early season rattling

[crossbow]

Two years ago I rattled two small eight-pointers in at 5:30 in the afternoon, in the last week of september. My son shot one of them. Last Sunday my son shot a eight-pointer that green scored a gross of 149 and netted147 1/8. The buck was with four others and were sparring all the way to the hayfield. We were not rattling, we knew where they were headed.

 

[Guest]

Wow, nice buck for your son!

Send a pic, we are launching a

photo gallery and would love to see him in there.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rackaddict]

Last year on opening day here in Missouri (Oct 1st) I rattled very ligthly. As soon as I put the horns down I heard some deer running and thought I had spooked them but to my surprise two bucks came running in. A small 6 and a medium size 8pt. They walked around my stand for about 15 minutes before leaving. I did some more rattling on other days following, still early season, and had several bucks come to check it out. I think you have to rattle lightly early in the year , but it will work.

 

[tip-up]

on monday i had two little buck ( fork and spike) under my stand and they started to bonk heads. i wouldn't call it sparing like in the pre-rut but just sorta playing. but the interesting thing is that another buck 8 pointer came waltsing up to see what was up. which got me thinking about early nonagressing antler rattling. anybody tried this or thought about this and had luck?