Only a few times and only once where an actual shooter buck came in.
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Have you ever rattled in a buck? (Poll)
- Thread starter Spurhunter
- Start date
Joe2Kool
Well-Known Member
Many years ago, mainly on public land, I carried rattlin' bags and rattlin' antlers, and used them. Never did I have a deer come by that I thought was due to rattling. So I quit carrying them.
Four years ago bow hunting on private land in South Dakota, the landowner told me to hunt from the ground, and rattling was effective. Having never bow-hunted from the ground, I thought he was crazy. But I tried it, and it worked! Sometimes I would rattle and multiple deer would come in looking within a few minutes.
A big difference in that SD ranch and TN is on average, in TN, a good day would be seeing 3-4 deer. On that SD ranch, I saw 25+ deer a day that were close enough to warrant caution. What I mean by that is they may not have been within bow range, but they were close enough I would worry about spooking them, say 75 yards. Many within 30 yards. And that's not counting the 50 deer I would see in the alfalfa field from 400 yards away.
On public land in Iowa, I've heard rattling while I had deer in sight and the best thing to happen is deer pay no attention it. Most of the time, they run or just drop down to hide.
Four years ago bow hunting on private land in South Dakota, the landowner told me to hunt from the ground, and rattling was effective. Having never bow-hunted from the ground, I thought he was crazy. But I tried it, and it worked! Sometimes I would rattle and multiple deer would come in looking within a few minutes.
A big difference in that SD ranch and TN is on average, in TN, a good day would be seeing 3-4 deer. On that SD ranch, I saw 25+ deer a day that were close enough to warrant caution. What I mean by that is they may not have been within bow range, but they were close enough I would worry about spooking them, say 75 yards. Many within 30 yards. And that's not counting the 50 deer I would see in the alfalfa field from 400 yards away.
On public land in Iowa, I've heard rattling while I had deer in sight and the best thing to happen is deer pay no attention it. Most of the time, they run or just drop down to hide.
vanleerbuckbuster
Well-Known Member
I've commented on this before but to be clear on the subject. Rattling will bring bucks and does in for that matter. My biggest issue with it has been the bucks have always been able to pinpoint my exact location therefore spooking long before I got a chance at them. I don't want to alert them to my location which is why I rarely use calls unless I can see an animal and never blind call anymore
Have rattled in several but only in states with better deer herds. Iowa and Missouri. I rattled in three bucks bowhunting in MO this season. Two I saw in the distance and rattling brought them in closer. Brought one stud to 35 yards but he stayed behind thick stuff and didn't offer a shot. One buck i had no clue was around. I finished a sequence and heard some limbs popping and here he comes in a beeline to me through the thicket. All three bucks ended up downwind of me and smelling me.
My very first morning ever in Iowa I saw a nice buck about 120 yards off. Hit the antlers and he beelined it to me and I was so shook up I missed. Lol.
Ive tried countless times around home along the TN/MS line and never had any luck.
My very first morning ever in Iowa I saw a nice buck about 120 yards off. Hit the antlers and he beelined it to me and I was so shook up I missed. Lol.
Ive tried countless times around home along the TN/MS line and never had any luck.
BigAl
Well-Known Member
I answered occasionally. But I'll add I've never rattled in a big buck. Always seems to be little ones.
