What did the biggest blacktail score??

[Harold]

I herd he was in the 180s and came out stormking area back in the 60s or something. Anyone know anything about him or any other monster blackys??

[link]

Its like 182 and from lewis county. Not sure of the date, but that sounds about right.

[bobcat]

I think it was 1953 and it came out of the Lincoln Creek area, west of Centralia.

[kglacken]

I think it was 1953 and it came out of the Lincoln Creek area, west of Centralia.

[7mag.]

There were 2 of them out of the same general area a couple of years apart, 1953 sounds right. They both scored around 183". Neither one of them had been scored until a few years ago.

[kglacken]

Biggest Typical Columbian Blacktails of all time-
1. 184 2/8 shot in 1935 Cowlitz County WA
2. 183 5/8 shot in 1954 Clark County WA
3. 182 2/8 shot in 1953 Lewis County WA

Biggest Non-Typical Columbian Blacktails of all time-
1. 213 7/8 shot in 1997 Clackamas County OR
2. 213 3/8 shot in 1979 Jackson County OR
3. 208 1/8 shot in 1962 Polk County OR

[Roperfive88]

Go to    http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgrecords/WorldRecordsDetail.asp?area=bgRecords&type=MULE%20DEER
Boone and Crockett shows all the North American world records on their site.

[coachcw]

good link

[deerslyr]

Biggest Typical Columbian Blacktails of all time-
1. 184 2/8 shot in 1935 Cowlitz County WA
2. 183 5/8 shot in 1954 Clark County WA
3. 182 2/8 shot in 1953 Lewis County WA

Makes yuh wonder what happened to the big blacky genetics of SW WA.

[kglacken]

Biggest Typical Columbian Blacktails of all time-
1. 184 2/8 shot in 1935 Cowlitz County WA
2. 183 5/8 shot in 1954 Clark County WA
3. 182 2/8 shot in 1953 Lewis County WA

Makes yuh wonder what happened to the big blacky genetics of SW WA.

Exactly!

[deerslyr]

Seriously I cant even think of one 160" buck thats come out of WA since ive been alive. There may have been or two but nothing that comes remotely close to the top 3. Was there some sort of crazy wild fire that happened in the 50s that caused amazing horn growth? Trying to come up with some sort of reasoning for it.

[Harold]

Thanks for the replies guys, and yeah me neither jon ive been thinkin really hard about it and the only huge blackie ive seen came outta morton and it back in the late 70s, way before our time...

[Jonathan_S]

I encourage people to look at the buck in the Boone and Crockett files, MASSIVE   

[mtn.goat]

The game dept. did some transplanting of mule deer into SW WA in at least two of the counties listed, in the early fifties.  My hunting partners' uncle helped with transport and release.  One of his buddies killed at least one in the top 10 WA blacktails, that he had scored at least.

[RadSav]

Biggest Typical Columbian Blacktails of all time-
1. 184 2/8 shot in 1935 Cowlitz County WA
2. 183 5/8 shot in 1954 Clark County WA
3. 182 2/8 shot in 1953 Lewis County WA

Makes yuh wonder what happened to the big blacky genetics of SW WA.

The Yacolt Burn in the end totaled more than 500,000 acres of burnt forest in 1902 and the Dole Valley fire added another near 200,000 in 1929.  That should have made western deer forage awful dang good for growing big bucks.  With added regulation and techniques for fighting wildfires the last "Great Wildfire" in western Washington was in 1952.  It's my belief that this had a great deal to do with so many monster blacktails being harvested prior to 1960 and very few since.

[RoyBoy]

drool over this harold 

[RadSav]

Population density probably is another factor to consider.  In 1950 the state population was 2,386,000 and the population of Seattle was about 468,000.  In 2011 the census put us at 6,830,000 state (103 per square mile) and 620,788 Seattle.  That's a lot of farm land, winter feed and prime horn growth territory gone.

RoyBoy - I drool over that picture at least once a year.  I can't imagine the difficulty in putting a pin or crosshair on that guy if it was in my sights.  Unless pure luck I think I'd probably miss

[deerslyr]

Thanks for that RadSav, I was wondering if there was some sort of event that occurred like a massive fire that caused amazing horn growth. Im sure they also logged national forest, burned slash piles in clear cuts, and didnt spray herbicides in  logging units. That all would add up to better horn growth it seems

[bobcat]

Yep, good feed and age is what is needed to grow big antlers. I'm sure the genetics haven't changed, but habitat and hunting pressure has.

Seems the biggest blacktails nowadays are living in cities or housing subdivisions where hunting is not allowed.

