Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: bonneylakebowman on September 09, 2009, 04:27:13 PM
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So i know that you can call them during the rut but can you call them in the early season? Some one i talked to said to make a fawn in distress call with a coyote call but i am scared to try because i dont want to run all the animals out of the country.
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Rattling might surprise you.
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I've got a fawn/doe bleat call that I play with occassionally during the early season and I have had a few doe's come in for a look. Have better luck with it in Nov/Dec. :twocents:
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I found a little grunt tube in the woods while hunting about seven years back. Later when getting close to dark I gave it a try for about 15 minutes. Ended up having a spike blacktail come running full speed and dang near run me over. I have tried it sever times since then but no success.
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I've grunted them in several times in Nov. But I'm with bc chaser on rattling, I watched two 4 points spar for awhile today, not real aggressive but definitely making some noise. There were four bucks total in the group, I think if they were in the area and heard some rattling they would probably come check it out.
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Rattling is very effective where competition for does is high. I've rattled in a few mature bucks over the years. Getting shots has proven difficult. Been caught with antlers in my hands more than once. I've had great luck in late December as well. This past year as I was field dressing my buck, I heard two bucks going at it about 100 yards away in the dark. I left my deer and moved toward them and when I got as close as I could, I put my light on them. They never even looked up. Both larger than mine :bash:
early season fawn bleats works pretty well. In April/May, you might do some practicing but watch out - you could get practically run over by does coming in. I've had them bound in full speed to the sound of fawn bawls, in AK, WA, and OR. Works well on bears too.
Give it a try!
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Should rattling be reserved for the late season, or is it possible to work during the main modern season too? Just curious... Sometimes during general season, if it's sunny and dry and the ground is crunchy, I get frustrated cuz I can't sneak up on anything. Might be worth a try on days like that, when there's no point in moving far? I've always wanted to try it. Go all out? Or just light sparring action? :dunno:
My dad had an old deer call carved out of cedar he found in SE Alaska in the early 80's. I can't remember if he ever had a decent buck come to it, but it would get the attention of the smaller bucks and does for sure. Down here it didn't work as well. Every once in a while he'd blow it while looking over a meadow or basin and a deer would jump up a couple hundred yards away though... Somehow it fell out of his pocket gutting a buck a few years back and he never found it.
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I have found rattling to be good from september - december. I would stay away from grunts and bleats until middle to the end of october.
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--Ive wondered about rattling, calling as well, Is there certain times in the day to start rattling? daylight, noon?
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--Ive wondered about rattling, calling as well, Is there certain times in the day to start rattling? daylight, noon?
Anytime works.
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I can confirm it works at 11 am, and right before dark, in mid November. Other than that, I have no idea. what really bugs me is that I can't seem to get it to work on rutting white-tails! They are supposed to come in, but the 2 blacktails I called in were clearly looking for me.
Needless to say, I will definitely do it again this year. I wonder if it works on muleys?
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Thanks for the replies i will have to try some rattling. i talked to a black tail guide out in bremerton and he said the best time to call black-tails is during rifel season. He said thats when they get the most bucks and biggest. Ill have to bring a bleat call out with me this next weekend because i dont have a set of horns to rattle with.
