What part of the rut is the best time to rattle in your opinion?

during the rut anytime is good, start out easy, if your not getting response don't be afraid to make a little noise, up in canada one year the deer were not responding well to the horns, it was thurs. i was getting fustraited so i rattled horns for what seemed to be 5 minutes, probably more like 1-2 minutes anyway it felt like my arms were going to fall off, as soon as i put the horns down there stood a huge 10, steam coming out of his nose, i mean he came in hot, but 60yrds away, he then demonstraited why he was a huge 10, he circled downwind of me and it was over as quick as it had started. very exciting though.

oh yea welcome and best of luck this season

thank alot

Pretty much from once they start shedding velvet to the time the drop their horns is good. Early pre rut you just want to tickle the tines. Start short and gently and progresively crash then together longer and harder. I try to keep my sequences at least 15-20 minutes apart. Often they will come from a long ways out if they can hear you so it's best to give them a little time.

I just read an article (I forget where) but they did a study and determined that the more agressively you rattled the better the response.

I'm not sure where they did the study but that's my .02.

It seems that when it works, it really works, all other times it produces little if anything. In the prerut the bucks are establishing the pecking order and rattling can be effective. Seems like once the rut starts bucks have other things on their mind, unless they happen to be without a doe at that moment. As stated, start soft, but don't be afraid to give 'em heck.

In my experience, the pre-rut has been the best time to tickle the tines, so to speak. I acutally had a nice 8ptr come in this past Sunday on some gentle rattling. Saw that there were no bucks in the area and walked off. Made for an awfully exciting morning.

For fast and furious banging the horns to gether and having deer come in I think Oct. 31-Nov. 5 is the best time to ratlle in the area that I live in. That's normally the heart of the pre-rut. We (we being the circle of hunters that I hunt with and talk hunting with) call Halloween the majic day for rattling around here.

For me in central MS, the December is the best time. Usually around mid December is when I get the most responses. I have rattled in 2 P&Y's but couldn't get the shot

Try setting up 1 doe and 1 buck decoy in an area you know there are deer. First, try a few doe bleats with a couple grunts, then throw some rattling in. Oct. 25- Nov.10 is probably about the best time to rattle. This is just my opinion.