Many years ago I tried rattling up some bucks. But the timing was off and it didn't work very well. I spoke to some people about it and read up on it, so we gave it a try this last weekend. Man, is that fun!! Our first set we rattled up a small 8 point. Within 15-20 seconds of banging on the antlers, he bolted in right in front of us to within 6-7 yards. He was so close, I thought about reaching for the 10mm on my hip. He left soon after. We had a bigger buck hang up in the back that we couldn't get to come in. We went to our next set and rattled up this 9 point in the pictures below. He was nice, and I thought about shooting him. He stayed close and circled around us then left. I called at 5 different rattling sets. I called up bucks and/or does at each setting but one. 4 for 5 is not bad! The bucks come in hard and fast and right up in your face. It's really awesome rattling them in!

This was a quick picture I snapped when the buck was moving past us. He was nice to look at.

When it works it is great fun

Got my first one to come in like that last weekend too. Had a little 8 come in grunting and acting pretty tough. No shooters came to the rattles but still awesome to watch!

It is really fun when they are running in like they did for you. Nothing beats rattling them in from the ground. They through all the natural instincts away when they are coming in that fast looking for the fight.
I have been rattling from the blind and from the ground at various locations. I had two bucks fighting last week and they brought in 3 more bucks plus 3 that were there. Bucks were circling the two fighting and running in from downwind. I rattled the other morning and finally got 2 bucks to come in. This buck came in downwind and then spotted me before I seen him. I took a few pics of him before he left. The other buck was smaller and never got out of the brush.

I love the "rut and the rattle" time of the year.

That is fun. I rattled this past weekend to no avail. I did see 4 really good bucks, but they were all out of range, and all 4 were tending does. Once they are locked up with a doe, nothing will break them free. I'll try again next week and hopefully they will have finished with the majority of the does and will be out on the search for another.

Its fun when they come to horns. I caught them just right years back at a place I leased hunting across the boarder in Mexico. I lost count of how many bucks I rattled that day.

It can definitely be an adrenaline rush! A team works well for rattling.

Last year on Nov. 7 I rattled in 7 bucks while rattling from the blind. It was warm foggy morning a little earlier but they all came running in from different directions over about a 20 minute period. Couple of them came in so close to the blind I had to stand up to take a pic of one of them. I tried rattling from two different locations this year on the same day and did not get a buck to come in. Temps were much colder this year also but the deer would not respond.

Here is the buck my wife rattled up a couple of years ago. So much fun!

Works for us down South Tx but not so good in Central Tx

Yes. I used to try it there and it not work. You have to have a good buck to doe ratio. We were covered in does and rattling didn't work there.

I have been with someone that was successful rattling in a buck. It is awesome. I have never been lucky or good enough to make it happen.

it's a lot of fun to watch when they are coming in hard for a challenge and almost run over you.

This is a tactic I'm really dying to try here!! My last hunt was the day the cold front BLEW in so sound wasn't carrying at all. Hoping to get out this week and make it happen!!

CHAD- Glad you had the 10mm with you, make it count, all the cool kids are doing it!

Dude, I almost shot a small spike with my G40 in 10mm because of you! You made me jealous with that big buck you shot with your pistol. That's awesome! I want to shoot a doe now with it. I loaded up some 180 grain Speer Gold Dots I want to try.

I've posted this before but it's always fun to watch.