Archery Blacktail strategies in the snow

[AKBowman]

I've killed a few BT's with snow on the ground. A Doe off the ground and a small buck from a stand.

How does everyone's strategy change once the snow hits?

[HunterofWA]

Because of the 'storm of the century' I was able to go sledding around in the neighborhood, (I live out in the woods so the hills are awesome, you can never be to old to go sledding) I saw 5 deer after about 3-4 hours after the snow really started, so mostly in the after noon.

Two of the deer were bedded, so I guess hunting next to bedding areas, with a tree-stand so you can see more without making noise, would probably be a good idea.

Also I read from Hunting Black-tails, an Oregon perspective, that deer tend to head down to creek bottoms when heavy snow hits. I didn't go down to our creek so I couldn't say for sure but It seems like a reasonable idea.

Just BTW we only got about two inches

Hope this helps

[predatorG]

Found a buck after cutting his tracks and circling back to a trail where I figured he was. My best advice is finding tracks and catching them up and moving.

[NW SURVEYOR]

First time posting anything as I am new to this HW forum.
For me this is an interesting site to glean some ideas and hopefully improve my skills.
I have been hunting deer and elk for nearly 45 years, starting at 14 years old.
Blacktail is the preferred deer and westside elk is also my choice.

I have worked as a surveyor for timber companies and the Forest Service for nearly 35 years.
This has mostly been on the westside of the Cascades and has enabled me to get some great scouting while on the job.

With regards to the Blacktail in snow, I am strictly a MF hunter so this may not be the best strategy.
Anytime I get snow early or late, I hunt timber, moving slooowly with my eyes peeled for anything.
If I cut fresh track(s), I generally follow along if the wind cooperates.
This has made for some interesting hunts cause you never know where you might end up.
Sometimes you end up in a brush hole looking at the as_ of a buck running away.
Sometimes you end up packing out a buck further that you had hoped.
Such is deer/elk hunting.

When I was about 15 years old I read Jack O'Conner's "Hunting Big Game in North America" (Still have it).
There is a few pages about the Power of Observation and how that applies to hunting.
I believe that any method of hunting  Bow, Rifle and End Stuffer can be improved by paying attention to your surroundings.  Not just the trees and obvious sights, but the subtle features that will reveal the presence of animals if we really pay attention.
It might be the rust coloring that indicates the inside of a deer's hind leg at 40 at yards or the horizontal line that catches your eye, not to mention the unmistakable solid grey/brown hue that screams Blacktail.
As for the following of tracks, keep your eyes ahead of you, but also pay attention for a bedded dear that simply lays down for a rest.

Good Luck,
NWS.

[blackveltbowhunter]

  My primary startegy is tracking/still hunting in areas where pushing deer is not an issue. If prolonged snow combined with cold temps I have noticed a decent increase in mature buck activity in feeding areas. So hunting near bait or established food that had high calorie content could pan out if close to a bucks area and especially if other deer are using it. This would be my primary tactic on small plots or acreage.

 I have found that reading snow conditions becomes just as important as reading sign and adjust strategy accordingly. If I have a good idea where a target buck is bedding AND I have good powder that muffles footfall, is deep enough to not have patches to "lose" track, and lingers. I will be in there at first light. I won't say I am "trying" to blow the buck out of there, but odds are good that will happen and if so game on! IME Once a buck is bounced from his bed in security cover he will immediatley go into the typical blacktail sneak. That initial bust can be the best one as the buck may stop relativley quickly and then backtrack toward his bed. Keep an eye to the side and be ready. If bumped again stay on him. I am aggressive for the first mile or so.  I think big bucks want to stay in their "home". Where he knows, where he is comfortable. He knows where to hide, what trails keep him covered and safe. I want him uncomfortable, in less familar terrain on the move making those mistakes.  This is gold. Next to the rut it is the best time IMO to kill a brute blacktail and very likely the best time during archery seasons. The problem is getting all those things to line up is like a lunar eclipse and a rarity, that likely will be a one day event.

If snow conditions aren't real good which is the other 99 percent of the time, then I like to try to spot and stalk. Glassing faces exposed to sunlight early to  locate bucks as they may be up and feeding longer than usual. Then waiting till mid morning softens the snow to try and close in.

[fishnfur]

Nice post Blackvelt!  Well though out, well stated, and very informative.  Good stuff.  Thanks for the education!

[AKBowman]

Thanks BVBH! Some good tips there. It is surprising at how much and how much of the right kind of snow it takes to really make walking one down feasible. I covered about 8 miles on Saturday in fresh wet snow. Good for distinguishing if buck or Doe tracks. I cut about 10 sets of tracks in the 8 miles and saw 2 deer. I probably cut 15 sets of coyote tracks and a couple sets of bobcat tracks in those same 8 miles. I was pretty surprised at how tough it was to keep on the track when in other snow conditions previously it was really pretty easy.

I'm also surprised how much ground BT's cover from bed to food. It was good to be out and a good walk with the bow of nothing else!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Sound like fun. I love hunting in the snow. Of course we get decent lowland snow and I have had one of my best years locating core areas on the year I choose to take one with a rifle  .  My experience has been If I cut his track and its walking with a doe or I am in his bedding area and cut his track I have high hopes and percentage wise have had good odds of getting on that buck.  I haven't had the best luck cutting a solo buck track and walking him down. It can happen but more luck is involved IMO.