Calling during early season archery? Washington black tail

[dpetrzelka]

First a disclaimer, this is my first year preparing to hunt blacktail deer with a bow. I've been, and will be putting in many more hours at the Silver Bowmen Archery club - feeling very confident at 20-30 yards, and working on my 40 yard grouping.

Deer calling is something I've not yet worked on and wondering if this is something that is applicable to Washington black tail - I have access to property on Whidbey and in Skagit that I'll be hunting in Sept.

I've read quite a lot about calling white tail in the early season with quiet dow grunts and contact calls, and wondering how that translates to early season black tail deer. Take a similar reserved approach? Be prepared to call in the case I need to keep one interested / stop one traveling through?

Would you recommend any specific call for black tail  and a beginning archer?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

[Tbar]

I don't know of many people that call early. I do know several archers that call with great success in the rifle season. 

[kentrek]

I wouldnt even be afraid to rattle...September these bucks are all establishing a pecking order

Idk where its at but one of the whitetail  hunters on here posted a phonomonol thread on rattling, id highly recommend reading it

Goodluck 

[dpetrzelka]

Thank you kentrek - I'll see if I can find that thread.

[DoubleJ]

Don't bother.  You'll probably scare off more blacktail calling at all in September than you will ever attract.  Find the beds, find the food, and find the trails that move between the two and sit on them

[chester]

If you are going to call in September the best bet would probably be a fawn in distress as loud as you can. 

[dpetrzelka]

Double J - whats the thinking around scaring them off?
Are black tail no vocalizing in September, or is the thought that my calling skills will be to underdeveloped to be effective?

thanks all

Don't bother.  You'll probably scare off more blacktail calling at all in September than you will ever attract.  Find the beds, find the food, and find the trails that move between the two and sit on them

[DoubleJ]

Blacktail are by and far the least vocal of the 3 deer species we have in WA.  I have only ever heard one make a noise one time, and that was after I had shot him.  Chester is right about the fawn in distress.  Early in Sept that'll get them spun up and maybe coming in but, you'll probably be bringing in pissed off does on high alert, not bucks.  Keep in mind though, I only have my experience and the words of others to draw from.  I'm far from an expert.

[dpetrzelka]

DoubleJ - I'm lacking in the experience department, so I appreciate the words of wisdom from you and the others here on the forum. Thank you.

Blacktail are by and far the least vocal of the 3 deer species we have in WA.  I have only ever heard one make a noise one time, and that was after I had shot him.  Chester is right about the fawn in distress.  Early in Sept that'll get them spun up and maybe coming in but, you'll probably be bringing in pissed off does on high alert, not bucks.  Keep in mind though, I only have my experience and the words of others to draw from.  I'm far from an expert.

[Curly]

I've tried using a deer call by Eastmans named "deer talk".  It has worked for me on mule deer, but I've never got it to work on blacktails.  I've never heard of anyone having success calling blacktail deer........

They claim it works on blacktails, but I haven't seen it work.  It might, just not from what I've seen. 

[DoubleJ]

My best recommendation is to do what I had mentioned above.  Scout now and find the food and beds.  Find what their morning trails are and their evening trails and come Sept., set up on those trails.  You'll screw it up and spook them out of the area while scouting, most likely but, they'll be back by Sept. so don't worry too much about it.

Until about the last week of Sept, the patterns they're in now will be the patterns they are in then.  It's my main reason I love hunting Sept.  I know in July where they'll be and how they'll act in Sept.  Oct.-Dec.  I hate that time but others love it so much they won't even hunt Sept.  IMO, the deer are just too random after Sept.

[dpetrzelka]

I've been scouting one of the potential hunt areas, but need to spend some time at the second location.

I've been keeping a close eye on the black tail that frequent my 5 acres here in south Skagit county - we have a number that frequent our field of wild roses, and bed down in the alder grove at the base of the field. Enjoying watching their behavior - trying to get a sense of what movements I make call their attention and how to move to avoid them noticing. All practice for the field.
I guess I could try calling to these local deer and see how they respond (If I scared them away it wouldn't be the worst outcome, it would save a few of our apples and roses )

My best recommendation is to do what I had mentioned above.  Scout now and find the food and beds.  Find what their morning trails are and their evening trails and come Sept., set up on those trails.  You'll screw it up and spook them out of the area while scouting, most likely but, they'll be back by Sept. so don't worry too much about it.

