Bow hunting clearcuts (Blacktail)

[WAduckhunter99]

Planning on making a trip through the logging roads starting sep 1st, opening morning! not really sure what I'm doing, any tips and pointers would help!

[throttlejocky20]

Good luck there is nothing easy about hunting B-Tails with a bow. Be prepared to have your ego stepped on a little but i love it and prefer it.

[JDHasty]

Planning on making a trip through the logging roads starting sep 1st, opening morning! not really sure what I'm doing, any tips and pointers would help!

Ummm.... where to start.  I guess pack a big slice of humble pie for lunch.

In all seriousness, go as slow as you can and then think about how fast you are moving and go only half that fast. 

In the meantime get your hands on a couple books.  One is Trophy Blacktail Tactics by Iverson, and the other is Trophy Blacktails by Haugen. 

[Tbob]

I always carry a set of hand held pruners in my pack. Helps get through the blackberries with less pain and blood all over you. BT habitat can be thick. The pruners just make life a little easier.. Good luck man! They're a tough critter to hunt (for me at least)..

[Special T]

Boyd Iverson Blackville trophy tactics 2. Buy a copy

[Eric M]

Good advice on here so far. I would suggest hunting an area that is "any deer". Might help your success.

[MountainWalk]

Field time trumps any amount of book reading.

Trails trails trails.  I wouldn't bother busting brush. Chances are you'll probably shoot the first llegal deer buck you see.

 Be there early, and hang tight till 11.  Killing a black tail isn't any harder than any other deer. Big mature ones, that's another story.

[Special T]

Mountain walk I agree but if you don't know what your looking for the book the a bunch of scouting would be most productive

[JDHasty]

Mountain walk I agree but if you don't know what your looking for the book the a bunch of scouting would be most productive

It isn't an either/or proposition.  Spending time in the field scouting does not mean that you are not allowed to read a book in your spare time that covers the subject.  I read every night before bed and both of the books I mentioned are books that I reread every year before the Season starts.  There isn't much available on Blacktail hunting that and Haynes book and one by a cat named Higley, but these two are the two I reread every year. 

[SeaRun1]

Find a travel lane now and then sit on it come September.  The woods are very noisy in September.  Find and get to know your deer now.

SR1

[brew]

think of a clearcut as a bicycle wheel...all the trails leading into the center are probably made by does.  bucks will skirt the edges of the cuts smelling for does in heat..they couldn't care less until they get a whiff of a hot doe..set up on the trails that follow the edges of the cuts...not the ones that flow into the center of the cuts.  patience will be your best friend

[haus]

Planning on making a trip through the logging roads starting sep 1st, opening morning! not really sure what I'm doing, any tips and pointers would help!

Brew's advice is spot on. I've never harvested a buck while sitting a cut edge during early season but its certainly possible if you put in the time scouting. Had my chances a couple times, just wasn't quiet on the right trail and/or the buck kept moving enough that it was at such a range I didn't want to take the chance. In my experience they've come out earlier than I'd expected, about 1 1/2 hours before the end of shooting light. Seen one monster pop out 2 hours before the end of shooting light, feed right on the edge for 15 minutes and slip back into the brushy hell hole he came out of. I tried to setup on him the next day but it was a joke, think I scared every deer out of the area by the time I was halfway to the edge 

[Linder]

I've had decent luck hunting clear cuts for blacktail. The best advice I have is to keep the wind in your favor and cover ground on foot. I've stumbled upon more blacktail that way than any other.

[JeffRaines]

Be sure to start brushing up on your walking skills. Yes, those. Walking quietly is a skill in itself that needs practice to perfect. I like to think of it like walking in slow motion... It's not just moving slowly or putting your foot down easy - it's slowing down the entire process of walking. Once you get good at it you can even move quietly down gravel roads.

Thinking of it like that really helped me.

Good luck!

[scoutdog346]

Yep walk fast for the 1st hour out of ur truck and b4 sun comes up then about 30min b4 the sun comes up start walking as slow as u can and stop every 10min and sit for 2 or 2 min get some pads for the bottom of ur boots for when ur on the logging roads. If u can find a logging road that no one has driven on for a wile walk that anf hug the sids of the road that hids ur body thw best at each turn of the road. Keep in the back of ur head what ur going to do and plan the last hour of the day and try and not back track and bring a flash light and a head lamp because u need to stay out at least an hour walking distence from ur truck after sun goes down.