Whitetail Deer calls for Blacktail Deer?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have been hunting for 30 years, 20 with a bow, the last 6 with a Recurve...
I am an Elk nut and deer (usually) are just something I hunt for meat while I am Elk hunting, (as in if I get a shot, I take it.)
This has resulted in more deer than Elk, and not really seeing a problem with my attitude.
I have harvested quite a few deer, but all small animals that were dumb enough to stand still while I walked up on them.
 
I am starting to think of seriously trying to target deer because even though a doe or small buck tastes good, I would like to try for a respectable buck.

I see a ton of calls for whitetail deer, but none for Blacktail.....

In my experience Elk are similar (Roosevelt/Rocky Mountain) and every one is different.
I tone it down, as in call less and lower frequency, and wait longer, for Roosie's than I do for Rocky's.
Is it the same for Blackies/Whitetail?

Is it worth the $$ to buy a call (I already have one, but don't have the confidence in it)
What call(s) do you suggest as far as basic beginner, or must-have in your arsenal??

[Special T]

I've used deer in distress early season to call big does in. I've heard rattling works ok

[PolarBear]

Rattling and calling works on both but be less aggressive with blacktails.

[bow4elk]

The main vocal behavior difference between whitetails and blacktails is that blacktails don't typically grunt as loudly as whitetails.  Even tending grunts are less aggressive, softer, and not readily audible from any distance and/or brush.  Fawns will bawl and bleat similarly.  Does will bleat simarlily as well.

As for calling, it's always hit and miss - but it does work.  You have to simulate a scenario to be more effective.  This may or may not incorporate rattling depending on the time of year and specific rut phase.  And you have have confidence it works.
.
For late seasons (rifle & bow), I've had luck doing a series of repeated fawn bleats.  Does will leave their yearling fawns to breed and it's not uncommon for the yearlings, especially if a single fawn, to call out for momma after a while.  This sound can draw in bucks because they know where there are fawns, there are does.

Above all calling, I've had the best luck pulling in bucks by laying down a scent trail in a figure 8 around my stand.  The center of the "8" being my tree.  I usually walk a 30-100 yard loop in a upwind/crosswind orientation from my tree.  I've had numerous forkies and smaller bucks come in nosing my scent trail right to the base of my tree.  I've never had a big buck come in however, but I should note that I was born highly deficient of any form of luck on big blacktails.  Scent free rubber boots are required as is not touching ANYTHING with your bare hands.  I wear nitrile surgical gloves and use clippers to cut my way through vegetation.

I'm no expert - just an addicted student of these frustrating deer  

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

My usual practice when elk season is over is to walk down a gated road about 1/2 mile, find a place to sit, then put on scent-pads on my boots (Tarsal scent + bt doe-in-heat)   and walk s-l-o-w, I often see deer as I am walking out on my return to the truck at last light.
During Elk season, I am usually trying to call for elk, I was just wondering what calls would work for deer to add to my vest......
 
I am not really patient enough to stay on a stand location more than a little over an hour (usually less), unless I see enough sign to stay in area longer.....

Thanks for tha advice

[bow4elk]

any grunt call will work but make sure it's adjustable to make doe and fawn bleats.  I'm partial to the Jones Deer Grunt call.  www.jonescalls.com

[wasledman]

Here is a link to a famous blacktail hunter  Dan Kloer, he talks about how to effectively use it. i am just this season working calling into my BT hunting. Good luck!

http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/big-game-hunting/calling-pacific-northwest-blacktails/

[boneaddict]

Slow it down. Whitetails grunt at a faster rhythm and more often.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I forgot all about this thread...
6 years later, I have the small "can" and have had does come in, but still have not really been attempting to call to deer very much.

[boneaddict]

That's funny, I hadn't noticed the dates

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

That's funny, I hadn't noticed the dates

Imagine my surprise when I saw responses to a thread I started, then completely forgot about.
I thought I had been hacked. 

[SeatoSummit88]

Howdy,
I always wondered about this too!! Over the last few seasons, I have read a few articles and talked to some retired guides out of WA and Coastal OR.  They say, Blacktail's are like any other deer, when they want to eat, they eat, when they want to sleep, they could sleep all day, and when they don't want to be found, you'll never see them.  The depiction of a rutting blacktail cannot be compared to the sheer mass of torn-up surroundings, smell and other sign left by Elk; but blacktail will leave their mark in the same sense.  Its all about timing and being situated in the right scenario.  I purchased my first Doe Bleat two seasons ago and have continued success seeing numerous does, and smaller/younger bucks. (2 points down to button spikes).  It seems as though during late rut, bleats will help call in bucks, but, I have seen bowhunters rattle in wonderful 2-4 point blacktail in thick timber.  I found a great website and a guy who makes calls for NW blacktail's.  It is called: Deep Timber Sounds.  Depending on where you hunt it is probably easily agreed that unless you scout pre season and write cycles down, your chances of seeing a mature buck are slim, but possible.  Spooking bucks out of clear cuts and meadows can happen, as it did this season to me, dang it, wish I would have been a psychic that day. I wasn't ready at all, but that's a whole different story..  I think carrying a can on you doesn't hurt, and just finding a fresh sign with a little patience could equal out to a interested buck!  good luck man!

[JDHasty]

I've used deer in distress early season to call big does in. I've heard rattling works ok

Fawn distress will have does coming in with violence on their mind

[JDHasty]

I  keep a Promos Can in my jacket pocket, if I see a blacktail buck and he is not where I need him to be or if he is moving away I just tip it over about three times and then get ready to shoot when he starts coming and looking for where the sound is coming from.  It seems to always work for my purposes.

I can't speak to it's usefulness for cold calling bucks in, I have never tried it for that, but can't imagine that it would not work if a buck hears it. 


Also this book: Trophy Blacktails – The Science of the Hunt by Scott Haugen has quite a bit of info in it.  I ripped the book in a review on Amazon, and rightfully so, the author was "product pumping" and he deserved far worse than I gave him for that, but the book actually is quite good and particularly so when it comes to his discussion of calling blacktails in.