I wanted to share my success with post-rut rattling. I hunt in a group of 25 guys and we help clear a couple of private properties just outside of Philadelphia. As the relative newbie in the group, I'm often mocked for the equipment I keep on me throughout the season. This past weekend I was mocked for going into my stand with a set of antlers. To my friends, rattling after the rut is - at best - useless and - at worst - harmful to the hunt. However, I read through a lot of forums and watched a few videos that said otherwise. So I figured it couldn't hurt to give a few rattles while I was sitting this past Saturday. I sat silently for the first two hours of my hunt, patiently listening for any footsteps in the damp leaves. With only about an hour and a half left before sundown, I decided to bust out the rack. After only 20 minutes or so of steady rattling, I heard the faint steady rustling of hooves approaching. I put the rack down and grabbed my bow in preparation. This was a mistake - I definitely should have rattled longer. Through the trees I saw the 2nd largest buck we have on the property (we named him Scoot) about 150 yards out. However, at about 65 yards (well outside of my effective range), Scoot pulled up and appropriately scooted his butt back in the direction he came from. I tried to rattle again but he clearly lost interest and marched away from me. What was unexpected about this situation was the number of does that paraded towards my rattling. Shortly after Scoot was completely out of sight, I had 5 does march directly underneath my stand. With a doe tag in my pocket, I plugged the largest of the group at only 15 yards out. My point here is that, despite what some may think, rattling after the rut CAN work. I won't say it holds the same success/failure ratio people have in the rut, but it was enough to get some deer up and moving well before dark. I am heading out for an AM hunt this coming Saturday and plan to rattle early and often. I hope its enough to get Scoot in range this time and put my first trophy on the wall.
It's possible he came into the rattling and when he couldn't see the source he vacated the area. If you kept rattling the result could have been the same or he could have pinpointed you and busted. I guess it depends on how thick the area is and how far he can see. To your point though, it can be productive to experiment from time to time. It's your hunt to do what you want and if it works once it's worth it!
I've seen smaller bucks sparring well into December here in MI, I think its just them screwing around because it never gets to intense. More then likely you caught the bucks interest and not much more then that, rattling with him in sight would have been a gamble but you never know.
