Artificial antlers for rattle bag

[0002] This invention relates generally to devices for attracting horned mammals and particularly to such devices for attracting deer and elk through the imitation of the sound of clashing antlers.

[0003] A known method of attracting antler-bearing animals reproduces or simulates the sound of two deer sparring. In sparring, antler-bearing animals fight with their antlers and foreheads to determine which buck earns the right to the herd and access to reproduction. The sound of antlers rattling can be performed manually by holding an antler in one hand and clashing or lightly striking it into another antler held in the other hand. While actual antlers may be used, numerous varieties of synthetic antlers have been suggested. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,850,928 and 4,610,641 disclose synthetic antlers. In the ′928 patent it was indicated that “while both actual antlers, normally white and weathered from long exposure to the elements, and synthetic antlers as aforesaid have been utilized to attract deer, elk and the like, it has been found difficult to reproduce the sound of animal antlers utilizing synthetic materials.” In the ′641 patent it was noted that “hunters have known for some time that when deer or elk are in the mating season, bucks take part in a ritual wherein they butt or clash their antlers together.” As a result of this ritual, sounds are created which attract other deer or elk, including both bucks and does, to the scene. Hunters have attempted to take advantage of this phenomena by using antlers from previous prizes to simulate the sound of this ritual. The common practice is to cut the horns from the prize, and to clean and sand the horns. The horns are then raked and clashed with one another in order to produce a sound which imitates bucks fighting in the mating ritual. Hunters have had considerable success with these techniques. Deer or elk antlers have certain disadvantages when used by man to attract animals. The antlers tend to lose their “live” sound over time. To overcome this, hunters treat or tune the antlers in an attempt to regain the original sound. Such efforts may involve soaking the antlers in water every two or three days or treating the antlers with linseed oil to keep them from becoming chalky. In addition, the severed antlers do not exhibit stability during varying weather conditions and may produce ineffective sounds depending on the weather.

[0004] Devices other than synthetic antlers have been disclosed which simulate the sound of antlers rattling. Such devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,334,074 and 5,158,494.

[0005] Another commonly used means of simulating the sound of antlers rattling is to place a number of wooden rods in a cloth bag and to strike the bag against an object to cause the clacking sound of antlers rattling. The latter, use of a rattle bag or rattle sack, is growing in popularity; however, merely placing a set of wooden rods in a cloth bag does not provide a realistic acoustic simulation of the sound of animals “rattling” their antlers together.

[0006] An embodiment of the claimed invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings which form a portion of the present disclosure and wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a bag used with antler components, partially cut away to show the components;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an antler component

[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an antler component;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of an antler component;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6—6 of FIG. 4;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an second embodiment of an antler component;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8—8 of FIG. 7;

[0015] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9—9 of FIG. 7; and,

[0016] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of an antler component.

[0017] Referring to the drawings for a clearer understanding of the invention, it may be seen in FIG. 1 that the present invention is an improvement to the rattle bag variety of the deer calls. In FIG. 1, bag 10 contains a plurality of artificial antler components 11 comprising strips of plastic or wooden material. Components 11 must replicate the sounds made by the clashing together of antlers of two bucks; thus, it should be appreciated that the antlers of the two combatants will have tines of different lengths and densities and hence will give off vibration in a number of different but closely related frequencies. Accordingly, the components must be selected to likewise provide a varied frequency combination. Inasmuch as the deer can be expected to have antlers which vary slightly in density, I have provided components which vary slightly in density, for example, in the same bag 10, I provide components 11amade from a first plastic selected from a group such as PVC, ABS, an acrylic or other suitable hard plastics and components 11bmade from a second plastic selected from the same group of hard plastics. Thus, identically shaped components 11aand 11bwill have slightly different tonal characteristics due to the different densities of the plastics.

[0018] It is also noteworthy to mention that a deer will have different parts of his antlers which vibrate at different frequencies. For example, a short, small tine will vibrate at a different frequency than a larger tine; a tine with a greater thickness will resonate at a frequency different than one with a lesser thickness. Accordingly, I have provided components within each group of components 11aand 11bthat vary in length and thickness. It will be appreciated that the specific length and thickness are matters that are experimentally determined based upon the game animal you are hunting; for example, whitetail deer, mule dear, elk, moose, all have antlers of different sizes and thickness which the present invention may simulate depending on the proper selection of length and thickness.

[0019] Also, to account for tonal variation along the length of a tine each component 11 has a plurality of resonators 21 axially spaced along the component 11. The resonators 11 may be elongated apertures 22 or elongated laterally opening chambers 23. It is believed that chambers 23 are preferred, inasmuch as the tonal qualities are closer to those of a natural antler. However, it is noteworthy to mention that the chambers may also be internal with no external opening. It will be appreciated that the variation in length of the resonators provide vibratory structure in the walls of the component in the same manner as any other tuned resonator. That is to say, a longer resonator with thicker wall structure will have a different tonal response than a short thin walled resonator. It should be clear that the length of the resonator can be selected to give the desired range. More specifically, a natural antler may have more than one resonant region; thus, components 11 are provided with a plurality of resonant regions each with a different physical structure, and therefore a different resonant response. In the preferred embodiment, each component will have three resonators, with the longer 21aat one end and the shortest 21cat the other with an intermediate resonator 21boccupying the center of the component. Alternatively, all may have the same length or two resonators of equal length may be formed with one resonator of a distinctly different size and tonal quality. In one embodiment the series of resonators in each strip include a primary resonator 21aat one end of the strip 11 and extending along substantially one-third of the length of said strip 11, a secondary resonator 21bspaced from primary resonator 21aand extending along one-fourth to three-tenths of the length of the component 11, and a tertiary resonator 21cspaced from secondary resonator 21band extending along one-sixth to one-fifth of the lengths of the simulated antler.

[0020] The bag which will thus contain a plurality of antler components is selected from two or more of the following: first set of elongated strips 11ahaving a series of resonators 21 therein, in which the strips 11ahaving a first vibrational resonant frequency; a second set of elongated strips 11bhaving a series of resonators 21 therein, strips 11bhaving a second vibrational resonant frequency; a third set of elongated strips 11chaving a series of resonators 21 therein, strips 11chaving a third vibrational resonant frequency; and, a fourth set of elongated strips 11dhaving a series of resonators therein, with strips 11dhaving a fourth vibrational resonant frequency; wherein each set comprises at least two of said elongated strips.