simplesimon
New Member
Just one little question about rattling? How often do you rattle during your hunt? Every hour, every 30 minutes, or every ten minutes. Never rattled much so I really dont know what would increase my chances. I have had success with doe bleats but I am a novice when it comes to rattling.
DOR
Life Member
Depends on how responses are progressing as the season goes on. Usaully around the 3 week of october i will start and while in stand rattle every 2 hours, as the rut approaches i will increase that frequency sometimes up to every 30 minutes. Depends on how i feel in tthe tree. Sometimes it can do more harm than good, other times it canmake a crappy hunt a harvest real quick. I think techniques vary quite a bit. My most commomn is probably a 1 minute sequence followed by a 2-3minute wait another 1minute sequence, and 2-3 minute wait and one last 30 second sequence anticipating action the whole time scanning and scanning the area for movement. once movement is spotted i rely on the buck to come natural or if he is reluctant grunt him in. This has worked great for me over the years. Its surely an aggressive approach.
simplesimon
New Member
Thanks Dor, I figured alot had to do how you felt in the tree that particular morning or evening but did not want to over do it and do more hurt than good!
DOR
Life Member
My best advise would be ease into it until you gain some confidence. I remember when i first started rattling i didn't want to potentially ruin my hunt so would always rattle during my morning hunt as the last 30 minutes of sitting was about to occur. i was able to stay more alert in stand with the added anticipation. Then at night i would rattle as last light approached and an uneventful hunt had been taking place. Slowly, i started to have buck respond, i gained confidence and i worked the tactic more and more into my hunting. Work at it that way and you will begin to trust it more easily. Once, you get it down it can be a deadly strategy if you catch a buck in the right mood. Hope that helps good luck. Just remember during that seeking phase, if you are in a good funnel that it situated in a main travel coridor, you may have multiple bucks cruising thru all throughout the day and rattling often may be just what tjhe doctor ordered for bringing in one of those bucks that may have otherwise gone unseen.
dblmainbeam
Member
I had a big boy coming to a rattle on sunday then he spotted a doe and chased her around aliitle bit then he started walking away so I rattled again and he took off running.
The wrong way.
Woody21
PMA Member
I woud definately take the horns. Im not a big fan of just rattling blind..... I prefer to do it when I can see a buck, read his reaction, be able to see what he is doing. Lots of times I rattle just to get their attention. Last Sunday morning I was hunting with a friend of mine and I watched 2 bucks headed back to their bedding area. After I got some video footage, I figured I had nothing to lose so I picked up the horns. The Bigger of the 2 came back around the edge of a draw, straight at me on a dead run. I couldn't believe it.....Like they always do at 50 yds he started to circle down wind of my vantage and ran into my friend that was east of me about 60 yds. 30 yd shot with a muzzle loader
Good Luck
Woody
Good Luck
Woody
Liv4Rut
Active Member
I took them tonight along with my pole saw to some trimming, well the trimming turned out to be an hour job, and I only had 45 minutes left, So I grabbed the horns and smacked them hard, I had about 125-130ish 8 come right in, I was kind of suprised to see anything after all the noise i made. Then a little later 2 does came in, nothing major.
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
I guess there is some concern that most people keep their antlers out of the elements where they might dry out. On the other hand, a deer's rack is exposed to rain and might have a slightly different ring to it. The set I sent you has been out of the elements for many years so it appears this is sheer paranoia.
legbone
New Member
Hit the horns tonite around 6 pm and had a 1/2 rack 8 and a dandy 160 come running in from 150 yds away at full speed. 1/2 rack gave me a 20yd broadside and of course the 160 was head on at 25 yds. As always, they saw no fight and left quickly. Awesome hunt..I'm pumped. Use those horns for the next week or so..