blacktail treestand placement

[dylanb]

hey guys I know this is a little late. from missing to passing small bucks and getting busted in the early season I was kinda burnt out on the whole blacktail species. but after seeing big buck after big buck on this sight I decided to change it up in the late season. tree stands. I know rattling and scents are not in the picture because the rut is nearly done. and im not a big fan of baiting. went and bought a 2 person ladder stand so me and the girlfriend can get out there. spent hours on google earth and this sight but still cant figure out where to put the dang thing. should I focus on deep timber or should I put it on the edge of a clear cut? trails to and from those areas? im stumped and cant find a real good thread on the subject. thanks for any help in advance!

[Smith_22]

 I would let sign be your guide for placement.  It sounds like you got out some during early season and saw deer, so focus on those areas and find rubs\trails with fresh tracks and poop.  If you are hunting archery you will probably need to set up on a trail, if you are using a muzzle loader then the edge of clear cuts are also an option.  One note, setting up stands, clearing shooting lanes, and making a good trail to sneak in to your stand disrupts a deer's natural movement in the area.  When I place stands I've notice deer movement really slow down on my trail cams for about the next 7-10 days.  You are basically going in to a deer's living room and re arranging their furniture and making some additions, they are going to take notice.  This is more true when setting up on a trail, where your encounters will be close up, you may get away with more if setting up the edge of a cut.  Good luck! 

[RadSav]

It has been a long time since I tree stand hunted blacktails.  But I expect little has changed.  We always ran our late buck stands on edges.  But not really clear cut edges.  Edges between tall timber and Christmas trees, edges between tall timber and swamps, edges between tall timber and alder patches (my favorite for post rut).  For me it seemed the big bucks stay out of clearcuts until they lose their horns.  You find one cutting through now and then, but my luck was always better in areas of better cover.  And the big dominate bucks will still be cruising edges well into December checking for late estrus does.

Of course no edge break is worth a dang if there is no sign of deer.  I'd expect you will need to put some rubber on the road and some boots on the ground to find where the good travel routes and heaviest doe densities are.  Then I'd place my stand at least 10 yards into the tall timber on these edges.  I like serious darkness at stand location looking into the lightness of the more clear areas.  Gives you better vision and the deer worse vision.  Plus it helps make sure nothing sneaks by behind you.

Good luck!  With a girlfriend in a December stand with you for six or ten hours a day...you are going to need some luck

[RadSav]

Also worth mentioning...the 10:00 rule still applies this late in the season.  I never, ever, ever get out of a stand until after 10:00 a.m.  12:noon even better!!  Shot more late season bucks at 10:AM than any other time.

[wt]

Awesome tips radsav, I was going to hunt BT from a stand this year but I shot a wt opening weekend. I've had the BT jones ever since. I'll add your pointers to my tool box for next year.

[RadSav]

Cameron Hanes blacktail video is one of the better ones out there.  Definitely with the watch if you get a chance. 

A great scene in there where, I think it is his father, shoots a buck with a crappy broadhead.  Looks like a rather good shot!  Buck does a big circle and hits the hot doe sign again and comes right through once more.  Second shot hits well too.  Amazing what rutting bucks can take and how important it is to have good sharp broadheads.

[fishnfur]

That was a great video on stand hunting!  Cameron emphasizes the same principles for stand placement.  He likes the Alder/conifer edges as well.  Too bad his book wasn't as informative as his video.

[RadSav]

That was a great video on stand hunting!  Cameron emphasizes the same principles for stand placement.  He likes the Alder/conifer edges as well.  Too bad his book wasn't as informative as his video.

I didn't even know he had written a book   Guess I won't need to buy it once I see one!  Thanks for the tip.

[steeleywhopper]

  solid info on the edges and 10am rule for blackies!

[MIKEXRAY]

Look for a natural funnel of timber,  cliff / shale, any natural funnel between bedding & feeding.  Find where two or three  trails intersection in the funnel & that is your spot.   

[Firedogg]

This late and not having a spot scouted out I would look for a natural stand instead of putting one up. With some of the recent wind storms there are some big rootballs sticking up on the edges of big dark timber. Find one of those or an old growth stump where there is sign. You don't need to be up too high, just enough so you can see into the openings and down into waist high ferns and brush.
  The suggestion of setting up on the edge of big timber and reprod that is up to 20 feet high with lanes is good. Those blackies like to sneak around in there having good cover and escape routes.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Missed this thread..... Great info! Looks like the op got his buck! Congratz!

[RadSav]

Missed this thread..... Great info! Looks like the op got his buck! Congratz!

I hadn't seen that thread.  Thanks for the heads up.  For those like me that hadn't seen it  http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,165823.0.html

[dylanb]

thanks guys for the help. unfortunately I don't have to use any of your tips tell next year! 

[RadSav]

http://www.cameronhanes.com/store/bowhunting-trophy-blacktail-the-dvd/

Cheaper at Cabela's if you have something to share the freight with.  I believe Sportsman's Warehouse had it for the same price. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Bowhunting-Trophy-Blacktail-DVD/1276600.uts

Don't think you will find anything more than the trailer on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWhU0pRGw0g