Have a question for Southern Zone NY hunters. I'm 60 minutes outside NYC hunting on Public Land in a bow only suburb. Everything is still pretty green down our way. Maples are JUST starting to change. The season opener is October 1. 2 weeks were tacked onto the beginning of the season this year. When would you guys suggest using rattling and using doe sent as a tactic? Rut down our way usually kicks in heavy mid November.
Advise please.
Light rattling all season, just a tickle to sound like a sparring match. Doe scent, I wont make a statement on it other than Ive only had limited success with it. The rut could pop anytime from 11/07 to late December around here though (East Central) in my experience.
Rattling-- a tickle now and then mimics what's going on out there and may arouse interest throughout the season. Doe scent, depends on which one. Interdigital is a good trailmaker, but the estrus stuff, save until the pre-rut. You give yourself away otherwise.
focus around halloween--say a week before and a week after--but there is mild sparring going on now--so tickling might help anytime
-----------------------mike
Ticking the antlers won't hurt anything..give it a try.
2x on what Izzy suggested.