...and thats a wrap. Tag Soup 2015

[JeffRaines]

Seeing as I have work today at 230pm, and have to work tomorrow at 930am, my first season is in the books.

I can't say I didn't learn a lot this season, because I definitely did. Being my first year hunting, and archery to boot, its been a hellish ride to say the least. I didn't go into season with high expectations - in fact I figured this would be the outcome from the outset. After reading countless stories of people not seeing deer at all their first year I had low hopes... those soon turned high when I didn't have a problem finding deer at all.

The biggest thing I wanted to learn that I didn't is how to make a shot opportunity. How to turn a sighting into something tangible. Don't get me wrong - I had plenty of opportunities. However, all but one of these opportunities happened while driving around from spot to spot - so it was more 'chance' than anything else. I'm not too proud to take advantage of an opportunity - even 'road hunting' - but that was never my objective. I feel like spot and stalk would be a much easier style of hunting(at least from the shot opportunity perspective) than still hunting or otherwise. I also realize that spot and stalk, at least on the westside, isn't very feasible most of the time.

How do you westside hunters make these opportunities?

This year was both a little letdown and exciting at the same time.

[fishnfur]

That's a big question with no easy answer.  I think you may find many different answers to your query. 

I did go my entire first season seeing only one doe, but had several close encounters with several other unseen things that eluded me from seeing them at all.  I'd recommend you make notes of when and where you see a deer, every time you encounter one.  You may begin to notice groupings of sightings over time that might give you an indication of a good place to concentrate your efforts.

I think that you should spend as much time as you can afford this winter scouting the areas where you hunt.  You can see the trails that the deer use during the different seasons much easier at this time of year.  You should ask yourself what the purpose of the trail is - and when it is used.  Bucks typically use a trail upwind of the main trail used by does - see if you can locate them if they are present.  Try to find bedding areas, feeding areas, recent rubs, secluded openings in an otherwise fully stocked forested area that may be used during high wind/stormy days, and where you may be able to ambush a buck.  Try to make comparisons in your mind between two or more areas and figure out in what way they are the same and why they differ.  You will eventually become much better at guessing which areas may potentially have the best opportunity to see deer.

Look at topo and satellite imagery for 5 or so year old reprod areas away from major roads that afford you a high hidden spot to glass down into the Christmas trees looking for action.  That may be your best spot and stalk option on the west side.  Read Cameron Hanes' book on bow hunting blacktail deer.  It's not my favorite, but still worth a read and describes some spot and stalk situations.  (If you haven't read the Blacktail books by Boyd Iverson and Scott Haugen, then read them first.) Ultimately though, I think if you're sticking with the bow as your weapon of choice, you need a tree stand, and have the best chance of seeing a buck during the modern firearm season.  Either purchase a multi-season tag or buy the MF tag and bow hunt then.

If you're not using a trail camera, you may want to consider purchasing one.  You can learn a ton about where and when deer move.  You may find that there just aren't that many deer where you've been hunting, or at least that they're not there all that often.

In general though, if you find a feeding area below a forested hill or ridge, you should expect that the deer are bedding 200 - 400 yards uphill of that area.  Look for the trails they use and figure out which ones are evening trails and which ones are used in the morning.  You can set up an evening ambush in between the two areas in an attempt to catch them coming down the forested hill while it is still light out.  Alternatively, you can get in above them before first light and catch them coming up the hill from the feeding area in the AM.  Both of these situations have thermals working against you, so you have to figure out a way to overcome that one big obstacle. 

Perhaps that helps a bit.    

[predatorG]

 

That's some of the best blacktail advice you can get. You talked about how you felt still hunting made it harder to get shot opportunities but I might have to disagree when it comes to a well placed treestand. In Cameron Haines video "bow hunting trophy blacktails" he has some very good advice on treestand placement. One of the things he focuses on is finding benches between feeding places that bucks will cruise while looking for does. Another benifits to treestand hunting is that you can clear your own shooting lanes and many times get a clearer shot than from down on the brushy floor. Although BT's are notoriously hard to pattern, a bit of scouting can give you a good idea where they should be. Another thing to use to your advantage is the rut. When that hits, all bets are off. Most people say you can't call blacktails but I've read some stuff that would make me disagree. Either way it'll get the bucks in the open during light hours. If your lucky RadSav might comment on here also. Him and Fishnfur are both wealths of info that would be great to have. Good luck man!

