Does antler rattling work?

Rattling in bucks is one of the most productive calls for deer you can have in your arsenal during the rut. Deer calling with a set of antlers or a rattle bag to mimic the sound of two bucks in conflict can work throughout the course of a hunting season. Early in the season, bucks are less aggressive and more curious.

When should I use rattle antlers?

You can rattle any time of day, but research from Texas shows morning to be a much more effective time. A good tactic is to sit quietly for the first hour or so to take advantage of natural deer movement. Then if nothing’s happening, hit the horns.

Should you grunt while rattling?

But most of us hunt places where the sex ratio of whitetails is not so balanced, where fewer mature bucks live per square mile and where the hunting pressure is less controlled. Still, hang in there and keep rattling and grunting until you strike a big deer pumped to respond.

How effective is rattling for bucks?

Overall, Hellickson saw a 65 percent response rate (and 73 percent for collared bucks) when rattling during this study, suggesting at least two of every three attempts at rattling (and possibly three of every four bucks) should result in a positive response, at least when the buck age structure is balanced like where …

How long should you rattle for?

Try rattling for 30 seconds to a minute per sequence every hour during peak rut.

Will rattling bring in does?

MYTH 2 DEBUNKED: So much for the theory that rattling brings in only bucks. The does would serve as live decoys, because the rut was in full swing and the presence of female deer could spark a reaction from a dominant buck. Even having the scent of a doe near the fight arena can be beneficial to any rattling routine.

How far can deer hear rattling?

After the first unsuccessful attempt at deer rattling, its important to allow enough time for deer to enter the audio range. Audio range for an aggressive rattle can be up to 1/2 of a mile. We suggest waiting at least an hour or more to start the next rattling sequence.

Does rattling scare off?

It rarely scares a mature buck (which is all I care about) but a mature buck knows when something isn’t right as well (like he can’t see any deer and it’s open enough that he should be able to) and they will hang up almost every time.

Does human urine spook deer?

H. Koerth, human urine does not frighten deer. On a large lease, mock scrapes were created and different lures were used to attract deer. Scrapes are spots where bucks paw the ground down to bare earth and then urinate in them.

Should you rattle in evening?

Rattling works great mornings, evenings or even mid-day. I usually like to hit the horns together about once an hr. A lot also depends on what’s going on in your area, how many bucks are in the area, etc.

How far away can a deer hear you rattling?

The “Katie Clancy Rattling-Volume Test” revealed that rattling devices could, on average, be heard 512 yards downwind and 223 yards upwind; or 2.3 times farther downwind than upwind.

Does rattling work in the evening?

Rattling works great mornings, evenings or even mid-day.

Does campfire smoke scare deer?

Be Careful with Campfire Smoke However, if you are hunting in a sparsely populated area where wood burning stoves or campfires are not common, campfire smoke may be an odor that actually serves to put the deer on alert.

What does it mean when a deer stomps its hoof?

alert
Deer frequently stomp a front foot to alert other deer, or attempt to lure any intruder into exposing itself. Whenever an alarmed doe stomps her forefoot, this also lays invisible spots of interdigital scent. The whitetail’s body is designed for survival, and there are many features it uses to stay alive.

Should you rattle before dark?

Don’t over-rattle; rather, space the rattling sequences about 40-45 minutes apart. I’ve also found that rattling during the two-hour period either side of darkness works best. However, don’t rule out midday. When rattling, try to do it in the thickest cover possible, especially if you’re bow hunting.

Does human pee spook deer?

What smells a spook deer?

Vast lines of cover scents, including scent free body and clothing sprays, laundry detergents, bar soaps, shampoo, deodorants, and even toothpaste. Some swear by wild animal urine like racoon, fox, and deer, and some carry pee bottles to hide human pee.

What does it mean when a deer Bob’s its head up and down?

The Head Bob When deer detect movement, they often bob their head up and down or side to side for a better look. Deer have a 300-degree field of view, but lack depth perception. Bobbing their head while staring at potential threats gives them multiple angles for identifying the risk.

Do deer remember being spooked?

Maybe he didn’t look that spooked, but deer don’t like surprises and they don’t like anything new. He will remember it. If they are not used to seeing a person doing what you just did they will see it as an invasion (as they rightfully would when encountering you in their bedding area).

How long should a rattling sequence last?

As noted, initial rattling should be of low volume and only last 10 to 20 seconds. Wait a couple of minutes and if nothing shows, jump into a more intense one to two minute sequence and wait at least 20 minutes before rattling again to give distant bucks time to make their way to you.