This Rattling Thing

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bowriter

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R.I.P.
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Lebanon,TN USA
I have been more or less successfull at this rattling thing for over 30-years. I have never rattled into range a truly big deer even though I have rattled in a lot of big deer country and have brought some monsters in for a quick look at some distance. For me, by the far the most productive time has always been early bow season and during that time, I almost always use the bag because I don't need volume and do need one hand free. My two biggest deer killed by rattling have been in the first three or four days of the season.

When I move into the aggressive phase-usually in early Nov.-I use both the bag and real antlers and nearly always a rifle. I do very little of this and none in TN.

Rattlingpart22.jpg


But location is the most importnat part of rattling. I try to set up in thick stuff where a deer may have to enter an open area to see where the sound is coming from. However, 995 of the big, mature bucks, check out rattling from quite a distance downwind. That is why the two person setup is best. This is picture is from one of best sparring stands.

Rattlingmaybe.jpg


There is one tree in Pike County, IL that even though somewhat in the open, was just a magnet to rattle from. Unfortunately, you never got to shoot. They nailed you before they came in range. I never got to hunt this property with a mzl. I sure would have loved to. It was an 80-yard shot to the trail down the facing point they would approach on. Where they stopped was exactly 77-yards. I was tempted to try a shot on a 180-class buck one day. He stood there for a while, then bedded down.

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Bowriter, I like your set up there. I too like to have a tree in front of me to block most of my blob up in the tree. Sounds like you need to get your cameraman to rattle while you set in a tree 77 yards closer to the trail :)

My largest buck was killed in Alberta 5 minutes after I rattled. Whether he came to the horns or not, I don't know and don't really care. But, I am a believer.
 
Many times you never know for sure if they came to the horns. The best ones you never see anyway. One morning in IA, I rattled in 11 bucks in a short peiord of time and killed the largest, just a fair 10. Sam Collora, hunting a couple hundreds from me said I had an aboslute gagger come in behind me, stop and slip back out. Said he just out of his bow range.
 
Early, I usually rattle in quite afew young buck. They are really curios and come in willingly. Where I hunt, ther are not many if any old bucks.

The plantation ibn AL is a different story. If you can just there when the young guys come in, quite often, maybe 30 minutes later, a good one comes in. The 142", 10 I shot down there was the seventh buck that morning and he came from a 180 degree different direction that the first six. He just made the mistake of coming too close.

The doe and buck I shot back to nack fourth day of the season last year came in with eight other deer, mixed little bucks and does. Does in the early season, are as curious as bucks what the clicking and clacking is all about.
 
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Pursuit Hunter said:
I've only been successful rattling in TN one year, 2008, the year after EHD had wiped out a lot of the does. Luckily, I got it on video http://www.pursuithunting.com/2008/11/r ... ll-em.html .

Other than that one year when the does were scarce, it has not produced any positive results for me around here.
Click to expand...

Pretty cool. I love it when a plan comes together. :)
 
In TN, if youhunt an area that has bucks in bachelor groups ( no they are not everywhere) in the very early season, especially in the afternoons on field edges. Just spar lightly. Nothing loud at all, just intermittent clicking and clacking with plenty of quiet time in between and carefull looking. You might be surprised at what is out there. When you see a buck(s) if you are not interested in shooting a small one, just sit very still and watch.

Usually, the smallest-youngest buck in the group will come in first and he may hang around. They get bigger as they come. Just be patient and motionless.

I prefer to rttle then over any other time.
 
I hadnt rattled in a while but have had success with it in the past.The first frosty morning of the year usually had the best results.The grunt call is my go to call.During the rut if a buck is cruising by himself,if he hears it he will come.
 
"...if a buck is cruising by and he hears it, he will come."

Only if he wants to and 85% of the time, he does not want to.

Obviously, deer in velvet do not spar. In that case, sparring is not very effective. Hoever, it is to some degree. After all, it attracys does. They, as do thebucks in and out of velvet, want to see who is making that sound. There should ne be any deer in the area they are not aware of.

Sparring in a way, is the exact opposite of rattling. It has nothing to do with the rut, nothing to do with a fight. It is two kids wrestling on a playground.
 
So, how do you rattle then? I have tried everything and it never works. Any tips on how to do it? How often and whatnot. I have a bag. And it just takes up space right now.
 
Haysoos jetman, all I have been doing is giving tips. I don't know what else I can add. There is no how often, deer don't have rules or time schedules. Early in the season quietly and not often. later, louder and not often. You can only learn from trial and error. First question you have to ask yourself is, "Do I have enough deer to rattle?"

Learn the difference between rattling and sparring. Early season you spar. Later you rattle. If neither works, quit and just sit still. It aint magic and in TN, it is even less than magic.
 
Every trophy Ive taken came to rattling, however I bet Im successful 5%-10% of the time, its always fast and furious, #1 thing to know when rattling is that there are actually deer in range to hear it, I have used synthetic antlers since the mid 90's
 
I am always willing to try new ideas. I have never killed a monster wallhanger. I want to, and anything to increase my odds to do so is great. I have had them respond to "the can" before. Missed a big 10 one year. He came running to my stand. Rushed the shot and missed. That call works.
 
bowriter said:
"...if a buck is cruising by and he hears it, he will come."

Only if he wants to and 85% of the time, he does not want to.

Have to disagree on that one.I dont disagree on rattling one bit.Ive had success in the past.Just giving my take on a grunt call.Im hunting Unit L and its nothing to grunt up during the rut 5 to 10 different bucks on one hunt.You just have to live or die with it.Most people that use one blow it one time with no results and quit forever.Carry on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Hard aggresive rattling in TN will scare off 90% of all the deer. If you are meat hutning, you don't rattle, you spar and I am tired of explaining the difference.
 
I would say that 98% of the bucks that come to rattling are 1.5 yr olds just curious to see what the ruckus is, coyote's will come in too, it makes for an exciting hunt when it does work and breaks up the boredom on every hunt
 
51 pointer said:
I would say that 98% of the bucks that come to rattling are 1.5 yr olds just curious to see what the ruckus is, coyote's will come in too, it makes for an exciting hunt when it does work and breaks up the boredom on every hunt
Click to expand...

Might be 96%. You seldom see the 3.5 that comes...if he comes. That is why sparring is so much more effective if you now how and when.
 
Don't expect to rattle in a bunch of does. Generally, the last thing they're interested in is a buck unless they're deep into estrous and one's not already in their company. Same goes with a decoy whether it's set up as a buck or a doe. Almost 100% of the time when a doe/s has seen my deke either way they're used (even without rattling) they automatically go on alert and start heading out. Much of the time they do so while blowing and stomping. Contrarily, a buck (if he's going to react to the deke at all) is more inquisitive about another buck, particularly one he hasn't seen before. If he's coming he's either coming in as a subordinate or dominate buck. He'll come willing to meet and greet and let the other buck know that he is subordinate (probably in order to keep from getting an arse whipping later) or he'll come in to let the other buck know that indeed, he is the king of the woods in that particular area. Either way an adreneline rush for the deer and hunter alike.
 

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