My buddy rattled a forkhorn inside 30 yards this past weekend around 5:00PM using a plastic box rattler. No shot. I've never had much luck rattling.

Please remember if you are using the ground rattling technique described in "Puppet Fights", please be sure to swing the sheds out away from the base of the tree or use some other method of getting them out of the way before climbing down. They could be dangerous in the event of a fall.

I use the Bison Gear Elk hunter pack with its fold-over top flap to secure my camera gear as well as the rattling horns when going to the tree. There will be no noise or clanking of antlers. Mike

I like to use rattleing bag.Good early for just sparing.LATER I'll rattle hard once and quit.You dont want the buck to pinpoint you or really hear the rattleing.
 My favor time is last week of OCT.first 2 weeks of NOV.are killer.My favoret time is just as it gets daylight.Do a quick rattle,grunt later after a min. or 2 do a doe in heat.
 But I call every 1/2 hour.midday is good and late 1/2 hour before dark.These are the times bucks are up and moving.After the rut gets going I like to use doe calls.Then bucks don't want to here other buck sounds.
 So I've did good with both over the last 40 years.But the last 10 or so years.My style of calling and the rattleing bags more convent.
 Plus about 15 years ago I knew a hunter fell while climbing his stand and ended up with a tine in his side.So if you use antlers pull them up with your bow.He also had his bow and quiver on his back,.

I've been using the "puppet" technique for a few years now.  I had just finished a sequence and turned to hang them on my hook, noticed a buck hanging out at 100 yards or so, reached over and flicked the horns with my bow tip, and he picked the noise real quick.  Came on a trot looking straight into the tree at me.  This stand was pretty well concealed in a 3 trunk oak, but he had the sound pegged..... never got off a shot, but that night I attached my antlers to my pull up rope and dropped them o the ground, been using em that way ever since.  Central LP of Michigan is not the greatest area to rattle in, but I've had enough positive responses that I won't quit using them.