I've never used a call or tried rattling so I'm a bit unsure of when you would do it? Would you do one over the other depending on what time of the season? Example: early season you call instead of rattle then as the season goes on switch to rattling.
Just "guessing" but I would think perhaps rattling early on as the bucks fight for dominance then maybe calling later as the rut kicks off?

I just started hunting again last year after nearly a 30 year absence so calling and rattling is new to me.

Thanks guys!

Ive had my best luck the 2 weeks leading up to the rut when the bucks are trying to show dominance in their territory. Don't be scared to rattle them as loud and hard as you can if light rattling doesn't work. Sometimes I even get out of the blind and stomp the ground and kick brush to make it sound like a real fight. Remember always check downwind bc many times the deer will come in from down wind.

I have had good luck during archery season using doe calls rather than grunt. I think the doe's and yearlings likely start to get separated this time of year. I think using longer bleats can draw doe's in looking for yearlings. I could be wrong but it has worked for me. As the weather starts to cool down and the rut approaches, I add in grunts and rattling. I lay off the rattling later in the season. I also use sent at various times and absolutely believe they work. Be aware of the wind direction when using sent and placement of you sent bottles. I try to hang them high enough the wind can catch the sent.

During the rut iv had decent results with rattle/grunt combos

Had it work 3 times in one day in the hard rut.. 4th arrow connected after 4 rattles and grunts kept him coming back from 60yd shots. Won't shoot bent behind a tree again for ethics, but made for a heck of a story that time. Empty quiver. Other than that it has been very hit and miss. Mostly missing.. Might just be where I hunt up North, but I wouldn't over do it too much regardless.

from the Master, Mr. Bob Ramsey.


http://www.statesman.com/lifestyles/recr...KH32thPDe5IYZI/

Buick/doe rio is key. if your hunting an area that has 5 does to 1 buck rattling doesn't work as well as an area with a 2-1 ratio or better. Make as much noise as possible. 'tickling" the tines works for some but I always clash them horns as violently as possible. GRIND the horns together as much as your bang them also. And when you end the fight end it abruptly. Don't end the rattling with a light fight. Bucks that are fighting and getting after it...one will know he has lost and he stops and high tails it out of there.


Buck doe ratio is key...if its ok you will call them in.

I've never had any luck with either so I just quit using em. I'd love to see them work in person

in my younger years, I had always heard of people rattling but never saw much, if any, results ... this was basically all on meat leases where the theory was "if it's brown, it's down".

Then I starting hunting more quality places with much better ratios and saw my BIL rattle in several nice younger (3-4 y/o) bucks within 10+/- yards with us standing between two cedar trees without a spec of camo on between us. I was a believer after he did this 6-7 times that day throughout a 6k acre pasture that had been very well managed to get the ratio numbers in check and weeding out inferior mature bucks for 6+ years. One in particular time he rattled, we were on a high point overlooking a wide valley when he started rattling and trashing his rattle antlers into a deadish cedar tree while stomping/kicking the ground & rocks while I was glassing the far side of the valley ... about 800 yards away I spot a good 10 point coming over the crest running full bore directly in our direction, then another mature 8 popped into view a couple hundred yards to the east, all in all there were 3 mature bucks and 4-5 younger bucks that came from over 800 yards away to within 30 yards of us before getting downwind and shying away. It was quite exciting to see. This was around the rut in that area, maybe slightly before in full swing.

As mentioned earlier, buck to doe ratio is the number one key. The more competition for a doe the more receptive a buck is to calling. I've seen a guy in south Texas hit two sticks together and rattle one in. I've also had to jump up and wave my hands at a deer to keep from getting run over. The opposite is just as true if you are hunting a place where the ratio is off. Rattling can actually run them off.

Best time is pre-rut. Catch them when they are looking for does and make them think that the first doe has just came in season. Also, make it sound like a real fight. Hit branches, kick your feet. I normally have someone with me to look like the idiot thrashing around.

If you believe rut is triggered 2nd full moon after the autumn equinox (I do) then for N Texas rut is close to Nov 4th this year. We've all seen bucks starting to lose their proverbial minds Mid-Oct in anticipation, so pre-rut is a chance to lure a curious mature buck in...honestly I've had limited success in N.Texas with grunts/rattling (much better response in Miss). If you do it, do it at the right time and in moderation....I'm talking about maybe twice during mid-morning and in the lull of the hunt start late Oct, stop mid-Nov). In my area, I've seen more bucks "nose-down" at 10am than any other time.