You would think after 8 yrs.......

[Skyvalhunter]

Are you hunting Blacktail? Usually it's only a matter of time before the bucks come around with does in the area. My buck was by himself and had the rut smell but alot of times the rut isn't until later but that varies from area to area.. I know guys that hunt the Hancock and does is pretty much all they see. Might try a different area and a little more higher elevation. I didn't hear much for shots during my blacktail hunt. On the east side there is always the clowns that decide they want to target practice on Sunday aftern the opener. But they are weeded out after a couple days. but thats another topic. Just stay with it and maybe look at another area and scouting. Best time to scout is now thru the later part of the month for Blacktails.

[Russ McDonald]

I am going out scouting tomorrow for the late season.  I was up on Finney Ridge for work yesterday in the pouring down rain and saw one big damn doe with another deer (just saw the ass of that one) as they headed into the woods at a high rate of speed.  On the way back down there was a big old fat butterball spike in the middle of the road.  So they are out moving.  I had to laugh too.  Last day of gerneral rifle and not a single soul out there.  I was in an area that the doe could have been taken too.

[Seabass]

My dad is an awesome golfer. I assumed when I got older I would be too. Turned out after 4 years of OBSESSIVE practice...I suck at golf. I had to make the decision to accept that I suck at golf and play anyway just for the "fun" of it or quit. I couldn't find anything about it that I enjoyed since I was no good so I quit. Some guys can find other aspects of the game besides score that keeps them playing. I personally could not.

In hunting it has been the exact reverse for my dad and I. While he is a great golfer he would starve if it were up to him to kill a deer. I on the other hand have not had that problem. My dad gave up hunting years ago. I have tried on many occasions to drag him back in but he doesn't enjoy it as much as I do and he rarely has any success.

I guess the moral of the story is some people are better at some activities than others. Some find other redeeming qualities that keep them involved despite a lack of success. Some simply just move on to something that they are succesful at.

[jackmaster]

Have you tried throwin up a prayer to "ORION" the hunter, when ever it is a clear morning i always say "how,do" and i have to say i have been treated pretty damn good, i havent killed a deer for 4 years but it been by choice, i have had chances but didnt take them, my son gets to hunt for meat and i hunt for the chance at crackn a hog blackie, if i was you i would go back to where you saw all those doe, and spend the whole extended season watchn that spot

[RoyBoy]

yeah keep your head up its partially skill and partially luck you just gotta be in the right spot at the right time. think about it your going into there home and trying to find them. if someone came into your  home and you didnt want to be seen it probably would be pretty hard to find you huh? my dad is one hell of a hunter and he finally broke his curse this year! it was 9 years straight of nothing for him! he took this big boy opening day. your time will come. 

[bassquatch]

If you are seeing animals it is only a matter of time. Took me 10 years to harvest my first muley and that was on a late tag. I wasted 5 years hunting crap deer areas to scout for elk though. Try hunting areas with more deer, Republic, Twisp, Mazama, Vail? increase your odds?. I look at it this way, if I had to hunt to live I would do just fine cause I find deer every single year, however, playing the "count the tines" game in this State has cost me 2 bucks that bolted before I could assertain their legal status and missed one walking at 330 yards (later realized my scope was off high  ). What I am saying is pat yourself on the back for being 'in deer', just focus cause when that legal buck does finally show himself you want to be ready to take him! I get more frustrated finding giant 2 points that aren't legal to shoot cause it's a 3pt min area, they just stand and stare at you 

Hang in there 

[Selkirk]

 

[Raul Duke]

My hunting buddy went 8 yrs before he got his first buck. The year after that he got a bigger one. In the last 5 years he has taken 2bucks, 2 doe. This year we are going on a late hunt to see if we have any luck. 
Well I've been hunting 5 years now, and I should of shot the 1st buck,the 1st year I hunted, but I let him shoot it. Same thing happend the 2ND year. I spotted that on too. I've yet to fire my rifle at anything, but I've always had meat in the freezer.  Even my 12yr old got her first deer this years her 1st time out. 
Stay positive and keep your eyes open. Your time will come.

[billythekidrock]

Every year we get a couple of threads like this and I honestly don’t know what to say especially when it comes to BTs. I just don’t understand how someone can go more than a few seasons without harvesting a buck or at least having a couple of opportunities.

I am not talking about the guys holding out for a masher buck. I am talking about the guys who are willing to shoot any legal buck.

I had a conversation at work the other day with a contract worker who told me that he hunted modern elk for a couple days on the eastside and he didn’t see any until he was back over the crest on his way home. He said that if he had a westside tag he would have gotten an elk. I told him that modern didn’t open until this Saturday.

