What are the main differences hunting BT vs WT?

[wackmnstackm]

I have always hunted BT and I never do well, rarely tag out. thinking about going WT in Eastern WA this season. what are the main differences I need to know to zero in on them? Im told they are not as nocturnal and elusive?

[Dhoey07]

Blacktail will stop and look back, whitetail run to the next country.  Whitetail are by far my least favorite animal to hunt. 

[Seabass]

The habitat they live in is drastically different!

I have never hunted black tail but one of hunting partner's spent most of his life hunting them. He says black tail are much harder to hunt...I tend to believe him.

[jackelope]

I've killed a bunch of whitetails. I've killed zero blacktails. I've tried, and I know I'm not the worlds greatest hunter, but man they're tough to find. I have a lot of respect for the guys who kill big blacktails every year.

[JimmyHoffa]

Whitetails seem to really like to stick to a schedule and use a main game trail.  Blacktails might use their trail, then change up their times or use side trails, etc.  Also, seems like blacktails don't need to travel as much so they can always be in one little area mixing it up, whereas whitetails are moving up and down their trails from bedding to feeding and back. 

[Angry Perch]

Blacktail will stop and look back, whitetail run to the next country.  Whitetail are by far my least favorite animal to hunt. 

This! I think they stop because they believe they are invisible. 99% of the time that works in their favor, because you walk or drive right my them! But it's their downfall when you catch a glimpse of them moving before they freeze. I've killed 5 blacktail, and every one of them was looking directly at me, and frozen like a statue.

[trophyhunt]

I've killed a bunch of whitetails. I've killed zero blacktails. I've tried, and I know I'm not the worlds greatest hunter, but man they're tough to find. I have a lot of respect for the guys who kill big blacktails every year.

big black tails are the hardest animal to hunt in my opinion.  I’ve always been suspicious of Guys who kill big ones year after year.  I think I’m a decent hunter, have hunted black tail most my 49 years and I’ve seen maybe half dozen 120+ size bucks. And yes, I’ve worked very hard for them.

[JakeLand]

Difference = apples to cabbage
Everything is different

[Stein]

The big difference is that you see whitetails and you trip over blacktails in the rare event you encounter one.

[vandeman17]

I've killed a bunch of whitetails. I've killed zero blacktails. I've tried, and I know I'm not the worlds greatest hunter, but man they're tough to find. I have a lot of respect for the guys who kill big blacktails every year.

Totally agree!

The biggest thing for me is the terrain and the weather as far as differences go. I don't know how you guys hunt the ferns, thickets and cat hair thick soaking wet crap that blacktails live in. 

[jackmaster]

Blacktail are the hardest North American critter to hunt, they don’t pattern themselves and they tend to like thick stuff, it’s the only critter I really care to hunt !! I have never hinted whitetail but know a few who have and as long as you scout out a big ole whitetail and keep tabs on him there is a real good chance you will find him during huntn season

[wackmnstackm]

Im in olympia and would like to cross over the mtn to hunt them, where is a good suggestion thats not to far from the passes?

[jackmaster]

I think you gotta go quite always northeast to find them whiteys don’t ya 

[brew]

true blacktails are the hardest deer species to hunt period, end of story.  if you have any questions about it look at any of those outdoor TV shows...how many of them actually hunt/shoot blacktail deer ?  They don't because you can't consistantly kill the deer they need to keep up their ratings. I know i'm gonna  some people off by saying this but i'm talking about actual black tail deer.  i've seen a lot of people shooting deer in northern california/southern oregon calling them blacktails but those aren't the deer i'm talking about.  Neither are those deer that folks shoot on the upper western slopes of the cascades or "benchlegs"...IMHO those are pretty much mule deer.  Blacktail deer IMO are the ghosts that live in the grown up jungle forests.  You can't "pattern" them, they rarely use the same game trails and usually go nocturnal when SHTF which is usually September 1st.  yes i have shot a couple nice blacktail bucks by putting in enough time in areas with a lot of does and passing up smaller bucks waiting until late October when the rut starts but the first time I ever targeted whitetails my big fat a$$ was able to walk up and shoot one that was bedded in the morning just above a winter wheat field outside Davenport...real nice 4x3 and the best eating deer i ever shot.  That was the 6th day of modern season...not saying whitetail hunting is easy but that was the easiest hunt i ever had

[jackmaster]

true blacktails are the hardest deer species to hunt period, end of story.  if you have any questions about it look at any of those outdoor TV shows...how many of them actually hunt/shoot blacktail deer ?  They don't because you can't consistantly kill the deer they need to keep up their ratings. I know i'm gonna  some people off by saying this but i'm talking about actual black tail deer.  i've seen a lot of people shooting deer in northern california/southern oregon calling them blacktails but those aren't the deer i'm talking about.  Neither are those deer that folks shoot on the upper western slopes of the cascades or "benchlegs"...IMHO those are pretty much mule deer.  Blacktail deer IMO are the ghosts that live in the grown up jungle forests.  You can't "pattern" them, they rarely use the same game trails and usually go nocturnal when SHTF which is usually September 1st.  yes i have shot a couple nice blacktail bucks by putting in enough time in areas with a lot of does and passing up smaller bucks waiting until late October when the rut starts but the first time I ever targeted whitetails my big fat a$$ was able to walk up and shoot one that was bedded in the morning just above a winter wheat field outside Davenport...real nice 4x3 and the best eating deer i ever shot.  That was the 6th day of modern season...not saying whitetail hunting is easy but that was the easiest hunt i ever had

BINGO, perfect explanation brew