Free: Contests & Raffles.
I have all the same questions, and no answers. I'm about to give up on blacktails- forever!
They are in night mode. I have seen none in my fields during the day the past few weeks, only at dark.I am making a stand in the evenings and early mornings, that's it.
Was that the Monster that only grows one antler. I see him by the transfer station all of the time. He knows where the safe zone is
Are you all changing your strategies now that the deer have been pressured? Opening day I saw 20 plus deer and now I am only seeing a few. Is checking the clear cuts at first light a waste of time now? I'm not sure how to hunt these tree farms. I'm trying to get away from people but the brush is too thick to walk and shoot in. Is walking old closed roads worth while? Just trying to get a few pointers, what do you think?
I have been seeing 10-15 deer a day, in vail of all places. My buddy killed one off a does butt last night, they are starting to move a lot more. The majority of deer I have been seeing are from 3pm to dark.
If you are hunting a spot and not seeing anything and thinking to yourself Most times when I am checking out a spot or glassing I end up seeing deer right at the moment I am ready to give it up. A lot of times standing right there in the open perfectly still, other times partially hidden. Blacktails can stand perfectly still for so long it boggles the mind.People like to use the term nocturnal and that isn't the case, just more active at night but still out all day long. Just as an experiment next time you come across a clear cut that has a lot of trails coming to the road walk across it. you will more often than not jump a few deer. You probably know this but those clear cuts are nastier than they look and even the flattest ones have a lot of spots that you can't see and plenty of places for a buck to be bedded down. If I get impatient looking and glassing I walk out into clearcuts all the time and still hunt just like I do the in the timber and brush.
I agree with them avoiding being out in the open in the field this time of year but somewhat disagree that they definitely head for brush, reprod or timber for daytime cover. I have seen way too many bucks bedded down in what they consider to be cover but is actually what we would consider a clearcut. They do like to be near escapement but they can in my experience be just as happy to lay down wherever if they think it hides them even if it doesn't from all angles particularly if they have a bush to browse on and chew cud while they are laying there. Just have to find the right angle.
Quote from: Mike450r on October 22, 2013, 10:44:19 AMIf you are hunting a spot and not seeing anything and thinking to yourself Most times when I am checking out a spot or glassing I end up seeing deer right at the moment I am ready to give it up. A lot of times standing right there in the open perfectly still, other times partially hidden. Blacktails can stand perfectly still for so long it boggles the mind.People like to use the term nocturnal and that isn't the case, just more active at night but still out all day long. Just as an experiment next time you come across a clear cut that has a lot of trails coming to the road walk across it. you will more often than not jump a few deer. You probably know this but those clear cuts are nastier than they look and even the flattest ones have a lot of spots that you can't see and plenty of places for a buck to be bedded down. If I get impatient looking and glassing I walk out into clearcuts all the time and still hunt just like I do the in the timber and brush.I watch deer all year long, every day. They make a definite switch from being out in the open field during the day at this time of year and only walk a few feet into the open just at dusk. They are still out in the woods and like you say, they can be jumped if you go after them in the cover.I love this comment, "I can't believe there are no deer here" they are probably there."this is the right attitude! They are there. The photo below was taken only a few weeks ago and is what I can see in that corner of my field at least 3 times a week with different groups of deer (and elk).As soon as the pressure starts in the woods they disappear during daylight. I haven't seen them in 2 weeks. they will all be back later this winter, right on cue!
Quote from: kodiak 907 on October 21, 2013, 02:58:32 PMWas that the Monster that only grows one antler. I see him by the transfer station all of the time. He knows where the safe zone is no, just north of PACAR. i have not seen the one horned brute yet.
Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on October 21, 2013, 03:01:30 PMQuote from: kodiak 907 on October 21, 2013, 02:58:32 PMWas that the Monster that only grows one antler. I see him by the transfer station all of the time. He knows where the safe zone is no, just north of PACAR. i have not seen the one horned brute yet.I have 5 acres just north of PACAR. 2 nights ago I had 3 different bucks on my cam in a 2 hr period. One looks like it might be a shooter. Of course his was the worst picture of the bunch.
A 1996 study by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife showed just how nocturnal mature blacktail bucks are. As part of the pre-rut study, cameras were placed along six fall migration trails, from high up in the Cascade Range to the deers' low-elevation winter range. Triggered by an infrared beam of light when an animal walked past, the cameras registered the date and time each photograph was taken. The results were eye-opening: Of the 606 deer photographed, 87 percent of the bucks traveled at night, while only 56 percent of the does and fawns traveled after dark. Also of note: 42 percent of the bucks photographed were 4 by 4s or better.
Quote from: scout/sniper on October 21, 2013, 02:46:27 PMThey are in night mode. I have seen none in my fields during the day the past few weeks, only at dark.I am making a stand in the evenings and early mornings, that's it.yep saw a brute next to the Skagit County port land on farm to market rd this moring in the dark, every year just like clock work i see one there in pre rut or rut time, always a brute. anybody have friends that live in that area good hunting.
Quote from: STIKNSTRINGBOW on October 22, 2013, 03:25:12 PMA 1996 study by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife showed just how nocturnal mature blacktail bucks are. As part of the pre-rut study, cameras were placed along six fall migration trails, from high up in the Cascade Range to the deers' low-elevation winter range. Triggered by an infrared beam of light when an animal walked past, the cameras registered the date and time each photograph was taken. The results were eye-opening: Of the 606 deer photographed, 87 percent of the bucks traveled at night, while only 56 percent of the does and fawns traveled after dark. Also of note: 42 percent of the bucks photographed were 4 by 4s or better. Sounds about right ...Until next week
Quote from: Samish on October 22, 2013, 01:56:08 PMQuote from: Boss .300 winmag on October 21, 2013, 03:01:30 PMQuote from: kodiak 907 on October 21, 2013, 02:58:32 PMWas that the Monster that only grows one antler. I see him by the transfer station all of the time. He knows where the safe zone is no, just north of PACAR. i have not seen the one horned brute yet.I have 5 acres just north of PACAR. 2 nights ago I had 3 different bucks on my cam in a 2 hr period. One looks like it might be a shooter. Of course his was the worst picture of the bunch.Dude you need to start feeding those poor creatures so they become tastier? You ever see the big ones?
On a sidenote, the elk finally started arriving yesterday. We saw 5 cows and a monster 5x5. I have been getting concerned because they usually arrive earlier.I looked in the regs to see if there was a season for archery in the 550 so I could give some of you a shot at them but it is closed for late season I hunt modern and I doubt the big herds will be in my fields until after the season ends, story of my life.
