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Tried Rattling

Full bore said:
I agree with Brock. I am very surprised at how many people here haven't had much success in horn rattling. My brother and I carry our horns everytime I hit the stand. Not saying that I use my horns every sit, but they are with me ALWAYS. You can't beat a frosty November morning with little or no wind. As soon as I can see and shoot effectively at 20 yards, I give them a loud crack. Then my sequence usually last no more than 10 seconds or more. Once I do the initial crunch, I grind them more than rattle. I try to imitate two bucks in more of a pushing match, instead of tickling match. Lol.
I urge all of you to try it! It's a great way to break up a slow hunt. If there's a buck within an ear shot, he will check you out. Usually down wind will be his approach, so be ready.
I have successfully rattled in numerous bucks every year and I have been doing it for almost 35 years. Good luck and I promise you, it's a RUSH when it works!
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x2!!!!
I just sent Ric a text to see if he wanted to team up and call some in in a week or two! I figure we could probably get quite a few on video for proof. A lot of fellas here are missing out on the MOST effective way to put a big sucker in front of your arrow, IMO. If they would answer you back, it would be like turkey hunting in a lot of ways. You let 'em know you're there, they come to visit! Before my kids started hunting, I spent a lot of days after I filled my tag out rattling for buddies. Once you learn how to set up and get over the fact you are making a ton of noise in the woods (strange, cause my dad always told me to be quiet), I really think it's one of the best and most fun ways to hunt whitetails.
 
brock ratcliff said:
x2!!!!
I just sent Ric a text to see if he wanted to team up and call some in in a week or two! I figure we could probably get quite a few on video for proof. A lot of fellas here are missing out on the MOST effective way to put a big sucker in front of your arrow, IMO. If they would answer you back, it would be like turkey hunting in a lot of ways. You let 'em know you're there, they come to visit! Before my kids started hunting, I spent a lot of days after I filled my tag out rattling for buddies. Once you learn how to set up and get over the fact you are making a ton of noise in the woods (strange, cause my dad always told me to be quiet), I really think it's one of the best and most fun ways to hunt whitetails.
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Yup
 
Full bore said:
I agree with Brock. I am very surprised at how many people here haven't had much success in horn rattling. My brother and I carry our horns everytime I hit the stand. Not saying that I use my horns every sit, but they are with me ALWAYS. You can't beat a frosty November morning with little or no wind. As soon as I can see and shoot effectively at 20 yards, I give them a loud crack. Then my sequence usually last no more than 10 seconds or more. Once I do the initial crunch, I grind them more than rattle. I try to imitate two bucks in more of a pushing match, instead of tickling match. Lol.
I urge all of you to try it! It's a great way to break up a slow hunt. If there's a buck within an ear shot, he will check you out. Usually down wind will be his approach, so be ready.
I have successfully rattled in numerous bucks every year and I have been doing it for almost 35 years. Good luck and I promise you, it's a RUSH when it works!
Click to expand...

Hey Ron, just curious as to why you keep your sequence to ten seconds? I usually go much longer. Not doubting by any means, just curious. Maybe I need to switch mine up.
 
Absolutely love using the horns!!! I agree, timing is a very big factor as mentioned. When rattling though, if a buck has any age to him they will circle to the downwind side as too scent check what bucks are going at it before going on in. They will usually hold up around 50-60 yards looking up wind searching for the action nearly 100% of the time.

When rattling this is what I like to do.

