...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

[fishnfur]

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.

My first shot on a buck was with a bow.  I forgot my rangefinder in the truck and guessed him at 30 yards, then changed my mind moments later to 40.  I'm really good with sighting distances so I was pretty confident that it was within a yard or so of 40.  I drew back, put my 30 pin on him, and watched him run after the arrow dropped between his legs. 

The second shot at a buck was with my boy's 7mm-08 rifle that the scope had been left on 9X after the last clearcut hunt.  I rattled a buck in at 20 yards in the brush and without any focus, I couldn't put the crosshairs on him - nothing but a brown blur.  It turned out the scope was loose too, and the results of the shot at his chest was a clean miss. 

I made a ton of mistakes over the first few years and expect that I still have backpack full of new ones yet to rear their ugly heads at the wrong moment.  It's all part of the fun!

Don't ever mistake my input as being nearly as worthwhile as RadSav or some of the other truly skilled hunters that post here.  I only recite others' works and ideas and translate them as best I can from my understanding of the content of my readings or viewings.  I've re-read Boyd Iverson's book five or six times because I keep thinking that I may have misunderstood the intent of his words in some of the text.  While it is extremely well written, the reader still has to interpret Boyd's words based on his/her own field experiences and try to make them fit into the situation that he/she encounters while hunting.  I'm pretty comfortable with my knowledge base and suggestions.  They may not work at all for me (or anyone else) on a given day or even during an entire season  - some are only ideas/tactics that have worked for other hunters in other situations.  Myself, I really just love the difficulty of achieving close encounters with these deer and having a chance to experience the adrenaline rush that goes along with it.  Sometimes I bust out laughing to myself in the middle of the woods after I screw up.  The deer must think I'm crazy!

RE: Still hunting - If the animals are running from you all the time when you're still hunting, then you're moving too much or too fast, or not hidden well enough.  With a backdrop of brush immediately behind you or around you, and you standing STILL and downwind of a deer, that deer will look right through you and never  (or almost never) see you if you don't move.  Stay in the shadows, watch more than move, glass when you're movements won't be obvious, and hunt when the deer are moving -(morning, evening, mid-day snacking, and just before, during and after the rut).  Outside those times, you've got to be either lucky or able to find them in their beds, which is no small task.

Here's a still hunting vid just for fun.

index=150&list=PLw37fITUiiMRvY2xVf75E3Cz-3qwpD9wg

[Encore 280]

It's a wrap, tag soup. Got the wife settled in after the Dr. app't then headed out. Got to the gate and two other rigs are parked there and the gate is open. Biked up to the top and spotted one of the bow hunters on the road then the other one coming out of the brush. Bs'd a few minutes then I went down a road they hadn't been down and sat there til the sun went behind the trees and it chilled down really quick. Nothing was moving but some yaehoo up above where I had left the bow hunters was shooting!!! He was up there the other day shooting too!! Well after it cooled down and I got back to the truck a big cube van comes down the road followed by 3 cargo vans loaded with people and two pick ups!!!! Only thing I can figure is they were planting or pruning. My first day up there I noticed fresh cut marks on lower limbs of the pine trees.

I get busted faster when I'm on the bike than I do when I'm walking really slow. Riding I can't spot 'em as fast as I can when I'm walking really slow. I always take a few steps and my eyes are always scanning from side to side and out in front. I'm always looking for a light colored "V" (ears) or just a head or body. I've spotted them by just seeing a black spot that ended up being a tail or the elbow of a hind leg when it was bedded down. I use the glasses a lot for spotting but sometimes I can spot 'em with the naked eye pretty good. I'm thinking I'll do archery again next year too. Don't want to call it quits after the first unsuccessful year. I've a couple years at times doing modern and I kept going back so being unsuccessful is nothing new to me. I just love being out there and seeing the animals. If I get one then it's a bonus. Now I can't wait to get started next year. Who knows, may be tag soup again. 

[RadSav]

Don't ever mistake my input as being nearly as worthwhile as some of the truly skilled hunters that post here.  I only recite others' works and ideas and translate them as best I can from my understanding of the content of my readings or viewings. 

Sounds like your input is valuable too.  I'm not sure if I know any experienced and successful hunter who was born into the knowledge base.  I read every book I could get my hands on when I was in highschool.  Not a single one was as valuable as making mistakes in the field.  Sounds like you are getting a wealth of knowledge without realizing it.

