nodose, I am sorry I meant his reply stated he has had success..thus not a waste of time to him or his area.

I think Mass hit on the head, we all have found different things that work for us. I am also with him on the blind calling and doe bleat (or can) it has never mounted to a hill of beans for me. Rattling is by far my most productive lure. This year i tried some doe pee as well while rattling and bleating, the only deer I saw was rattling. I am not sure the scent worked or the rattling. I should add I think in some areas where the hunting pressure is high, that some of these techniques may not work as well. I think rattling is misconceived to be a real loud affair. Of the guys I have talked to who say they never had success, it seems they all do it the same way, loud, to few or often and never think to add some realism to the sequence. I came up with my technique by actually being witness to some fights in the wild, the real noise wasn't the horns, but the hoofs and grunting that went on in the battle and post battle. They actually approach each other tentatively, when the lock up it is gentle, and they tend to twist. Once the fight gets heated they spin, push and pull...hence the grinding/tickling and the rustling of leaves. When they break free one is running for the hills while the other is standing and looking for more...it's like a bar fight (the guy that get whipped leaves in a heap and licks his wounds, while the winner states he's the man). I shared this info, B/C it may be of interest, by no way do I expect you to use it or agree, but maybe it will help in some way.