Blacktail Trophy Tactics by Boyd Iverson

[Special T]

I'm going after blacktails mostly because I hunt close to home, because I can't take time off. I love a challenge, but it's getting to be ridiculous. My only shot in 5 years at a really nice buck was exactly where Boyd and everybody else said I shouldn't be looking. I was on my way home from a morning hunt, about 10:30 in the morning and saw a doe, then a second doe in the middle of a huge clear cut. This was on a cold, sunny morning on the first day of late buck. That's when the monster stood up. I'll never forget it and still have dreams about him. I was up wind and couldn't close the gap. He was one of two guys I had been seeing on scouting trips, easy to find in the spring and summer. I only find peace in the knowledge that his genetics have been spread all over.....but I haven't seen him or what may be his brother since.

When its cold ive seen many deer sunning themselves. While Boyd isnt aways right he sure has put me on more deer since i read his book. 

[pope]

"Total agree AK, I will venture to say that the majority of mature blacktails are living in areas where you can't clear cut/ log."

Sundance, you mean you can't clear cut/log because it's private/protected land, too steep or what? I've been looking around an area that has very little mature forest but a mixture of older and newer cuts, reprod, and some areas of mixed evergreen/deciduous trees but not at all large. I'm seeing plenty of deer including bucks I'd be thrilled to take, and plenty sign that large bucks are remaining in the area through hunting season. I just haven't figured out where they're feeding after they abandon the dried-up clear cuts. And I've scouted my arse off (which isn't a problem because I think the homework is just as fun as hunting season).

Special T, I know Boyd is correct and I read that book like the Bible (actually much more). Nevertheless, not until the end of rifle season and also late buck am I seeing bucks and the appearances seem pretty random, not in the spots where I've decided to hang a stand.

[pope]

Thanks for your observations, guys. One more question. Do you generally agree with the idea that deer bed down (for the day) ABOVE their night-time feed areas?

[Special T]

Yes

[deerhunter_98520]

One more thing to consider with clearcut hunting....the clear cuts I hunt don't have roads all around them...if your going to hunt clear cuts find one that has lots of cover in and around them....big timber, dog hair around 3/4 of it preferably in the bottom of a canyon with one access road from above....the bucks need to feel secure and won't with people regularly driving through the middle of it....and once you find this spot scout scout scout....this time of the year the bucks are out alot feeding in the middle of the day....great time to see what's around the area...here is one I'm after...this is from last year and I had one chance at him on opener last year and blew it trying to get my dad on him...remember when hunting scouting clear cuts don't stand on the top of the cut glassing...get down and over the edge to hide your sillouhette and be still glassing...use a stick or monopod to rest your binos on and glass....you will see more animals

[ghostshell]

great book....

[billythekidrock]

One more thing to consider with clearcut hunting....the clear cuts I hunt don't have roads all around them...if your going to hunt clear cuts find one that has lots of cover in and around them....big timber, dog hair around 3/4 of it preferably in the bottom of a canyon with one access road from above....the bucks need to feel secure and won't with people regularly driving through the middle of it....and once you find this spot scout scout scout....this time of the year the bucks are out alot feeding in the middle of the day....great time to see what's around the area...here is one I'm after...this is from last year and I had one chance at him on opener last year and blew it trying to get my dad on him...remember when hunting scouting clear cuts don't stand on the top of the cut glassing...get down and over the edge to hide your sillouhette and be still glassing...use a stick or monopod to rest your binos on and glass....you will see more animals

This is a huge one.
I see people do it all the time prior to the season and they don't realize that every interaction with humans puts the animals one step closer to being nocturnal.

The one that really bothers me is when people try to see how close they can get a day or two before the season. Scout, spot and back out.