The rut is now in full swing here in CT, and I've got some calling questions for yall. First off, I will harvest anything worthy that comes my way. I'm not picky.

Will bucks fighting scare off the does? (rattling)
I've also got doe in estrus call, but I'm thinking that wont bother the does?

What I plan on doing is setting up on a well-traffiked doe path to give myself the best chance of harvesting something, and calling in the bucks. What I'm worried about is if the calling will scare off all the does.

Thanks

since its rut right now, i would personally not use the antlers. i believe using Special Golden Estrus in liquid form is the best chance of getting that special buck. i know that sounds very biased and over-confident, but that stuff seems to work the best! i have tried almost all the scents on the shelf and choose to use this one. dont let the price turn you away. its well worth it!

from my experience calling with horns or a grunt will scare the does sometimes. especially since they are already beening chased enough by the bucks. if you know does are using the trail put out some estrous and use a doe bleat and sit back and wait patiently

I've called to every buck I've seen (either playing with him/experimenting or attemptingto get him to come closer) since 10/22.

NOT ONE has committed to coming in. I've had every reaction from stopping to see where the call was coming from....then moving on.....to one buck taking off on a full trot in the other direction. Some ignored it (and I was close enough for them to hear it).

I still have my grunt/bleat call with me each hunt. Sometimes I wonder "why", though.

The first time it works then you'll know why you carry it. Its normal for the deer to not come to the calling the majority of the time.I do know that they seem to come in a lot more when I'm hunting in the super thick stuff. When the woods are open the need to get a visual(decoy).

gmmat, thats how it always is for me! they RARELY come in for calls. sometimes i will end up having a "conversation" with a deer calling will go on for up to 20 minutes. but that only seems to happen 1 time a year

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