Look around real good before any calling at all making sure nothing's close by. Then do a couple grunting sequences first. If nothing shows up then start my initial rattle sequence short,soft and sweet as if two bucks sparring maybe 25-30 seconds. Then scan my surroundings again before I bring the woods down on my next sequence. I'm like Ron as I crack them together striking the backside of the main beams together making one super loud crack. Then flip them over to where they mesh tines per tine and grind them hard pausing a second or two between each grind. Imagine two mature bucks locking up and shoving each other around as they each try to get the high ground and momentum in their favor. It's more of a clacking and clicking sound instead of what you see the experts or TV personas do on TV. I am actually rather tired and my arms are tight after doing a long sequence so I keep my sequences short like Ron said above about doing it for about 10 seconds. I can go 15-20 but not any longer cuz I'd like to be able to pull back my bow or hold my shotgun steady should I get a shot! Lmao

I think it would be very beneficial if you had two hunters working together when rattling. The hunter in the tree and the guy grinding horns on the ground upwind from the hunter about 50-70 yards. A camo net would be ideal for some concealment as he snaps saplings,racks a tree trunk and rolls in the leaves thrashing the chit out of things. They should be able to see each other and make hand gestures signaling if something is coming in.

Rattling is very productive and fun on days when it just ain't happening in your area! Nothing ventured nothing gained....

Good luck if anyone try's it this season!
 
Mike, I like to set up where a deer has to be in range to see where the racket is coming from, and I like to be where he has to expose himself to get downwind, and they almost always try to. The one I killed in 06 died because he couldn't figure out the smoke thing. That dude walked downwind of me several times and eventually circled completely around to where I shot him at 13 steps or so. You jus "know" when you're in the right spot to rattle, close to a bed with the wind blowing in a direction they can't get to without giving a shot. It doesn't always work, but it works more times than not from Halloween to mid-November. I really feel its best to be on the ground, but a few trees work too. The one I just mentioned was shot from a tree, and he was out in a cut corn field, but I'd turn completely around every time I rattle to hide the horns. Like turkeys, they know EXACTLY where you are when you rattle.
 
Lost my last post, too long to retype gonna give cliff notes:

I rattle for 30-45 seconds i guess.

I try to mimic a fight I've seen on YouTube.

I don't rattle from ground just tree. I'm not sure what is more risky, 20ft off ground or having another guy to worry about on the ground.

I set up in transitional areas where they can't see far. Transitional being either topographic or land type related. My best spot is a hardwood flat that is 60 yards wide which has multiple valleys and fingers one one side and a large field on the other. The deer in the field can't see that far into the woods and the deer below me running the valleys can't see what's on top until it is too late.
 
Another great spot which to rattle from is on a rim of a bluff, drop off along a ridge or similar setting where the prevailing wind that day is blowing your scent out over the edge where a receptive buck can't get downwind of you. Plus anything down below you and way out yonder downwind will hear your rattling and might eventually make his way around the bluff and search for the fight. I saw Don Kiskey do this once and the buck tried to get DW but couldn't and as he was leaving he gave Don a perfect shot and he smoked him.

Like Brock said, it won't work everytime but if your getting skunked and are tired of just sitting watching leaves fall and squirrels scurry around why not try it.

I once rattled in 3 does 3 different times inside an hour. I was on the edge of a bowl rim and saw them cut down into the bowl about 100 yards away and waited till they gone about 15 minutes. When I hit them horns they came busting right up out of the bowl on a string and were standing 10-15 yards of me right in the open looking around for the fight. They eventually walked away into the same direction they came from shortly after and after 10 more minutes I did it again with the same exact reaction. Repeated it again the exact same way and again they did it. Each time they stood there like WTH! It was very comical! I was hoping with all there scent all around it would help me bring a buck in but it was during a lockdown and no buck prolly heard me cuz they were all together doing the real thing somewhere far away.....but it was a very memorable hunt nonetheless!
 
I cant wait to make a little noise this morning from stand. There's nothing like that feeling you get after doing a sequence. Always kicks my senses into over drive.
 
