Now that the 2013 general season has wound down, I would like to re-examine my hunting strategies for next year. I would like to hear from others about their blacktail hunting strategies. All opinions welcomed.
I am fortunate to live in an area where the deer population is quite healthy (the deer vs. hunter population is quite high). Because of this, most years I can get a good buck. I am a meat hunter, so I usually go for the first good sized buck that I see (don't much care about horns).
My technique is really simple: Slowly stalk (3, 4 steps, then stop for a few minutes to scan the brush). I sometimes use a deer call (a simple grunt, which is a generic deer grunt, neither doe nor buck in particular). I know some use the deer can, but I don't. I don't want to be lulled into believing that "I am a great hunter," because--honestly--everybody who hunts in my area can get a buck if they put in the time. I suspect that I am just lucky.
My question: Do you hunt with deer calls when your quarry is coastal blacktail? What kind of call do you use? How frequently do you use it?
By the way, I usually hunt for an hour or so at dawn and dusk in the latter part of the general season, and usually tag out between the 4th to the 8th day. It really is just a matter of waiting for the bucks to show up in my spot.
Thanks for looking.