My old hunting partner Bone was the most insane blacktail hunter I have ever known.  No father at home, poor reading comprehension skills, no real mentor, no seminars, no youtube, no internet and not born into a superior gene pool.  But he always strived to never make the same mistake twice and the guy noticed everything.

One late season I watched Bone stalk a small buck in a clearcut that I thought was impossible to kill with the bow.  That buck looked in his direction at least a dozen times and yet Bone waited to take his shot until he was about 25 yards away.  When I grabbed the packs and headed down to him I said, "How in the heck did you get so close?"  He told me he had been watching doe feeding behavior.  And every time the buck looked in his direction he was acting, sounding and thinking like a doe.  It was truly one of the more impressive stalks I've ever witnessed. 

We were maybe 17 or 18 years old, green as spring grass and determined to be successful bowhunters.  That day we both, with little to no experience, became better hunters.  Bone had learned from prior mistakes, added observation and a willingness to experiment.  And on that day he was better than Larry D., Iverson, Adams, Schuh or Dougherty.  He was simply the best, at that moment, than I have ever seen after more than 35 years of chasing blacktail with a stick and string.

Reminds me of a sales training course I took in my teens.  Just might be as appropriate for bowhunters as it is for sales professionals. - “I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed; and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying.”
―Tom Hopkins

[pd]

Honestly, this has been one of the better blacktail threads.  All of you guys added a lot to the conversation.  Great Hunting, guys, and see you again next year.   

[fishnfur]

Great story RadSav and a good lesson for those of us still learning the craft.  An added bonus - a couple of authors to research!

A final recommendation for winter book reading is Mapping Trophy Bucks, a Whitetail book that has direct application to understanding deer movements in the terrain.  I wouldn't pay $34 for it though.  Check libraries or Amazon New and Used later in the year.  I think I paid $10.

http://www.amazon.com/Mapping-Trophy-Bucks-Brad-Herndon/dp/0873495039/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451673916&sr=8-1&keywords=mapping+for+trophy+whitetails

A really interesting online six-part article is here:  http://www.outdoorblog.net/pnwbowhunting/2011/04/05/deer-post-season-scouting-6-part-series/

I also hit other boards and search for Blacktail posts - there are some really good ones here (examples provided): http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=382807
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=458290&highlight=blacktail+tactics
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=446836&highlight=blacktail+tactics

I'm out of secrets.  Time to go shed hunting.
Happy New Year all!
G.

[JeffRaines]

I'm going to be ordering a few books here shortly on the subject so I can start getting ready for next season.

To RadSav, predator, fishnfur - I really appreciate the help and suggestions. I'm bookmarking this thread so I can refer to it over the coming months. I checked out those threads you linked fishn, including the six part article on post-season scouting. I'm thinking in the next week or two I'm gonna get out and get started.

Happy new year all!

[RadSav]

I'm going to be ordering a few books here shortly on the subject so I can start getting ready for next season.

Back in the mid eighties I would hit the phones and call anyone who would talk about bowhunting.  That's how I first got to know Duke Savora, Chuck Adams, Larry D. Jones, Dwight Schuh, Bill Krenz and Doug Walker.  They were all so gracious with their time and willing to help out a punk kid who wanted not only to learn to hunt better, but also how to get into the business.  Bill Krenz was so incredible to me.  After an almost hour long conversation I was sitting on the couch eating lunch when the phone rings, "Hello Bryan.  This is Bill Krenz again.  Our phone call got me thinking and I wanted to share a little bit more with you..."  What an amazing man he was.  I was nobody and he was willing to go that far just to help.

Your post made me think about Mr. Krenz today.  Especially what he said to me at the end of my first industry trade show.  He was waiting for a shuttle to the airport and we were saying our goodbyes when he says, "Your next successful season starts tomorrow.  Get after it!"  I took that to heart and started practicing the next day.  I practiced stalking, observing, scouting, reading, hiking, small game hunting and stump-n-clump shooting.  It paid off huge!  I entered that season having never shot a mature 3 or 4 point buck with my bow.  I drew a second deer tag and ended that year with two Pope and Young qualifying blacktails, a P&Y qualifying Yellowstone elk and a bear that just missed at 17-7/8".  I also took a 48# Javalina, a half dozen CA pigs and maybe ten Catalina goats.  And best of all - When I saw him at the show the following year I had a job in the industry and had started living my dream!!

