Whitetail Talk:

Attracting With Antlers
Other ways to lure a buck

By C.D. Denmon

I titled this article “Attracting with Antlers” because there are other ways to lure a buck in with a set of antlers. While rattling is the most widely recognized use of antlers, there are others as well. Besides the standard rattling, you can also rub them against a tree. This mimics a buck rubbing.

I remember the very first buck I rattled in behind my grandmother’s house. It was October, I was 10 years old and pretending I was hunting since I wasn’t old enough to actually go hunting. I had a couple sticks with a few forks on them and used them to mimic a set of rattling antlers. After a couple minutes I turned around and there stood a five point buck standing not 20 yards away.

It has been nearly 28 years since that day and I have rattled in many bucks since then. Although it is easier to have success with this tactic in Pennsylvania now since the age structure has changed and the number of does has been reduced, the competition for receptive females has increased, which makes all types of deer calling more effective. It is the amount of competition for does that dictates the effectiveness of rattling where you are hunting.

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