Rattling / Calls

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JDS

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Middle TN
So for the guy who doesn't know a whole lot(me). Who is learning, who reads a ton on forums like this with no real world instructors or friends who know a lot themselves when it comes to hunting. When it comes to hunting TN how many of you use calls/rattling and see it work regularly? When does it, meaning is it a rut only tool? Is it year round but only mornings? or evenings? When rattling is it better to be soft or loud? calling? On the land I hunt I think all of us has tried both with zero luck. I have had a couple of guys tell me they can go 30 miles away to another property they hunt and calling works quiet well. So does that mean it is a location thing as well as a timing thing? What are some of your experiences? Thanks.
 
In my experience and observation, it's pretty overused.

As for rattling, if you're going to use it, it's a pre-rut thing, but only if you're dealing with a good buck/doe ratio. Bucks don't have to fight much when there are plenty of girls at the party. If you have a good ratio, then you can probably tickle them a little now. Tickling mimics sparring (a dominance establishing thing). When things heat up, if you want to rattle, beat the heck out of them. All that said, I don't like to rattle much because I have no idea what's nearby. I prefer not to take the chance of spooking something. It's a gamble.

As for calling, depending on the call, that can be a season-long thing because there are social calls and breeding calls. As far as hunting is concerned, you'll probably have the most help with a can-bleat and a grunt call. It's not like turkey hunting, though. If you don't feel like you c an keep yourself from over-calling, I wouldn't use anything. These are relatively silent creatures. While some people have had the fortune of being able to hear some of the calls in the woods, most of us haven't.

The land you're on can determine their use, too. Public land is pressured, so a lot of people are carrying the bags, horns, and cans there, and it really might just be letting the deer know that there are hunters in the area.

So much of hunting is trial-and-error and trial-and-success. It's all about what helps you bring home a deer. If they respond when you do it, you've found a good tool for your pack. If they don't, you've found a hindrance.

Hope that helps some!
 
Poser":h4rvitdr said:
I don't use calls or rattling anymore, though I have experimented with both in the past.

Calls: Whitetails are just not very vocal animals. I have called a couple of bucks in before, but never a mature one. I have decided it best for the purposes of hunting from fixed location (stand, blind, sitting still) never to reveal your location. The purpose of such hunting is to intercept natural deer movement by exploiting their movement tendencies.

Rattling: I have herd deer full on fighting before and it was a very loud ruckus and almost always before first light. I have seen young bucks sparr, but never actually fight it out. Seems like there are too many ways to go wrong here by being too timid or too aggressive. Pressured deer are well versed in human attempts at rattling and poor sex ratios within the local herd mean that there is little competition and therefore little fighting. By far, the most common rattling herd in the woods is the rattling performed by hunters. When you hear it, you can usually tell it is a another hunter -kind of like turkey calling. Poor calling is often a worse tactic than no calling.

Obviously, there are people who do both of these things well. I would consider both to be advanced deer hunting techniques and not something for the novice to intermediate hunter to attempt until they have a full grasp of deer tendencies and behaviour. As seen on TV, calling and rattling are more often than not advertising plugs rather than actual hunting tactics.
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As a general rule here in the south rattling will scare away more deer than it will produce.

Pre rut you have a good chance at bringing in some young dumb deer. Does are naturally curious and it will bring them in too because they want to watch this activity. This is where the fun "CAN" begin.

I will usually start out with some light antler tinkling. Not violent crashing or fighting. Ive generally found that this will bring in the young ones both male and female. Then I sit back and wait. Ive seen some large deer come in because the hot does are in the area because of all of the activity.

I have had some luck rattling in some big deer but i generally save that for the rut in wide open areas where you can see for long ranges. Remember older wiser deer are basically nocturnal by the time hunting season comes in. Rattling is one of your best bets to get a nocturnal buck up out of his bedding area. This works great when hunting over thickets or medium tall food plots where big nocturnal deer will be bedded down. He might not come to you but he is likely to rise up out of the bedding area because he has been alerted to the sounds of the aggressive fighting and try and have a look at whats going on. If you are going to employ this tactic. Hit it and be ready with the Binos. Have your gun at the ready because chances are he is going to bed back down in the same spot or head off in the opposite direction of where you are at. You are only going to have a small window of opportunity on a buck like this. Better be ready.
 
So you're telling me I wasted my money on the Ground Grunter?

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right about not giving up your location if you can help it. That seems to make real good sense. Thanks guys for you input and time. Oh yeah that was a joke above, even my less than experienced self can see marketing at its finest(worst). Thanks again
 
Actually, that ground grunted isn't the worst idea, if you're going to use a grunt. It's the same logic behind dangling your antlers from your stand down at ground level. I don't know that I would ditch a call you've already bought to buy that, but if you don't have one yet, it's not a horrible idea and certainly helps with not giving up your position. It's uncanny how good those dudes are at pinpointing where that grunt came from.

Also don't be discouraged if a deer pops his head up and then slowly goes about his business again after hearing you. They don't usually come in on a string. That's just not their way. If they can help it (and if they're going to come in), they'll slowly work their way toward the sound, but do it by circling back to get the wind. In other words, watch your six! Ha!
 
