Rattling

[nodeerhere]

So I'm sitting here watching hunting! Wishing I was in the woods. But these guys are rattling these bucks in. I was just wondering who here has had success with this. Has to be sweet to rattle one in. I've tried many many times without success. 

[moog5050]

I rattled two in early season this year but passed on them.  Saw them about 100yds away and they did come to me after some ratting. 

I know phade rattled one a few years ago while using a decoy and shot him. 

I have had far more success with grunts than rattling.

[Pygmy]

I no longer bowhunt, but the last half dozen deer I killed with the bow were all called in, either with rattling or grunting..I have had  much better luck by  "tickling" the antlers than with the very aggressive loud crashing that you see so often on the hunting shows..

[grampy]

I've used a rattle bag with moderate success on small bucks. Never called in a buck over three years old though. Usually I don't call unless I can see the deer and they are moving away. The older deer sometimes will stop and look, before continuing on. Or completely ignore the rattle. But I  have had much more success using buck grunts and doe bleats, to get them to come closer.

[Steve D]

A few years ago I rattled from a tree stand at the bottom of a ravine. Two bucks came in one on each side of the ravine. Both walked down to the end to level ground went to each other and duked it out. Pretty neat to watch but I didn't get a shot at either one of them. I always try it once or twice a year but that is the only time I could say it actually worked.

[ATbuckhunter]

Worked for the first time for me this year. The buck was 70 yards away and was going into brush. I rattled and he disappeared only to re appear 50 yards from me, headed in my direction. It was a real rush for me. 

[Rattler]

I rattle antlers a lot.  It works for me a lot.  That's one of the reasons for the handle I use here.

Been doing it for decades.  Not all the time while hunting, but at least one attempt every time I hunt deer.  Experience teaches you what works and when it will work.  Most bucks that come in are smaller ones.  My best score was a nice 8 point.  I suspect a few saw me before I saw them too.  

I could never give up rattling while deer hunting.  It would be too depressing for me.

[diplomat019]

18 minutes ago, Rattler said:

I rattle antlers a lot.  It works for me a lot.  That's one of the reasons for the handle I use here.

Been doing it for decades.  Not all the time while hunting, but at least one attempt every time I hunt deer.  Experience teaches you what works and when it will work.  Most bucks that come in are smaller ones.  My best score was a nice 8 point.  I suspect a few saw me before I saw them too.  

I could never give up rattling while deer hunting.  It would be too depressing for me.

I tried rattling once.  Watched some YouTube vids.  I had a set of synthetic horns.  No luck rattling but I wondered if the movement you make rattling could work against you.  I dont hunt from a stand or blind.  Im on the ground.  Wouldnt the action of moving your hands/arms, even if its held to a minimum, be enough to possibly alert deer?

[Rattler]

It definitely will.  You need to rattle after making sure there are no deer around looking for you.  You can do it in short brush on the ground to conceal movement, but then you can't see as far and the wind becomes a factor.

I rattle when I see no movement and hear no sounds of deer near me for a long time.  Then I'll do a series of tickles and one or two fights.  But it only lasts about 1 or 2 minutes max.  Then I put the antlers down grab the weapon and sit still for at least 30 minutes looking for any sign of movement and listening for any sound at all.

Often deer will approach the area when things stop happening.  Curiosity I guess.

But I must say, I have had some deer trot in while I was making a racket and never saw me.  I think their fast trot coming in prevents them from seeing my movement.