Rattling techniques during different stages of the RUT

Hoytail Hunter · 10-22-2008, 05:13 AM

From what I know or think I know:

1) During thepre-rut phase you rattle lightly.

2) During the scrape phase you rattle to mimic actual all out fighting.

3) During the chase or primary breeding phase, same as above.

4) During post rut, rattling not as effective.

5) During the 2nd rut, rattling may be effective once again since there are less does to be bred thus creating even more competition between the bucks.

So my question to you is.... During which of these stages do you add grunting or perhaps even a combination of snort wheeze and grunting? How about doe bleats? What sequence and what combination during what phase?

wis_bow_huntr · 10-22-2008, 05:30 AM

I agree with the listed techniques, just dont agree with a second rut although I have heard of it happening with does that have yet to be bred in Jan.

virginiashadow · 10-22-2008, 05:37 AM

Hoytail, I am not big into rattling because I don't see alot of competition between the bucks around here...never even seen em fight, or heard em fight. That being said, I lightly rattle last year on November 7th, I mean just tickled the antlers right at sun-up....3 minutes later a nice little 8 pointer walked in to 10 yards from my stand and arrowed him. So I guess, it can work!

Hoytail Hunter · 10-22-2008, 01:06 PM

Alright, there are 120 thousand members but only 2 rattlers? You guys seriously can't expect me to believe this? LOL. C'mon fellas, any tips would be appreciated.

fingerz42 · 10-22-2008, 01:38 PM

Well like I posted earlier in the week I rattled fairly hard this past weekend and had ATLEAST two responses that I can say were from the rattling. The others may have just been passing through. This was in PA, the date Oct. 18th. The only thing you might find striking is that I didnt use the method you spoke of. I didnt just "tickle" them together. I did a decent fight. I rattled the horns together a bit, rubbed em on the tree, and rattled some more. Had the rattling last about 45 seconds to 1 minute. The first time, it was 7 minutes after I stopped and had a 6 point come no more than 6 yards from my tree and look around. The other times I had bucks walk within 12 yards, and another at 20. Was very exciting. Depending on what you read, they say to rattle different at different times. I say, quit just tickling the antlers, its time to crash em a bit, not full blown, but crash em up a bit. The rut and primetime is nearing, so get the antlers crunching if you're a rattler.

btomlin · 10-22-2008, 01:45 PM

I guess my only recommendation is to sound like 2 bucks fighting and not 2 bucks having sezures! All the actual buck fights I've witnessed/heard start out with a loud pop. This is the 2 bucks initially coming together. An actual buck fight is more pushing each other around so the horns are more "grinding" rather than having them stick their horns together and shake their heads back and forth as fast as they can. The other thing I've noticed is that most fights don't last a real long time....usually there is one buck that is clearly the more dominant animal and the other buck is just "trying his luck", so I have better success with shorter rattling sequences. The longer you pound the horns together the more apt the buck is to pinpoint the location....make him "hunt" for you!

I've heard hunter's rattling before and it's easy to tell the difference when the hunter thinks that the "winner" of a fight is the buck that can move his head back and forth the fastest!!

I don't often rattle, but if the situation is right I will....
-If I'm in a set that would be difficult for the buck to scent check the area than I am more apt to "blind" rattle.
-If I see a buck that I want to shoot(I don't call to non-target animals at all. what's the point?) and he won't respond to a couple of grunts, I will often rattle once he is in a position or location where he cannot see the area, ie. moved off a ridge or worked into some cover that makes it difficult for him to hang out and survey the situation.

So...pop those horns together, grind 'em around, and "slide" 'em apart like the loser just turned tail ina hurry.

P.S. Not all bucks come running a.. over appetite to a fight. The smart ones often try to come downwind so be constantly be checking that side for a "late comer".

fingerz42 · 10-22-2008, 01:55 PM

Good add btomlin. I might add to my post that ALL of my deer came in DIRECTLY downwind of me when they came in to my rattling sequence, although none of them scented me. So always watch the downwind side for sure. And as he said, start with a loud boom, then GRIND them, the slide them apart. Those were good adds that many people overlook and do incorrectly. Good post btomlin.

Hoytail Hunter · 10-22-2008, 02:02 PM

Yes, bottom line, good stuff. Thanks. I will try to position myself in a spot where it will be difficult or unfavorable for a buck to circle completely downwind. For example an inside corner where if the buck tries to circle completely to scent me, he'd be in an open field. -which he will unlikely do.

Hoytail Hunter · 10-22-2008, 02:05 PM

I'm also considering incorporating a snort wheeze into the sequence. My thought is that this should be done before the crashing of the antlers to simulate bucks trying to intimidate eachother? What do you think?

Illinois Buck Hunter · 10-22-2008, 02:28 PM

I rattle hard and rattle often. I love doing it and it has added some awesome action for me the past 3 years since I started getting into it.

For me I usually do a few bleats followed with some short rutting grunts. A few minutes later I grunt a few more times then tickle the horns wait a few seconds then BASH them together. My sequence usually only lasts about 15-20 seconds and then I let out a few more grunt. I try to do this about once every hour.

My first hunt I ever did with rattling I rattled in a total of EIGHT BUCKS. I had them all over me all morning. I quickly learned that wind would play a crucial role as all the bucks would circle downwind of me, especially the shooters. The following year I had a 9 pointer respond to rattling and stood about100 yards off, I did 2 snort wheezes to him and a few grunts and 10 minutes later he circled around and was on my lap and now on my wall.

Last year I added a decoy and had maybe one of the best hunts I've ever had. Had a small 4 point try to fight the decoy, an 8 point and 7 point fight in front of the decoy, another 8 point come out and make all kinds of grunts to it, and then finally a stud 10 point posture up to it.

I usually only rattle hard during the rut. However, last night I tried some really LIGHT rattling and had a 2.5 yr. old 10 point come in and provide some real nice video footage.