I'm switching to rifle deer this year as well. My theory from reading several books and watching what's happening in the woods is if you can locate deer in general the bucks will be around because you should be around the rut timeframe. So find the doe and the buck should be running around there as well. As far as drawing them out I plan on trying a little rattling this year. I've done it in the past on white tail hunts back East with some success. I figure a little can't hurt too much.
Best of luck. Enjoy the journey!