[RadSav]

Blacktails are strange creatures.  Seems the further north you go the harder it is to pattern them.  Southern Oregon you can hunt them almost like you would whitetail.  As mentioned Cameron Haines video "bow hunting trophy blacktails" does show the effectiveness of tree stand hunting the rut.  Also a good representation of how Oregon does differ to a large degree in repeatable habits.  It can be a long season in Washington if you sit in a stand every day.  You can find predictable deer here, but it can also be a lesson in futility as well.

I would rather spot and stalk a blacktail than a whitetail.  But you have to realize blacktail can be coastal salal tunnelers, valley trail walkers, clearcut grazers and alpine mountain goats.  Hard to lump blacktail hunting into one all inclusive behavioral category.  But they do all seem to have one shared trait - they all seem easier to stalk that coues, whitetail and mulies if you can find ground cover traversable. For a novice blacktail hunter intent on spot and stalk I would suggest working clearcut grazers until you start to understand the creatures.  Once you begin to understand what you can get away with and what you can't life gets easier no matter which wet hell you decide to chase them in.

As with any spot and stalk I think newbies make the biggest mistake in taking too direct of path toward getting the shot.  Adding to that is an excitement that robs the body, mind and soul's ability to remain patient.  There are times when you will need to rush, but most successful opportunities will be after a well planned and agonizingly slow approach.  Clearcut stalks are the quickest, highest success producing and afford the largest amount of error with patience.  So that is why I recommend this as a beginners first blacktail classroom.  After over 30 years of bowhunting clearcuts I can usually take one look at a deer and tell you with 90% certainty whether I will kill him or not.  I can not even come close to that with any other spot and stalk deer.

It is harder to find big mature bucks in clearcuts.  I believe that is because the ones that like cuts don't often live beyond three.  But put a few roasts in the freezer first.  Add a diploma from the blacktail school of hard knocks.  And don't jump from first grade to Raised Tail Highschool.  If you remain patient and work a progressive path blacktail hunting will become a life's passion.  Rush into it and you'll be trading your hiking boots for Tiddlywinks before long.  It's a long life.  Enjoy the journey on your way to the finish line.

[Encore 280]

Tag soup here too. The bad part is, both multi season tags! I think I'll just put them in with some Ivar's clam chowder and call it good. Found a new spot in 624 the other day and saw 8 does and a really nice buck. Trouble was most of them saw me first and they were moving. Went the next day and saw 10 and nothing with horns but that doesn't matter it's any deer. First year with a bow so I'm learning. I'm not sure what I'll do next year. I'm thinking multi season tag again and try for that buck with the front stuffer. Couldn't go yesterday due to my wife having an emergency eye surgery for detached retina and can't go t'day cuz we're headed back for post op exam here in a few minutes. Had a great time out in the clear cuts this year and if it hadn't been for a successful Montana trip I'd be eating fish all winter since I've learned to stay away from beef, yuk. Looking forward to next year now!

[RadSav]

Sounds to me like both Encore 280 and JeffRaines had successful seasons.  As grandpa used to say, "It's a poor day you don't learn something!"  Sounds like you both learned more than you know.  That will carry over to next season and your chance for success should be much greater.  I think I enjoyed my unsuccessful years growing up more than I do the successful ones today.  A successful hunt has one story to tell.  An unsuccessful season of seeing animals has enough stories to annoy your co-workers all year.

[JeffRaines]

The amount of information in this thread is amazing.

One thing I'm going to do is pick up all three of those books over this year and read them... they seem like they're the 'go-to' when it comes to hunting blacktail.

As for still hunting vs. spot and stalk, I was trying to emphasize that spot and stalk seems to be more cut and dried when it comes to shot opportunities... that when you spot a deer, its then formulating a stalk and executing it correctly that will be the determining factor in your shot opportunity. With still hunting, I feel like I'm aimlessly(and very slowly) walking through the woods hoping to stumble upon a deer. Maybe that is all there is to still hunting, but I feel like there has to be some other method, something you're looking for... kinda like fishing a river. You don't see the fish, but with enough experience you know what riffles/rocks/pools to put your fly though. With this said, I'm looking forward to trying spot and stalk next year.

As far as stands, I've read mixed things on them... I'm not too sure I could sit in a tree all day hoping a deer - that has a reputation for being very hard to pattern - walks through.

I do plan on getting a multi-season tag for next year. Hunting with firearms isn't out of the question, I just hate the crowds that come with MF season.

Finally, I hope I didn't sound too down about the season in my last post. Lack of sleep over the past few days has made it... hard... to translate my thoughts to words. I'm actually really excited, it can't get here fast enough!

[JeffRaines]

An unsuccessful season of seeing animals has enough stories to annoy your co-workers all year.

You remember that time I ranged a deer at 38 yards, then decided to put the 20 yard pin on the vitals and send it? 

