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Rattling bucks in low buck to doe ratio area
#6449581
09/13/16 01:22 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 285
DocJatTTU
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 285 |
12 days until bow season opener in Arkansas and texas. I'm still on my lease in Arkansas which has a lot of deer but due to heavy hunting the buck to doe ratio is pretty low. We see a lot of young bucks but only a few mature ones every year. My question is this: would rattling during the rut be a bad idea as these bucks probably don't spend much time sparring over females? I've had some success rattling in south tx but haven't tried it in the years I've been hunting south eastern arkansas.
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Re: Rattling bucks in low buck to doe ratio area
[Re: DocJatTTU]
#6452311
09/14/16 10:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,652
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,652 |
It's not going to hurt trying. The only deer you might scare off are young bucks.
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Re: Rattling bucks in low buck to doe ratio area
[Re: DocJatTTU]
#6452315
09/14/16 10:12 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
I would try to rattle before the rut or after the rut since the ratio is low. That many does will keep them busy during the rut. If you can see bucks cruising then they might respond to rattling. I would not expect them to run you over though, but each buck will react differently . Even in areas with a good ratio rattling for me during the peak of the rut has been iffy.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Rattling bucks in low buck to doe ratio area
[Re: DocJatTTU]
#6454230
09/16/16 02:05 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 285
DocJatTTU
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 285 |
Thanks gentlemen, Im going to give it a shot i think probably on a day when I dont see anything moving. That way I dont scare off the ones that might be brave enough to come into the food plot on their own. This year the acorns are thick and abundant. So it may be a tough early season until the rain sours the acorns. I got a rack off a nice 8 that I killed 2 years ago im going to use. I'll let you know how it goes.
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Re: Rattling bucks in low buck to doe ratio area
[Re: DocJatTTU]
#6454624
09/16/16 01:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,966
gary roberson
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,966 |
I agree with stxranchman and start rattling 10 days to two weeks in advance of when you think the rut will begin. The bucks will have much more vigor at this time and therefore will be more responsive to rattling. If the buck to doe ratio is very low, you will most likely have a rut that runs over several weeks and is pretty hard on the buck herd as they attempt to breed the does. You will also see many immature bucks breeding does that would not happen if the buck to doe ratio was closer. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of the July-August edition of the JOURNAL OF THE TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS magazine. I wrote an article about common sense rattling in the Hill Country but the same principals will apply across the country. Adios, Gary
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Re: Rattling bucks in low buck to doe ratio area
[Re: DocJatTTU]
#6457855
09/19/16 01:26 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 285
DocJatTTU
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 285 |
Thanks gary! I'll pick one up.
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