Am I really this terrible of a hunter??

[JimmyHoffa]

It seems like the blacktails are just now starting to get into the rut behavior where I'm at.  The older does are starting to attract some bucks from out of the woodwork.  The bucks aren't showing much interest in the young does yet.  They are sticking pretty close to the older does and get nervous but aren't running off.  This is just for the yard herd, though.  It could be a little longer for the wild herd.

[ICEMAN]

Agree with wapiti. Calm weather sucks. You need a bit of wind and definitely drippy rain. Kills/scatters your scent, hides your noise, you will walk up on one.

Save your gas till it rains!

[Taco280AI]

Just finding out they're pretty tough to hunt and find. Are a lot around I'm sure, but actually being able to see them is another thing.

[DoubleJ]

Agree with wapiti. Calm weather sucks. You need a bit of wind and definitely drippy rain. Kills/scatters your scent, hides your noise, you will walk up on one.

Save your gas till it rains!

I posted in another thread that NOAA is not forecasting ANY rain at all until at least the 2nd week of Nov.

[madmack76]

welcome to blacktail hunting.

[SFD2015]

Blacktail hunting sucks!!!! But man is it fun! GLASS clearcuts, get into timber, use scent elimination and confusion, use the wind, stalk, LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN, get used to taking shots under 100 yards and in the brush, get some rain gear or at least water resistant pants so you can get through the salal without getting soaked!

Most of all, recognize that you are going to get frustrated and that when you finally get one... it will be extremely rewarding!

[ICEMAN]

Agree with wapiti. Calm weather sucks. You need a bit of wind and definitely drippy rain. Kills/scatters your scent, hides your noise, you will walk up on one.

Save your gas till it rains!

I posted in another thread that NOAA is not forecasting ANY rain at all until at least the 2nd week of Nov.

Yikes. Never seen such dry western WA season.

[billythekidrock]

Agree with wapiti. Calm weather sucks. You need a bit of wind and definitely drippy rain. Kills/scatters your scent, hides your noise, you will walk up on one.

Save your gas till it rains!

I posted in another thread that NOAA is not forecasting ANY rain at all until at least the 2nd week of Nov.

Yikes. Never seen such dry western WA season.

I remember one in the late 80s where they shut down the season and then extended it one week into November. It was much warmer and bone dry. There was also a misprint in the regs and that left Deschutes open through late buck.

[Hangfire]

The best Blacktail hunter I know hunts as mature of timber as he can find and watches  the rub line.( A line of rubs on trees) He will set as long as possible and then walk a little to the next tree and set again. He knows his area and has very good rain gear. The best success seems to be in rainy windy weather. The second best Black tail hunter I knew would sneak along old logging roads or set on a hill side watching the opposite hillside during wet weather. He said about every 20=30 minutes the deer will stand and shake off.  Good Luck.

[Hangfire]

By old logging roads I mean grown over logging roads from many years ago. You can not drive even a cycle or 4 wheeler on them.  Move very slow and stop and watch. When I lived on the west side I would drive the back roads prior to season watching the shoulders for deer trails. You can establish very shortly where the deer cross and from where they are coming and where they are going.

[DoubleJ]

Agree with wapiti. Calm weather sucks. You need a bit of wind and definitely drippy rain. Kills/scatters your scent, hides your noise, you will walk up on one.

Save your gas till it rains!

I posted in another thread that NOAA is not forecasting ANY rain at all until at least the 2nd week of Nov.

Yikes. Never seen such dry western WA season.

Wet September, dry october.  What the heck is going on???

[jackmaster]

Agree with wapiti. Calm weather sucks. You need a bit of wind and definitely drippy rain. Kills/scatters your scent, hides your noise, you will walk up on one.

Save your gas till it rains!

I posted in another thread that NOAA is not forecasting ANY rain at all until at least the 2nd week of Nov.

Yikes. Never seen such dry western WA season.

I remember one in the late 80s where they shut down the season and then extended it one week into November. It was much warmer and bone dry. There was also a misprint in the regs and that left Deschutes open through late buck.

oh i remember that rifle elk season and extended buck over lapped each other, of course i didnt get an elk but hey it was cool knowing that i could shoot a buck or a bull