As I am new to the sport of Bowhunting I am up for trying every tactic that I see or hear about. I can see where scent and sound can work great during the rut but what about early season? Does Rattling work in the early season? Maybe not a full on brawl but just tickling the tines a little. Can that bring in a curious buck? Has anyone used a Fawn in Distress Bleat in the Early season to bring in the freezer fillers? I am hunting on new public land so I don't have trail cams or extensive scouting to tell me what deer there are on the property and I haven't been able to scout out their patterns. I am just going in blind and wondering if anyone has some tips. Thanks
Public land bucks are usually smart enough to tell the difference between a hunter rattling and real bucks sparring. Most of the time on public land, all you end up doing is letting the deer know where you are in the woods. I've heard that from several accomlished hunters and from Charlie alsheimers (from deer and deer hunting) If your dead set on doing it, make sure you use real antlers, and I wouldn't attempt it until mid to late october. I've used a fawn bleat a few times when i saw doe's out of shooting range. they stopped and looked, flicked the tail a few times and kept walking. it's almost like they knew it wasn't real. My best advice is to be as silent as possible, and observe as much deer sign as you can. Take notes. go in mid morning early season look for sign, deer droppings, hoof prints, small stream crossing and setup 20 yards off the run or stream crossing and (Make sure the wind isnt blowing your scent towards your findings). for an afternoon hunt. OBSERVE take notes. next time you go out, try a morning hunt from the same spot. get down mid morning and take another walk in a different area, repeat process, get familiar with the land you are hunting. I grew up hunting public land, where it was an amazing day of hunting if you "saw" a deer. Good luck, keep asking questions..... there is no magical item that will bring them into you.
If I do any in early season its just very light tickling of the horns, no aggressive type rattling. Its more of a curiosity thing if they come in. Kind of like checking out the new kid on the block. I have seen/filmed in early season younger bucks kind of testing the waters by sparring! bleats I have not had much luck with!
Its been my experience that it's not necessarily positive to draw attention to your location. Deer will be more attentive upon approaching you. I'm not saying Rattling doesn't work, in fact, it usually works well. Subsequently, wiser bucks/deer will not be so easily tricked/convinced into coming in. Especially, if you're hunting in a heavily hunted area, which is everywhere now a day's.
I'm in the same boat as you in the OP. I went out Monday and did give a little jingle in the rattling but nothing came of it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Lucky this area just opened up to hunting last year and I do not believe many people hunted it. It is just north of a park that has a special hunt each year to keep population down so I am hoping that will push the deer further north into the area I will be hunting. Keep my fingers crossed and really if I get out there and don't see anything it is still worth it.
For me I don't do any rattling whatsoever until we are closer to the rut. Generally after November 1 I will start including a rattle bag or shed antlers to rattle with in my pack.
I have called a few Deer in while rattling. One during the early season, and the rest during the pre rut. They were all small Bucks, but it's been enough to make me keep trying. LOL.
Really its up to your style. I like the ghost approach. Meaning you are quiet as possible getting in and getting out and you don't want to educate deer of your preference. Due to this I very rarely rattle or grunt. On occasion if I see a deer heading the wrong direction I might use a bleat or grunt call but I keep it to a minimum. However I never kill any monsters either sooo... :-)
I used to try early season light rattling over food sources to simulate some sparring. Never had a single deer show itself or pay attention so I gave up on it.
I didn't give up on Dalbo I am just hunting an area that is closer to my home. Just 20 mins away and just opened to hunting last year.
I only rattle a week or two prior to peak rut... been pretty successful doing that. Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
I typically will start light rattling in mid october and as the rut heats up my rattling gets louder. Simple, but it's worked in the past for me. I will soft grunt in early season....not blinding however, only to get a buck within shooting distance. IF you do grunt remember to do it softly.
