anyone have an success with using rattling antlers/grunt calls?

Not me. I think I've done more harm than good.

I have had success with rattling small bucks in. The small piece of property I hunt is pretty thick. I have no doubt that I have sparked the interest of bigger bucks, however they were smart enough not to come within sight.

Starting this time of year I will use my grunt call periodically. I have had some luck bringing in curious bucks. I never had any luck with rattling horns until 2 years ago. I hit the rut just right when they were chasing like crazy. I shot a doe early one morning then watched 2 small bucks fight over my fallen doe. The sound of there horns hitting and the smell of her kept bringing in different bucks. I saw 7 different bucks that morning. 2 days later I went back and took some horns with me. I used them about 30 min. after daylight and had a nice 9 pt. run in on me to see who's but he could kick. Needless to say I screwed up his day. Last year I tryed the horns several times but never could get one to come in. I just think you have to hit the timing just right around here for it to work.

I grunted in a young buck the other evening with a quaker boy. I have had horns work for me once. But it was little antlers i was using. (basket rack 8pt) I agree you have to catch em at the right time of the rut when they are lookin hot and heavy for the rattling to work.

i use a grunt call just about every time i go hunting. i've grunted up several nice bucks

they both work great, IF you have mature bucks and IF it's the right time of the year. If 90% of your bucks are 2 or younger then I don't think rattling would work too well, but grunting probably would.

We've grunted and rattled in enough good bucks that I don't hunt with out horns and a grunt tube during the rut.

I rattled in a nice 6 point one evening with a Summit treestand. I was taking my stand apart after the hunt, and he heard the racket I was making taking it apart. He ran straight to me with the hair on his back bristled up, and I threw my arms in the air to scare him back from me. He stared me down before finally leaving. Needless to say, I was quite "rattled" myself. He was definately looking for a fight. This was in Early November about 15 years ago at a bowhnting lease in Colbert County. I have rattled horns and grunted in the woods many times since with no results.

I messed around with doe bleats and grunts this morning and was completely successful. I saw no fewer deer today as I ever see...NONE!

I have tried rattling dozens of times over the years and had zero results. I've tried it in every conceivable set-up I can imagine. Never been successful. I have no confidence in either one and I'm basing that on my own experiences. I know by talking to other folks and watching videos that it must work. I have grunted up a spike on one occasion in Dallas county in the early 90's. Never had too much luck doing either one. I no longer bother with the rattling but I do carry a Broadway grunt call and use it sometimes. Of course, I don't ever expect to see anything but I guess it's not hurting anything.

Dr. B

I was thinking about rattling and grunting this afternoon. Well atlest thought about rattling a little i've grunted some in the past but never tried rattling.

I've only rattled in a few bucks. Last year for example, I did kill a good deer coming to the horns. Every year I call in a couple of bucks using grunt and bleat calls. I have them with me every time I hunt.

I've had very little success blind calling in Alabama, but I've had really good success soft grunting in bucks that I'm watching that are out of range while bow hunting around rut-time.

This is just a theory of mine but I'd figure I'd share it. If you use a large set of antlers, you will have less success. If you use a smaller set of em, for instance a small 8pt with 5 inch tines and little mass, you will have a better chance of rattling em in. A dominant buck will come into any fight he hears, or you might not be doing it right and he is too wise. Using smaller antlers might not intimidate less dominant bucks. I've seen a big mature 8point back down from an older and more dominant 4pt. Two Cents.

I carried them with me today but decided not to use them.

Dec. 24th was the first day that I have had success with rattling. I was rattling at the edge of a thicket using a smaller 8pt rack. After rattling the antlers the first time, nothing happen, 30 seconds later I rattled them again(aprox 15 sec) and I could hear something get up. I waited aprox. 2 mins and rattled the antlers a third time for a very short period of time(aprox 5 secs) and an 8 pointer eased out of the thicket looking for the fight right in fron of me.

I was in a tree and could see for about 30 yards in all directions. The thicket was beyond the 30 yard mark in front of me and that's where he eased out of to look for the fight. This was my 5th time ever trying to rattle but my first in an area this thick.

They can work great but theres a lot that goes into it. Timing of year, buck-to-doe ratio, how many dominate bucks. Often if a buck is hot and heavy on a doe he is not going to come in to rattling or grunting, but if hes looking hes probably coming. Best success for me is when I;m hunting a solid scrape line.

LOL ME TOO