Deer Calling Questions...alright, scents too

[GonHuntin]

Doc....I hope you will share your knowledge and observations here!

I have been hunting deer for 30 years but I consider myself a bit of a novice at calling deer. I have rattled in a few deer, including 2 good bucks that I managed to kill, but I still don't know all I want to know about the when, where, why and how of deer calling. I figured that you Texicans probably know as much about deer calling as anyone.....so, how about sharing some information on your methods?

I used a rattle bag last year.....killed a nice buck that responded to it......the buck I killed last week with my muzzleloader came to a set of sheds. I once had a bunch of does come in while I was banging a board against a tree (but that's another story ;D )!

I bowhunted this morning......there are fresh scrapes everywhere.....it was cool and overcast.....I figured rattling would be the ticket but I didn't see a thing all morning so I had plenty of time to think about this question!


Do you see better results with bags, synthetic horns, sheds or horns taken from a buck that was killed?

Do you rattle all season long or just in the pre and post rut?

When you hunt from a stand, how often do you rattle?

Mornings, evenings or all day?

Do the bucks come in downwind?

Ever call in does while rattling?

How about grunt calls and the new "can" calls.....how and when do you use them?

Any other calling methods?

I sure would appreciate any hints, tips and observations that would make me a more effective deer caller!

Oh yeah, might as well throw scents into the discussion too!

Do you use cover scent, if so, what kind? (I personally doubt that it does much good but my mind can be changed)

Attractant scents.....food, ect......do you use them......what kind and how?

Sex scents.....anything that comes from a deer or is made to smell like something that comes from a deer.....what do you use......when where how and why?

[captkb]

I am only going to touch on the cover scent part of this, only because of the experiences I have had with using it. I wash all my camo in HS Scents laundry soap - earth scented - and then dry them in the dryer using HS Earth Scented dryer sheet. Once I take them out of the dryer and into my gear back or back pack I throw in another dryer sheet. Once I am dressed and ready to go to the stand, I take the dryer sheet just laying in the bag and put it in my shirt pocket or under my cap. I also use their earth scented spray as an added precaution. Sounds like alot of trouble and at times it can be, but when you sitting next to a tree and you got a buck within 15 yds of ya downwind for 30 minutes then something has to be working right. My wife hates this stuff as it makes the house smell like a big pile of fresh dirt - to me its just another sign that its the best part of the year - HUNTING SEASON!! ;D In my opinion this stuff is great for bowhunting, stalking, or just sitting on the ground next to a tree. I also like putting some Tinks 69 out as an attractant but so far I have only seen small bucks react to it.

[TexasDoc]

Ok Gonhuntin, here goes what I have seen,Done,and play around with.

The best thing to use is the real thing,I mean Sheds or Antlers you have taken off a smallier Buck. Let me add to this a bit I use 1 side of a 8pt and the other one is 10pt. As I have found the Sound is more the the side of the antler. I have used the Bags in the past and have had a few young bucks appear. As for the Synthetic antlers I have 2 sets that make a great set of my Decoy buck.


I only Rattle in the Pre-rut only,up to the main rut.After that I ahve found the most buck will not come. you can always get the young bucks and some of the Does to come in.

I never Rattle from a Blind,I get out and start walking the edges of a field and rattle every 200yds. or start at the head of a Sendro and work my way down it slowly.the Best time to rattle is about a hour after Sunrise and until it starts getting warmer in the afternoon,then I start back in at late Afternoon like 15:30 until about 45 minute before dark.you have to be able to see them come in.

Most Bucks will circle you and come in Down wind but not always,the last 3 I had came in looking right at me up wind.

I always get a few Does when I rattle

I grunt in the middle of the rattling along with hitting small bushes abd pawwing at the ground. this will be the first yer for me to try The Can,I will report on how it works .

I have been toying with the Grunt Snort wizz,it worked ok last year on a nice 10 & 14Pt. but nothing really explosive.

As I hunt mostly out of a Blind or a tripod I just get as clean as I can before going hunting.

As for scents to attract,I thing most of them are more to get the hnter into Buying them. I ahve tseted Tinks 69,Buck stops Perm.200 Proof scent mates mock scrape.
I have also tried others that don't work. on another Note they did attract lots of Javalina and a few Skunks last time I put out the Buckstop 200 proof.

I hope this helps you,If you would like to see how Rattle works you need to find a place that has a good Buck to Does ratio I ahve found that a 1 to 4 worked alright in the early parts of the pre-rut,but a Ratio of 1 to 2.5 or 2 worked better.

I am willing to help anyone with Rattling just let me know how I can help.


TexasDoc

[slammy]

GonHuntin,

My experience with rattling is limited to the last five years. It seemed to be more effective in some areas than others. In the area around Del Rio my experiences rattling have not been very productive. In Aspermont however, I've rattled in a few really nice bucks as well as some smaller ones. I think it may well be connected to the buck/doe ratio as texasdoc said. Closer ratio in Aspermont. Fewer deer all the way. We use a two part, mix skunk scent made by Tex Isbell. It's the best we've found and we use it at every set up, deer or predators. She mixes it on cotton balls and we carry them in little film cannisters. We also do almost as much prep work on our clothes as captkb does. We always spray clothes and feet with "no scent spray" In Aspermont the bucks respond agressively and predictably to scent. We use "In Heat Scents" from Hunter Claus. I think texasdoc is on to something when he refers to the buck/doe ratio. I think that's why the deer respond to rattling and scent better. Fewer deer. Big bucks may not always cross paths with their equal so they are quick to respond to a fight. I dunno, just what we've seen.

[Woodrow]

Here is my take. I rattled for several years with no luck (only 1 response). And then 2 years ago it started to work nearly everytime! The biggest difference is/was my location. I was trying to rattle at places that didn't have a lot of bucks. In the last 2 years, the action has been pretty explosive. And my best success has been w/ a loud and long approach. Make as much noise as you can, BUT keep your eyes open cause they will come busting in sometimes (most of the time with me)! Be ready! I did rattle 2 bucks up out of a stand one time too. As far as the rattlin antlers, I have never used anything but the real thing, but I would think that if you could get the real thing.......that is the way to go. I have read that pre-rut is the best time, but I have actually had some good success in the later stages of the rut.........

But like I said, the area makes a huge difference.