It only took a few minutes to realize that he had no clue about what he was doing or how to read the regs.

It got me to wondering about these yearly posts and below is a short list of my thoughts. My reason for posting this is to create an introspective look and hopefully give the unsuccessful hunters an idea of what they might be missing or not taking into account. This is not intended to insult or belittle.

I wonder:
·   If the hunters have had a mentor or are they self-made big game hunters? A mentor can speed up the learning curve and keep an inexperienced hunter on track.
·   Do they understand “sign”? Multiple sets of tracks do not always mean multiple deer. Large scat does not always mean it’s a buck.
·   Does the hunter have more than a couple tactics or willing to change styles of hunting? Have you tried hunting the first clear cut on the mainline? You know the one that everyone drives by?
·   Are they using the right tactics for the location? Hunting public land can be a lot different from hunting private property.
·   Are they willing to break from proven tactics or conventions when necessary? Try hunting with the wind in certain situations.
·   Are they really spending a lot of time in the woods? Most successful hunters are in the woods numerous times during the year.
·   Are they spending enough time in the woods during the season? This means being in the woods well before daylight and hunting right up till dark in the evening and hunting more than opening weekend.
·   Are they hunting between 10 and 2 or are they leaving the woods? Lots of bucks get killed mid day when hunter pressure is lower.
·   Are there many bucks where you hunt? Are you scouting year round, talking to locals or viewing harvest data?
·   Do they know how to hunt various terrain or even know what the terrain is really like in the area they hunt? Learning favored terrain and habitat can be crucial.
·   Are you hunting or drinking? I know that hunting is a social event for many, but others have better success by themselves.
·   Are you utilizing permits and seasons to your benefit? Only have a few days to hunt? Choose modern for the rut. Have a lot of vacation? Try archery or multi-season.

There are a few good BTs books out there, but reading those won’t help if you don’t understand the thoughts and ideas listed above.

Don’t get me wrong, I have hunted BTs for over 30 years and I know that it is never easy. But I do know that you can be successful if the time and effort is put in.

Many of these same thoughts are had when I hear about people going 10, 15 or 20 years without killing an elk.

I am not trying to bash those that are unsuccessful. Just trying to understand, offer some constructive criticism and hopefully create some insight into why they are not successful.

[hntrspud]

I have never been mentored for bt, have no friends to hunt with, consistently. I'm from Idaho, I know what sign is,i don't know many areas, but I am very much trying to learn. Its just hard to do it alone. I am researching and trying to educate myself, because knowledge is power right? I don't sound like an elephant,I walk very very slow, scent control and so on.

[CoryTDF]

You need the following:

1) half a stick of butter in your left back pocket.
2) a bear claw
3) 13 barbie legs in a ziplock bag in your backpack.
4) 6 trout fins in an Altiods box.
5) 3 burt match heads and a pencil eraser.
6) 9 grean army men with gummy bears impailed on thier bayonets.
7) A marble.
A picture of me.
9) The number 23
10) The answer to life, love, and everything. 42.


As long as you have those things you should be fine. Thats what you have been doing wrong all this time.





Really though time is all it takes. Right place at the right time. Like the old saying goes " I would rather be lucky than good" and that is about as true as it gets.

[DaveBTS]

Honestly, you need to find a new area or hunt that area better. Spend more time out there during the off-season. That will tell you if it's a spot worth hunting.

[hntrspud]

Ok, I have everything on the list, but I am missing 3 barbie legs. Cory, do you have a couple I could use for a bit?   

[Rob]

My buddy calls it armed hiking...


Best advice on this thread I have read is to get a mentor.  Or at least find a hunting buddy to go with.  Helps to have someone who is in it with you, and will strategize with you when the deer are not where they are supposed to be.

[mikelonsford]

I think it sounds like you are primarily still hunting as I was taught.  Take several creeping quiet steps and stop, listen, watch and repeat.  Hunting blacktails in this manner is really tough.  If you are hunting more open terrain on the east slope for mulies, no problem.  I think you either need to find a great game trail in the bottom of a nasty drainage and sit on it after vericying with game camera there are bucks around.  Or you could try clear cuts first and last of the day way behind locked gates, miles behind.  Most successful BT's I know use quads on logging land and hit as many clear cuts as they can and they basically either find them first or last in the cuts or while road hunting with their quad during the day.  Which is why I hunt the eastside for mulies.  The only chnces I've had for BT has been early archery up high while elk hunting or local deer on private, or road hunting clear cuts on logging land.  Go east young man, you'll have more fun!  Good luck and hang in there, the worm will turn for you.
Mike