All great info so far....one thing you need to have when hunting big blacktail is patience patience patience....when season opens up sneak in there and spend every day possible in there...be quiet and stay hidden...you never know when that big buck will show up...you can try and pattern them but good luck....the best I have done to pattern them is watch from a distance and see what area they enter and exit from....they may have 20 different trails in and out of the cut but there will be a "main" trail that they use...there is usually a corner that they will frequently come in and out of and the only way to know is scout from a distance....also I probably wouldn't spend much time in their bedding area...try to intercept them in between their bedding and feeding area...they feel comfortable in their beds you don't want to ruin that with your scent in there constantly
Plus, their beds are usually places humans should not go (unless you love thick nasty crap and devils club).