Until about the last week of Sept, the patterns they're in now will be the patterns they are in then.  It's my main reason I love hunting Sept.  I know in July where they'll be and how they'll act in Sept.  Oct.-Dec.  I hate that time but others love it so much they won't even hunt Sept.  IMO, the deer are just too random after Sept.

[DoubleJ]

Hell, if you have them on your property, train them to your presence.  The ones we have around here (That I can't shoot ) are so people trained, I can easily walk right at them to about 10 ft before they spook, sometimes even closer.  Train the ones on your property that allowing you into bow range isn't bad for them.  Then come Sept., walk right up to them and shoot one.

[FLIZZ]

Don't bother during early season. My opinion.

[dpetrzelka]

Yes - I am. I'll send you a PM.

Dpetrzelka, you aren't by chance related to the boat builders are you?

Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk

[dpetrzelka]

Sundance - inbox full

Dpetrzelka, you aren't by chance related to the boat builders are you?

Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk

[Bullets_n_Octane]

Be VERY alert using a Fawn in distress call in Sept, you may bring in a nice sized bear... bring your pistol...

[billythekidrock]

First a disclaimer, this is my first year preparing to hunt blacktail deer with a bow. I've been, and will be putting in many more hours at the Silver Bowmen Archery club - feeling very confident at 20-30 yards, and working on my 40 yard grouping.

Deer calling is something I've not yet worked on and wondering if this is something that is applicable to Washington black tail - I have access to property on Whidbey and in Skagit that I'll be hunting in Sept.

I've read quite a lot about calling white tail in the early season with quiet dow grunts and contact calls, and wondering how that translates to early season black tail deer. Take a similar reserved approach? Be prepared to call in the case I need to keep one interested / stop one traveling through?

Would you recommend any specific call for black tail  and a beginning archer?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

What are your expectations? Any deer, doe, buck, trophy buck?

As stated, most calling techniques are going to work best later in the year. But if you are after any deer you can have great success with fawn distress in September.  I have never called in a large buck with fawn distress, but have called in several spikes and two points along with hundreds of antlerless blacktail.

[dpetrzelka]

I am not after a trophy - I'm after a good clean shot, on a respectable deer. Being totally new to hunting, its as much about being out there learning and enjoying the process as anything. That said, in GMU 410 I'd be allowed any deer Sept 1-26th.

Its all about learning at this point.

Any thoughts on what call I should look at for starting out?

[billythekidrock]

If you are willing to take a doe or smaller buck, I would suggest not using a call as your primary weapon. Use your binos and practice your stalking skills.

But if you want to try and call in a deer I would suggest contacting Bearmanrick on this site and get one of his closed reed calls. Let him know you want it for fawn distress.

[elk247]

As a hunter that has bowhunted in the 410 for years I'd suggest that you burn about 2 miles of boot leather for every time you put a call to your lips in September. There are some really thick areas that hold nice bucks, maybe just behind that farm that you drive by twice a day.  there are a lot of bear too. Fawn in distress is primarily used for bear or coyote. If your seeing good Berry's be prepared to see boo boo. During late season the calling might be more effective. The real challenge with 410 is knowing what property you can hunt.  The best call you could make would be the one to the old timer with 200 acres asking for permission to hunt. In person of course. A handshake still means something in these parts. Good luck!

[dpetrzelka]

Luckily I have decent access to two pieces of property form long-time friends in the 410, potentially a third. So I should have plenty of ground to cover.


My resources may be best put toward miles hiking, and some decent glass.
And of course, hours on the archery range.

[elk247]

  those are the three most important IMO. If you need a sure thing to fill the tag send me a pm and I'll let you in on a spot fairly close by. Your first deer with a bow is a milestone you won't soon forget 

[kentrek]

I wouldnt even be afraid to rattle...September these bucks are all establishing a pecking order

Idk where its at but one of the whitetail  hunters on here posted a phonomonol thread on rattling, id highly recommend reading it

Goodluck 

i should clarify that calling in September might be very ineffective and ive had very little luck at calling in bts any time of year

but ive had watched bucks call in  other bucks out of the wood work while sparing

this is toward late September

just an observation