I noticed this weekend when I rattled or grunted deer just went running. They ran in random directions and I had one run right under my stand so I am really confused about whats going on here.
This is my first season using a rattle bag and a grunt call. Yesterday I rattled once in the AM, once in the PM with no response. But yesterday afternoon, about 20 minutes after I rattled, I grunted in a decent 6 pointer. I called him in on a string, only to get busted while drawing my bow on him. He came in on a mission, ready for a brawl. I think that judging by the time of year, the rattle/grunt will only work based on the individual deer, meaning, not every buck will be as receptive to it as others. Give it another week or two and you'll be seeing some results
Rattling and horny buck grunts will sometimes get the does and fawns skittish....pre rut young bucks are worked up and trying to chase does that aren't ready so they basically want to get out of there so as not to be bothered. If you have deer in sight and do try all out rattling and it doesn't sound natural -as being up in a tree there is no way to get the sounds of hooves on the ground and the noise is coming from up in the air they can spook easily as well. If your grunts are to loud when they are close or are just wrong(pitch,cadence, or as some calls just not right) then deer can spook. Also some deer when they have a lot of hunting pressure learn that grunt calls and rattling can mean a hunter's in the area and they will just boogy. Tough to say what your situation is exaclty. In many cases I believe less and quieter/softer is better...and I do not rattle when deer are in sight(unless they are along ways out - 100yrds or more, which where I hunt is almost never) or I have heard them approaching already.
