Rattlin' Antlers

[Wilderness Addict]

What did you guys do to maintain your natural rattlin' antlers? If anything? How many years do you typically use the same set? I would think over time their sound would change.

[3nails]

 Nothing much. I just store mine in the house and soak them over night before heading out for a two week hunt. My sheds are about 15 years old and still work great. I think technique is ten times more important than what little amount they may go out of tune. You sure can see the wear on them though.

[Wilderness Addict]

Nothing much. I just store mine in the house and soak them over night before heading out for a two week hunt. My sheds are about 15 years old and still work great. I think technique is ten times more important than what little amount they may go out of tune. You sure can see the wear on them though.

Thank you

[bur04024]

Soak them overnight? . Won't that leach them of some of their minerals overtime and cause them to soften or crumble?

[rasbo]

Iquit using antlers,and went to the rattle bag,I still get the deer with them...when I did use antlers I just hung them in the garage till next year, never had a problem..I got tired of the bulk with antlers and hitting my hands at times

[3nails]

Soak them overnight? . Won't that leach them of some of their minerals overtime and cause them to soften or crumble?

Not at all with mine. 15 years with the same set so far and all's good.

[Hoythunter]

What do you soak them in and why?

[3nails]

 Throughout the year they tend to dry out and get a little "clanky". When antlers are attached to a deers head they don't sound like that. They have a more solid "thumpy" sound. This sound doesn't travel near as far which I feel is essential. I have a friend who doesn't soak his and I can hear him rattle from WAY too far away. Not good. I don't want my rattling to travel more than 2-3 hundred yds through the woods.

[PolarBear]

Hold them tighter at the base, that will "soften" the sound.  Loosely held antlers have a brighter sound.   

[singleshot12]

The fork points tend to sound clanky, that's why i keep the horns submerged in oil during the off season

[3nails]

Hold them tighter at the base, that will "soften" the sound.  Loosely held antlers have a brighter sound.   

If I held mine any tighter I think I'd crush them.  Nothing worse than having an antler flop out of your hand and roll 20 yds down the hill right in the middle of battle. Learned that the hard way.

The fork points tend to sound clanky, that's why i keep the horns submerged in oil during the off season

Very rarely do I ever use the tines. Just the bases for grinding.

[PolarBear]

LOL!  I only use the points for light "tickling" once the buck is getting close or at the very end of a set.

[singleshot12]

The fork points tend to sound clanky, that's why i keep the horns submerged in oil during the off season

Very rarely do I ever use the tines. Just the bases for grinding.

Interesting.. you don't clash the antlers together initially? just rub the bases?

[3nails]

The fork points tend to sound clanky, that's why i keep the horns submerged in oil during the off season

Very rarely do I ever use the tines. Just the bases for grinding.

Interesting.. you don't clash the antlers together initially? just rub the bases?

I don't. Just me maybe but after studying real fights I never found them to do this. Seems like they come together and then get violent. But again I'm trying to keep the sound as local as possible. I don't want to be heard from too far away.

[3nails]

LOL!  I only use the points for light "tickling" once the buck is getting close or at the very end of a set.

Boy you've got nerves of steel! If I think one is close I'm shouldering my gun.