Blacktail wetside question

[Atroxus]

If you can only hunt one, which dates do you think would have best chance of success? Modern Firearms General Season, or Late Season? I ask because I have very limited vacation time for hunting this year, and want to maximize my chances of success. I can take off 2 days and hunt all 4 days of late season, or I can take off 2 days and hunt 4 days of general season.

[MADMAX]

Late buck

[Jordanskylery]

From my experience, everyone and there mom are out during general modern firearm.  This combined with the fact that a majority of the GMU's are multiple point buck only your chances are going to be pretty slim unless you have done extensive scouting, have a good piece of unhunted land, or know the exact location of a big buck.  If you can find a GMU that is any deer or antlerless and have the access to drive in deep past most road hunters you may have an okay chance.  Other than that I would say late season.

I switched to archery for that very reason, over crowded, short season, limits on deer able to take and by that point in the season many are nocturnal from all the hunting activity and pressure.

Hope that helps.

[BnB]

Late season.

[notellumcreek]

  If you get out early for archery then you have a good chance, because none of them have been too pressured or shot at yet. I have seen some of the biggest bucks in september before they get real nocturnal. ALTHOUGH, every response I have got from this is the later the better. Once they hit the rut, they get pretty stupid chasing does. This was how I shot mine last year, on the last day of regular season (oct 31st), about 930 and he was just running around snorting in a cut lookin' for some action. Most seasoned hunters I know dont even bother with regular season, they scout and hunt the late buck hard. I have only shot 1 buck in my life so far so don't take my opinion too seriously 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Late hunt is usually alot better ...deer are moving around more and the rut is on ...you can usually find areas to hunt blacktail that are less crowded by putting on some boot leather ...I hardly have trouble getting away from other hunters and last year I think the only hunters I saw were driving up and down the road 

[NWBREW]

Late  Thats what I would do.

I currently hunt whitetails but I only hunt the late hunt. I do not bother hunting the general season.

[Atroxus]

If you get out early for archery then you have a good chance, because none of them have been too pressured or shot at yet. I have seen some of the biggest bucks in september before they get real nocturnal. ALTHOUGH, every response I have got from this is the later the better. Once they hit the rut, they get pretty stupid chasing does. This was how I shot mine last year, on the last day of regular season (oct 31st), about 930 and he was just running around snorting in a cut lookin' for some action. Most seasoned hunters I know dont even bother with regular season, they scout and hunt the late buck hard. I have only shot 1 buck in my life so far so don't take my opinion too seriously 

That's one more than I have. This is my third hunting season, and so far I have yet to even see a deer while I was hunting. Seen several while driving home, but they were standing in peoples yards mocking me. 

Thanks for the info though everyone. Gonna put in my vacation request for late season this year. I hunted general last 2 years, maybe this will change my luck. <crosses fingers>

[shedkid]

I have killed deer 7 years in a row on westside in rifle general season. 

[rasbo]

L8

[deerslyr]

Ive always had better luck the last 5 days of general than the late hunt.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Late buck in the Cowlitz Co. area (have hunted it since 1976), has generally been much more productive for me as far as getting a decent buck.  I have managed to get three, 3 point bucks during the late seasons in years past. 

But last few years, deer have been few and far between down there.  Been very discouraging.   You look an area over, walk through it looking for sign, drive the roads along the edges and while all the things are there: cover, food, water...and yet, not even a single track or used trail...just sterile land.

First year hunting Thurston Co. and have an antlerless tag for deer up here so looking forward to a new area.

So if you can spend anytime scouting your area(s) now, I would do it, so when you can actually get out and hunt, you know there are some critters there.

[grundy53]

Ive always had better luck the last 5 days of general than the late hunt.

I would rather hunt the last four days of general season then the 4 day late Blacktail season.

[headshot5]

I agree with Grundy.  Around Halloween I always see big bucks rutted up cruising around.  Late buck the swelled necks are usually pretty well gone and the buck settle down a bit, although you still see a few. 

[jackmaster]

the last 4 days of the regular season, especially if it is gonna be cold and nasty, if its gonna be warm and dry then wait for extended 

[sirmissalot]

Ive always had better luck the last 5 days of general than the late hunt.

 

I have been tagged out by the end of general season the last 9 years, but I still always try to get out for late buck with a buddy or just to see what I see. I'd much prefer the tail end of general.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Late buck. Statistics show about 50% of bucks are killed in those 4 days. Last year on first day of late buck we passed up on four different blackies.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah You guys are right too about the last week of the general season...I have killed 8 of my biggest blacktail on Halloween ..THE LAST DAY 

[Ingwe]

last 4 days of regular season is best time

[Atroxus]

Good to know...I am not looking for trophies yet though. I plan on shooting the first legal deer I see. I am mostly after the meat, and experience so that I can teach my son to hunt when he gets a little older and hopefully make it a family tradition we can share as he grows.