[erk444]

The game dept. did some transplanting of mule deer into SW WA in at least two of the counties listed, in the early fifties.  My hunting partners' uncle helped with transport and release.  One of his buddies killed at least one in the top 10 WA blacktails, that he had scored at least.

Hey mtn.goat, where did you get this info? I'd like to read about this or learn a little more.

[PolarBear]

The game dept. did some transplanting of mule deer into SW WA in at least two of the counties listed, in the early fifties.  My hunting partners' uncle helped with transport and release.  One of his buddies killed at least one in the top 10 WA blacktails, that he had scored at least.

I heard from an old logger from Forks that they planted some mule deer in the Olympics back in the 30's or 40's but they all died of pneumonia. 

[link]

The game dept. did some transplanting of mule deer into SW WA in at least two of the counties listed, in the early fifties.  My hunting partners' uncle helped with transport and release.  One of his buddies killed at least one in the top 10 WA blacktails, that he had scored at least.

I heard from an old logger from Forks that they planted some mule deer in the Olympics back in the 30's or 40's but they all died of pneumonia. 

Your hunting partners, uncles, buddy? An old logger from Forks?! I don't know, sounds like some pretty reliable sources right there. Just sounds funny, could have happened, I don't know either way.

[PolarBear]

Yeah, I guess those pictures that he showed us with mule deer standing next to 6' across old growth stumps were photo shopped as well.  Except, this was in the mid 80's and there was no such thing as photoshop, especially in Forks and this guy had never been off of the Olympic Peninsula his whole life. 

[deerslyr]

I wouldnt doubt it, but it would be nice to see some proof or written documentation, kind of like they have of the elk being transplanted in ashford around the same time period. 

[grundy53]

I heard they transplanted mulies into the Willapa Hills back then too. Always figured it was an old wives tale... but who knows. 

[deleted BGS]

Biggest Typical Columbian Blacktails of all time-
1. 184 2/8 shot in 1935 Cowlitz County WA
2. 183 5/8 shot in 1954 Clark County WA
3. 182 2/8 shot in 1953 Lewis County WA

Makes yuh wonder what happened to the big blacky genetics of SW WA.

the states management! and people shooting spikes, small 2pts and does!

[grundy53]

I'm sure those old timers didn't shoot spikes or two points...

[RadSav]

I'm sure those old timers didn't shoot spikes or two points...

Wasn't until 1950 that the Boone & Crockett club settled on a scoring system for the development of trophy status.  I'd be willing to bet with few exceptions that prior to that meat was meat and you took what you could get without concern for the status of headgear inches.  Just look at Alaska now.  Few subsistence hunters shoot high scoring animals.  It's the big city out-of-staters that tend to worry about such things.

The culling of does and poor genes within the restaints of food and wintering areas is good sound management.  If all hunters and the entire state was to go 4 point or better I bet there would be far fewer big bucks than we have now.  Just look at Canada's 6X6 minimum for elk.  The first few years it was amazing the animals it produced.  Now the huge 5X5 bulls with poor genes that will never be bigger are doing the vast majority of the breeding.  And there are fewer and fewer good bulls to be found.  That tends to be an argument of the elitist's and not an argument of  sound wildlife management.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Do you guys realize you can put Mule Deer horns on a Blacktail form 

[bankwalker]

Do you guys realize you can put Mule Deer horns on a Blacktail form 

I can put mule deer antlers on a bunny rabbit form too 

[bankwalker]

There use to be a little sporting goods store north of Brinnon that had quite a few big "mule deer" mounts on the walls
 One day I asked the old timer where they were killed and he told me that he killed them in the surrounding hills back in the 40-50-60's. They were some nice bucks and obviously mule deer. Definitely not blacktails............at least the forms used. The antlers could have been either as far as I know. 

[grundy53]

I'm sure those old timers didn't shoot spikes or two points...

Wasn't until 1950 that the Boone & Crockett club settled on a scoring system for the development of trophy status.  I'd be willing to bet with few exceptions that prior to that meat was meat and you took what you could get without concern for the status of headgear inches.  Just look at Alaska now.  Few subsistence hunters shoot high scoring animals.  It's the big city out-of-staters that tend to worry about such things.

The culling of does and poor genes within the restaints of food and wintering areas is good sound management.  If all hunters and the entire state was to go 4 point or better I bet there would be far fewer big bucks than we have now.  Just look at Canada's 6X6 minimum for elk.  The first few years it was amazing the animals it produced.  Now the huge 5X5 bulls with poor genes that will never be bigger are doing the vast majority of the breeding.  And there are fewer and fewer good bulls to be found.  That tends to be an argument of the elitist's and not an argument of  sound wildlife management.

