I have had very good luck with real antlers the last few seasons. No experience with rattle bag - but IMO from a distance they do not sound anything like real antlers...but some do have luck with them. The number one thing I have done that has increased my success with rattling...is to tie your antlers together with about a 2' piece of rope and small loop in the middle...once in stand I attach my bow rope to the antler rope and drop back down to the ground. This way you can rattle with just one hand by pulling up the rope (keep bow in other hand) and the intent is that it sounds much more realistic from ground level (plus you can slam them into the ground or your tree like a real fight)...instead of the rattling sound coming from 20' up in a tree (deer are masters at pin pointing sounds). Plus no beating up your hands. Not only has this worked much better for me on blind calling - anytime a buck is within sight but not coming my way, just pick up the rope slightly, tick the antlers together with a few shakes and drop right back into the leaves...I have had some of the most awesome reactions to this - multiple times I've had bucks charge in full speed jumping over downed trees, etc to within yards of my tree. Picked up this tip from an article - and it's worked great for me!
Rattled a nice buck in last year, but because I was in the tree above him on a rise, he made a b-line for the top of the ridge to find the fight. I have a heavy horn rattle bag, and I've been happy with it. My brother shot a nice 9pt at the end of the WI Rifle season. He was taking down his stand and piling all his steps into his bag, making a ton of racket. Sure enough, this 9pt some in stiff legged and he shot him at about 11 yds. Conclusion, if they are in the right mood, you can rattle them in with anything, including metal screw-in tree steps. Matt, I've tried doing the same thing with my rattle bag and a rope, didn't work that well, but I still love the idea. I'm going to have to sacrifice one of my racks...
I use one and love it. Easy to carry. I rattled in three bucks with it last year alone. I have rattled in some in the past but never that many. It will work, you just have to time it right.
Good tip!! Funny thing is....... my real antlers are tied just as you describe and I never even thought about dangling them from a rope.
I've used rattling bag before & have had some luck. But I don't make the big loud crashes w/it. Just real light tingling, as if there were 2 bucks just squaring off, not butting heads. That seems to work for me in combinations w/a buck call.
Do any of you have any experiences with a rattle bag? Yes i Do. I have never had any luck with the bag or horns for calling in bucks. HOWEVER, Im real good at having Does come running in (me shrugging shoulders and saying WTF) :D
I have used a rattle bag with minimal success. Last year was the first time I actually believed I rattled in a 120" 8 point. He wasn't a shooter anyway but he did circle all the way around and caught my wind....he said see ya!
I have used a rattle bag with success. I seriously doubt if a buck can tell the difference between a bag or real horns or even cares. I once witnessed a fight between two bucks, it taught me that no matter what we do, no human being can actually simulate the noise made when two bucks are fighting. If you've never seen it you probably won't believe it but, you could lay on the ground and roll around knock down every sapling in sight and still not come close to the noises they make when they are trying to kill each other. If you really want to come closer to simulating a real buck fight get on the ground crack the bag against a tree one time, grind the bag or horns then run in circles & knock down every bush and break tree limbs until you're out of breath. A real buck fight is more about shuffling in the ground type noises, breaking brush and tree limbs than it is about grinding horns together.
never had any luck rattling with either horns or a bag until last year. I was hunting a new area and was bored so I hit my rattlin bag. I really wasn't expecting anything so I was still sitting in my Viper climber when a mid 140's snuck up from behind and right to me. Long story short, when he didn't see a fight, he was gone before I could get a shot off. So yes, the bag did it's job, but I did not.
the bag has worked for me several times. but just as in real antlers, rattling works best if you have a good buck : doe ratio. And be ready for a downwind approach.
my 07 deer was rattled in with a bag and then grunted in on a B-line.... greg you gotta order your Lone Wolfs from this site mannnnnnnnnn =-) !!!!!
I am very picky about the rattle bags I use. I'm actually not even sure which one I have but it works pretty good for me. It's not a "For Sure" thing but I have had very good luck with it
