The present invention is a method for tactical spectrum harvesting via a cognitive communication device. The method may include monitoring a wireless communication frequency spectrum. The method may further include detecting active net communication transmissions. The active net communication transmissions may be transmitted via the monitored communication frequency spectrum by a plurality of active transmitting nets. The method may further include determining an identity of/identifying at least one active transmitting net included in the plurality of active transmitting nets. The method may further include synchronizing an internal time reference of the cognitive communication device with a time reference(s) of the identified active transmitting net(s). The method may further include determining an estimated future spectral occupancy for the identified active transmitting net(s) based on time data for the active net communication transmissions, cryptographic key data for the active transmitting nets, and algorithm data for the active transmitting nets.