Blacktailitis

[bigbore40]

I seem to get more frustrated by the day after chasing these grey ghosts in pursuit of a single targeted buck . My last encounter with this big 3 was Nov. 20th and since then I have spent multiple hours in chase. Through out late archery I have passed on many of legal bucks but always remember being told I won't shoot monsters if I keep shooting mediocre bucks. Oh one other thing this is all 100% public land but way off the beaten path. Any words of wisdom ?

[singleshot12]

Maybe you're not meant to kill the big breeder of the woods His meat is probabely real tough anyways. If you don't like eating tag soup most years you should capitalize on what God sends your way. Either way he'll usually show up when you have completly givin up,beat,tired and your head is hanging as low as it goes.you'll look up and there he is

[packmule]

Stick with it, he's a good looking buck.  Our blacktails are cruising pretty good right now looking for does that were missed during the first breeding cycle.

[bigbore40]

Over the last few years I have been fortunate to harvest a few quality bucks from this same area within a 2 mile radius. Definitely some high quality blacktail genes in there.

[~T-BONE~]

Persistence will prevail..!

[pd]

I agree with what SingleShot12 said.  It seems you have harvested some nice bucks these past few years.  Try hard this year (maybe next and the next), but be satisfied if you don't harvest the biggest buck.  You have spent a ton of time this year hunting, right?  That is the harvest for you, perhaps.

(It was for me.    )

[sled]

Saw a buck chasing a doe tonight on my way home from work.

[Thehowler]

Looks more like a doe chasing a buck?

[Turner89]

Looks more like a doe chasing a buck?

[dreamunelk]

Looks more like a doe chasing a buck?

x2

[sled]

Well ya in the pic.  When I stopped to take the pic he spooked and headed out with her behind.

[fishnfur]

Hang in there bigbore.  Those are some stud racks on your posted trophies.  Big time mature bucks with serious knurling at the bases.  (My fav is that 3 X 2 monster - appears to have been well into regression).  The trophy you're after looks like he's worth waiting for, and you seem be one of the few that have the skills to pull off harvesting a big BT buck of that quality on a repeated basis. 

Unless you really need the meat to live, I'd rather risk eating the tag rather than notching it on a lesser deer (That is, if I were you, and had your skill).  It will seriously suck being left to wonder every day for the next eight months if you could have killed the big one if you give up now. 

If I were me, (which I am) I'd kill a lesser buck and be happy (which I did, and I am).

[JDHasty]

It is a mind game.  You know that there are mature bucks, and you are not in the right frame of mind. 

That being said, tag soup is a byproduct.

I was all about big bucks this year up until the season.  A hunting buddy invited a shirttail relative to stay in my RV and sit up in MY deer stands without even so much asking if it was OK. 

I had big bucks on my mind right up to that and it just made me so disinterested in blacktail hunting that once another buddy that had never taken a mature buck scored this year, I said:  I don't want to be here and just took the first decent buck I saw.  It was a four point, but not what I had been gearing up to all year. 

I knew we needed brats and Italian sausage and that is what I shot... just to give me an excuse to get the   out of there.  We already had an elk in the deep freezer.

What I am saying is that you know what you are lacking to close the deal.  You know that "he" lives there, believe me - other big bucks also know and are right there too.  He would not be there if that area did not attract big bucks.

What you need to do is buckle down and hunt them hard.  Hang in and keep your mind right.  They are difficult, but not impossible.   

[Shooting Stix]

I felt your pain about these blacktails but you have to pass the smaller bucks and stick with what you are looking for and my last year I shot a Pope and Young blacktail which scored 106 its not 120-150 but to me I wanted a buck that was record book. I actually passed up a monster fork buck that scored 99 PY and is number 6 in Washington State because I wanted a bigger buck. Only reason I know this because MLBowhunting (brother) shot it.

[bigbore40]

Hang in there bigbore.  Those are some stud racks on your posted trophies.  Big time mature bucks with serious knurling at the bases.  (My fav is that 3 X 2 monster - appears to have been well into regression).  The trophy you're after looks like he's worth waiting for, and you seem be one of the few that have the skills to pull off harvesting a big BT buck of that quality on a repeated basis. 

Unless you really need the meat to live, I'd rather risk eating the tag rather than notching it on a lesser deer (That is, if I were you, and had your skill).  It will seriously suck being left to wonder every day for the next eight months if you could have killed the big one if you give up now. 

