I haven't had much success with calls or rattling in my area. To be honest I rarely hear the deer around me make any noise at all except blowing when you get busted. I never really hear rattling or grunts, even during the rut when I see deer running each other.

I had a buddy in a stand where he could see my hunting area when I was rattling one day. He said I would rattle a buck would come in but just out of my sight and would not come into the open (I hunt a field edge). He would come up and look around but not do anything because he didn't see anything. The rattling and the calling did not bother him, but it didn't really entice him much either. We think if we had a decoy it might of worked. I think sometimes they need an audio and visual cue.

I have rattled and called with deer right under me as well and it didn't seem to phase them any. I'm sure I'm not very good at, but at least it doesn't send them running. I just think it's odd that I carry all that crap with me, yet I have actually never heard any of those sounds in the wild when I hunt.

However turkeys respond great to calls in my area as long as the weather is good and they are in the mood. We use decoys too though. Of course not good enough that I have been able to shoot one yet[:@]. I've only had the chance to do it a few times though. I've seen my buddy shoot one.

Paul