Rattling Antlers

[firediver]

I am just curious to see how many of you DON'T use rattling antlers. Over the past few years I have discovered that banging the horns together brings bucks into my setup more than any other "calling" method.

I'm yet to have a lot of success with "blind" rattling......but when I have a visual on a buck in the distance, my success rate for "calling" them in with just tickling the tines together is about 90%. They don't always come within bow range....but they do close the distance.

As far as my antlers of choice, I use antlers from a 130" 8pt with the browtines cut off (my thumbs really appreciate the missing brows)

[YorkArcher]

I have done it when I'm hunting out in Indiana with good responses.

Not so much here on the East Coast. These deer are call shy. To many does anyway. No sense in fighting over one or two does when they are everywhere.

I still haven't got my hands on a good set of rattling antlers. Not to many big sheds or big racks people are willing to get rid of.

[Monie]

lol...your poor thumbs!

At the moment, I'm using a bag.

I read an article on blind rattling. I don't remember who wrote it. At any rate, a study was done where a couple of different people were set up to rattle and others were set up to observe. Most of the time, the people rattling did not see the majority of the deer that came in. Most often they circled the source of the rattling to the downwind side. Also, the deer would often "hang up" in the cover and watch for 30 minutes or more.

[Adam]

I rattle quite often (how often and how hard depends on the time of year) but I haven't had too much action in response to it.

In PA, in 2-3 seasons of really trying it, I've probably brought in 3-4 deer that I've seen and could say they legitimately came in to the rattling. 1 nice 6 point, a small spike and a doe or two. No shots at any of them though.

While in Illinois last year, I rattled in 2 bucks at once to bow range and I think that was it.

Most of the rattling was blind.

[firediver]

My favorite time to rattle is when I have a visual on a buck. I'll try to grunt first because there is less movement....but will pick up the horns if/when that doesn't work.

[OhioCooner]

Never rattled one in before. I've used a grunt call to get a small buck into bow range, but that's been all.

[timba]

I never used them,even calling I don't do.It seems when the rut is on up here it is usually frigin cold and we just push bush most of the time till we see what we want.

[oakcreek]

I carry my rattling antlers from the second week of the season till the end. I have had the same set for 11 years now still as crisp as the day they met. This past year i rattled in my archery buck as well a dozen others throught the season.

YorkArcher i give a set of rattling antlers to all my hunters that come up on a guided hunt

[YorkArcher]

I'll have to keep that in mind if and when I get approval from the boss for another trip!!!

[carpking]

I've used a rattling bag for about 6 yrs now and have had pretty good success with them. They make a great sound and your movement is minimal. As a tangent, I've had good luck in the mornings during late pre-rut and the heat of the rut as to not be super quiet when walking in to your stand in the dark. Don't worry about breaking twigs and such, walk as if you were a deer. A couple things though, make sure you get to your stand as the first rays are coming and get your bow in your hand to be ready. Any buck in the area seems to come to check it out as if it could be a hot doe that he couldn't see but pin pointed her (your) position as maybe she bed down. Sound unorthidox but it truly works.