Rattled-in 8 pointer in Madison County

[CNYScott]

I rattled in this 8-pointer at 3:05 on Monday (third day of regular Southern zone) after being on stand since 6:15 a.m. that morning.  20+ mph winds, 35 degrees and plenty of rain.  I passed on four young bucks between 8:30 and 10:30. 

I grabbed the antler bag almost out of sheer boredom and started to rattle.  It has not worked for me in 12 years of hunting, I frankly didn't expect it to work then either.  After some rattles I heard a strange noise about 90 seconds later.  There was the buck at my 8:00 o'clock position about 35 yards away stomping and snorting/wheezing, looking for a fight.

I slowly raised my rifle (allowed in 7M) and shot him through the heart.  He ran 100 yards and keeled over dead.  He dressed out at just over 180 pounds. 

Taken in 7M near Eatonbrook Reservoir in the Town of Nelson.

[NYBuckHunter87]

good job, congrats

[skyzmine]

Congrats... nice buck ;D

I also never had any luck rattling deer in. or any calls for that matter.

so, hats off to you, great job...

[Bballhunter11]

Nice buck, my brother has had good luck rattling in several bucks this year also in 7M but has yet to shoot one haha. I havent had any luck rattling this year but try it off and on. Way to be persistent on a crappy day

[Bleitten04]

I've never had any luck with any calls or rattling.  I guess when you least expect it, it seems to work.  Great job and nice buck!!!

[5.9cummins]

Nice

I miss Madison Co.  :'( Born and raised there and there and after traveling all across the state i still haven't found anything quite like it.

[132 eight pointer]

Congratulations.Enjoyed the story.

[burmjohn]

Nice buck! I don't think you had enough straps on him though

[enduro14]

armcomm nice buck congrats.

[ny hunter]

Very nice deer congrats.

[crokit]

Nice YOUNG buck

[Cabin Fever]

Nice buck!! Wouldn't have thought about rattling during gun season, but it sure worked for you! Congrats!

[shenders]

Nice work. Congrats on your first buck rattled in.

[ny hunter]

Not seeing any deer this year I'm gonna rattle a bit my self this weekend.

[SilentStalker]

Nice YOUNG buck

Why the CAPS?

[CNYScott]

Turns out I had him on trail cam as well. 

[CNYScott]

Nice YOUNG buck

2 1/2 years old.  Tempting to let him pass but we've worked hard on this property for four years to get the buck population up and better quality.  Given the 9 hours in wind and rain and the fact I rattled him in I felt the marginal size (by our own standards) was worth harvesting.  We have at least 4 other 8-pointers on the 70 acres, and a slew of young yearling bucks between spike and six points. 

[CNYScott]

Nice buck! I don't think you had enough straps on him though

Ha!  I hear 'ya.  After hunting alone for nine hours in crappy conditions, and recruiting a buddy to help me get him on the platform, I wasn't taking any chances.