Humbled, and looking forward to the late season

[JeffRaines]

This month flew by! This was my first time deer hunting, and I think I'm hooked even without getting anything.

I can't say it went by without opportunity - quite the contrary. My inexperience led me to making mistakes, which is expected. I missed on two shots(being a human range finder is hard!), passed on a shot or two I should've taken, and finally got to where I had some deer patterned in a 'honey hole' that ended up with me pushing them out without getting a shot.

Now I'm looking forward to late season. November 25th is gonna take forever to get here!

With that said, I have a few questions...

Firstly, I have some vacation time left I have to spend before the end of the year. I am considering taking that time to go to the eastside to chase whitetails/muleys. I know the games completely different, however, in my position which would you choose? Where would you go? Keep in mind I'm gonna have little-to-no time to scout. Depending on the distance I might be able to make a weekend scouting trip out to an area I've decided on, but lets just assume I won't be able to make it at all.

Now, with the vacation aside I know I have from November 25th-December 15th or 31st to chase blacktail on this side. Whats going to be the best way of chasing them during the late season? Any resemblance to the early season at all, or is it totally different?

[DoubleJ]

Last week of November will be the start of the second rut for blacktail.  Find the does and the bucks will be there with their noses to the ground or in a does backside.  After about a week of that, find the food which, for blacktail could be anything.  I like grassy spots surrounded by wooded areas.  That seems to bring them in to eat

[tgomez]

It Ok, you have some experience under your belt now and will be a better archer come late season for it. I recommend you do a few 3D shoots next year in preperation for your season to guess ranges better. It defrinetly helped me in archery hunting. You will be successful if you keep your drive and a posotive attitude. If you can afford a range finder I would recommend one as it will pay for itself in due time. Good luck in late season!

[JeffRaines]

It Ok, you have some experience under your belt now and will be a better archer come late season for it. I recommend you do a few 3D shoots next year in preperation for your season to guess ranges better. It defrinetly helped me in archery hunting. You will be successful if you keep your drive and a posotive attitude. If you can afford a range finder I would recommend one as it will pay for itself in due time. Good luck in late season!

3D shoots are definitely in the plans for next years pre-season. In between now and late season I am also going to try and pop out in my backyard every few days at least and get some shooting in, and at least once a week go up to the archery range near my house for some shooting as well.

[tgomez]

Nice JeffRaines, sounds like your doing the things needed to be successful. Keep on doing what your doing. Persistence will pay off.

[JeffRaines]

Nice JeffRaines, sounds like your doing the things needed to be successful. Keep on doing what your doing. Persistence will pay off.

That's what I'm hoping! Thanks.

Anyone have any suggestions as far as spending vacation days in eastern wa?

[JeffRaines]

I'm thinking that with the lack of response people might be under the impression that I'm asking for specific spots/etc which isn't really the case here, so let me be a little more specific.

I actually have an offer from a fellow forum member, if things work out, to take me out to the eastside to show me a few things/places. If everything works out this will be the way I go. However, just in case it doesn't for one reason or another I'd like to have a backup plan.

I know theres not an awful lot open on the eastside for late season, so I was considering going to the 250 or 215. I seen that some of the 300 series units are open at well. I might be able to make it out to scout the 250 once, same with the 300s if I were to go that route. My question is, would it even be worth me going over there if by some chance I couldn't scout first?