This was the first year that it worked for me. I had a week to hunt after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26-Dec. 1), and decided to give it a go after some encouragement on our site.
I tended to mix rattling every 15 minutes or so (at about 40 seconds per rattle), with some grunts from primos 'Buck Roar', and a wheeze or two thrown in there. I scraped the trees, as well as hit the ground. P.S. I used the bag, not the real horns - I read an article from a guy who said he never used the real thing and said he got better results. I rattled in 2 that I saw, and I'm certain that I rattled in one more - each day for 3 days.
On day 1, I rattled in a 2 pt, with eye guards. It took me around 1 1/2 hours from when I heard him first below me from about 110 yards up a hill. I think that he was being cautious, and eventually presented a shot. REMEMBER, if they come in, they're looking for a fight and are on high alert. All it took was the movement of my hand - I WAS ALL CAMOED UP - and it spooked him. He took off until he heard my grunt and then gave me a broadside shot - I took it. Unfortunately, with everything else to remember, he had slipped from 40 to 60 yards, and I didn't adjust to consider how far he had gone away.
Day 2, I rattled in a buck that I'm not sure how big he was. It was on the exact same hill, only 150 yards from the previous evening. He came in at 80 yards behind me, was snorting and in an effort to get him to fight, I snorted back. HUGE MISTAKE - didn't see him again, and needless to say, I'll grunt at a deer that's ready to fight, but never wheeze again.
Day 3, I was in my tree stand, on a fairly open side of a hill. Same hill - opposite side. It was so cold that I was visibly shaking and I'm certain that's why I never got that last one to show his head. After 2 hours of almost freezing, I got down from the stand and abandoned it for the week. That was the only time that I used my stand.
For the rest of the week, I sat quietly and hoped one would cross me up. Didn't happen.
Next year I plan on rattling again. Things I'm going to change: First, more people in the area I'm rattling. It was just me and another guy on private land, and we are certain that there were deer galore in there. It's about a 4 square mile area, and it's just too hard to work areas by yourself or with only one other guy. Second, I'm going to be in a more dense area as I rattle. Remember, the deer are LOOKING FOR YOU! You've got to hide as well as possible so that they don't see you.
I think i'm a believer, and I'm looking forward to giving it a try again.
