This will be the 1st year I deer hunt and bow hunt. Looking for all the knowledge and help I can get. Which is better, the rattle bags or the antlers? Which calls work for the Virginia area? I am looking and would like your opinions. Thanks
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'WHAT ARE YOU HUNTING FOR?' "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul thristeth after thee." - Psalm 42:1
I've had ton's of luck rattling using real antlers. I've tried the rattle bags and fake antlers and I've turned a few heads but for the most part they've sucked. Stick to the real stuff, whether It's light or heavy rattling the sounds do not compare to the real thing.
Doesn't matter if your in VA, SC, ME to CA, soft grunts and contacts calls will work, not every time but they will work.
Rattling? Keepin it light, it really doesn't matter between rattle bags and antlers but for serious rattling, nothing beats the sound of real antlers.
Im going to agree with using the light horns and soft grunts for early season. But when the pre rut starts I'm using heavy horns and loud grunts. I have best luck when rattling around Oct 22nd-Nov 6th. Our buck to doe ratio is almost perfect (thanks EAB and AG tags) which makes the rut intense. Its not uncommon if I rattle between three to six bucks in one sitting between those dates. I also have been skunked before.
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Depending upon the area of VA in which you plan to hunt, be careful with the rattling. Many VA areas have a very very poor doe to buck ratio causing there to be very little competition for does. Namely, the bucks don't have to go too far to chase does as they are all over. That being said, rattling in these instances likely won't get the bucks attention because they don't feel as though their territory is being impeded upon because they won't be losing any does.
I rattle using real horns,have tried the bags without much luck. To be honest i have only killed 3 deer by rattling, but that is three deer that i wouldnt have killed. Where i hunt here in Arkansas there are tons of does, so i dont think rattling is as effective as some other parts of the country, but i do it anyway/.
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Rattling
