Nocturnal Blacktail

This is prime time. The bucks start getting a little stupid chasing does. You could try calling….rattling, or doe/fawn calls.

You could try walking back in, but you better have the wind in your favor. And you’re likely to spook em…..or maybe if you go ultra slow, and ninja-like, it pays off

As I’m learning more about blacktail, I’m finding it’s best to stay put, and let them come to you.
 
Pigs said:
This is prime time. The bucks start getting a little stupid chasing does. You could try calling….rattling, or doe/fawn calls.

You could try walking back in, but you better have the wind in your favor. And you’re likely to spook em…..or maybe if you go ultra slow, and ninja-like, it pays off

As I’m learning more about blacktail, I’m finding it’s best to stay put, and let them come to you.
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Or wait for a rainy day that will disguise a lot of your noise!
 
Pink Nighty said:
Have you considered leaving a pile of apples out there for him? Some treat might motivate him for a midday snack
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The last couple of years I've experimented with that by my cameras. Weirdly enough it never seemed to make much difference. Only confirmed apple consumers I've got on camera are coyotes 😂
 
Evan B said:
I actually prefer spikes/does. I got my "any deer" tag last year and shot a doe. I'm very much a meat hunter, so if I even had a smaller buck scouted out, I'd be after him. I have only been getting this guy. I actually got the same buck on cam a year ago too.

I'm actually stoked that I'm seeing more spike/forked young elk on cam this year. If I have a shot at those vs the big boys, I'm taking the youngins every time.
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I have not hunted blacktails much. There are people who really believe in rattling, especially for he younger more curious bucks.
 
Evan B said:
The last couple of years I've experimented with that by my cameras. Weirdly enough it never seemed to make much difference. Only confirmed apple consumers I've got on camera are coyotes 😂
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I had a large surplus of apples this year and fed a lot of them to the resident deer. Some yearlings and a few does will practically take them from my hand. Now the 4-point, he didn't like me even looking at him or talking to him. I don't think you'd go wrong with apples though.
 
Another bit of advice when calling/rattling…..give it time. You will hear the same story often….”I rattled, nothing for 15 minutes, start moving, and spooked an animal coming in.” It happened to me last year.

Sometimes they will come right in hot. Sometimes they will sneak in and just appear. Sometimes I think they hang up and try to see what’s making the racket….have your rifle ready, but also scan with binos.

Sometimes they won’t come in. Sometimes there’s nothing around to hear you
 
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Denwor54 said:
Are there turkeys in your area?I have tricked a couple nice bucks by turkey calling them in this time of year. They fell safe but beware as you will call in the unwanted type also.
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No not that I know of. A bit too far west for thems.
 
Evan B said:
Nicely done. Were you staying put or moving around while you did it? I'm seeing different schools of thought.
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I’m no expert. Pretty new to the rattling game. But what I do is find a spot with wind in my favor. Sit down and try not to be out in the wide open. This morning I just sat against a tree
 
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Spent the first few hours of this morning doing some data gathering, rattling, and sitting. No blacktails seen, but there was a whole lot of fresh elk sign.

Found a few nice intersections to sit on and call. Tried to keep my back to where it seemed like they would be less likely to come through, but there is just so much cover for them. I'm sure I had a few investigate my racket without me ever knowing. When I go back, hopefully this week before it closes, I hope to get an eager, dumb young buck that gets a bit reckless.

I opted for the 12ga and slug. Figured that'd be more reliable than a potentially foggy, wet scope. Would love to find myself a lever action for next year though.

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Lots of "elk super highway" trails to follow along with.
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Took my camera off its spot on the meadow. Found a perfect spot to hang it at an intersection of a few game trails, but noticed the cell antenna was gone. The elk have been chewing on the camera so I'm sure they got it somehow or loosened it enough that it fell off when I pulled it all down this morning. They successfully destroyed my 2nd camera last year so it wouldn't surprise me. But it's neat to get back and see all these trails and markings in an area I know people haven't been tromping around at all.
 
That is some dense vegetation. Picking up a rifled slug barrel for your 870 would be another option.
 
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