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 you use antler rattling?

During Peak Rut, or Start of the Post Rut. Simply put, to see the most bucks from your rattling efforts, do it during the peak of the rut. Hellickson and crew saw greater than one buck per attempt (108 percent) during the breeding season, though this included bucks of all age groups.

How long should you rattle horns?

It’s important to note rattling aggressively might spook younger, less mature, bucks that are concerned with getting whooped by a more mature deer. Try rattling for 30 seconds to a minute per sequence every hour during peak rut.

What makes a good set of rattling antlers?

Making rattling antlers is relatively easy to do, but there are a few important things to consider. The older and dryer the antlers, the less sound they will produce. Second, find a large, mature set of antlers to work with, because they will produce better sound and provide more surface area for contact.

Does rattling actually work?

As would be expected, this study demonstrates that rattling does not always work. More importantly, it demonstrates that rattling works better than most hunters realize. If you rattle in the right way at the right time, you definitely improve your chances for killing whitetail bucks.

Should you grunt while rattling?

Rattling and grunting can lure bucks from September through January. Still, hang in there and keep rattling and grunting until you strike a big deer pumped to respond. …

Should you grunt or rattle first?

There are times that a buck will grunt or snort before wheezing, but more often than not, they will only wheeze. Making a loud wheeze just before rattling can be lethal. Aggressive-snort: The aggressive-snort will put whitetails on high alert. In spite of this there are times to consider using it.

How long should a rattling sequence be?

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.

Is it better to hunt in the morning or evening during the rut?

During the rut, hunt whenever you can, morning, midday or afternoon and evening. The best place to find bucks is wherever you find does. In the morning and midday, stands near a doe bedding area are good places to see a buck. In the evening, food sources are great places to catch a buck looking for a doe.

How often should you grunt for deer?

CALL REPEATEDLY In areas in early to mid-October, it can’t hurt to blow half a dozen moderately loud grunts every 20 to 30 minutes. Do this whenever you’re archery hunting in a draw or on a ridge where deer move between bedding and feeding areas. You should also grunt periodically from a stand near a bedding area.