What do you think?

[bowhunter1023]

I'm going in tight to cover, near water, in an oak flat where three different types of cover converge, alladjacent to beans, for the first time in the evening...

Should I tickle some horns and toss in a few light grunts? Haven't called all year. Or should I stay quiet another 10 days or so?

[Azzy]

I'm taking my doe bleat out tomorrow morning and I'm gonna tip it a couple times to see what happens.

If tickling your horns gets you off.....DO IT!!

[MagnumMudMan]

I'm going in tight to cover, near water, in an oak flat where three different types of cover converge, alladjacent to beans, for the first time in the evening...

Should I tickle some horns and toss in a few light grunts? Haven't called all year. Or should I stay quiet another 10 days or so?

I'm going to sit tight and quiet in an oak flat tomorrow. If I (or Jimmy or Wyn)don't see any buck movement, I'm going to move closer to a good bedding area and tickle some horns to see if I can get anything moving.

[rgecko23]

Sunday I had about 12 doe around me, but not where I could shoot. So I got bored and thought. I wonder what would happen if I grunted a little. Boy that head doe out there was flipping out. She started blowing a little bit, and stomping. Then she started jumping around and blowing. So I did it again just little burp, burp, she kicked her back legs up in the air and was looking into the woods blowing. it was pretty amusing...All the other deer where just looking at her and kept eating away. she then took off into the woods, and kept going in and out. they all finally went tothe other side of the field so I could sneak out. Kind of amusing.

[countyroad]

I'll take my grunt tube with me and some antlers, but I don't think I'll be doing any blind calling. If I see a bucking moving a long I'll use the grunt tube and antlers to try and bring him into range.

[Kaiser878]

Im not much for rattling. I only grunt when I see a buck. The other mornnig when I had a buck by me I grunted he looked back and didtn pay a bit of attention to it. Although, in November I have had great success with a grunt tube!

[gf319804]

I'd hang tight buddy...Did a little calling and rattling last night with no result. Not saying that's what's gonna happen to you, but you're gonna be near a good food source, be patient. Save that calling for a few more weeks...

[XX78]

For the first time, I'd bring them and not use them unless you saw something that warranted their use.

[CritterGitter]

I glassed 2 bucks sparring from 400 yards last night. They weren't to serious about it. To dark to see the racks clearly. There was three of them together in a bean field that is private "no hunting land" near where I hunt. I am hoping when they get fired up the biggest one pushes the other 2 gooduns out. Light rattling would not be out of line at this time. Keep it short and simple.

I am a big fan of your strategy of going in tight to the cover.......I would maybe wait for the evening as that early/bright moon seems to have them getting to their feet just a wee bit earlier in the evenings. This October's full moon on Tuesday should provide for some good buck sightings/harvests, but I wont get out until next Saturday.

[TheCream]

I think I'd hang tight, also. It sounds like you are in a great setup, and this, to me, is like the idea of decoying from a good setup early in the year...you're throwing something else into the equation that could have a negative impact on the hunt. I've also never been much for rattling, but I have friends who have made it work. I will call early in the year, but not usually blind calling. I'm much more apt to call to a deer I can see out of range or hear passing out of sight in an effort to pull it in.

I'd hang tight and see what the setup produces because it sounds pretty good. Best of luck, bud!

[Kaiser878]

I glassed 2 bucks sparring from 400 yards last night. They weren't to serious about it. To dark to see the racks clearly. There was three of them together in a bean field that is private "no hunting land" near where I hunt. I am hoping when they get fired up the biggest one pushes the other 2 gooduns out. Light rattling would not be out of line at this time. Keep it short and simple.

I am a big fan of your strategy of going in tight to the cover.......I would maybe wait for the evening as that early/bright moon seems to have them getting to their feet just a wee bit earlier in the evenings. This October's full moon on Tuesday should provide for some good buck sightings/harvests, but I wont get out until next Saturday.

I had two bucks sparring beside me a couple days ago. I had never really seen it from that clsoe before, but they went at it non stop for 15 minutes. So how long should you do it if you do do it?? The only reason wh y Iask is because you said keep it short, should you??

[coonskinner]

quiet...real quiet...you'll see more deer...:D

[bowhunter1023]

I'm gearing up and smoking down as we speak. Gonna take 'em and use them if I see anything. Wind is friggin' perfect. I'm gonna let it be what it will. Antlers only tonight unless I see a monster alpha doe inside 20. Got a new freezer today and I figure Monday's doe could use some company! :D

I'll report in after dark...

[CritterGitter]

You have to remember that any buck that hears the rattling and is interested to come into your set up will be looking for you......intently in fact. Therefore, if you are working a rattle bag or banging antlers for 15 minutes........odds are the jig will be up before you even knew the game was on.

Going in tight to cover should put the hunter within ear shot of a buck. I would do a couple sequences of 2 mins or so........light tickling.......just enough to make some recognizable sound. I would space them out about 30 mins or so. I would do the first one about 7:30 if in the morning......if in the evening do it few mins after sunset and definately not before. If he is going to come into the rattling it shouldnt take more than that. Just enough to get his attention and make him curious about what's going on.

Also, I suggested evening as I have never rattled in a buck in the morning. I have a theory that once they bed, they aren't gettin up for nothing unless it is: A) spooked/bumped B) reposition C) go cruising doe bedding areas for a gal which is several weeks off. However, in the evenings they can sometimes get a little antsy right before dark. This is just based on my experiences in the field.

[canine1]

Good info CritterGitter. The only differ I have from yours is I have rattled them in at all times of the day. Actually some of the biggest bucks I have rattled were in the middle of the day. I put alot into a rattling sequence. Not just bangin horns together.

1023, if you seen the video I posted the other day of that bucks response to our climbers raking the bark, I believe it's an individual thing. Depends on what level the bucks testosterone is at and how aggressive he is feeling. Make sure your downwind side is open for a shot, thats where he'll head for if he has no visual on the sound source. I treat rattling just like calling a coyote..beat his ears, eyes and make em pay for the wind.
I would be rattling right now if I could hunt. I have another week of recoup from knee surgery then I'm goin after that big boy i posted in the bow hunting section.


JD

[bowhunter1023]

Another great hunt this evening. I got in without bumping anything thanks to the drainage I use to get there. I heard deer moving through below me not 5 minutes after I climbed up.

I sat tight from 4 until 6:30 when I gave a few grunts and raked the antlers on the tree. Had two does stand up about 60 yards away 5 minutes after that. They headed to the beans and I thought I heard more deer just over the rise a few minutes after that.

I may be about 20 yards from the best tree, but I think that extra travel would be bad for bumping deer. It is a great spot to call and I will approach it as such...