Rattling Antler question

[powdergun]

Rattling is often used around here during the rut. What do you guys prefer to use ?

1) A commercial plastic type rattle like a rattle bag. If so what brand do you use ?
2) Real horns ? Do you modify them ?

I have heard real horn will dry out and change its sound. Does soaking them prior to the season remedy this ?

 

[todbartell]

I think if you consider how portable they are, the rattle bags are the way to go

 

[Campbery]

I use real antlers, from a buck I shot, sheds don't seem to have the same tone. I saw the brow tynes and tips of the points for safety and drilled holes in the bases for a string to hang the antlers. Mostly I rattle in the pre-rut.

 

[mudbug]

X2 on the real horns.
and like what was said before saw off the brow tines. No amount of scent control or concealment can cover up the string of obscenities after smashing your thumbs at -25.

 

[tracker]

We don't have a lot of bucks in our area and I have good luck with small 6pt sheds (soaking helps but I never bother). Called in bucks and does. I use them any time there is no wind, pre or post rut. BUT like said remove brow tines and sharp tips for SAFETY reasons.

 

[captonion]

I did use sheds until my wife bought me a rattle bag some years ago.The bags work excellent,and you can carry them in your pocket!
Like Tod said RATTLE BAGS are the way to go!

 

[zthou]

I use the real horns or fresh sheds. When I first started however, I was using the store bought plastic ones and rattled in a 175 non typical. I don't think you can properly mimic a real battle using the ones in the bag.

 

[Lazy Ike]

Fresh real antlers in a bag.

 

[.17]

Tried sheds,real horns,they all seem to work I imagine on the right day you could bang two sticks together.

 

[DVXDUDE]

I didn't seem to like the sound a rattle bag made. I forget what kind it was and maybe i was doing it wrong, but I tired with the primos rattle horns and that bag right after each other in the store and the bag, it has a higher pitch, really "clangs" together. I didnt think it sounded as real anyways.

 

[hakx]

Rattle bag.

 

[Big Game]

Real horns. I cut off the brow tines but not the tips. Tinkling the tips can be very effective in early season when the bucks are starting to spar but aren't aggresively fighting. Starting mid september I never travel anywhere without a saw in my truck, Fresh Roadkill= Fresh Rattling Antlers. (and smetimes backstraps)