Advice

[heronblu]

Spent a full weekend out looking for deer miles away and I come home to this guy on the camera walking through my property. I have seen him on camera before but cannot pattern his behavior consistently enough to predict when he'll be back. The time stamp is accurate on the photo but the date is not (I think he was there yesterday the 19th). My question is do I sit and watch this spot for the rest of the season and hope that he comes back, or do I keep glassing the clearcuts a mile or two from the house? I have seen him in the cut pre-season too but only once. This hunting thing is tricky. Thanks for the advice!

[bobcat]

He's probably cruising for does. I wouldn't sit there unless you've also got a good concentration of does in the area. The bucks can cover a lot of ground just before, and during, the rut, so there's no telling where he will be, and when.

[deerhunter_98520]

 

[Mark251]

He's probably cruising for does. I wouldn't sit there unless you've also got a good concentration of does in the area. The bucks can cover a lot of ground just before, and during, the rut, so there's no telling where he will be, and when.

   He may have been just passing through.  I'd keep hunting the clearcuts....

[heronblu]

There are does in the area. I got one on my camera a few days earlier using the same trail. There's a spike around too but I haven't seen him in a month or so. I'll keep checking the cuts for now I think.

[freezerfull]

Heron,
I see your up here in whatcom too. I hit it pretty hard all weekend and didn't see a single deer, I don't ever recall that happening before. I would say if u see him a couple days in a row or find some rubs then he will be back, otherwise he's probably just passing through. Although this is when I have seen most mature bucks, ones I have not seen in the area before, they show up one day and gone the next.

[heronblu]

Heron,
I see your up here in whatcom too. I hit it pretty hard all weekend and didn't see a single deer, I don't ever recall that happening before. I would say if u see him a couple days in a row or find some rubs then he will be back, otherwise he's probably just passing through. Although this is when I have seen most mature bucks, ones I have not seen in the area before, they show up one day and gone the next.

I hit it hard this weekend too, and I have sore legs to prove it! Saturday I saw three does, and Sunday I didn't see a single deer despite 15 miles of hiking and 4000 ft of elevation. I'm going to try and hunt every morning this week and then hit it hard again this weekend. Hopefully it pays off.

[jkthomps]

Good luck! I am wondering if you can get some doe sent of some sort and get it out by the camera. Bet he would be back, amazing what the female species can do to makes. Lol.

Good luck this week and weekend. Hope you get one!

[blackmouther]

My experience with blacktails is that unlike mule deer they travel very little.  That buck is inside a square mile of where you seen him.  If you find does in the area stay hidden and watch them at a distance he or another will show up.  dont leave deer to find them. Chances are he is close enough to your house you can hunt him at least once a day.  Good luck

[thatdamguy]

I know they aren't cheap but an additional game camera or cameras could help you keep an eye on more area.    Good luck hope you tag him!