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Rattle bag vs Antlers

What do you find more effective for calling? Antlers or rattle bag?

  • Total voters
    31
  • This poll will close: .
Publiclandowner

Publiclandowner

Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
89
Location
Nebraska
A few seasons ago my wife gifted me a rattle bag for Christmas. I have carried it exclusively each season since and have had no luck rattling in bucks… Now calling deer on Nebraska public is already difficult, but I haven’t rattled in a single buck since switching. What is your experience, real antlers or rattle sack, what are you carrying? I’m going back to my antlers with the brow tine cut off.
 
I voted other and my other is none. I’ve tried real antlers, synthetic antlers, and the bag. I’m not saying I am the expert voice and that I have mastered the art of rattlin deer to me therefore my way is right so please take it with a giant grain of salt. What I’m saying is I see far more deer overall when I adhere to the old “sit down and be quiet” adage. All the things I’ve learned inevitably lead me back down that road.
 
I would agree, most sits probably (9/10) I do not do any calling and question bringing the extra weight. And mostly that’s because other hunters are over calling on public that it seems to push them away more than it helps. Yet I keep bringing them because I know over the years there have been occasions a bleat or rattle helped.
 
Publiclandowner said:
I would agree, most sits probably (9/10) I do not do any calling and question bringing the extra weight. And mostly that’s because other hunters are over calling on public that it seems to push them away more than it helps. Yet I keep bringing them because I know over the years there have been occasions a bleat or rattle helped.
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I was going to mention the public thing but deleted, same sentiment you seem to have. Honestly I’m not worried about weight, I just don’t feel it’s effective for me. I’m making noise and moving around. Am I doing it because it’ll bring deer in or because I saw it on a Monster Bucks II video when I was a kid? To each their own, I’m sure I’ll do it again next year, I’m an idiot like that.
 
I didn't vote...I have had NO luck even seeing one less than 75yds, hit the rattle (bag or real rack), will look, and no interest.

I tried a little light tickle, to a hard sequence (blind rattle)...nope.

My only time I can say what got his attention was when my pull rope got tangled on a dead branch and I gave it a few tugs (sounded like a scrape being made)...little 6 point came running in.
 
I’ve had decent luck with a rattle bag over the years. I still have an old one from Hunters Specialties. I lost the first one they came out with and it was smaller but I’ve enjoyed the larger one with a deeper tone and bigger wood dowels and blocks in it to sound like larger antlers. I’ve called in bucks of all ages but typically I don’t just rattle. I also change up my sequences and never start out with large raucous rattling. Everything is a work up like Predator calling where you start low and limited and build over the time frame. Does it always work? No! Do I typically call in deer on most sits? I would say yes. But not just from rattling. Sometimes I don’t rattle at all. Also, each areas is different depending on the age classes of the deer, buck to doe ratios and hunting pressure.

One of my most memorable call sequences was a later in the morning in early November. I had not seen anything for a few days and was getting frustrated so I just thought to myself, I always call conservatively and with limited called concerned that the deer would be call shy. Just the opposite occurred. I played out a call sequence starting out with just doe bleats, and waited about ten minutes. Then doe bleats and some tending grunts. Then doe bleats and tending grunts and a roar or long grunt then click grunts. Then grunts and a snort wheeze, then grunts, a snort wheeze one right after the other and then a “build up” rattling sequence, then a final snort wheeze. Within seconds a nice ten was walking right to me, straight legged with his ears back and walked right under me. I should have waited to draw two seconds more as he caught the movement of me drawing from above…. I mean he was like 4 yards away…. I literally saw the whites of his eyes as he panicked upon catching me draw my bow! He took off! It doesn’t happen all the time that way but if you call, envision a real scenario playing out and try to make it sound as real as possible. Sometimes, like coyotes or turkeys the sensory overload will make them “break” to the calling. Have fun!

It may sound like hyperbole to many but honestly, I call in deer a lot but shooter bucks are harder to come by!!!
 
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I voted other : during the rut I often carry antlers. I’d like to try a bag for it’s compact and easier to carry form but I’ve never used a bag.

If it’s a day I plan on calling I bring antlers from a mature buck. If I don’t plan on calling I carry a pair of fork horns with the tips cut off. They are compact and light but the sound doesn’t carry as well.

This year I rattled in a 4 pointer and put an arrow in him. But really the more I hunt the more I feel like mature bucks are too savvy and sitting quiet is the wiser option.
 
I carry antlers and lower them down on my rope then yank them 2-4 feet off the ground. They bang together and hit the ground. I have called in a few bucks like this and actually had pretty good success with it. I also use a grunt tube and a can call. I think the can call has called in more bucks than anything else
 
I have just been following on this one so far. Mostly because I'm one of those hunters who can't stand making noise or any movement in the tree. I have used all the above in very small doses, looking to change things up next season, so going down another rabbit hole! Thanks guys
 
Stump06 said:
I carry antlers and lower them down on my rope then yank them 2-4 feet off the ground. They bang together and hit the ground. I have called in a few bucks like this and actually had pretty good success with it. I also use a grunt tube and a can call. I think the can call has called in more bucks than anything else
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I just saw on Do It Yourself Hunter inverting the can call and blowing through it rather than the goofy tipping of it. Works like a charm! And it isn’t too loud either.
 
I’m trying to find a call that is more subtle and gutterral than a normal grunt call. I heard one on a YouTube channel but for the life of me cannot remember which channel it was on. It was that perfect doe slight grunt you hear especially when they are “talking” to their fawns. You can hear a very, very, very slight whistle when it first starts.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I just saw on Do It Yourself Hunter inverting the can call and blowing through it rather than the goofy tipping of it. Works like a charm! And it isn’t too loud either.
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This is my preferred method. You can get all kinds of variety from blowing into the can. But the tip technique is still awesome when deer are around and you want to be discrete with your movements.
 
Stump06 said:
I carry antlers and lower them down on my rope then yank them 2-4 feet off the ground. They bang together and hit the ground. I have called in a few bucks like this and actually had pretty good success with it. I also use a grunt tube and a can call. I think the can call has called in more bucks than anything else
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I’ve never heard or seen this, I’m going to have to try this method next year. But I would agree with the can. I’ve had multiple bucks come right in with ears pinned back within minutes and even seconds after rolling my bleat can.
 
I’ve done some dangle rattling and think the stomping and other ground noise is perhaps more valuable than anything else.

I’ve considered making my own rattle bag using my collection of spikes and fork antlers. Has anyone else done this? Do you have any advice?
 
I have never had a lot of luck rattling around here in southeast Missouri. Maybe it's the buck to doe ratio but I still try several times every year. I have used real horns and a rattle bag. I have about the same effect with either. On a rare occasion, I have seen a buck come in, but I have never killed one by rattling one in.

I did rattle the neighbor's dog in once but passed on it.

Now a grunt call in another story, I have had a fair amount of success with a grunt call.
 
Another vote for none. Ive never had success with them and have seen with my own eyes more than once them spook game. Probably gunna vary by state. In PA everyone and their mother bangs them around all season long. By the time a buck is 3.5, maybe even 2.5, hes seen all the bs.
When I send that arrow or bullet, I want that buck to be totally and completely oblivious to my presence. Let the merits of the location you've chosen be what kills him.
 
I've never had success rattling, which is probably why I don't do too much of it. I call, and use scent lures, but I'm going to have to read more on how to integrate calling and rattling. I'll do a can bleat or doe bleat, a fawn bleat, and a Primos grunt call (set to 'young buck' or 'mature buck') and try to simulate a conversation. Which I'm sure is about as convincing as one of those AI 'paintings'.
 
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