Rattlebag or Horns?

[A_Outdoorsman]

whats better a rattle bag or horns

[William H Bonney]

I've had a rattlebag for years,, I leave it at home now. It just doesn't sound anything like "real horns". Nice and easy to carry, but thats about it. Although, I've seen outdoor shows on TV where they've used the bags. :rolleyes:

[Backwoods-Savage]

I use the bag and have had pretty good luck with it. Biggest one I rattled in was a nice 10 pointer. It all depends on how you use them as to how they will sound. For me, it is much easier carrying the bag rather than tote around those antlers.

Don't put too much faith into what kind of a sound they make. I once read of a famous bowhunter (his name skips me right now) who brought one in by crushing a pop can! I've also heard of guys hitting their arrows on branches or their quiver, etc. But the bag, you can strap it tight so they don't rattle while you are walking; you can strap it onto your belt and they weigh very little.

[Chuck]

If Im trying to sound like 2 bucks battling it out there is nothing like clashing those real antlers together. I also break sticks and make alot of noise. The bucks I have seen fighting make ALOT of noise if they are going at it. But if Im just tickiling them together the bag is easier to use for this.

[dtg]

The second year I bowhunted, I could hear a buck scraping up a tree in the distance. So, being that I was really just starting out and had a stand and a bow in my inventory, I took the lower round wheel of my cheap bow and scraped in on the tree I was in. Well, let me say, THAT got the bucks attention, he took a while to make his way toward my stand, but refused to come out of the scrub brush that surrounded a dried pond. He thrashed and thrashed in that brush, but would NOT come out. I suppose if I had a decoy, that would have coaxed him into the open.

I've since bought faux antlers and have yet to brink in a buck. I just bought a rattle bag and used it for the first time today. I think I heard something moving around in the brush, but there are a lot of squirrels and turkeys there as well.

So which are better..........you're more than likely going to see an array of answers here.

[skipper34]

I have used both the bag and the real thing, and so far I have only got one buck's attention and that was with the real thing. My buck did just like yours, he hung up in the thick stuff and wouldn't come any closer. All I could see were head and horns about 60 yards out. At that point it was a case of "what do I do now to try and coax him closer?" I was afraid that if I rattled again he would nail me, same as with the grunt. I was in a treestand so there was not much I could do to create alot of noise like bucks actual getting on. I think that rattling could work well if there was another person doing to rattling and then the shooter was up high in a stand so he could see what was happening and then have time to get ready for the shot. A guy on the ground could do a better job of simulating a real buck fight, IMO.

[William H Bonney]

Thats kinda the same way I was thinkin' Skipper.

[jimmyboy]

Ever tried tying yure horns or rattlebag to yure bow rope,lowering and shaking it for ground level effect?