grunt/rattle

[jay83196]

JUst wondering how many people have success grunting and some advice in how and when to do it, I assume by gun hunting its to late to rattle? I have done both with very little success , just wondering if just area I'm in or I'm doing it wrong.

Thanks

[matchset]

from halloween to november 15 is prime rattling and grunting time (IMO) ! you might want to include a decoy of some sort into your strategy. also, bucks are more aggressive, and thus more receptive to these types of calls when the buck to doe ratio is balanced.

i've rattled in two bucks this fall so far. both were young bucks, seems like the big boys like to wait until the rut actually kicks in

Good luck!

[uptracker]

I only rattle where I know there are at least two big bucks in the area. If you're hunting an area with only 1 1/2 year old deer, you're wasting your time. Most will run the other way.

Yes, we've had some success rattling, but it's usually in a big buck area far back in the big woods where no one else is. There needs to be competition in between the bucks.

[CANOPY SAM]

I rattled in a little guy for my son on the regular firearms opener last year. Just a fork. He elected to wait for something bigger. 20 minutes later someone else shot that buck.

I've never had much luck rattling either. It was fun to see that little buck come walking in like a tough guy though!

[Fever]

I have rattled nearly every season (gun) For about 17 years I was near Mn River bottom and really had no luck but I do think that may have been due to too much Hunting pressure. Over past 3 years I've riffle hunted up in northern Cass county and I've rattled and grunted in the deep woods and haven't had much noticable success. I did grunt a small buck into rifle range but didn't take the shot however I'm not entirely sure he wouldn't have come into range on his own. I think that at times depending on wind that if you are in a rattling sequence that mature / wise bucks will circle around down wind and probably bust ya way before you see them.

[bigbucks]

I've rattled in quite a few deer over the years, pretty much all small bucks. I've had better luck grunting or can calling in the bigger bucks & does. Anyone else noticed that fawns pretty much ignore virtually all types of calls?

Between all the forms of calling I'd be guessing how many have come in, probably at least 20. I rattled in a buck during gun season last year. I don't think I'd have shot him anyway, but a neighbor was able to cut him off before he got to me. I couldn't see him where he was sitting about 200 yards away from me. The buck came on the march across an open field straight at me. He would have come about 400 yards, but he got lead poisoning at about 150. I was kind of mad at myself as I felt I got him killed. It was late enough into gun season that he might have survived.

[bogwalker]

No luck rattling so far. I did grunt in a nice buck. He saw and watched me before I saw him. 2 Trees between us formed a "V" covering my view of his body. I could only see his head. I first saw him when one of his ears twitched, otherwise I never would have seen him. We stared at each other for 45 minutes until it got dark. He immediately moved down wind of me then crept away making no noise. Fascinating animals.

[bogwalker]

I was on my ladder before first light. Cold and clear weather. Just at the first sliver of daylight I hear some fool rattling antlers about 50 yards behind me. He did not sound anything the the pros on TV. I thought about leaving. The rattling stopped and I hear leaves rustling. Now it sounds like something walking. I strain my eyes trying to look to my right without moving my head and I see a buck heading up the trail I was watching. Next I hear another deer walking behind me. These were real bucks sparing behind me. Didn't get the buck just a little education. Real bucks don't sound like the pros.

[mabr]

BB, the only time ive had fawns react is when they werent with thier mothers then they will come in to a grunt, bleat call. Just curious I would be guessing without mommas guidence.

Bog as far as not sounding like the pros. It amazes me how many sounds deer make. One of the does i took this year I heard it make what sounded just like a person sneezing a few minutes before she showed up. Head burried in the leaves blowing like crazy.

Another time I rattled and grunted in a nice 9 point only to have him hold up at 50 yards. Grunted some more and he just wouldnt come in. He went on his way all bristled up ears back , about 10 minutes later I hear what I then thought was the neighbor rattling. This went on for what had to be 20 minutes right up till dark when it finally stopped. Sitting in my stand I thought the guy had to be nuts and I was disapointed thinking he didnt know what the he-- he was doing. Later sitting at the cabin I started thinking about the whole event and figured maybe the buck I had rattled in found another buck. Well next afternoon i went to where the sound was comming from. It was tore up leaves scattered, hair on the ground branches broke. THESE guys went at it hard, the evidence was there. But the length of the fight is what I couldnt and still to this day have a hard time believing. A solid 20 minutes. Afterwards I wish I had got down to go see, Im sure both were bruisers.

You just never know with deer. Ive heard of guys rattling them in with aluminum arrows at the right time. Just depends on the mood of the deer at that time.

Oh one thing I wanted to share that has worked for me in the past. Grunt at them if you spook going into stand at night as long as they havent seen or smelt you. Ive had it work to many times. It seams to calm them down. By spooking I mean snorting at you.

[KING]

i've actually had pretty good luck over the years...i still to this day use the exact system that i picked up watching the old Noel Feather hunting tapes back in the early 90's. Worth a watch if u can find them.

I think the key to it is setup. I am willing to bet people are getting reactions to rattling more than they think but never see the deer. When you call remember the deer are now "hunting you". And they are good at it.

My best success has been calling in buck travel areas (terrain features...funnels, inside corners and such). Often there will be very limited sign, maybe a few rubs here and there, maybe a scrape, but sometimes nothing. The bucks are moving through these areas somewhat rapidly between doe bedding areas. It is an absolute that an obrtruction is downwind of you, a field, river, pond, bluff etc...as the deer will be circling downwind to find you. U need to cut off that angle.

for whatever reason i have found mornings to be the best...i think sometimes the bucks are getting home late and maybe tired out a bit after a long nite of romping around.

AM calling- wait until it is light enough u can abolutely see everything in the woods...grunt or bleat a couple times just in case something is close...wait 5 min...rattle aggressively...make the first hit as loud as you can, i vary the length of the sequence but usually a good minute or so. Most of blind called bucks show up 20 minutes after u rattled...stay alert...they are now hunting you and it is amazing how zeroed in on your location they are. It is easy to forget after 20 min they are not just wandering by...they are looking for a fight and if they don't find it they are going on their way. If nothing shows after 30 minutes...I start the whole sequence over. Many times it is the thrid or fourth sequence of this before the buck will show.

PM calling- I am much less aggressive in the afternoon. More bleating. Do not like to blind call as much. Grunt more to any deer i see. Grunt loud, their ears will move if they hear u. I will use the same timing with rattling just maybe not as aggressive.

Hope this helps someone...