Recent Blacktail

[xdog]

I feel very fortunate and grateful to have taken this nice buck on December 22nd.  This was the first year I have made time to attempt any big game hunt in fifteen years and I am elated with the result.  I am already eager to scout and start over again next fall!

[trophyhunt]

Great job on a sweet archery blacktail!! Congrats, what unit, how far was the shot? Story??

[jackmaster]

That's a damn fine blackie and with a bow, he'll of a job sir, damn nice

[kglacken]

Wow..... congratulations! but not gonna lie, it hurts a little to see someone kill a buck like that after not hunting hard for 15 years and I cant seem to ever catch a break after all my scouting and hours I spend in the woods.... But im glad you succeeded!  Would love to hear a story

[tbotts]

nice buck.  Good job!

[xdog]

Great job on a sweet archery blacktail!! Congrats, what unit, how far was the shot? Story??

Thank you.  GMU 407. 

I started scouting about two months ago and I found some rub lines.  I cleared trails near those lines and to what I guessed were bedding and feeding areas.  I started a apple bait about a month ago in three different locations and two trail cams.  I eliminated the two weakest hit baits and put all energy into the one.  I had four bucks and some does on it pretty regular for about 2-3 weeks.  Most visits were nocturnal.  In the end the buck shot was the most regular visitor he would come 1-3 times per night and made about 4 daytime visits weekly while the other bucks made maybe one daytime visit per week.  He also was in my opinion the best buck to cull as I think the other 3 had better trophy potential in coming years, he was also plenty good enough for me after my hiatus, plus my odds with him were by far the highest.  I set a ground blind about ten days prior and camouflaged it in with natural cover 18 yards from the bait.  I made two hunts the first on 12/20 with him coming in about two minutes after I decided it was too dark to shoot and only offered a hard quartering in shot which I am very glad I passed.  I rested the blind on 12/21 on a poor wind.  On 12/22 I was in the blind at 9:45am and he came right in at 10:30am giving me a perfect broadside shot.  He never saw or heard me draw the bow and double lunged him with his head down, he walked eighty yards before tipping over. 

Here is a shot of the setup shooting from S trail facing North.    I made four trails that all joined right here a the bait, one from each of these NE, E, W and S most deer came off the south trail, he came off the East trail his last day. 




Thank you for the kind words and your interest! 

 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Nice buck! I like the setup.

[RifleRidge]

 , Nice, Very Nice...  

[RifleRidge]

Nice buck! I like the setup.

     Setup is way cool......I am visioning this come early hunt... Thank you for sharing!

[lewy]

  nicely done! Looks like after 15 years you remembered how to take great kill photos too!

[RB]

Awesome! 

[RifleRidge]

     xdog, Do you have game camera pics?.. That would be cool 2...

[xdog]

Here are a few trail cam pictures of the different bucks:

My buck:




Young buck I think is 18 months:




Biggest buck with potential I think: 




6 month old spike:




Some sparring action;




I am eager to see these three other bucks again next fall! 

Thank you all again for your nice comments and interest!

[RifleRidge]

  

[Tree Killer]

Nicely done...congratulations!