collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Blacktails in December  (Read 1905 times)

Offline furiouzgeorge

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 425
  • Location: Whidbey
Blacktails in December
« on: November 30, 2012, 07:13:04 PM »
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.  :yike:. 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.
"Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. " ~ Thomas Jefferson

Offline BOWHUNTER45

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 14731
Re: Blacktails in December
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2012, 07:25:45 PM »
 :dunno: kinda sounds like me ...last week I was working by myself and the ladder kicked out ...come down hard on my left knee ...then I was hunting a couple days later and got into some rocky area ...BAM down I go again  :bash: I have been hunting hard and not much moving ...the last week in October they put the hurt on some deer in my area ..I took my son out in October and it ended quick with his tag and then I took my buddy another day and he killed a dandy buck ..now it is my turn I am having one heck of a time finding a decent buck to shoot ....Most of the blacktail rutted hard the last week in Oct. and into Nov ..now it can get really tuff because it seems they find a hole and dig in and do not move much ..Dec is always a tuff month when it comes to finding big blacktail ...I hunted about 6 hours today ..hiking my butt off with trees falling and raining thinking today was the day but seen sheet ...So I will be out again tomorrow but I am tired already ...I have used all my tricks and covered most of my areas but I also know how many deer I have killed just when I am about to give up ...Just keep going and going  :tup:

Offline AKBowman

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 1487
  • Location: Snoqualmie, WA
Re: Blacktails in December
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2012, 08:42:27 PM »
Spend time and get lucky, can't figure out Blacktails no pattern to them. Impossible ghosts
"All you can do is hunt” - Roy Roth

Offline Huntbear

  • I am a BAD Kitteh
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 9616
  • Location: Wandering Lost East of the Mountains
  • Y.A.R. Jester aka Smart Ass
    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1236486665
Re: Blacktails in December
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2012, 09:09:22 PM »
those blacktails are easy to pattern... if it is storming, they will in brushy draws with decent sized alders.. they will have plenty of food, and water is not an issue and they can become those invisible ghosts everyone thinks they are..

If they are lowland bucks, they will have food around them all year long... if they are high country deer, they are fattening up for winter....
By my honorable conduct as a hunter let me give a good example and teach new hunters principles of honor, so that each new generation can show respect for their god, other hunters and the animals, and enjoy the dignity of the hunt.

Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Palouse buck deer by high_hunter
[Today at 10:01:17 PM]


My wife drew quality deer DESERT rifle 10/18-10/26!!!!! by lewy
[Today at 10:00:01 PM]


Drew Quality by Jimmer
[Today at 09:34:00 PM]


Nevada guide draw Mule Deer by Beastmonger1987
[Today at 09:33:34 PM]


2025 Draw Results by builtfordtough
[Today at 09:33:30 PM]


Quality Swakane by Rainier10
[Today at 09:09:17 PM]


Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help? by VickGar
[Today at 09:06:22 PM]


Observatory quality bull rifle by buglebuster
[Today at 09:00:02 PM]


Anterless 1334 muzzle loader by Bdawg
[Today at 08:46:31 PM]


A little Martini Cadet varmint rifle I have been working on by JDHasty
[Today at 08:43:33 PM]


Pogue Quality by geauxtigers
[Today at 08:38:35 PM]


Ritzville Rifle Buck - GMU 284 by Bdawg
[Today at 08:32:52 PM]


Nooksack Muzzleloader Bull Tag by Ridgerunner
[Today at 08:06:49 PM]


Bow mount trolling motors by Happy Gilmore
[Today at 08:06:18 PM]


2025 OILS! by HUNTNORTHWEST
[Today at 07:46:27 PM]


A question for any FFL holders on here by Knocker of rocks
[Today at 07:34:49 PM]


Last year putting in… by MADMAX
[Today at 07:25:41 PM]


KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Today at 07:12:15 PM]


September mule deer velvet by NOCK NOCK
[Today at 07:10:12 PM]


Share your out of state experience by finnman
[Today at 06:53:04 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal