Westside deer

[MC37493]

Hey everyone how do you guys hunt the thick woods and clear cuts? i have been slowly walking gated off logging roads and glassing clear cuts where i find a lot of deer trails and poo. This is my first year deer hunting and i have only seen a couple of does at the start of the season that i held off on because it was early and i figured i would have more chances. I threw out some apples from my apple tree about a week ago in a spot and when i went back the ground was all torn up around the apples and littered with deer tracks. My question is what tactics do you guys use for hunting thick woods and clear cuts? Also is it normal for the ground to be torn up like that? Sorry if any of these are obvious questions I'm just trying to figure these critters out so i can put some meat in my freezer!

[Alchase]

I have had the best luck on the west side, posting up 50-100ft inside the tree line around clear cuts, and glass, glass, glass. Look for tail and ear twitches.
Also look for small patches of clearing within the timber.

[scout/sniper]

I have had the best luck on the west side, posting up 50-100ft inside the tree line around clear cuts, and glass, glass, glass. Look for tail and ear twitches.
Also look for small patches of clearing within the timber.

   There were probably a lot of deer right in front of you. They are very difficult to see until your deerdar kicks in.

[seth30]

Right before you get to that clearcut stop and GLASS.  A lot of times I have pushed deer out into the clear cut as I work my way to the treestand. 

[muzbuster]

  As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

[scout/sniper]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

     

[olaf]

Deer numbers are way down in sw Washington from say fifteen years ago hair loss ,predators ,management but still nice bucks watch wind and glass,glass,glass these bucks are bedded at daylight 90 percent of the time.If you got buddies hunting with you deer drives in older clear cuts will produce lots of action.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Here is a good example of a Cowlitz Co buck I found last year and what to look for:

[blacktailcody]

Here is another example of a west-side buck.   

[scout/sniper]

Here is a good example of a Cowlitz Co buck I found last year and what to look for:

Holy crap, great example!

[singleshot12]

Buy a sack of corn,crate of apples and a salt lick and start dumping now,everyone else is doing it. Draws all the deer in the area like a magnet. 

[Thefisherman83]

Move very, very slowly.  They like to freeze up when they see movement.   

[scout/sniper]

Move very, very slowly.  They like to freeze up when they see movement.

Nice!

[MC37493]

are you guys spotting and stalking? still hunting? hunting treestands? hunting over bait? Thanks for the advice on looking for small spots on the deer i have been doing that but will start looking extra hard for a line out of a place or twitch

[FLIZZ]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

- Said Boyd Iverson 

[Blacktail Sniper]

Lots of very slow, methodical glassing, watching, waiting, move, repeat.   

And sometimes just plain old blind, dumb luck....

[Jonathan_S]

Buy a sack of corn,crate of apples and a salt lick and start dumping now,everyone else is doing it. Draws all the deer in the area like a magnet. 

Don't even bother.  27 people baiting on the westside have domesticated all the deer using wet cob.  Especially that one guy with 5 acres.

Troll.

[longstevo]

are you guys spotting and stalking? still hunting? hunting treestands? hunting over bait? Thanks for the advice on looking for small spots on the deer i have been doing that but will start looking extra hard for a line out of a place or twitch

All the above except tree stands and bait.  It just takes time, my friend.  And most of the time is very discouraging. 

I've been in the woods a lot this summer and I have seen only TWO deer, and both were does that ran out in front of my truck in the road. 

Hunting is better the closer it gets to winter time, with the rut and the need to move for feed.  Then usually you can see more game.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Here is a good example of a Cowlitz Co buck I found last year and what to look for:

Yeah ,,, that's what I am talking about ...rainy and cold and then its time to hunt some Blacktail ...when its warm I prefer hunting whitetail  :dunno:Do you know what I mean

[longstevo]

Even bull elk can hide in the westside brush.
 

[MC37493]

Thanks for posting the example pictures everyone. I always knew to look for something small but did not realize how hard you have to actually look Im just gonna keep enjoying my time in the woods and hopefully these tips and everything else i have been doing will bring success 

[RifleRidge]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

    

[muzbuster]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

- Said Boyd Iverson 
Who is Boyd Iverson and should I know him?   

[deerhunter_98520]

Another piece of advice....don't pass on an animal you would shoot on the last day if your just looking for meat

[scout/sniper]

Another piece of advice....don't pass on an animal you would shoot on the last day if your just looking for meat

Got that right! It may be the only one you see all season.

[scout/sniper]

I live in the 550 and there have been a lot of deer around lately.
I suppose that archery hunters could be pushing them out of the woods and into view.

[Blacktail Sniper]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

- Said Boyd Iverson 
Who is Boyd Iverson and should I know him?   

This should help answer your question:

http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/

[BowForElk]

 
Bites you in the rear every time!!!!

[muzbuster]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

- Said Boyd Iverson 
Who is Boyd Iverson and should I know him?   

Ok thanks.
Hmmm, guess maybe I could write a book then also.  NOT 


This should help answer your question:

http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/

[scout/sniper]

As stated, don't look for "a deer", look for parts of a deer. An ear or tail flick, a tiny white spot, a part of a leg, a short horizontal line that seems out of place or different from the surrounding area (it just may turn out to be a deer's back or belly). Use your binos even in timber with short sight distance, you will be surprised what you may see. 

- Said Boyd Iverson 
Who is Boyd Iverson and should I know him?   

This should help answer your question:

http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/

Man, you must have a memory like a steel trap.
I read this a while back and missed the reference.
Impressive.

[Alchase]

Those pics are a perfect example of Blacktail hunting!
Notice in everyone you are already busted?
That is usually the case, but if you move slowly, make little noise, you can usually get a shot.
The hard part sometimes is figuring out where the vitals are. I have had to resort to head shots a couple of times.
IF you see one deer, glass everything, there is usually more.

As Muzbuster said, http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/ is a great blacktail hunting resource.

[XsyntaX]

This is great info. I'm in the exact same boat as MC, this is my first year and I've had all the same questions about western deer too. I see I joined the right forum. Thank you all for this input, and resources. Awesome.

[muzbuster]

[As Muzbuster said, http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/ is a great blacktail hunting resource.
[/quote]
That was Scout that mentions the book not me, I have never seen it or read it.
Think I will pick me up a copy. I was just passing on what I have learned and useful things that have been passed on to me from family members.

[MC37493]

Glad to know i am not the only one XsyntaX 

[scout/sniper]

Did you guys post in new member thread?
Welcome aboard!

[scout/sniper]

Those pics are a perfect example of Blacktail hunting!
Notice in everyone you are already busted?

So true, that is a great observation to pass on!

[MC37493]

Just posted in it never saw it before thanks for letting me know about it Scout Sniper