I have been rattling and grunting during the rut (first 2 weeks of November season ) and have nothing but the best of success. I strictly hunt in state land in sullivan and ulster county in New York and in Bradford County PA and boy i tell you the first time you rattle or grunt and you have a buck come running in it sure makes the season.

I would say watch a few videos and try and micmic the guys you see on tv. although they are not 100% correct and every deer fight is totally different it will give you some idea of what to do. I don't think you can rattle wrong or grunt wrong...IMO i think that with all that is going on in the deer woods in November (wind, rain, squirrels, trucks passing on roads) i don't think that the deer are hearing 100% of the sound that you make anyway.

I have had nothing but success with it during bow season (i give up during gun) and as far as the dominant buck thing and scarring away the little ones that has beenmy case...last year in Bradford County PA i would have to say that over a 2-3 week span in late october early november almost every time i rattled a pumped up little spike came running right in to the horns looking for some action...(maybe he will be a 6 this year hopefully)

I think that it is a normal sound in the deer woods in the fall and unless you are doing it every 10 -15 minutes you can't scare the bucks away...also you have to consider that since the bucks are up on their feet during this time cruising, if you rattle and grunt 10 minutes later the buck that was 500 yards away that couldn't hear it just passed within earshot of you setup and by not rattling he kept on his way. A deer can cover a lot of ground.

I tend to rattle every hour during the peak (this week in PA) and then i will grunt every 10-15 mintues...not long drwn ourt grunts but 3-4 bwaaaaa's. You never know unless you try.

Believe me the one time a year that you rattle a deer in will be a lifetime memory...all i need is once a year and i'm hooked...you never know that forked horn last year could be an 8 or a 6 this year.