burniegoeasily

In my neck of the woods, the bucks have just started running with the does. I had a good looken buck walk out about 600 yards, I tickled my horns a little and got him to stop. He started looking for the other bucks but didnt respond much. As he got further away I rattled like two bucks getting after it and he keep on his marry way, didnt attract or bother him. I rattled this weekend in cycles of 30 sec. rattling and rested for about 45min to an hour. No bucks seemed to be interested. I believe the rut is not full blown yet. I suspect the next few weeks will get them rutting really good.

I have only been rattling for about three years, any suggestions would be appreciated.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity" Martin Luther King Jr.

atlasman

My suggestion to you would be to forget rattling all together.......it is a waste of time.

Unless you are in an area where the deer herd has a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 buck to doe rattling is just background noise to them. You may on occasion peak a curious response from a buck but more then likely he is just checking it out and not looking to fight.

Bucks don't have to fight for does in most areas because the populations are so out of whack that they have 10 does each to have an orgy with if they want. Why fight when you can just keep walking and bag a doe around the next corner??

Grunts(soft) and a estrous bleat can are far more effective IMO due to being more natural sounds that the deer are used to and respond to more often.

skeeter 7MM

Bernie, I like to grind and tickle the horns vs smashing. I start with about 30 sec -sequence but then drag it out to 45-60 secs per and on the half so every half hour. I also find grunting prior and just after the sequence and even sometimes at the 15 minute interval will help in keeping their attention. I always rake trees and ground prior and after. Also like to rustle leaves with my boot heels while rattling and end with me thumping the antler bases on the ground to simulate a deer fleeing. my grunts I vary to soft low toned contacts, tending grunts and even aggressive low toned drawn out grunts can produce. I have used doe in estrus scent to spruce up the set up as well.

Some things to consider is if you are trying to lure a animal out, think of a spot that would be comfortable and natural to them or a fight. I have never had good success with horns and fields or food sources. I much rather rattle in transition area, draws, rublines, meadows..etc. So where the deer like to move and stay concealed. I also pick areas with timber ridge to rattle from, deer like to move in low areas and they tend to do battle in these areas as well. I have been witness to a few scraps, most of which were in low spots, bowls, hallows,etc...never seen 2 bucks go fully at in the open. Oh I have seen them run each other plenty in the open areas, but never do all out battle and lock up. In my mind location is a big key when rattling, pick a comfort zone for the deer and you'll find your success rate will go up. Also always have the backdoor covered, mature bucks will often circle the fight or your position and try and come in downwind...so always pay attention and make sure you have a shooting lane out back. I thing wind direction is another key, I always hunt with the wind on my nose and rattling is no different. Start of soft and short, then gradually bring up the tone and intensity and always keeping contact buy way of rattling or the grunt/doe bleat. He may be coming and then hear nothing drop his attention level and he is gone off in another direction. (Don't over do it, but if you stick with 30-60 sec sequence every 30 minutes and call at least every 30 minutes or at most every 15 minutes, you'll be fine) I started a rattling log a few years back in which I record the hunts events, it has proved useful...so I would suggest trying that and let the deer tell you what they like.

Good Luck!

MassBowhunter

Just wondering what area you are from that the rut is just starting?

My suggestion is not to over rattle. Don't do it in the same area more then a couple of times and don't do it in the same area every day.

For most deer it's just a curiosity call but if you hit the dominant buck at the right time and place hold onto your hat.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

MassBowhunterWhats Your Story?

nodose

my suggestion is to listen to atlasman. rattling is a waste of time unless you're in an area w/a high buck to doe ratio. from what you've described you're rattling sequence is fine....if you've been doing this in the same area for 3yrs w/the same success then tell all of your buddies out there including yourself to spend a few seasons thining out the doe herd.

burniegoeasily

Thanks you all. Very good suggestions. I live in north west Texas, The rut usually starts at the end of Nov. and lasts through Dec. This year they have been taking their time , or at least that has been my observations these last few weekends. I have not missed a weekened hunting since season started. Last year I had loads of success rattling at this time of the year. I didnt think of the buck doe ratio, I take as many does each year as the law will allow. At the first of bow season all I saw was bucks, I tend to save my one buck tag for rifle season and the rut. As of lately, nothing has been interested in my rattling. The weather hasnt been the best, warm and windy. I guess that has something to do with it as well.