I wish this was fiction.

[JeffRaines]

Tag soup here too. The bad part is, both multi season tags! I think I'll just put them in with some Ivar's clam chowder and call it good. Found a new spot in 624 the other day and saw 8 does and a really nice buck. Trouble was most of them saw me first and they were moving. Went the next day and saw 10 and nothing with horns but that doesn't matter it's any deer. First year with a bow so I'm learning. I'm not sure what I'll do next year. I'm thinking multi season tag again and try for that buck with the front stuffer. Couldn't go yesterday due to my wife having an emergency eye surgery for detached retina and can't go t'day cuz we're headed back for post op exam here in a few minutes. Had a great time out in the clear cuts this year and if it hadn't been for a successful Montana trip I'd be eating fish all winter since I've learned to stay away from beef, yuk. Looking forward to next year now!

I feel the same way about horns for this year and next... I would love to get a buck, but at the end of the day I enjoy the meat most of all.

The same thing was happening to me all this year with deer seeing me first. Theres no worse feeling than getting to where you can glass something and seeing a couple sets of ears pointed in your direction. 

Or worse yet, seeing a bouncing white behind.

[RadSav]

An unsuccessful season of seeing animals has enough stories to annoy your co-workers all year.

You remember that time I ranged a deer at 38 yards, then decided to put the 20 yard pin on the vitals and send it? 

I wish this was fiction.

Mine goes a little more like...You remember the time we were stump shooting at lunch and I left my sight set for 80 yards.  Then saw that nice buck at 30 and forgot to reset my pin.  Do you think that arrow is still going?

Sad part is that wasn't that long ago.

[Encore 280]

Ok back from the post op exam! Grabbing a bite to eat, loading up the mountain bike and heading out for one last attempt. Can't just sit around here on such a nice day, maybe too nice but at least I'll be out chasing those little buggers around.

[pd]

Ok back from the post op exam! Grabbing a bite to eat, loading up the mountain bike and heading out for one last attempt. Can't just sit around here on such a nice day, maybe too nice but at least I'll be out chasing those little buggers around.

Go get 'em, Larry!

[Tjv28]

What a wealth of information. It's hard to find such good advice. Good luck to everyone next season!

[RadSav]

With still hunting, I feel like I'm aimlessly(and very slowly) walking through the woods hoping to stumble upon a deer. Maybe that is all there is to still hunting, but I feel like there has to be some other method, something you're looking for... kinda like fishing a river. You don't see the fish, but with enough experience you know what riffles/rocks/pools to put your fly though. With this said, I'm looking forward to trying spot and stalk next year.

I find still hunting blacktail one of the more rewarding and enjoyable hunting experiences.  For me it's not so much walking slowly - It's about stopping frequently.  Even in thick cover the field glasses are used A LOT!  I'd guess that over 50% of my still hunting blacktail buck opportunities include bedded animals.  Many of those I did not see until I glassed at 40 or 50 yards.  If it is open under a canopy you can have stretches of fast moving, but you have to really know from glassing that the path is clear.

One of the things I like to do is know where my next stop will be.  So I glass as far as I can then look forward 3, 4 maybe even ten steps.  Move to that point and glass again.  If I get impatient I almost always bust them out of their beds or get busted by one standing in a hole somewhere.  Also, never ever make eye contact with a bedded animal.  Freaks them out!  It always amazes me how close a bedded blacktail will allow you to get if you avoid letting them know that you know they are there.  It is probably the least successful method for a bowhunter, but certainly the most rewarding whether you fill a tag or not.

As with all deer hunting there is one thing you will learn as gospel.  The moment you let your guard down you'll step into one's freak zone.  You hunt for six straight hours don't see a single deer.  Then you make the decision to turn around and bust it to the truck.  A half dozen steps later one busts out of a hole like a grouse under your feet.  Once you get your heart back in your chest and verify that yes indeed you sharted your shot opportunity has passed.   While those moments produce great stories to tell, the most successful blacktail hunters I know never ever let their guard down until their boots are in the truck and the truck tires hit the pavement.  I know my success would be at least double if I could have had their level of discipline.

[Turner89]

Sounds to me like both Encore 280 and JeffRaines had successful seasons.  As grandpa used to say, "It's a poor day you don't learn something!"  Sounds like you both learned more than you know.  That will carry over to next season and your chance for success should be much greater.  I think I enjoyed my unsuccessful years growing up more than I do the successful ones today.  A successful hunt has one story to tell.  An unsuccessful season of seeing animals has enough stories to annoy your co-workers all year.

Thats good stuff radsav