VA hunters
#1
VA hunters
I gotta question i think for the most part of the state, the ration of buck to doe definatly favors the does, so with that said i have never had any luck at all ratteling, never even heard of people having luck, so i was just wondering if any of you guys in VA actually had luck around here?? thanks
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 168
I have had only one deer come in to clanging some horns together. I have used a rattle bag as well as real horns. The deer that responed was a little three pointer and sat behind a small pine scared to see what was happening. This is also a span of eighteen years.
I have had more luck with a doe in heat bleat can from primos. Hope this helps and it never hurts to try. I am guessing the rattling in my area doesen't work because there are almost no dominant bucks. I've seen a billion three,four,five and six pointers over the years and had the pleasure of shooting a large eight with my bow in 2003. I believe there will be very little change unless dog hunters stop blasting everything that movess in the woods.
I am not starting an argument with dogs and dog hunting in the woods because there are clubs out there who practice QDMA and have rules for bucks and what not.
I have had more luck with a doe in heat bleat can from primos. Hope this helps and it never hurts to try. I am guessing the rattling in my area doesen't work because there are almost no dominant bucks. I've seen a billion three,four,five and six pointers over the years and had the pleasure of shooting a large eight with my bow in 2003. I believe there will be very little change unless dog hunters stop blasting everything that movess in the woods.
I am not starting an argument with dogs and dog hunting in the woods because there are clubs out there who practice QDMA and have rules for bucks and what not.
#4
I've rattled for years and years and mostly to no avail. Any time a buck has responded for rattling, it was a small yearling. Who knows, I could be doing it wrong, but I've had very little success with clanging them together.
#5
Spike
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 97
From my experience rattling and grunting tend to work well when the bucks outnumber the does. There is more competition with this ratio. I also feel that grunting and rattling tend to scare off the small bucks. It may work to bring in a mature buck that wants to fight.
As a whole I typically dont rattle or grunt to call them in. I may grunt to try and stop a deer for a shot, but not too often.
As a whole I typically dont rattle or grunt to call them in. I may grunt to try and stop a deer for a shot, but not too often.
#6
I tried it today for the first time with no luck. I did have a little fork horn under my stand that I passed on. Did not rattle him in, he just came on his own. Just to mess with him I bleated him a bit with no response. Then I rattled him. He definitely perked up but did not turn around and come to the sound. Given he was a little guy, maybe he figured he'd best move along.
Last edited by hubby11; 11-04-2012 at 01:41 PM. Reason: spelling
#7
i tried rattling yesterday morning and had several deer come running in but none stepped into the shooting lanes, all were smaller bucks and even had a few mature does come check it out also, kinda weird i thought. Had one nice buck come in on his own but he just browsed around for awhile well outta range but did show up. I think you would be best off sitting in silence and if anything use a doe bleat can call.
#8
I agree with the others about rattling. I've never had ANYTHING come to a rattle bag. Rattling most likely spooks bucks more than it draws them in - especially in VA where we have like 100 does to 1 buck.
Now with grunting and bleating, I have had them come right in...
Now with grunting and bleating, I have had them come right in...
#9
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Free Union, VA
Posts: 750
I have not had success with the rattling. But On public land (ButchA, I believe I took you there once in Powhattan) there used to be a guy who would go there with his son...the boy was about 8 years old when he(the kid) told me with great pride how his dad had rattled in an 8 pointer and shot him from behind a quickly improvised ground blind. I had seen that guy every year with his son up there but have not seen him there for a couple years....maybe they moved on to a better spot. The man was definately more successful hunting that I was.
#10
I have never had any luck with rattling myself but will do it on occasion. I figure deer are curious creatures so it might work. I did see a fairly decent buck chase off two smaller bucks that were sparring with each other several years back. Wish I'd had a camera.