Mao said:
Hey Ron, just curious as to why you keep your sequence to ten seconds? I usually go much longer. Not doubting by any means, just curious. Maybe I need to switch mine up.
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Well to answer your question, Marcus. I my opinion, most buck confrontations don't last that long. I think that once the initial contact has been made. The weaker of the two, drops out and high tails it. I have witnessed it on a couple occasions. Granted, if the two combatants are equal in body size, their determination of beating their opponent raises. Plus, keeping my sequence at 10-15 seconds gives me time to get ready. These responding bucks most usually come in hard and fast, so my movement is sustained and my awareness of my surroundings is high.
A buck can be on you in seconds! Last year, in the stand where I killed my deer. I rattled in 3 different bucks in a three hour period. All of them came in on the down wind side and all 3 were within bow range in less than a minute of my sequence.
Rattling is as important to me as my grunt tube. Like I said earlier, I don't always do it, but my horns are always with me.
 
I will rattle anywhere, I do like thicker areas better. Most of my set-ups are on thick flats at the bottom of a deep bowl. I also like opposing shoulders of a saddle, I try and get to the highest point on the shoulder.

The bucks can come from anywhere, but they will always work the wind. I would honestly be ok with getting picked off by a buck I rattle in. If it happens it happens, but man, when you hear that freight train comin thorough the woods it is pretty impressive.
 
I actually broke my Primos horns rattling a couple years ago. I have had great success over the years doing it. I just bought a pair of those black rack horns to try this year.

The best success I have ever had was in an urban area from the ground, and a buddy and I called in 7 different bucks in less than half an hour. We never got a shot at the one we wanted, because he circled our set up and came in behind us. This was on a field edge set up.
 
Just to add as I'm not sure if I have seen it mentioned but all of my rattling has been with a rattle bag. It works just fine. I like to be near a thicket. It helps the elision you're creating if the 2 supposedly bucks fighting can be hidden or out of sight. Do it in th middle of a field with no decoy and no cover and a mature buck will never approach your set up. I prefer to have my buck decoy set up when I rattle. That can be a killer set up. I like Brock's advice about making it so they have to be exposed if they circle downwind.
 
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1382650590.066347.jpg
Decoy set up with the hopes the bucks would come in above it and work the edge of the right of way. The wind was perfect for this stand and it's the earliest I have tried the decoy. The buck that came in did exactly what he was supposed to, but I think the thermals got me. The does on the other hand were split on coming into the open with a buck.

Here is my shot at a buck if one would have came in below me. They ended up right beside me and directly downwind but there is a drop off and they never knew I was there.....
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1382650878.343815.jpg

I am still learning as to how to set-up but in this situation everything worked out (aside from the small buck).

Great info in this thread!!
 
You want that decoy facing you as a buck will come in down wind and circle in front of him giving you the shot. Dale and Larry are great at using decoys
 
Full bore said:
Well to answer your question, Marcus. I my opinion, most buck confrontations don't last that long. I think that once the initial contact has been made. The weaker of the two, drops out and high tails it. I have witnessed it on a couple occasions. Granted, if the two combatants are equal in body size, their determination of beating their opponent raises. Plus, keeping my sequence at 10-15 seconds gives me time to get ready. These responding bucks most usually come in hard and fast, so my movement is sustained and my awareness of my surroundings is high.
A buck can be on you in seconds! Last year, in the stand where I killed my deer. I rattled in 3 different bucks in a three hour period. All of them came in on the down wind side and all 3 were within bow range in less than a minute of my sequence.
Rattling is as important to me as my grunt tube. Like I said earlier, I don't always do it, but my horns are always with me.
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Makes sense. I may try some short sequences this weekend. Thanks for the info. And good luck!
 
rgecko23 said:
You want that decoy facing you as a buck will come in down wind and circle in front of him giving you the shot. Dale and Larry are great at using decoys
Click to expand...

Yep, here is how it looks....this is the first night we put it out.
http://youtu.be/2N6RN61NfFE

The buck that came in where I had hoped came in directly in front of the decoy. My Stan is set-up for a 25 yard shot as the deer started working down to it. Bad deal with the timing of the thermals, thankfully he wasn't Big 6! Haha
 
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