Personally, I've had only a little luck with grunt calls and even less with rattling, so I've stopped both for the most part. I will say using a can call, or doe/fawn bleat, does work quite often if you want to bring in curious does. They can't seem to resist it when they hear it and have to come in and check it out. Not sure if they think a fawn is in distress or a new doe is impeding on their territory, but they will typically come in on full alert so you have to watch your movements to not get busted. Have never pulled a buck in with one, but you never know what might be behind a doe at the right time of year. Overall, if you get set up right, the best thing to do is probably just be quiet.
 
I basically quit calling of any kind. Never got results except one time I blind grunted and a small buck popped up and walked past my stand. That's it.
 
UTGrad":1u7mnpk7 said:
I basically quit calling of any kind. Never got results except one time I blind grunted and a small buck popped up and walked past my stand. That's it.
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You will defiantly bring in young dumb bucks. Ive grunted all sorts of buttons and spikes in. Seems like when they get separated from mama this is a call they are use to hearing for "assembly" or come hither.
 
Best way to learn about calling is to wait till you have some deer in site that you do not care anything about shooting then test your calls. See how the deer react to them. THIS is how you will learn how the deer will react to them. Alot will depend on what time of the year it is too. If a buck has been fighting alot and has been getting his arse kicked and hears a grunt call,,, chances are he is going to run the opposite direction. Back the clock up and a deer is feeling his oats and is looking for to play spar or spar. He might be tempted to come in on a grunt.

This is knowing when and how to use a grunt call.
 
For the most part, this part of the country isn't like Texas or some other states where it seems to be a common practice that works. That being said, once archery season is over I would just as soon leave my rifle at home as my grunter. I never leave home without it. I've called in bookoos of deer; both bucks and does but mostly bucks. The pre rut throughout the rut is when I have the best results. At this time I mix bredding calls of bucks and does. You're not apt to call a buck off a hot doe but if he's moving through an area looking for one and hears what he thinks is breeding going on he is apt to investigate. He may slink in or he may come charging in. I've had about 50-50 results. It scares the daylights out of young bucks. Sometimes I play with them when they come in close by grunting and watching them hightail it or try to disappear by melting away from where they stand. Pre rut into the early rutting and then late into the season I've had some dynamic results rattling although less successful than my use of a grunter. Again, they could slink in or come charging in. It's absolutely mind blowing when they come charging in with hair bristled and the whites of their eyes showing looking for a fight. Most of the knock down drag out fights I've heard have been pre-dawn but I have heard and witnessed a few good fights mid morning and even found half racks broken off after the fight.

I suppose results could be based on pressure, the dynamics of the buck population, or even if a hunter has fooled a buck into range and then been picked off by the buck. For whatever reason deer seem to be different in different areas even in the same county. There are places I've hunted where the deer are very vocal and respond well to calling and a few miles away you'd be hard pressed to hear or call anything in. I wish I knew why. In any event, I'm glad to hear people say they don't believe in it or that it works. I wish more felt that way.
 
I only call if I see the deer or hear it. I have never rattled in any buck. It seems every year I try and to no effect.

The most success with calling that I've had is with does. I have had plenty of success with a gentle grunt to a doe that I see to bring her nearer. Just don't overdo it.

Last year I heard a doe bleat for the first time and heard a buck move toward her. Didn't see either animal. I did just a couple of can bleats and was able to entice the buck to come to me and I took him. Highlight of the season.
 
Never had much luck. I don't care to make a noise which gives away my location. I'v had older deer circle on me and smell me. However, it can be used effectively on certain deer at certain times of the year. As with anything, no guarantees.


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I've had good success with grunting mature bucks. I will say that it tends to bring in more juvenile bucks than mature ones. Have had minimal success rattling and don't really pursue it much anymore. No success with can bleats. I think it may be a regional thing myself. The bucks I hunt around here seem to be very vocal and respond quite well to grunts but I've hunted in Ohio and Georgia quite a bit and they seem to ignore grunting in those areas.
 
Ive had more luck with the can bleat including a couple of decent bucks.seems to work best on bucks in the late still evening.
 
Mike Belt":19o6dlj9 said:
For the most part, this part of the country isn't like Texas or some other states where it seems to be a common practice that works. That being said, once archery season is over I would just as soon leave my rifle at home as my grunter. I never leave home without it. I've called in bookoos of deer; both bucks and does but mostly bucks. The pre rut throughout the rut is when I have the best results. At this time I mix bredding calls of bucks and does. You're not apt to call a buck off a hot doe but if he's moving through an area looking for one and hears what he thinks is breeding going on he is apt to investigate. He may slink in or he may come charging in. I've had about 50-50 results. It scares the daylights out of young bucks. Sometimes I play with them when they come in close by grunting and watching them hightail it or try to disappear by melting away from where they stand. Pre rut into the early rutting and then late into the season I've had some dynamic results rattling although less successful than my use of a grunter. Again, they could slink in or come charging in. It's absolutely mind blowing when they come charging in with hair bristled and the whites of their eyes showing looking for a fight. Most of the knock down drag out fights I've heard have been pre-dawn but I have heard and witnessed a few good fights mid morning and even found half racks broken off after the fight.

