Hey folks,
I've been tracking a Blacktail Buck I saw when I was scouting for Black-bear this summer. I've been back to this spot quite a few times and have either seen him twice or there's another buck in the same area. Last weekend I went out there but had little luck which I attribute to lack of understanding of rut / post rut Blacktail behavior. Not to mention the fact that I slipped on a log just as I stepped into what I can only guess is some of his escape terrain between two clearcuts. I biffed it so hard that I'm still limping and very bruised. I fell in the same spot that I found a bunch of skid marks as he obviously had a hard time walking over the same log. Needless to say I'm starting to develop a bit of a vengeful streak for this guy.
I guess I'd like to ask you folks what you think is a good strategy to get this guy. The timber-stand I mentioned above runs up-hill with a small creek running between it. Below the timber stand is a logging road that runs across and around the hillside I'm hunting. On the other side of the road (down hill) is some pretty well established reprod...got stuck in there last week and had to climb out of my rain-gear just to break free from the bush's death grip.
. The reprod stretches all along the logging road in both directions. Beyond the reprod is some second or third growth timber in which is a small swamp or bog, and then the highway. On either side of my spot are clear-cuts with a trail running from one to the other (right through the timber, and the deer use this trail lightly). Up hill of these clear-cuts is another logging road, and then timber similar to what's by the highway. Very tall, not much brush and I have seen a smaller buck traveling another logging road which runs right through it to go over the hill and into another clearing which leads down to another creek. One thing I noted is that all day sunday the wind blew steadily up hill even in the afternoon. If I have the same luck tomorrow I'll assume that the best way to hunt this area will be from the top down. What I'd like to know is where would your gut tells you this guy is sleeping during the day? Is he likely to be in the clear-cut or should I expect him to be in the lower reprod? Why does he travel from the reprod up to the clearcut? It also seems he travels up to the timber up hill judging by his tracks. Basically I'm unsure where to expect him to be at first light in the morning...at low elevation or up higher. I'd appreciate ANY advice. Thanks a lot folks!
P.S. My gut tells me to set up in the timber stand in the middle of all this mess and wait quietly for him in which case I should probably see him no matter where he comes from. Again, any advice would be great.