Im going to keep on trying. Thanks agian.

I guess a bad day of hunting is better than most days.

&quot;Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity&quot; Martin Luther King Jr.

skeeter 7MM

Why would you say it's a waste of time, he stated now he has had loads of success rattling bucks in. IMHO there are those who rattle and those who do it effectively. For the ones who do it effectively it is never a waste of time!! Where we hunt the ratio is about 1 buck to every 4 does, I have rattled out numerous bucks, while my hunting partners have had little success. They think rattling is a waste of time, but I never leave my truck without my horns and grunt tube in prerut or rut. LOCATION&lt; LOCATION&lt; LOCATION is the key, plus practice and experience. This year i rattled out over 20 different bucks in 4 days of hunting, in one sitting I rattled out 6 different deer and 2 came back for a second look. We shot 3 bucks that went 140-165, so I tell you rattling effectively does work during the rut or prerut. You just have to know when, where and how!!!

Good luck Bernie!!!

atlasman

I said it is a waste of time because it IS a waste of time.

Why bother rattling and wondering if you are doing it right or too much or too little or too loud or too soft or too early or too late??

Like I said, a nice grunt tube and a bleat can will get you all the bucks you can handle....rattling is nothing but background chatter that may peak the interest of a buck or he may just keep walking like you aren't even there. 90% of us hunt in places where there are PLENTY of does to go around so the bucks aren't fighting for a chance to breed. They can have their pick of a dozen different does each if they want.

In this setting the deer do not associate rattling with sparring between a couple big boys for the rights to a doe because it just doesn't happen(very often) Do bucks scrap everywhere?? Sure but anyone who thinks they are gonna click a few sheds together and 2 P+Y monsters will come firing out of the brush ready to fight is in for a long day in the woods watching squirrels.

Scout your area, find out where the bucks are and use more natural sounds like a grunt and doe bleat and you will see plenty of deer.

I saw a bunch of bucks this year (took 1 bow and 1 gun) and I would say all but 2 responded to my bleat can very strongly.......several stopping dead and immediately changing direction to come investigate. I use my grunt tube and can to attract them and just the can to bring them in.

Responses to rattling are mere curiosity IMO. If it works for you then I say keep it up. I couldn't care less.........if they came in when I banged a drum I would do that. Use what works.......just understand why it works or why it doesn't and you will be fine.

nodose

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> As he got further away I rattled like two bucks getting after it and he keep on his marry way, didnt attract or bother him. I rattled this weekend in cycles of 30 sec. rattling and rested for about 45min to an hour. No bucks seemed to be interested.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

skeeter7MM....so how did you come up with this?

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Why would you say it's a waste of time, he stated now he has had loads of success rattling bucks in. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

our suggestions came as a responds to his original post, and he didn't say he has <font size=6>LOADS</font id=size6> of success now. he said that he had loads of success last year.

Tree climber

A waste of time: I beg to differ. In my area,we do not have a good ratio of buck to doe.I can set and see 15 does in a mornings set.what the ratio is,I'm not sure( I would say 10 to 1)

every year,not just once in a while.&quot;EVERY YEAR&quot; I rattle in several good bucks in our B/P season.that is the rut in my area.
I do not beat them like killing a snake,I just make sure you can hear it at 100 yards,just tickle them mostly.

<font size=4>It does work if the ratio is not high</font id=size4> I'm sure it works better if you have 1 to 1 or 1 to 2.
try it if it works,good ,if not try again later.

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.