Whose rattling whitetails this year?

[3nails]

I've rattled about a dozen times this year and have not had anything come in. I tear up the ground, knock rocks branches and nothing. I've tried spotswith good downwind coverage or cliffs. I move every 1-2 hours. Not sure if it's the buck to doe ratio(unit 1) in ID or if I'm doing something wrong....any ideas? I would love to rattle one in!!!! Thanks for starting this thread.

I'll give my 2 cents. When you start rattling stop every 5-8 seconds and slam the back of the main beams on the ground to resemble hoof stomps. Break a few branches also. I'm going to have to humbly disagree with Bone. Nothing more unnatural than just the sound of antlers.

[LittleJohn]

Are you guys doing any doe bleats or buck grunting during your sequence??

Am in NW MOntana and trying to figure this out.THANKS

[3nails]

Hmm... I'm in nw mt also. Where you is?

[LittleJohn]

Libby, 11 degrees this am, getting ready to head out the door.

[boneaddict]

Love the deer around Libby.   Have fun.   No problem 3nails.  I'm sure we all have our different styles.  I do the butts on the ground too.  My biggest emphasis is watch the moving around. 

[elkontherun]

14 degrees in Bonners Ferry this morning. Its gunna be a good day the deer should be moving.

[Mr Mykiss]

I gave rattling my first honest effort this year. I was in 121 and had a few legal/shooter bucks coming into bait. I set up on one that had a buck basically camped out on it 24/7 opening morning. I rattled a deer to about 20' but I wasn't looking in the right direction and all I saw was whitetail runnin!!! The rut was not on like donkey kong and it was actually kinda warm (11/9) however I did rattle one in. It was 0915 so it was probably the third or fourth time I'd rattled. I tried several different set ups over three days with no success.

[3nails]

 Hunted this morning until noon and managed two sequences. Got busted AGAIN on the second one. Going to try a spot this evening with very few deer but with potential for a hog.

[boneaddict]

I am taking my little whippersnapper out tomorrow, where I saw a ghost of a giant last year.   Might be my last day in the woods for awhile.   Hopefully we will have some action and I am not too late with the weather switch.

[3nails]

Hope you find him!
Nothing this evening.

[LittleJohn]

Thank you 3nails for the info and inspiration. Rattled in my first buck today!!!! Came in to 8 yards!!! WOW what a rush, I am hooked!!! 11am took him 6 minutes. Came in a bristled up and stiff legged!!! Had him in the cross hairs from 60 yards all the way in.

Buck are running like crazy in my area!!!

[3nails]

 Great!!! Pretty intense seeing them come in isn't it? I can't wait to see pics and full story!
 Lord willing it is the morning for me to rattle in a shooter.

[3nails]

 I guess I should have been more specific on "shooter". Rattled in a coyote and did my duty. Lord willing tomorrow I'll rattle in a shooter "buck". 

[huntnnw]

Rattled in a small 4 yesterday

[elkspert]

Well we didn't exactly rattle this guy in, but we did call him in with a few doe bleats. Very cool hunt. I had my son with me who is 8. We picked a likely looking spot and headed up in the timber. Go set up and let the woods calm down. Started with a couple of bleats and waited. After about 45 minutes and some more bleats, we see legs coming through the timber. I point out the deer to him and we both see he is a buck. He keeps coming our way, scanning all around him as he heads toward us. I shoulder the gun and told my son I was going to shoot. Down he went. I stayed there and directed him down through the timber to where he was lying. It was about a 100 yard shot in the timber and when he went down we could not see him. It was so cool to have my little guy there to experience the whole hunt. He has been to Montana twice and now Idaho. I am pretty sure this one has now sealed the deal with him