Rattling....

[B B]

What do you use? Synthetic or real?  What brand synthetic?  What's your success rate when rattling (kills and/or sightings)?  Whats your thoughts on the old dried out real horns versus a fresh set of horns.

 

[rocky]

Knowing how and when to rattle during the rut is deadly. Adding decoys to that mix at the right time is what I enjoy the most. Too bad I can't post pics or video on this site. 

[JHbowhunter]

8 minutes ago, rocky said:

Knowing how and when to rattle during the rut is deadly. Adding decoys to that mix at the right time is what I enjoy the most. Too bad I can't post pics or video on this site. 

That’s ok - I can’t post pics on the snoozer site 

[Merkel]

I've used synthetic antlers with average success over the years.  Here is an article from QDMA that I found interesting. 

https://shar.es/a1OvBf

 

[tcook8296]

There is probably a very small window where it works. .My experiences I have more younger deer come to the horns than anything else. I think the mature deer wont come running instead they like to circle downwind and pick you off and you never even see them. Out west, Ive observed some big bucks want nothing to do with it and keep going. I have had better luck tickling the antlers together than hard crashing. 

When I hunted in Saskatchewan, the rattling seems to work better but those deer rarely see people. The biggest buck I have personally seen called in with the horns was in Saskatchewan, it was a 162 in buck, who came into an all out brawl, at least he thought it was, pounding the ground, tree rubbimg , brush snapping horns locking. I really thought the guide was over doing it. We saw the buck cross the road a few 100 yrds ahead of us. . We jumped out of the truck and set up. 

15 mins later and the buck was on the ground.

I think the less encounters with people and hunting pressure, the better it works.  

[Rusty]

I've had much more consistent responses with a grunting, keeping the grunts higher pitched like a young buck or doe bleat.   

 

[Buck154]

It works better where you have a good buck to doe ratio. Nj is not the best place for it but it works at times. I have rattled a few in but never any real big. Better luck with a grunt or snort wheeze. Real antler or rattle bag? Rattle bag is nice cause in fits easy and quietly in the back pack. 

[Live to Hunt]

Rattle bag.  Only have brought in young bucks. Grunted in some shooters though 

[Bannock-pt.]

Funny, seems like everyone has had completely different experiences with grunting and rattling. For me, last year I brought in my biggest buck to date rattling. Called in 4 different bucks in one morning. Deep grunts. Too bad the biggest only had half a rack though. This was in November right at the peak of the chase phase before breeding. Right outside a thick cedar bedding area and I hadnt sat the stand once all year. Kept it undisturbed until what I felt would be perfect based on what I was seeing in the area. Of course knowing that there are big bucks on the place you hunt is key.

[Bannock-pt.]

Funny, seems like everyone has had completely different experiences with grunting and rattling. For me, last year I brought in my biggest buck to date rattling. Called in 4 different bucks in one morning. Deep grunts. Too bad the biggest only had half a rack though. This was in November right at the peak of the chase phase before breeding. Right outside a thick cedar bedding area and I hadnt sat the stand once all year. Kept it undisturbed until what I felt would be perfect based on what I was seeing in the area. Of course knowing that there are big bucks on the place you hunt is key.

[Stan Putz]

I have had zero luck with it personally. I scared off a little spiker once by crashing antlers together.

But I have seen it work. I hunted on a ranch in Texas a number of years ago, I swear the ranch manager had deer blood in his veins. I watched him rattle in a big buck for another guy, he was grunting, rattling, snorting, throwing leaves around....pretty impressive. But it only worked once that I saw.

Edited October 23, 2018 by Stan Putz

[nmc02]

I have had zero success in NJ rattling. In the midwest, some success. In NJ if I see a buck....try can call 1st, then grunt....very successful. 

[Stewey]

I have had no success rattling 

[toxo]

I use the Knight & Hale pack rat. Very easy to carry and it sounds amazing! It worked great in Kansas rattled in 5 different Bucks,including the one I killed. Rattled one in in Ohio but it came in too late for a good shot. N.J., I just tickle them. Don't want to scare the Deer! lol