CA Blacktails - Calling in bucks?

SloMoPete

FNG
Joined
May 30, 2018
Messages
24
Location
Central CA
Hi all, Im a newish hunter trying to get some meat, hunting south A zone.

Does anyone have experience calling in bucks with fawn distress calls? I was planning on trying it out for archery season, but (I think?) my concern is Ill be calling in, then accidentally spooking does.

If does do come in, would bucks possibly trail behind?

Thanks!
 

RosinBag

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
3,100
Location
Roseville, CA.
I have never known anyone to be successful calling in bucks that time of year. In November it is much more possible.

I think you will spook more game then you will call in.
 
Joined
May 22, 2014
Messages
1,226
Yeah I think early season would be rough trying to call them in. I’ve called in bucks after season with a fawn in distress call while calling for bears. I think it was the doe that was coming to the call but as soon as I hit the call I had a doe and a really nice buck bolt straight towards me...pretty cool to see.
 
Joined
Mar 13, 2017
Messages
1,086
Location
Chico, California
i think you would have a far better chance of calling in a predator.
I have never heard of anyone successfully calling in blacktails in california. I know it is a tactic used in Alaska and BC for coastal blacktails but just never heard of it here.
 

KClark

WKR
Joined
Jul 15, 2015
Messages
471
Location
Oleta
I have done it but never on purpose. The first was a large forky in velvet, A zone probably during August. Since then it's happened while calling coyotes 3-4 more times, seems like the bucks followed does in probably because it was during the rut. I've had does come in many times, usually they take a quick look around and stott out.
 

LionHead

WKR
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Messages
561
Location
Central Valley, CA
I've used distress calls after observing a doe and she didn't react to it at all. It not what I got the call for anyway but i just wanted to see what would happen... absolutely nothing
 

Sawfish

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
226
Location
Peoples Republik of Kalifornia
We have done it a number of times on Blacktail, but it is a fawn distress call, so it works better if there are some fawns in the area. The does come in to protect the fawn. The bucks follow the does. Blacktails sneak in until they pinpoint the source of the call. I have never seen Blacktails come charging in like Whitetails do in the peak of the rut, but I am sure it does happen under the right circumstances. Works better in the last half of the season. I did not believe it would work, but if you stay hidden and keep calling you may be surprised.
 
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