I suppose results could be based on pressure, the dynamics of the buck population, or even if a hunter has fooled a buck into range and then been picked off by the buck. For whatever reason deer seem to be different in different areas even in the same county. There are places I've hunted where the deer are very vocal and respond well to calling and a few miles away you'd be hard pressed to hear or call anything in. I wish I knew why. In any event, I'm glad to hear people say they don't believe in it or that it works. I wish more felt that way.
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I agree with this. From nov. 1 until closing day, my grunt call will be with me. I've never tried rattling
 
My favorite thing to do during the middle of the day, is get down wind of a thicket and hit the grunt call. You would be amazed.
 
Rockhound":mqw20wed said:
My favorite thing to do during the middle of the day, is get down wind of a thicket and hit the grunt call. You would be amazed.
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It's surprising how many deer (especially) big bucks are bedded down in thickets right there in front of you and never get up.

This is where a "good" set of binos or a "good" spotting scope can come in handy picking out the difference in antlers and vegetation.

Hitting a grunt call or a rattling bag will sometimes/usually force that nocturnal buck up momentarily to see what's going on, he will usually lay right back down or run the opposite direction if he detects danger.

If you are sharp enough to be able to slip in with a decoy and use the grunt/rattle technique you can sometimes get his attention and drag him right over. It's just another one of those things that either works or it does not, I have it work and I've had it fail,


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I will use a grunt call if I see a deer that I want to try to get closer to, but other than that I use no calls or scents not that they won't work, it's just that I believe if I can be undetected or not draw any attention to my location I'm better off. Remember when calling they will usually try to get down wind.
 
I've rattled a little. Never tried it much. I have called in a few bucks, doing grunts and doe bleats. Called in a mature 8 point a few years ago, by grunting and doe bleating. Missed him with a ML but, killed a 2" diameter cedar tree. Ended up getting him in gun season. Mostly young bucks have responded to my calls.
 
Poser":1bo1fawg said:
I don't use calls or rattling anymore, though I have experimented with both in the past.

Calls: Whitetails are just not very vocal animals. I have called a couple of bucks in before, but never a mature one. I have decided it best for the purposes of hunting from fixed location (stand, blind, sitting still) never to reveal your location. The purpose of such hunting is to intercept natural deer movement by exploiting their movement tendencies.

Rattling: I have herd deer full on fighting before and it was a very loud ruckus and almost always before first light. I have seen young bucks sparr, but never actually fight it out. Seems like there are too many ways to go wrong here by being too timid or too aggressive. Pressured deer are well versed in human attempts at rattling and poor sex ratios within the local herd mean that there is little competition and therefore little fighting. By far, the most common rattling herd in the woods is the rattling performed by hunters. When you hear it, you can usually tell it is a another hunter -kind of like turkey calling. Poor calling is often a worse tactic than no calling.

Obviously, there are people who do both of these things well. I would consider both to be advanced deer hunting techniques and not something for the novice to intermediate hunter to attempt until they have a full grasp of deer tendencies and behaviour. As seen on TV, calling and rattling are more often than not advertising plugs rather than actual hunting tactics.
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This has been my experience also, especially the fighting before 1st light.
 
I always carry a grunt, some horns, and a can call . I've never really had any success with blind calling so I don't do it too much unless I haven't seen anything, then I just do it because why not. I really just use them to attempt to bring in deer that I can see. I'll watch them with binoculars to see how they react so I know weather to call more or stop. The can call worked great 10 or so years ago when primos first made it popular but now, every Joe in the woods from October to January has one and I think they just sit in the woods and turn the thing over non stop.
 
Never let someone else influence you on how to hunt. You as a hunter have to decide how you want to hunt and then start practicing you technique . If its just sitting still fine, if its rattling or grunting ok, but working and trying to improve your technique is what I find the fun part. Just because someone cant rattle and they scare everything in 40 acres off then it doesn't work . Personally I couldn't grunt a deer in if my life depended on it but I have been rattling bucks in when they use to say it only works in Texas. One of the larger bucks was a 147 that I rattled in was opening week, came to me like he was on a string on public land. I do rattle in small bucks and a lot of does but that's ok I like seeing deer. On an average I rattle in 10 to 12 bucks a year and I do get busted when I break the rattling rules . So as a hunter you have to decide how you want to spend your time in the woods .
 
I have called in some nice deer. It is like calling in anything else they have to be close enough to hear the call and have to be in the mood to come to it.
 
Personally, I like to use a grunt call and the can call. Last years was one of the best years I can remember, I called in 7 different bucks opening week end, some I called back just to make sure he was coming to the call. It works (at times) not all the time. I have used this combo for along time, just my way I guess.

Rattling, I have seen it work some, mostly by lightly rattling the horns together, I don't have the (hollywood bucks) they have on the tv hunting shows.
 

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