L
longrifle
Guest
A few years ago I ran across an article in a hunting magazine that talked about two brothers in Idaho or Wyoming that used a calling technique that they referred to as "bonking." This involved the brothers working as a team much like hunting elk or turkey. The brother with the rifle still hunted ahead of the other brother, who would pick up a rather large tree limb and strike it against a tree, making a loud "bonking" sound. They would continue to still hunt and "bonk" for miles until they got a buck.
This noise was supposed to resemble the sound of a mule deer buck striking his rack against a tree. The article claimed that muleys will use this as a type of buck location or communication and will wait for a response or come looking for a fight. This act was supposed to be a sign of aggression or dominance. This trait was allegedly backed up by Dr. Valerius Geist, author of several books, like Mule Deer County. The following is a quote from Dr. Geist:
"Rattling works for mule deer but mulies don't fight as much as whitetails and buck concentrations are not as high which results in fewer responses. Thrashing or raking brush works better than rattling because mulies thrash as an expression of dominance. Using a rack or stick to break small branches and thrash brush can make any buck within hearing range curious."
This was not exactly a description of the bonking technique, but I was just curious if anyone has ever heard of this or tried something similar. I ran into a couple of guys that always take rattling antlers with them and refuse to hunt muleys without them. They haven't worked for me (maybe I'm doing something wrong?) I have used the Deer Stopper call, works awesome with a fawn distress, brings in does like crazy and occasionally a curious buck will follow the does. Until I find something new, it's the old spot and stalk for me!
Longrifle
This noise was supposed to resemble the sound of a mule deer buck striking his rack against a tree. The article claimed that muleys will use this as a type of buck location or communication and will wait for a response or come looking for a fight. This act was supposed to be a sign of aggression or dominance. This trait was allegedly backed up by Dr. Valerius Geist, author of several books, like Mule Deer County. The following is a quote from Dr. Geist:
"Rattling works for mule deer but mulies don't fight as much as whitetails and buck concentrations are not as high which results in fewer responses. Thrashing or raking brush works better than rattling because mulies thrash as an expression of dominance. Using a rack or stick to break small branches and thrash brush can make any buck within hearing range curious."
This was not exactly a description of the bonking technique, but I was just curious if anyone has ever heard of this or tried something similar. I ran into a couple of guys that always take rattling antlers with them and refuse to hunt muleys without them. They haven't worked for me (maybe I'm doing something wrong?) I have used the Deer Stopper call, works awesome with a fawn distress, brings in does like crazy and occasionally a curious buck will follow the does. Until I find something new, it's the old spot and stalk for me!
Longrifle
She gets a good "bonking" and she lets me go hunting.....if the "bonking" isn't that great, then no hunting for me!! 
