Blacktail experts, looking for advice

[DoubleJ]

With the rut going to kick off soon, I'm looking to get my son out to fill his any buck tag.  He's 8 and is pretty small and not too quick with the rifle so, a good set up point where he can take a bit of time is a must.  He's not going to be able to spot and stalk or beat the brush to get one so, still hunting is our only option.  The area we are hunting in looks like this:



The clearcut right in the middle of the pic is about 100 yards from the road south to the deep timber.  The small little patch of grass to the south is about 60 yards wide by 30 yards north to south and has about a 75 yard feeder road covered in waste high grass going further south and stopping dead at more thick brush and timber.

On sunday we sat in there.  The red dot is where we sat and the yellow dot is where I hung the estrus.  We heard something moving just to the north of us, between the road and the small patch of timber next to the grass cut we were in in the direction of the arrow but, it never showed itself.



Should I stay on that small spot?  It was really tight in there and I kept thinking if a deer came out where we could see him, my boy might not be able to set up in time or without being seen.  I was thinking of hanging some estrus on the timber line next to the larger swath of grass to the north and sitting in the blowdown/deadfall to the north of our Sunday position or even hang the estrus out into the cut to get a deer to expose himself but, not sure if they would move totally exposed out into the cut.  Getting one in the open will give him the best chance to connect but, if they won't come out into the cut, there's no point.

If it were you, what would be your choice?

[deerhunter_98520]

I think your i.n a good location as long as you can see...you should have your son set up on shootin sticks and gry some light rattling and slowly get more aggressive...might be the trick for ya 

[headshot5]

The best advice I can give you would be to dump apples around where your yellow dot is.  This will bring does, which in turn will bring the bucks.  The does will be watching the apples and the bucks will be watching the does.  This should give your son plenty of time for a good shot.  Rattling wouldn't hurt as well.  If you made a trip or two in with apples before you hunt it with your son it will up your chances. 

[DoubleJ]

I rattled a bit with a few light grunts but noticed that the deer, whatever it was, rustled the bushes and got close when I used "The Can".  Just couldn't get him/her to break into the open.  Didn't get any visual or audible response to rattling.  Not that it won't work, just didn't get a response on Sunday

[DoubleJ]

I figured I didn't want to rattle too much in an effort to not scare off a younger buck.  I figured that a young buck hearing a doe in estrus and smelling it would get curious and come looking for the free sex.  Thought they'd be too inexperienced to know that estrus cycles aren't exactly popping off right now.  Not looking for the king of the woods, just something with antlers.

[grousetracker]

get as high as you can and glass for as long as your son wants to then side hill above the cut. stop all the time to look.

[bobcat]

Try copying the address from your browser into your email.

Like this:   http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,108137.0.html

[steen]

Shooting sticks are a must.  He doesn't have to hold the gun up or move much to get in position to shoot.  Don't pressure him.  Watch the wind.  Very close shots r tuff because of the movement factor but easier to hit. I loved being there for 3 of my dauvhter' first deer.  Good luck!

[DoubleJ]

We have sticks he uses

[DoubleJ]

Try copying the address from your browser into your email.

Like this:   http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,108137.0.html

??

[AKBowman]

Personally I would probably be looking at setting up somewhere in the timber in a pinch point. Looks to me that there is a thin strip of timber to the west of the small opening you were set up in. Hard to say, I like to sit still and wait.

[Turner89]

get as high as you can and glass for as long as your son wants to then side hill above the cut. stop all the time to look.

I did just this with my 9yr old. We get to our spot 1/2 before dark, and I set him up on a nice log or stump. I just glass untill I find doe. Then I watch them untill they either point me in right direction of buck, or sometimes they are right with the doe (usually within 50yrds of the does). He has shot 3 deer this way the last 3 years within 2hrs of being there. 2- 2pts and a spike.
 This year he is actually having to earn it. We have hunted 2 full days without seeing anything, but we have had alot more fun as well. Hopefully he will connect this weekend .
 So I would just make sure that he is over dressed with handwarmers so he can hang ther for awhile untill you find em a lil buck . Also if you can find a place he can shoot from, and at the same time keeps him out of site fom the deer.   Good Luck hope to see some pics soon

[Turner89]

This was his 2nd buck in 2010. The date on my camera is'nt right. He shot all his deer in 2yr clearcuts.

[nailbender]

Now thats a happy kid right there. Good stuff!

[DoubleJ]

Personally I would probably be looking at setting up somewhere in the timber in a pinch point. Looks to me that there is a thin strip of timber to the west of the small opening you were set up in. Hard to say, I like to sit still and wait.

There is but there are houses in there.  Can't sit in someone's back yard.