RE: Early season "rattling"
Light sparring does seem to be going on right now. I tried it some myself and haventSEEN anything, but I swear I heard a buck grunt from somewhere downwind of me yesterday morning after a sequence. Never caught a glimpse of him, but I was sure it was a grunt I heard. Tried grunting back but nothing materialized. Probably winded me. May have been wishful thinking.
Main thing to remember is that after a sparring sequence it may take a buck a while to circle around downwind. Dont get too impatient and give up too soon.