i called in a yearling this past season...saw 7-8 deer abt 100yds out from my stand, i use a Primos Up-Roar, (very deep mature buck grunt) and out of all those deer a yearling broke off from the rest and came trotting over...still scrat hing my head over that one.
ive called several smaller 6 and 7pt bucks in in the last 3yrs using the Primos bleat can...i use it in conjunction with the up-roar...ive called in anything from Spikes to 140in+ deer with that Up Roar call.
now rattling, thats a diff story...ive had zero success rattling.
Alittle tip for usimg the bleat can...put a string through it and wear it around ur neck...also i dont tip mine to make it call, i blow in the bottom of it...tipping it actually makes the bleat sound alittle too long and it can be translated by the deer as an alarm bleat...i keep it short maybe 2-3sec, i wait maybe 5-10 sec and blow again...ive done this numerous times during the rut while waiting for 1st light...u might be amazed at the amount of crashing leaves and branches breaking u hear before shooting light!
2yrs ago i did this, along with using estrous urine, and tarsal gland buck urine placed about 10ft from my ladder...i had 3 diff buck make brief appearances abt 20min b4 shooting light...20min after shooting light i had 2 tags filled...2 bucks stuck around and came back, and a doe had come in hoping to be bred as well, what a good morning that was.
give the calling another try and dont give up on it!! it does work!
try and create the most realistic aounding scenario u can and u will eventually have success...this is true with calling ANY type of game...i used to be a non-believer in my youth, and now with alot more real world experience as a more serious adult, i can honestly say i am a believer a it has increased my success rate almost double.