Rattling

[SM1]

Has anyone had much for success with rattling during the gun season? I have used a rattle bag type call and have had no takers thus far.

[MNRookie78]

I called in a small 8 on opener weekend and another came in behind me, downwind like they always prefer to do, but did not see what it was...just heard it bolt off through the trees and brush when it caught my scent.

[Central Bassman]

You need to hit the rut just right, Rattle works the best this way when the doe are in prime rut (in heat). With that being said there also has to be a few bucks running around and there defiantly has to be a dominate buck in the area. Rattling with bring out that dominate buck to come and fight. I have had some success with this, and my uncle has had good success doing this. Rattle is all about having a dominate buck that wants to fight!!!!

[Ferny]

Last year I saw a buck and doe in a farmers field in the East metro. There was a park adjoining the farm. I snuck into the park with a camo hat and jacket. 300 yards away from them. I glassed him and he was a very tall 8 pointer. Not the dominant buck after seeing resulting pics of the closed park hunt later! I had the wind in my face and tried a grunt...nothing, I tried a bleat can...nothing, I tried a rattle bag...nothing! I figured he just couldn't hear me with the wind so I really smashed the rattle bag and up went his head in my direction then I remained quiet. Within 5 minutes he made his way to within 50 yards of me while circling to get downwind of me in tall CRP type grass! He kept poking his head up looking for the source of the noise. That was 2 days before gun season started. I also had 2 does come into check out the ruckus!

Rattling can work (I proved it to myself) but it hasn't worked for me while actually blind rattling/calling during hunting. Perhaps the opening shots and all the people have something to do with that ie. pressure???

Each year large bucks (18 pt. and 14 pt.) have been taken within 1 block of the 40 acres I am hunting but not to me I have yet to see one during rifle season even though the rub/scrape line passes through the woods I am in?

For me it seems like young deer are attracted to the bleat can but the grunt call has scared away a 6 pointer and a forky when I grunted at them to see their reaction!

This year I didn't rattle at all since I had neighboring hunters within 200 yards of my stand...I am still learning this calling game after 15 years of hunting and no trophy on the wall.

The season is over for me so I will try again next year.

Good Luck,

Ferny

[Central Bassman]

I'm guess you don’t see many doe in your area then also? Because most of the time when we are hunting its in the rut and the big bucks will be following them does.

[96trigger]

Many times those littler bucks will check out the battle to see if they can "get a little" while the big bucks are brawling. I've rattled in numerous baskets and spikes. But, also a few big ones. I agree that you have to hit it just right. Last year I rattled with great success. This year, very below average and only small bucks.