Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

Early season rattlin' and grunting

Danno

Danno

PMA Member
This is the first year that I will hunt in the Iowa early season muzzleloader season(Oct16-24). In the past I have hunted first or second shotgun season. My question is for bowhunters or those of you that have hunted early season ML before. Do the bucks respond to rattling and grunt calls that far ahead of the rut? What about estrus bleats, too soon? Trying to figure out my strategies. By the way scouted some big hayfields with a landowner nearby last night and saw dozens of deer. Only 3 2 YO bucks though. I guess the big boys are still in the corn. If it isn't harvested by Oct 16, I'll need a way to get them out. Any help would be appreciated.
Dan
 
IMO the second weekend of the early season should be a great time to start rattling and grunting. Good luck
 
I hunted early ML last year, never used a call of any kind, and saw a LOT of deer - ended up flubbin' a shot at a hog
crazy.gif


I don't think you will need to worry about using any calls or rattlin', as long as you are in the right place, and I'm not sure how effective it would be this early anyhow?
grin.gif
 
by the second weekend it should be working good. two years ago a friend rattled in a 170 class buck and dropped him in his tracks, during early muzzleloader season. he said he also rattled in many many bucks in the 130-150 range but nothing he wanted to shoot until the big boy came out, during the season. Also last year a different friend grunted in a 170 inch gross buck and dropped it in his tracks, so it works, it all depends on the buck
smile.gif
Just don't get too aggressive with it.
 
I'm with LIV. I have found that even in the middle of Oct rattlin' can be effective if you don't get too aggressive. the last two years I have had tremendous success in Oct with "tickling" the tips of my rattling antlers. Seems to peek their curiosity without making them too cautious. I've been able to bring in bucks of all sizes and even a few does just to investigate.
 
Why yes there is, but I will leave it to your imagination ...let's just say I should have used open sights?
tongue.gif
 
Yes, I took mt best PA. buck on opening morning by tickling antlers real light. I've called quite a few buck in during the 1st week doing this, can't hurt, just do it lightly. From my experience grunting works year round depending the mood of the deer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom