I'll add one thing, realize that the rut (when there are does in estrus, and when buck MAY respond to rattling) in Minnesota runs from mid October until the end of December, with some doe fawns and unbred older does are still in estrus in January.
This is from my Complete Whitetetail Addict's Manual.
Rattling
Prior to and during the rut bucks rub on trees, thrash brush and participate in sparring to establish dominance. Dominant bucks encountering each other, especially if an estrus doe is near, may fight for breeding rights. The sounds of any of these activities (rubbing, thrashing, sparring and fighting) may attract other bucks in the area, particularly dominants. Subdominants that have previously been beaten in a fight may immediately leave the area.
I have rattled bucks from as far away as a half mile using loud, long sequences. It took the bucks an average of twenty minutes to come in from downwind. I have also had bucks forty yards away run all the way to my stand, and I brought them back when they began to leave. However, I found that if a buck doesn't find a deer (or a decoy) when it responds to rattling it may not respond to rattling in the same location more than twice. Don't rattle the same buck from the same stand twice on successive days. If it comes in but you didn't get it wait three to four days before trying again.
In a comprehensive three year study by researchers from the University of Georgia and Texas A&M-Kingsville, deer responded in 65 percent of 171 rattling sessions. In 73 percent of the responses bucks came to loud, long rattling. Loud, long rattling worked best in the pre-rut; loud, short rattling worked best during peak rut; quiet, long rattling worked best in post rut, when slightly more mature (3.5+ year old) bucks responded.
The highest number of responses occurred during peak rut, when most bucks were active. Middle aged 3.5-4.5 year old bucks responded best for the entire rut. During the pre-rut 1.5-2.5 year old bucks responded best. Older bucks responded equally well during the pre-rut and post-rut, but, less during peak rut (probably because they were with or searching for does). Bucks responded more deliberately and slowly during post-rut. Bucks usually responded during the first of three 10-minute rattling sessions.
The best responses occurred when wind speed was lowest; responses decreased as wind speed increased. The highest response rates also occurred when cloud cover was about 75 percent; lowest rates occurred when skies were clear. Two thirds of the bucks were first spotted downwind. Morning sessions produced the highest number of responses, but older bucks responded more in the afternoon.
Obviously the security factors of wind speed and available amount of light have a lot to do with buck activity and response to rattling, calling and scents. My own studies show that throughout the rut more dominant bucks were seen in the evening than in the morning. This suggests that the best time to rattle for any age buck may be in the morning, but older bucks may respond best in the evening.
In a test of radio collared deer it was determined that the best time to rattle for mature bucks was during the post-rut (after the ONE WEEK of peak breeding, peak breeding in south and central MN occurs during the second week of November, EVERY YEAR). The researchers believed that young bucks were bunched up at that time and were more interested in feeding than fighting. Mature bucks remain aggressive well after the primary breeding period has ended. The researchers believed that the second best time to rattle mature bucks was during the pre-rut. Even though bucks may be bunched up at this time, it is usually the dominant buck that responds.
Because the test deer were radio collared the rattler was able to set up within 200-300 yards of the buck’s location to be sure the deer could hear the rattling. Twenty-five percent of the bucks during this study responded after the third 1-3 minute rattling sequence, a full 20 minutes into the session. As a result of this it was recommended that hunters who rattle wait 30 minutes before giving up or moving to a new location. During the study trophy bucks responded 75 percent of the time, while smaller bucks responded 50 percent of the time. When responding to rattling, 65 percent of the bucks made their final approach from downwind. However, the study showed that the rattler saw only about half the bucks that responded.
I hope that helps.
God bless and good hunting,
T.R.