My son and I went to Gander Mtn. tonight to pick up a few things before the start of the season. I purchased 2 more Alpha Hang-ons along with some tree steps. While browsing (almost like a deer), I spotted a rattle bag. Now, I suck at rattling and have scared more deer away than I have called in. Actually, I scared all but 2 away out of hundreds of tries. Anyway, I've been considering trying the rattle bag for some time and finally bought one. Real antlers are a PITA to carry and the rattle bags don't sound too bad. They are a lot easier to carry around, less chance of self inflicted injuries and sound better than me with real horns anyway! How could I go wrong!!?? Do any of you have any experiences with a rattle bag?
Either I use them wrong or they dont work, for me anyway. Chances are I use them wrong. But so far I have had absolutely no luck with them for 3 years using them. Of course this is all while blind calling. I never attempted to use them when I have a buck spotted.
I have rattled bucks in a number of times in Idaho with a rattling bag.I also don't like carrying real antlers. I really believe it is just catching the right buck in the right mood.Real antlers sound a lot better to my ear but i give up a bit in tone quality for convenience. There is nothing much more exciting than when a good buck comes in aggressively!
Greg, I do a lot of cold calling up north. I never had any luck rattling. I have used both real antlers and a bag. I have called in a number of big ones grunting. I have had 1 respond to a grunt-snort-wheeze call. I really don't use the g-s-w call much.
Magicman, Same here. I also blind call and have had a lot of success with the grunt call. I never hunt without one. The snort wheeze has worked for me as well, 2/4 came in. The bucks have to be in the right mood and not on the trail of a hot doe. I haven't tried rattling for the last 2 years so I am going to try it again this year. Good luck.
Greg, I called in two bucks over the past two years with a rattle bag. They were both blind calls. I did an extremely light rattle sequence right at first light and arrowed my best buck to date in 2007. Last year I rattled in what would have been my best buck to date on October 30th. He was a 120ish buck I believe. The wind switched when he was moving into my shooting lane and he bolted. I am excited to continue experimenting with the rattle bag this year. I tried a very small amount of rattling in previous years but had no success. Two things that stand out that I believe increased my success with rattling. One is out of my control. The place I hunt has a much improved buck to doe ratio over the past 3-4 years. There are the same amount of bucks, just less does so I believe the bucks are more responsive to rattling. The second thing is timing. I have read a lot and there is a certain timing to the when and how of rattling. I tickled the antlers the one time I killed that buck. The buck I did not kill but rattled in, I really cracked the hell out of the rattle bag to draw a buck up a ravine. It worked but unfortunately I couldn't close the deal. All in all I am novice rattle guy but am excited to improve. Let me know how you do this year and let me in on any rattling tips. Thanks.
I have never had much luck with a rattling bag, I know I own one or two but couldn't tell you where I put em.
I had one of those once. I brought it out with me on November 10th, 2007.. thought maybe as the sun went down I'd throw out a little battle on this new piece of ground I had never hunted before. That's the last time I saw them... 20 feet up in a tall Oak or Hickory (forget which one) attached to one of my missing bow hooks. I'm still mad about the bow-hook.
Never had any luck rattling. I know it's one of those things that work once after a hundred tries. Well I have tried it more than that and it has never worked EVER!
The buck I killed in 2007 was rattled in as was the buck I killed in 2006. Used in the right conditions (where I hunt) it's proven pretty effective to me. Honestly, I can't say that I've ever rattled a deer in with a bag...
I have rattled deer in with real antlers, quite a few times, and my 2 seasons with rattle bags...ZILCH. I even tried several brands trying to get away from lugging real antlers out.
i have been hunting for 12 years up in manitoba canada and i have always used real horns and they work like magic, i have called in many bucks every year with them.
Never done much good with rattling alone, now rattling combined with with grunting and rubbing/hitting small trees and the ground with the the antlers is another story.
Never been a fan of rattle bags or fake antlers. The sound just doesn't do It for me. Good luck If you go that route Greg.
I've used real antlers and bags with no luck. I'll keep trying it in hopes some day some Bad Boy will come charging in. Calls I have had great luck with.
I'm about 50/50 using antlers for rattling and 0 when trying a rattle bag. I don't rattle as much as I used to. I don't like carrying antlers either but I have little faith in rattle bags. My preferred method for rattling is for ground hunting because I've found raking brush, rattling the antlers along with a few grunts are more productive for me. I must admit I've never rattled in a really big buck but at the same time I haven't rattled as much as I probably should.
I've had them work enough times to be convinced they do work. Now don't rattle if a buck is already coming in. Cold calling very little success. If you see a buck way off in the distamce give him a grunt and a rattle. He may stop and look in your direction. Sometimes he may come right in other times he may come in later. However, he may circle around down wind of you catch your scent and never come in. That's the broblem with rattle bags and calling of any kind. The bucks may often circle around and then the game is usually up. It may help to put out a little buck urine to at least make him believe a buck is really there if he does circle around. I'll keep using mine!