I was being sarcastic . The reason these huge bucks are surfacing so many years after being killed is because back then no one cared about score or size. They would cut the horns off and hang them in the barn or throw them in the rafters. I wouldn't be surprised if there were 20 sets of antlers of this caliber either sitting or were sitting  in various barns around western washington.

[RadSav]

I was being sarcastic . The reason these huge bucks are surfacing so many years after being killed is because back then no one cared about score or size. They would cut the horns off and hang them in the barn or throw them in the rafters. I wouldn't be surprised if there were 20 sets of antlers of this caliber either sitting or were sitting  in various barns around western washington.

I don't disagree there. When I was growing up the old timer that lived next door used to let me into his barn to play with the deer antlers.  He had a non-typical blacktail that was an enormous 14 X 16.  He said he shot it behind Black Lake out of tumwater some place.  I bet even today it would be in the top ten B&C.  To him they were just cool antlers to look at, but not precious enough to stop the dumb little kid from next door from playing with them. After he passed away they disappeared.  Probably to some relatives barn or the dump.

I knew you were being sarcastic   Perhaps I should have quoted biggameslayer instead.

[Harold]

oh boy thats a bute joe, after you were tellin me bout him last weekend ive been tryin to find pictures sense but couldnt come up with anything.

[7mag.]

The game dept. did some transplanting of mule deer into SW WA in at least two of the counties listed, in the early fifties.  My hunting partners' uncle helped with transport and release.  One of his buddies killed at least one in the top 10 WA blacktails, that he had scored at least.

I heard from an old logger from Forks that they planted some mule deer in the Olympics back in the 30's or 40's but they all died of pneumonia. 

Your hunting partners, uncles, buddy? An old logger from Forks?! I don't know, sounds like some pretty reliable sources right there. Just sounds funny, could have happened, I don't know either way.

It was my uncle, and unfortunately, he is not around any more. I wish I could have gotten some more information from him about it, but he said that the game dept. was doing some sort of experiment, and he wasn't supposed to know much about it or talk about it. According to him, they released a small amount of Mule deer in a few different locations. Some of them didn't do well, and caught some sort of disease, but there were reports of some very large bucks being seen for several years after. Back then, of course, they were mostly hunting for food, and shot does, usually. Big bucks were tough, and gamey.

[Elkpiss]

I seen a 155 inch blackie killed this year, biggest blackie i have ever seen in person..  I cant imagine a 180 inch blackie...

[Willi19am75]

Hello I’m new to this site but I wanted to post the blacktail antlers that were harvested in 1935 out of Cowlitz county WA. a friend of mine owns them…

[dvolmer]

50 inches smaller than my smallest Muley!!!!  Ha ha Jk!!!

[Dan-o]

Hello I’m new to this site but I wanted to post the blacktail antlers that were harvested in 1935 out of Cowlitz county WA. a friend of mine owns them…

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!
What a monster.

[Platensek-po]

Hello I’m new to this site but I wanted to post the blacktail antlers that were harvested in 1935 out of Cowlitz county WA. a friend of mine owns them…

The mass on that is ridonkulous!!!!! If I saw a bit like that while hunting I would either miss from shaking so bad or just think it couldn’t be real. Thanks for sharing

[trophyhunt]

Seriously I cant even think of one 160" buck thats come out of WA since ive been alive. There may have been or two but nothing that comes remotely close to the top 3. Was there some sort of crazy wild fire that happened in the 50s that caused amazing horn growth? Trying to come up with some sort of reasoning for it.

pretty sure a youth hunter shot a blacktail in the green river water shed about 13 years ago that scored around 160, young girl. No pics though

[LDennis24]

What about PNWheckles buck last fall? It grossed 160.

[LDennis24]

And this buck was supposedly a blacktail from Facebook.

[LDennis24]

There was a guy on here that posted several nice blacktail bucks one time and one of them was massive, meaning it had mass all the way out. And covered with those little burs that hold in the moss and bark when they rub. Anyone remember those pics? He was standing in his house holding up the racks from several different years.

[addicted1]

There was a guy on here that posted several nice blacktail bucks one time and one of them was massive, meaning it had mass all the way out. And covered with those little burs that hold in the moss and bark when they rub. Anyone remember those pics? He was standing in his house holding up the racks from several different years.

Yeah, I remember seeing those as well. I think it was in the as they lay thread… but, maybe not

[MADMAX]

And this buck was supposedly a blacktail from Facebook.

Yard deer don’t count 🥴🤣