How late in the year do you guys normally rattle until? Is second gun season too late? Probably depends on when the rut reallys starts kicking in I guess.

My only rattling experience comes from a couple of guys that do it religiously every rifle season. They had a 10 year stretch where they got at least 1 really dandy buck doing this. If I were to rattle I'd probably only rattle in people. They are very persistent and patient and have been doing this for 25 years now or more. They also have the land enough to give it a fair go. On a smaller scale I'm not sure how well it would work. My feeling is sitting all day on opener or sitting all day if we can get a weather change kind of day is your best bet. Better than that, if a hot doe comes by be ready. I've also noticed through the years a "couple" of hot does means a mature buck is on it's way or at least when I've had multiple does with a trailing buck it has always been what I'm looking for, watch this year it'll be a yearling buck with a pair breaking my theory.

I talked to the main rattler guy and they have had crazy success with it. Be careful though in as remote of an area as they do this they did have a hunter hop their fence and sneak in on them a couple seasons ago. The best story he told me was they each bagged a mature buck during a rattling sequence, the shooter got one and the rattler after the shot was fired saw another buck and they got him in as well and finished the deal. I have rattling horns as many of us do and it's a faith thing, I tried it with no luck a few times and like that hope to be magical fishing lure, put em back in the tackle box and likely won't try it again, they have a history with it and many years experience with trouble shooting the rattling theory.

i wouldn't even go hunting without my rattle bags....i use them from opening day archery until last day of archery.

i've rattled in alot of bucks...and have seen alot of bucks on the move that i have rattled over.

bucks spar and fight from the minute they shed their velvet until they shed their antlers...you just need to learn when to do it lightly and when to do it violent.

I've never tried rattling. what do you recommend for when to do it lightly and when to be violent?

depends what kind of hunter you are and what area your in...but i tickle and just do sparring from bow opener until about oct 21-24th...i rattle hardcore from then until about mid december then i go back to tickling and light rattling for the last few weeks.

My theory with rattling is 'do no harm', meaning I will rattle more on a morning hunt than I will on an evening hunt. My theory is that in the morning, I'm not seeing anything, may as well try rattling, and I'll be leaving soon anyway. In the evening I will rattle early on but when it gets closer to sundown, I stay quiet and let the natural deer movement work.

Rattling is not a cure all, it doesn't work every time, in fact I would say less than 20% of the time, but I have had bucks come in slowly, curiously looking, and this year for the first time I had one come charging in looking for the rattling. Never have rattled in a big boy.