If I were me, (which I am) I'd kill a lesser buck and be happy (which I did, and I am).

Yes that old 2x3 was estimated to be 8-9 years old and is by far my favorite buck harvested to date . he also was shot at 15yards during a heavy wind storm in a small pocket meadow that was the only place within a 1/2 mile that was not in large standing timber.

[fishnfur]

Awesome!  Very cool deer!

Were you specifically hunting that small pocket meadow during the storm or did you just happen upon it?

[bigbore40]

Awesome!  Very cool deer!

Were you specifically hunting that small pocket meadow during the storm or did you just happen upon it?

Yes its one of my go to spots on those high wind days when the critters Can't stand to be in the timber under all them falling branches

[Turner89]

Very nice big bore 

[fishnfur]

I'm imagining a tree stand in that scenario, but I can't imagine being up in a tree in a windstorm.  Ground blind?

I gotta find a spot like that!

[JDHasty]

I love to be up in a stand during storms, but I use ladder stands exclusively.  Big Game Stealth Delux w/shooting rail that will keep me from tumbling out if/when I fall asleep up there.

I catch BTs moving about in clearings during this kind of weather event.  It probably isn't the safest place for me to be though.  I have had some fairly decent size branches go past me in the wind.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Yesterday we saw a bunch of blacktail on the big timber edges.  They wouldn't commit to the clear cuts however.  It was extremely windy and heavy rain.  We did see a nice buck with some does and a fawn.   Not much elk.   

[bigbore40]

I'm imagining a tree stand in that scenario, but I can't imagine being up in a tree in a windstorm.  Ground blind?

I gotta find a spot like that!

I typically do not use actual ground blinds due to the fact you cannot control the wind and I like the availability to approach at any angle necessary . I do in fact plan on purchasing a few tree stands for this coming season. I am more of a still hunt/spot and stalk type guy.

[fishnfur]

Even more impressive, especially in big timber, as that spot appears to be.

You getting any closer to killing that 4 point?  The weather is perfect!

[jason4429]

I have a few questions. Have you seen him with does?
Have you seen him before the rut started and have you seen him  yourself or on trailcam? Did you see him last year?

[bigbore40]

I have a few questions. Have you seen him with does?
Have you seen him before the rut started and have you seen him  yourself or on trailcam? Did you see him last year?

No I have not seen him with does . The area where I have him on trail cam does not house a large population of does . I have seen him prior to the rut but typically to dark for any action. Also I do not have him on trail can from last year but I do believe I have seen him while scouting last year while in velvet.

[jason4429]

I think you are hunting where he lives,but not where he breeds. If that makes sense. He will be looking for a good food source. He looks like a dandy buck. You got lots of time still this season and he will only get bigger next year.  Good luck

[bigbore40]

I think you are hunting where he lives,but not where he breeds. If that makes sense. He will be looking for a good food source. He looks like a dandy buck. You got lots of time still this season and he will only get bigger next year.  Good luck

Correct , the does are concentrated along some clear cuts roughly a 1/2 mile from his home turf and I have been setting up on the trails between the 2 points. I will be out tomorrow morning and hopefully this wind keeps up so I can focus on openings where this dude feels comfortable during a storm.

[JDHasty]

I love hunting blacktail deer in windstorms.  Good luck!!

[fishnfur]

Good luck.  Hope you bag that buck!

I'm heading out looking for an archery cow, with a nasty case of the creeping crud - hacking and coughing.  I'm hoping to bump some, 'cause I sure can't sneak up on them sniffling and coughing.  If I get barked at, I'll call it a good day!

[jason4429]

How's the chase going?

[fishnfur]

  ??

[bigbore40]

Was fortunate enough to lay eyes on him but of course that was it. Found him bedded down in a mess of vine maples and sat and watch for 2 hours until it got dark at 46 yards . I kept telling myself I could sneak an arrow through the vine maple into the pump house but fortunately I have way to much respect for these bruisers to make any such attempt.

[JDHasty]

Darn it!  Was hoping you got him. 

I keep a Promos Can in my coat pocket for such times.  It has turned bucks, got them to move my way a bit or brought them back.  It does not always work, but it does work sometimes.  The downside is they will be attentive and looking right in your direction.