| Rattling basics |
| There's a lot more to rattling than just picking up a pair of antlers and making noise. Timing is a very important key to a sucessful hunt. Even though rattling may work anytime during the season it is very efective for larger bucks two weeks prior the rut and during the first week of the rut. Two weeks before the rut are times when the buck will fight for bredding rights. Rattling will sometimes work throughtout the rut but is more efective the first week for the bigger bucks. After the rutting season has been going on for some time the bigger bucks are too busy breeding to fight. Rattling can still work when the rut is on but the action may not be as good as it was a week or two earlier. Rattling is least effective in hard hunted areas with low buck to doe ratios. If the buck to doe ratio is low, bucks do not have to compete at all for females. Why should they come looking for a fight. Real antlers work but you must take into account that they may change sound with age and exposure to weather. Real antlers are more frangile than synthetic antlers. An alternative to real antlers are harwood dowels that are very effective and easier to carry. One advantage of the dowels is that they take less movement to operate. If you pick your hunt right and if there are a lot of bucks in the area, the pecking order has been established. They already know who's who and what they sound like. So if you want a big buck you must sound like his equal and work those antlers. Aggressive Rattling - This rattling sequence can possibly lure in less aggressive or curious bucks as well as the dominate bucks. Add snifs, wheezes and grunts for a more realistic fight. These sounds can also be found on the "Deer Sounds" page. |