When do you guys start rattling?
 

My dad has brought this up to me a couple times that he'd like to get out and use the rattle horns, see if he could get one called in for me to get a shot at.

When do you guys start normally? Is there some "sign" that tells you its worth a try? Do you wait until the rut starts to kick in to start using a "battle" sequence instead of a "sparring" type sequence?

Any other advice would be great!

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.

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

NOW!!! for me!

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

You can startdoing a little light rattling now in the early part of the season , once you have seen rubs on the trees thats a pretty good sign to start rattling.
If you use real sheds or a rattle bag just lightly click them together or move the bag in a back and forth motion and try to mimick two bucks sparring.
When the rut kicks in you'll want to get a little more intense and sound like a knock down all out brawl and don't forget to throw in a couple of gunts and snorts to make it sound more real .

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

Stealth is spot lighting legal there? I'm just wondering because here in MO, you cant even take your car and spot light deer from the road, let alone with a spot light.

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

Legal here as long as no weapon with you from what I have heard. I don't have time for it but I have heard of guys that I know that go in a State Park here in IA and they spotlight just to look at huge bucks that live there. HCH

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

I think I will be starting within the next 2 weeks

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

I've been watching this field a little lately because I've seen some deer in it from the highway!! Unfortunately it's one I can't hunt! Monday night I see 2 nice 8pts slowly feeding towards each other! When they get close they start sparring! Not more than 2 minutes later, here comes a NICE 10pt trotting out, at one point all 3 were in a sparring triangle! I will have my camera and camouflagenext time I hit that field, at least I can get some nice pictures!! I did have myglasses so I got a good show from about 200yds!! Anyway, I'm sure by the way the 10 came in it was because of the others sparring!!!

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

Grunted and rattled up a young buck last night which I promptly was able to bag. I feel confident one of the sounds coaxed him in as he didn't appear to be interested in coming my way at all when I first saw him.

RE: When do you guys start rattling?
 

I would try now. I've heard that it's aready working.