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John's Journal... Entry 125, Day 3

THE KING OF RATTLING

WHERE TO SET UP

EDITOR'S NOTE: You can use the rattling tactic to draw big bucks out of thick cover anywhere in the nation. But just like any other deer-hunting tactic, rattling won't always make a monster buck appear. Although many hunters believe rattling works only on Texas ranches with their 1:1 buck/doe ratio, you won't find this assumption true. But rattling appears to pay more buck dividends in Texas and in other western states than it does in the East. Generally you can see bucks coming to antlers from a greater distance in the wide-open spaces of Texas than you can in the thick-cover areas where most Easterners hunt. But I know you can bring bucks in to horns anytime, anywhere you locate deer, whether early season, during the rut or after the rut.

"When I rattle, I like to set up where I can see 50 to 60 yards from my location to the thick cover where I expect a buck to appear," Morvan reports. "The longer you have to look at the deer and the further away you are from him, the better your chances of evaluating his rack before you make the shot." Morvan mentions that if you get too close to the cover, the deer will come out, spot you instantly and leave. Then you won't get a shot. Back far enough away from the cover to keep the buck from seeing you when he breaks out of the cover and comes to the sound of the horns. Make sure you have the wind in your favor. Try to watch as much of the terrain as possible from left to right. "A really big buck has learned that if he wants to survive during deer season, he must hold in that thick cover during daylight hours," Morvan explains. "And one of the few things that will bring him out is the sound of those clashing antlers."

Although many western hunters who rattle build blinds, Morvan doesn't. He prefers to have ample back cover to keep the deer from seeing him when the deer move. Morvan doesn't like to have anything in front of him to inhibit his view. If Morvan's rattling and has a shooter with him, he puts the shooter either on his right-hand or left-hand side. Morvan wants the shooter close enough to him to tell the hunter whether he considers the buck a shooter or not. "Oftentimes, I'll rattle in several bucks at a time," Morvan explains. "I'll have to make a quick judgment call as to which buck is the best one. And I'll have to be able to communicate that to my shooter without speaking too loudly."

 

To learn more about hunting big bucks, check out these books from the Night Hawk Publication Library
"The Masters' Secrets of Deer Hunting" and "How to Take Monster Bucks."

TOMORROW : HOW TO RATTLE

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about the THE KING OF RATTLING...

Day 1 - The Ghost Buck
Day 2 - Why Rattle
Day 3 - Where To Set Up

Day 4 - How To Rattle
Day 5 - How To Use Western Tactics In The East


John's Journal