Theres a right time and a right place for everything. You can use your call at anytime during the season, but make sure its the right call and the right tone. During the early season I like to just use social tone calls, such as light bleets and grunts. Deer comunicate all the time with snorts, grunts, and bleets. Never over use any call. I suggest getting some instructional dvds or cd's or tapes that will help you better understand the art of calling deer. As for rattling I have found that rattling too early in the season is ineffective and may spook the deer. I try to hold of till about mid season like in mid October before I hit the rattle bag. When rattling, make sure you start off lightly, if you go intoa big session of loud crashing and banging, youll more than likely spook any deer that you cant see. You want to build up the emotion and curriosity for a buck to come see whats going on. Also I have found rattling about an hour before dark works great. Start out light and buildup to a good fight in lateOct early Nov. When I rattle I start out by ticking the bagor antlers together lightly for about 2-3 minutes. The wait 5-8minutes and do it a gain but getting a little more agressive, again for 2-3 minutes and so on. This strategy hasincreased my sightings of bucks drasticly and could do the same for you if done properly. But the mostIMPORTANT thingyou need to do is practice with your call well before season and through the season and in the off season. You dont want to go out to the woods with a call youjust bought andnot know how to use it. Good luck and hope these tips help.