Originally Posted by
srwshooter
i have had bucks come from 400yds away in open country to rattlin and grunt tubes. the can was unbelievable for me a few years back. the first year i had one almost every deer i saw came right in with the can. i could let them get close and wait til they wandered off and call them back 90% of the time. but in the last 2 seasons i have not had much luck useing it,i can't understand why it worked great then but not now. under the right conditions they all will work.
Educated perhaps? Game does get call shy or aware, especially if the same tone and duration are heard over and over again. The can is such a call.
Personally I call with my voicebox, find it's easier to vary my sounds that way. I don't bleat. My deer calls are mostly; contact grunts & in the rut stages tending or huffing grunts. I use fawn bawls as well to buy time or shot opportunities.
Rattling/raking/scrapping can be extremely effective, especially if your in good tranistion areas (safety) or near bucks bedrooms. In the open areas I'd say my success is dwarfed by 75%. I rattle between 11-3 near the rut stage, early morn and evening I go quiet.
I don't use a decoy anymore, just never worked very well.
Scents only to cover my backdoor, cover basically not as the main attractant.
When it comes to the rut I realize I'll never be able to pull a male off a hot female. However I may be able to pull her or other males who are in between girlfriends. Basically it doesn't work 100% of the time but I keep trying. When I pick a location to call I stick with it unless the wind become unfavorable. I have had game come running at the start and also had game come nearing the end. You never know when you'll get a favorable response. Patience and persistance are key.