RE: When do you guys start rattling?
I usually just pay attention to sign and moon phases. Cold weather is just beginning to move in and it was just a full moon last weekend. I watched a buck "beat his horns on the branches" Sunday. Monday I went spotlighting and saw two pairs of bucks fighting. Not sparring...but fighting. They were getting after it and didn't even pay attention to the light.
I will will definitely rattle this weekend after seeing that. Also pay attention to the posture of the bucks in the area towards other bucks,while hunting.