Rattling

[BuckO]

Thinking of getting some rattling antlers and trying it out for the first time next season. Any advice on natural antler vs. synthetics? Techniques? Will rattling for whitetails work here in the Northeast where I hunt? _BuckO

[KwackWacker]

I haven't seen a difference between th enaturals versus the syntheics. If a buck is in pre-rut and he hears something remotely close to two bucks going at it in his territory, he'll come check it out. I used to use real horns but I got tired of lugging them around, now I have a rattle bag and it works pretty good. I hunted in Alabama last month and rattled in 6 or 7, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year old bucks.

[charly]

i m hunting in quebec were i live .here around my properties i shot about 7 deer that came by rattling .i use real horns but i found that syntetic souded good.
as soone that the rut kik's in every year i nerver go out with out my rattling antlers.

[BuckO]

Thanks guys, how aggressive or loud do you get with the rattling? Do you raise a ruckus and just hope that a buck is within earshot.... or do you keep it subtle and wait until you see movement?

[charly]

for the second ans third weeks of october i rattle lightly for 2 minutes then i wait 10 minutes and continue for the same up to 1 hour.

then when the last week of october and all the time i go deer hunting in november i rattle verry aggresive .i began whit a 2 minutes of agresssive rattling and wait 10 mins,then i coutinue for the same for all the hour that i foud productive for rattling.

consider one ting (for my self)ther is no betther cal than rattling.

[DocHolladay]

I find that rattling during the rut is pretty much a waste. The bucks are to busy chasing does trying to breed them to care about other bucks fighting. Try it during the pre-rut when the bucks are splitting up and looking for receptive does, not chasing them during the breeding phase of the rut. This is usually when the bucks are fighting to determine pecking order.

[BuckO]

Great, but how LOUD are we talking?... How far off can you be heard when you're rattling?

[DocHolladay]

I start off by just "tickling" them together in case there is a deer close by. Once I figure out that there isnt anything there, I make like 2 bucks trying to kill each other.

[charly]

Great, but how LOUD are we talking?... How far off can you be heard when you're rattling?

whenm its the rut i rattlle a hard as i can......
if the weather is calm and clod rattling can be heard up to 1/2 mille

[BuckO]

Thanks... that's what I was after. I didn't want to just wail away. Think it'll work up North here? I always thought it was just a southwestern deer hunting technique.

[DerHntr4Lyf]

cant go wrong with real antlers. i used a composite and luckily they sound great. i like to start off with sparring and then grow aggressive. sparring with an occasional hard hits seems to get the curiosity going. ive even gotten does to come in looking. cant go wrong with some light sparring techniques. i agree that it is a waste of time during the rut. just before the rut aggressive is good and afterwards, go light. alot depends on the area and timing. an area where the bucks hav plenty of does, prob wont pay much attention. they might come out of curiosity. overall it comes down to a trial and error run for your area.

[joshykid]

i live in maine rattling works great especially first 2 weeks of nov. deer are curious animals you would be amazed how quick they will come in. but when they do come in be real cautious when u move to make ur shot because there guard is on high alert and they will catch the slightest movement. i lost a huge 6 point buck last year cause i tried to rush my shot. hopefully hell be bigger this year. also use some type of deer scent when rattling it will give the buck a focus point when he comes in. GOOD LUCK

[Highr0llr]

What about grunting or snort wheezin while rattling? Anyone had some luck throwing a few grunts in there, with a snort wheeze at the end? I've read about it, tried it, but didn't have any luck.

[KwackWacker]

I'm leery to use the snort wheeze or a really aggressive deep grunt because I am concerned about running bucks away from me rather than lure them to me. Maybe it's just me but when I see them use the technique on TV it's always in an area where there are some monster deer. Down here in my neck of the woods we don't have 300 pound deer with 180 inches of antler. To add to that, we have way too many does for the bucks to really, really have to fight over breeding. We try to keep the does in check but in reality, it's very hard to do so. I'm not saying it wouldn't work but I just haven't tried it myself.

[Highr0llr]

Na, no Illinois monsters here either... even though I pray for them every night. So you are more than correct about the deep grunts. I spent one year blowing my grunt call like a jazz trumpet, yea yea stupid i know.
But i learned after a week or so something just didn't seem right. The last few times I have rattled, I would grunt light - medium, and will brush up some leaves the whole time and also once i'm done rattling. Simulating a little chase and then blow a snort wheeze. I feel I rattle correctly, and that the grunting is correct. I just question if the snort wheeze is being used correctly.

[DocHolladay]

If I use a snort wheeze, I do it before the rattling. A snort wheeze is a challenge. I am like Kwack and dont usually grunt during the rattling, but I sometimes snort wheeze just before I start.

[Highr0llr]

Right on fellas, i appreciate the advice. I'll try out a snort wheeze first and tune down the grunting. I ain't scared to try new tactics, that is for sure! Thanks... i'll let ya know how it works for me! Getting excited!

[KwackWacker]

...i'll let ya know how it works for me!

Please do, if it works for you it might be the ticket here in Georgia. I'll let you be the guineau pig.

[DocHolladay]

Next time you have a small buck near by, snort wheeze at him and see what happens.

[DeDo]

Try www.youtube.com and search under deer grunt or tips for deer hunting. I leaned a few things about grunting and bleat cans.

[HuntingGearGuy]

In my opinion, rattling is a good call in pre rut when the bucks are deciding who will reign within the territory. Once the rut is in full, doe sounds work the best if you are after the dominate bucks. As always though use your calls to create and compliment the environment you are hunting in.

[osprey572]

Try using a hunting partner when rattling. The deer sometimes won't get too close to the actual rattle but are still very curious, not to mention as was said above, they are very keen to movement when approaching. Put the rattler at ground level possibly 30-40 (or more) yds away and have him do the rattling. In between rattles he must stay very still. he doesn't need to be concerned with seeing the deer. that is the shooter's responsibility. All the rattlers does is look at you for your hand signal to either continue, or stand by.

[miassmaro98]

the rut is the mating season correct?when does it start and end?

[iHunt]

The rut is different depending on what part of the country you are in. It could be anytime between October and January.

[miassmaro98]

im in south florida but will be hunting the central florida area