Good luck!  Sounds like you are well on your way to making the most of 2016.  Your next season starts today.  Get after it.

[fishnfur]

"Who was that masked man?"

Perhaps I've missed it somewhere, but I'd love to hear or read the RadSav story someday.

Good luck Jeff!  Ask questions as they come up.  Nine short months till early archery opens.

[JeffRaines]

"Who was that masked man?"

Perhaps I've missed it somewhere, but I'd love to hear or read the RadSav story someday.

Me too!

[RadSav]

As Howard Wolowitz once said. "...always leave them wanting more."

[PolarBear]

I ate my multi-season deer tag as well.  I set out with a goal and stuck with it until the last hour of the last day.  Hunted a lot with my daughter after she got her buck.  She chewed me out at least a dozen times for letting nice bucks walk.  We almost got a selfie with a nice 3 point that I let walk.   I think that in the back of my mind that I didn't want to shoot a buck unless she was with me and it was going to be a monster if I did.  We chased a monster blacktail for over 2 miles in the snow before it crossed a creek that we couldn't .  That was as much fun in itself as killing it. This year tag soup tasted really good and all that mattered was being able to hunt 3 different weapons seasons and spend a ton of time in the woods with my baby girl!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

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.

I love still hunting blacktails. I'd say when I hunt alone, my hunting time is divided 30% spot and stalk, 30%, 30% still hunting, 20% taking a stand and watching trails and openings, and 20% opportunistic such as spotting an animal while driving from one area to another. When I hunt with others, some soft pushes get thrown into the mix. Usually I will have whoever I'm hunting with sitting at a vantage point and I will go into small timber patches or steep brushy canyons to push animals out where the stander can get a shot, or we will still hunt parallel ridges. many times you will bounce an animal to one of your partners.

But still hunting is what spins my prop. There is nothing like getting into tight quarters with a blacktail and getting the job done. I love it up close and personal. Maybe it comes from the way we hunted them when I was a kid and learning the ropes. All we ever hunted was big timber and alder patches. And it usually involved a drive of some sort. one or two standers and 2-5 pushers. We sometime just tried to push animals to the standers, but most of the time it was the soft pushes where we weren't so much driving as doing parallel still hunts and the standers were just for animals that got away from the drivers. We hunted just like we were hunting alone, slowly and softly. My first buck, at 10, my uncle kicked to me and I shot it at 10 yards. My second buck at 12, 4 of us were driving some timber to my brother who was watching from a powerline. I came around a big cedar stump and a huge fork horn stood up out of his bed about 5 yards from me and I dropped him right there. I was hooked. Don't get me wrong, Spot and stalk is fun as you know where the animal is and try to make the best approach to get the best shot, but nothing gets the adrenaline going like sneaking through the brush and having a deer take off seemingly under your feet.

The thing about still hunting is, the more you do it, the better feel you get for where the animals are going to be. Especially if you hunt the same area a lot. But even when hunting new areas, something will set you off and you'll get a hinky feeling and your brain will go on super alert, and more often than not you'll either spot an animal or jump one right where you though it would be. Still hunting really gets me to focus on what's going on around me. Eyes, ears, and even smell.  For me, it makes hunting more intense. That's the best I can describe it.

[PolarBear]

I saw most of my bucks this year still hunting the timber along with just sitting and watching.  Walk slowly through the woods and when you find a likely spot just sit your butt down, watch and listen for a while.

[RadSav]

We chased a monster blacktail for over 2 miles in the snow before it crossed a creek that we couldn't .  That was as much fun in itself as killing it.

I did the same late archery.  One of the few days I actually hunted myself.  First saw two bucks fighting as we drove up a road.  They saw us before we saw them.  Both complete monsters.  And the chase was on.  Usually they will hold up if they aren't cruising does.  Think they are starting to get smarter around here or something.   Those are always good times, IMO.

We passed up a good number of bucks during rifle season.  That MS tag can be as much a curse as it is a blessing.  We always start with our standards extremely high when we get it.  Especially when we are seeing rubs of the big boys.  That doesn't always make for the most successful shooting year when you are guide most of the season.

I think letting a buck walk for a chance to get a picture of you and the daughter together with the buck in the background was worth it.  That would have been a picture I'd have wanted to see.  Pretty cool.

