Rattling and calls can be a frustrating bit. You're relying on both your own skills and the deer's mood (mood not the best word but all I can think of)

I've never rattled up a buck myself. I've tried but never really stuck it out for a long time because I really am never sure if I'm doing any good or wasting my time. That's something I intend to change.

A buddy rattled up a buck for me to shoot years ago and we hadn't been on the ground for 10 min before he came in hauling arse and looking for a fight. That probably spoiled me a bit. Said buddy is my shop foreman and I see him every day. This time of year, we pretty much talk hunting all the time and we chatted about rattling some yesterday. His point to me was that you have to commit to it and stick with it. You can't go sit down in a bush, slap the horns, bleat, grunt, whatever and expect deer to hop out of the brush. You really have to devote the time to it and wait it out. Maybe they didn't hear? Maybe they weren't close enough? Maybe they are approaching slowly and wind you?

I expect others will have better advise than that but I'm going to give it a go.

BTW: I got a pack rack and I like the sound alot. I have the real thing as well and its fairly similar...alot close than most bags I've seen/heard.

Also, another thing my buddy said was that if you get busted, you're through with that particular deer. He knows the jig is up and is out of there. You won't be able to call him back to the same location.