heading out tonight, our early archery/ml season ends this week.. does anyone start to attempt a light rattle right now, or am I way early?
In 5+ years I've never rattled in a buck. So, I don't rattle at all anymore. I think a grunt call is more effective anyway and I don't start doing that until the end of October.
Middle of October I may start to tickle the horns together but nothing major. The younger bucks are beginning to do a little sparring here but no fighting. What part of the country are you hunting? That makes a difference as well. I’m in NE Ohio.
SASKATCHEWAN.. the buck im after literally shows every night, 9pm.. im trying hard to get him on his feet just a big earlier.. obviously I know the many reasons why he isn't, I have a 1 day cold front/rain snow storm tomorrow, today is nice somewhat low preasure, and falling which isn't the best, but its the only day I can really hunt until the season closes for a month and a half.. I was thinking of doing some light rattling maybe 1 hour before sunset, then being quiet.. just a thought
I don’t think it would hurt. Hopefully you are set up very close to where you think he’s bedding. A couple of grunts and a “little”rattling could possibly get him up a few min early. Be ready because first thing he will do is try and circle down wind of the rattling. Good luck to you this evening!
Thanks allot.. I really appreciate that, and need it. Its funny how prior to season start myself, and im sure a few other guys try to "hand pick" which deer they will take, as if its in our control..! HAHA that is funny.. The whitetail buck is a smart smart animal that's for sure.. who was I kidding..!
I have seen a fawn in distress call work like a dinner bell on bucks in early season. I will be using mine this weekend
Rattling only spooks the deer in my woods. I think you need a fairly close buck to doe ratio for it to be effective. I rattled when I hunted in Alberta years back, and was amazed at how well it worked! Those were mid to late Nov hunts.
mixed feelings on the rattling.. 1st set, 5 mins later had a doe and fawn come out to feed, 2nd set an hour later had yearling buck come out to feed.. could have been coincidence, could have been the rattle.. these deer are always feeding at my blind though, so hard to say I guess.
Really just depends on where I’m at. In the private I have to hunt there’s very little to no pressure. I’m starting to see the amount of scrapes double and the bucks are sparring. I’m gonna give it a go next week in my #1 spot where I know the big boys bed within earshot. If nothing shows on my first sequence I’ll be quiet the rest of the day. On the public I hunt I’m gonna give it a couple weeks just before the out of staters come in and start banging their antlers lol usually I’ll rattle about every 30 minutes on public. I’ve only gotten one buck on there with this method and he was a nice one, so I stick with it lol. Mathews Halon Black Eagle outlaws Magnus Buzzcut 4 blades Nasty combo