[The Fin]

It's official I ate my tag too.  Actually I am eating it today it is in the crock pot as we speak.  Can't wait till next season!

[predatorG]

This year was my first year of good, solid, blacktail hunting. I probably put more hours in this year than all other years combined. I spooked one busting back out like RadSav said, and spooked another after a freeze when all the leaves sounded like potatoe chips. I saw a massive buck (never actually saw the head by the body was enormous) while elk hunting but never got a shot. Overall there were many great experiences and I think that I'm glad I didn't shoot one. I learned way more from all the hours I put in and all the stuff I read on hear than I would have if I actually got a deer. After everything I've learned and all the scouting I hope to put in over the course of the off season, I think next year is stacking up to be successful. We have a very good gene pool where I'm at that provides some MONSTERS but I don't think I'm skilled enough to get one yet. So even if all I shoot is a doe or small buck I'll be happy. I'm hoping to get a good combination of stand hunting, still hunting, and spot and stalk hunting in and I am super grateful for all the advise. Does anyone have more advise for some books I should get my hands on? The ones I know of are the ones by Boyd and Cameron Hanes. Are there any other ones I should know about?

[Encore 280]

I guess I'm old fashion, I'm going to take the first legal animal that shows himself, I'm going for the meat not the head gear. I figure if I'm lucky enough to get a big one then that's a bonus. My dad never did any pre season scouting and we got our bucks every year. I know I should scout pre season but I'm fishing in the summer or doing other stuff. Like some of you out there I like sitting in a nice spot for an hour or so then moving on to another spot and doing it all over again. I guess more than anything I just enjoy being out there and if I'm fortunate enough to get one then that's a bonus.

[predatorG]

I guess I'm old fashion, I'm going to take the first legal animal that shows himself, I'm going for the meat not the head gear. I figure if I'm lucky enough to get a big one then that's a bonus.

Same

[RadSav]

I guess I'm old fashion, I'm going to take the first legal animal that shows himself, I'm going for the meat not the head gear. I figure if I'm lucky enough to get a big one then that's a bonus.

I have no problem with guys doing that.  I spend many many years doing the same.  But, that would make for an awfully short season when you spend $$ on a MS tag.  Plus the best opportunity for shooting a granddaddy is late rifle season (not this past year, but usually that's the case).

[Eric M]

Great thread. Thanks. Some of the mistakes that were mentioned during the learning process was like they were talking about me. You move through a patch of woods all slow and sneaky for an hour, lose focus for just a second and Bam! There they go.

[TRD1911]

Great info in here. Too much to read on the phone so I'm tagging for later. Thanks for sharing guys

[Axeman149]

Great info, I'm glad to have seen this, as next year I will be better equipped (and hopefully up there) for bow season.  I learned quite a few lessons this year bow hunting out of a tree stand.  The lessons I did learn maybe can help you if you decide to get up in a tree.  Don't ever climb too high, scent killer and 20 ft off the ground is the best way to go.  I got about 40 ft up one day, and tagged a doe too high, spent about 3 hrs looking for her, and the blood trail ended at my broken arrow.  A good trail cam on a trail near a bed down/eating location will give you a good leg up.  I found out after about 2 weeks that my bow spot was a morning only spot.  It also helps to see what Buck is king in the area, and which bucks pass through only once or twice.  Scent cone apps helped me to guesstimate which tree I need to climb to not get smelled out.  I learned to always apply scent killer on everything, and to never spray paint anywhere near my tree stand. (10point smelled me 5 mins before legal shooting time, the day after I spray painted my sons Halloween costume, and I couldn't smell the spray paint). I learned to always range known locations near the trails at multiple points everyday.  I missed the same 10 point after I thought he was at 30 yards instead of 20 and I didn't bring my range finder that day.  I also learned (my preference) to find spots that don't go too far out of my shooting comfort.  I feel comfy at 50 yards and the furthest shot I could take at that spot was 70 yards.  For me, that gave me enough time to get set, and allow the shot to unfold, all while giving me ample time to mentally prepare until I had a good 20-30 yard shot.  Out of the 3 shots I took over 2 months, I had about 10 shots in that spot that i didn't take, and I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.  I learned a few others, but they are terrain and location specific, and I am in GA/AL right now so they wouldn't help.