Blacktail rut

[bobcat]

Nice buck! Just curious if u got this guy on private timberland or NF? Trying to decide on the permit...

Really need to buy two permits one for deer and one for elk...

Neither. I was on state land. If I were going to buy an access permit I would only buy one. But I know what you mean, because the areas I like to hunt deer on Weyerhaeuser are different than where I'd like to hunt elk. But I would just pick one area and hunt both deer and elk. It's $300 for one permit so I certainly don't want to buy two. And I am thinking about it for next year, mostly so I have a good place to take my kids hunting.

[BigTines]

Seems like there are great opportunities on private timberland. Probably will pull the trigger next year as well.

Story on how ya got the buck? Sitting, walking etc?

[gonehuntin68]

Seen a 2x2 with 2 does this morning in the satsup unit.

[Dan-o]

I just passed on a buck at ten yards.   

3" spikes.   

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

7 does yesterday and missed the biggest buck of my life.  Also saw a little buck this afternoon by himself

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[Buck Rub Jr]

Did see jack today. A guy did get a great buck today in an area I have been focusing on a lot, kinda bummed someone else got him but oh well, I know there's a few good ones in there. Looked like he was just driving through there at the right time and got him from the road. Super dark antlered 3x4 with eye gaurds. Really heavy buck. Have seen probably a bit over 100 deer this season just nothing I've wanted to tag, small spikes and a small two point. Hoping that it all comes together tomorrow. Saw more fresh rubs today, they're in there somewhere!

[Antlershed]

20 does in 3 days. A couple fresh rubs today but no buck to be seen.

[JeffRaines]

The only day I could go out for late season was Thursday so I hit the road early on. Got to one of my spots around 530 and just let the sun come up. 2 hours of glassing and nothing at all. Feet and hands are like ice, so I walked back to my truck to warm them up and I figured I could keep a little eye on the cut(this was around 745). No sooner than I got in did I notice a deer crossing the road about 200 yards up. Glass it - heavy horned 3x3, maybe 3x2. Disappeared into the timber 

Warmed the hands up and got back out. Ended up walking back out to the ledge and setting up my tripod. Started tearing the hillside apart. I'd say there was 300 or so yards of clearcut visible. Nothing seen. To my back through some reprod was another 75 yards or so of cut that I completely ignored. Heard what sounded like antlers clanking behind me, thought to myself nah, no way. 20 seconds later curiosity got the best of me, grabbed my gun and headed through the bit of reprod - damn buck bounding over the hill! I gave some chase but he was way ahead of me.

Glassed awhile longer, then decided to hit the road to another couple spots. Along the way there was a forky just standing in the road. Now, I'm not too good to take a deer road hunting if the opportunity presents itself... he ended up walking because once he got out of the road into a safe shooting area he booked it. Oh well.

Nothing else seen until 2pm when I decided to head back to the morning cut. Walked out to check the small cut area and surely enough busted that buck out of his bed with my pants down. Wasn't ready, he took off and I tried to cut him off but no dice. Sat back in a slightly different spot and soon as I sat down a doe popped her head out of the timber 200 yards out. Her and her fawn fed out into the clearcut followed by 3 more deer. Watched them for about an hour when I heard this deer mobbing in from my right(which was a draw/creek type area). I knew by the way it was moving and sniffing it had to be a buck. Glassed him, there were two tiny antlers, maybe 3" long. He was slightly bigger than the fawns in the cut, and boy was he looking for action. He chased those does around that cut for about an hour... I had a couple solid shots on him - I even had the safety off at one point... I just couldn't do it. If he had of been a little bigger I might've considered, but I've got all late season to bring in a doe or get a chance on another buck so I'm not pressured. I, honestly, got more out of watching his overzealous self chase those doe around than I would have if I had put him in my truck.

Whats funny is I called it early. I was thinking to myself I've seen these decent bucks all day without a shot, watch me sit until last light and only get a shot on a spike. Oh well, I learned much. Next year I don't think I'll waste my PTO on general season and just wait for late season. I know if I could get out one more day I'd probably connect on something.

[fishnfur]

Sounds like good days up north.  Ryderwood was like a carnival today.   Long lines of trucks up and down the roads and many hunters switched to target practice at noon.  Non-stop gunfire all afternoon. 

No action in the timber well away from the roads today.  Lots of fresh sign but all was quiet. 

[bobcat]

Seems like there are great opportunities on private timberland. Probably will pull the trigger next year as well.

Story on how ya got the buck? Sitting, walking etc?

I did post a story, look at reply #61.

[BigTines]

Found it thx!

[justyhntr]

The buck my wife shot yesterday was in full rut mode . And boy did he stick up our Jeep on the way home . Worse smelling buck I've ever encountered . I think we'll be driving the PU next year , and bringing a game cart .   The three days we hunted the late season every buck we saw was on the hunt or with does .

[JDHasty]

Saturday evening I had a real nice buck right next to me rubbing his face all over a tree he had torn up sometime earlier.  Saw one real dandy buck this morning in my rear view mirrors as I was backing up a long driveway to throw a nice doe I had shot with my crossbow on the tailgate.  He was walking up the driveway and stopped about twenty five yards short of where she had tipped over and was standing there for a few seconds.

Saw a few decent bucks yesterday and today, they were just browsing or hanging out.  Didn't really notice any rut activity. 

[lokidog]

Saw two bucks hanging on does today here, though it may have been the same one as it was in the same area about two hours apart.

[fishnfur]

Saturday evening I had a real nice buck right next to me rubbing his face all over a tree he had torn up sometime earlier.  Saw one real dandy buck this morning in my rear view mirrors as I was backing up a long driveway to throw a nice doe I had shot with my crossbow on the tailgate.  He was walking up the driveway and stopped about twenty five yards short of where she had tipped over and was standing there for a few seconds.

Saw a few decent bucks yesterday and today, they were just browsing or hanging out.  Didn't really notice any rut activity.

You shot his girlfriend? 

Another quiet day in 530.  Unlike yesterday, hardly any hunters out - think they all gave up.  Had our choice of perfect age clearcuts everywhere we went.  Sat in pouring rain and saw one doe and a four point bull.  Maybe two shots heard all day.