scents can be more effective than estrus or dominance scents late in the month.

Top Pick: Black Widow Apple Craze — a sweet, long-range lure that performs well near late-season food sources.
Runner-Up: ConQuest Acorn Cover Scent Stick — easy to apply and doubles as cover scent for your gear and boots.

Scent-Control Still Rules

No matter how good your attractants are, they’ll never beat a whitetail’s nose. In cold, dry air, scent carries farther—and deer are more cautious. Always store hunting clothes in scent-free bags, spray down before entering the woods, and keep wind direction top of mind.

Your Black Gate trail cameras can help confirm if your scent placement is drawing interest without contaminating the area with human odor.

Late-Season Call & Scent Strategy

1. Start soft: Use light grunts or bleats to test the mood. – There may be a chance of a later season doe in estrous.
2. Layer realism: Combine subtle rattling or scent trails with your calls.
3. Monitor response: Check camera photos or videos for changes in daylight activity.
4. Adjust daily: Wind, temperature, and pressure all influence scent travel and call effectiveness.

Late November isn’t about volume—it’s about precision. Bucks that survived the chaos of peak rut are alert, selective, and skeptical. But when your sounds and scents align perfectly with natural behavior, even the wariest giant can make a mistake.

Final Thoughts

The right calls, scents, and lures in November can bridge the gap between an empty tag and a freezer full of venison. Focus on subtlety, authenticity, and timing.

Real-time scouting tools—like Black Gate’s cellular cameras—let you see which strategies are working without pressuring your spots. When you combine the best gear with data-driven decisions, late season becomes less about luck and more about execution.

So before you head out again, restock your pack with the right tools. November may be winding down, but your best shot might still be one call—and one scent trail—away.