[grundy53]

Halloween is my favorite day to hunt Blacktails. If I only got to hunt them for one day a year it would be Halloween.

[deerslyr]

Halloween is my favorite day to hunt Blacktails. If I only got to hunt them for one day a year it would be Halloween.

Me too.
Ive always told people if they want a good BT wait until the last few days of the season and go out on the nastiest piss pourin day, Hike or bike a few miles behind a locked gate, glass the cuts first thing and then still hunt your way through the big timber. If all you want is a legal buck then you should have no problem finding one atroxus. The only problem is staying out the entire day when your soaked from the first 15 minutes. 

[grundy53]

The nastier the weather the better 

[Atroxus]

The nastier the weather the better 

That me be part of my problem. Last 2 years I was only able to get out when the weather was nice.

[deerslyr]

The nastier the weather the better 

That me be part of my problem. Last 2 years I was only able to get out when the weather was nice.

IMO during rifle season its not worth the gas to even go out on blue sky days. Might as well do yard work while the weathers nice. I think the only BT ive ever killed on a sunny day was a doe? Looking back through all my pictures im soaked to the freaking bone with a big smile on my face.

[bobcat]

If I were you I'd go October 27-30. Late season, the rut is over. The last few days of October it's just getting started. You will still have the weekend to hunt for late season if you need it, correct?

[billythekidrock]

the last 4 days of the regular season, especially if it is gonna be cold and nasty, if its gonna be warm and dry then wait for extended 

If I were you I'd go October 27-30. Late season, the rut is over. The last few days of October it's just getting started. You will still have the weekend to hunt for late season if you need it, correct?

I agree 100%

[billythekidrock]

Good to know...I am not looking for trophies yet though. I plan on shooting the first legal deer I see. I am mostly after the meat, and experience so that I can teach my son to hunt when he gets a little older and hopefully make it a family tradition we can share as he grows.

This changes things a bit for me. If you just want to notch a tag then you need to hunt the opener and the first few days of the season.

[jess]

last week of october.. Bucks are lookin for does and are more active than late buck (after the blacktail rut) season.. I have been in on and killed more big bucks this last week of october then i have ever seen during late buck...

[Turner89]

I agree with Grundy.  Around Halloween I always see big bucks rutted up cruising around.  Late buck the swelled necks are usually pretty well gone and the buck settle down a bit, although you still see a few.

Last 4 days of general season. I believe they are the dumbest at that time. I take last week of general season off every year for blacktail.
 I scout pretty hard the month of november also and I feel I see more bucks the last few days of Oct. thru first week of Nov. Then they start chilling out it seems.

[Turner89]

Yeah You guys are right too about the last week of the general season...I have killed 8 of my biggest blacktail on Halloween ..THE LAST DAY 

Halloween has a new meaning for me. My 2 biggest bt's have been Halloween bucks.

[AKBowman]

I agree with Grundy.  Around Halloween I always see big bucks rutted up cruising around.  Late buck the swelled necks are usually pretty well gone and the buck settle down a bit, although you still see a few.

Last 4 days of general season. I believe they are the dumbest at that time. I take last week of general season off every year for blacktail.
 I scout pretty hard the month of november also and I feel I see more bucks the last few days of Oct. thru first week of Nov. Then they start chilling out it seems.

Agree 100%, trail cam pics prove the point and timing further. By the time late archery rolls around it is really hit or miss. I know a lot of guys havehad great rutting action late Nov/early Dec but its in small pockets for the most part and not nearly as wide spread action as the last week of Oct. I just pray for terrible weather the last week of Oct this year b/c I will be perched on a funnel trail in my tree stand on a creek between two cuts...with my bow! Cant wait

[fish vacuum]

Late season. Better chance for the weather to push them around.
Although, the majority of the GMUs close to you are permit only for the late season, so taking your vacation during the early season could allow you to hunt closer to home and reduce a lot of travel time.

[Kowsrule30]

I've killed more mature BT during the late rifle hunt then any other season.... Next choice would be the last 4 days of regular season since you only have 4 days to hunt....

[Atroxus]

I was hoping to get access to some private land in GMU 410 for late season but that fell through again; so I changed my vacation time to last 3 days of October and will be hunting GMU 448 which is any buck instead. Thanks for the advice everyone. Will post back if I tag out this year.