I don't have a lot of confidence in rattling here in New Hampshire as my area doesnt have great deer density OR buck to doe ratios... but I still do use a smaller set of 8 pnt horns harvested years ago a few times every year. It does "work" fairly frequently but mostly on 1-1/2 year olds and I've had several 2-3 year olds that come in but stage up couple hundred yards away or in thick cover. I mostly only do it now when I can put one of my boys or a buddy 100 yards downwind of my position. I've only managed to shoot one 8 pntr that I rattled in on my own but have passed on several spikes and forks.
But I ALWAYS use doe bleats and/or young buck grunts with or w/out the rattle. I have a rattle bag I try some times but it just doesnt sound as good to me. Actually the one decent buck I did get was when I had a buddy set up crosswind from me maybe 3-400 yards. He had a rattle bag, I had my horns. The buck quartered in from upwind of us right to in front of me- seemed he liked my sound better!
But I ALWAYS use doe bleats and/or young buck grunts with or w/out the rattle. I have a rattle bag I try some times but it just doesnt sound as good to me. Actually the one decent buck I did get was when I had a buddy set up crosswind from me maybe 3-400 yards. He had a rattle bag, I had my horns. The buck quartered in from upwind of us right to in front of me- seemed he liked my sound better!