Blacktail Deer Hunting

[Bogie85]

Hey All,

So I am incredibly terrible at posting on forums in general. But I also understand you get more when you provide more. I have been dragging my feet for years because I am mildly afraid of going hunting a lone and having never really hunted anything other than squirrel in Nebraska. Washington state can be intimidating, but I am forcing myself outside of my comfort zone!

I bought a permit for a weyerhauser property Longview Mt St Helens area. I also know that blacktail deer are by far the hardest deer to get. But you don't learn unless you try, so I guess this is my real first post here not necessarily asking for any help. But saying I hope I am able to update this thread with my first deer ever. I am going out on the 13th opening day and going to try to spot and stalk a deer I have been scouting and learning as much as I can without bothering people for the last 2 years.

Anyways I hope to be able to be more of a contributor here, as this is something I want to learn well. I will also be trying my hand at an elk as I have a tag so going to be lots of chances to learn something new this year. Thanks for letting me read up on things on this forum and I look forward to the weekend after next!

-Thanks!

[slowhand]

I'm excited to see How You do. 
Best of luck and ask lots of questions.
A black tail buck of any size is a true feather in Your cap.
also don't forget about the late season. that's when it really gets exciting.

[yakimanoob]

Welcome to the forum and good luck!

Do you mean you have a specific deer you've located in your hunt area?  If you've already put the work in to have one picked out, I'd say you're doing great.  Can't wait to see some success photos on here (even if it takes a few years) 

[Bogie85]

Welcome to the forum and good luck!

Do you mean you have a specific deer you've located in your hunt area?  If you've already put the work in to have one picked out, I'd say you're doing great.  Can't wait to see some success photos on here (even if it takes a few years) 

I haven't found one yet, I am going out this week to see if I can spot any signs. I finally got my keys to the property recently. I have been using OnX Maps to identify what I think will house deer, granted I am a complete newbie so I may find I am completely wrong lol. But I am excited to at least be trying, I got a 10mm sidearm just in case I run into any predators that won't back down to pepper spray. But being in the woods makes me feel at home, so I look forward to this no matter what the outcome is.

[Bogie85]

I'm excited to see How You do. 
Best of luck and ask lots of questions.
A black tail buck of any size is a true feather in Your cap.
also don't forget about the late season. that's when it really gets exciting.

Thanks! I know a few things about them now lol. I know they spook easier then whitetail deer. I need to stay down wind and ideally get into my spot with some clearings as early as possible to reduce chances of them running while they are bedding down. So I am learning at least, but I won't lie it's very intimidating the amount of info you need to learn lol. Whitetail deer back in nebraska are just a sit and wait near a corn field/opening.

[slowhand]

Don't be so sure about the spook more than a white tail.
Pro tip #479874 
Blacktail will just stand there as frozen as they can and watch what You do. My Dad says "They believe in their camouflage more than most animals". If You don't show signs that You have spotted them they often won't move a muscle. 

[fishnfur]

I'm curious what weapon you'll be hunting with.  If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend that you do one or more outings to make sure that gun is zeroed at 100 yards (or whatever range you desire).  Take along shooting sticks/tripod for additional stability and make sure you're proficient with your gun prior to hitting the woods.

I've hunted that area a bit prior to the implementation of trespass fees.  Most of the unit was heavily timbered and hard to see any distance at all.  Clearcuts are herbicide sprayed to the Nth degree so there's not a ton of deer food in them.  The deer do bed down in them once the trees are large enough to hide them, and sometimes bed down in a spot that has little cover at all, so you should visually check all interesting looking spots.  I imagine with all the recent cutting that Weyco has been doing, there are a lot more new clearcuts, so visibility may be much better in many areas now than in the past.  Sitting down and glassing a cut for hours may be productive, as will your method of getting into an area with a lot of sign early, hiding, and waiting for deer to show.  Attempting to stalk in on a deer is difficult at best, and not necessary in many situations unless your weapon of choice requires you to get close. 

I found that the area was heavily hunted by road hunters, which is often frustrating for hunters who get out of their vehicles and go into the woods.  In many areas, I found a lot of deer sign the close in areas that most hunters blow by as they hurry to get to areas deeper in.  Alder flats down along quiet sections of the rivers may provide a great opportunity as the rut gets closer.  Lots of food that attract the does   Stay hidden, move like a snail or sit still in a spot where you can see a long ways.

In the mean time, read as many of the old BT posts on this forum as you can.  Also, if you can get your hands on Boyd Iverson's book "Trophy Blacktail Tactics II" or Scott Haugen's "Trophy Blacktails, The Science of the Hunt", you'll easily gain a lot of knowledge that otherwise takes years to accumulate.

Good luck!

[fishnfur]

Don't be so sure about the spook more than a white tail.
Pro tip #479874 
Blacktail will just stand there as frozen as they can and watch what You do. My Dad says "They believe in their camouflage more than most animals". If You don't show signs that You have spotted them they often won't move a muscle.

Good point!  If you're sure they've spotted you, don't stare at them, just pretend you didn't see them.  If you're not read to shoot immediately, try turning your back to them until you're prepared for the shot.  They will often watch you for a few seconds longer giving you time to gather your wits and then make a smooth movement to quickly aim and fire.  On the other hand, sometimes all it takes is just a bit of movement and they will freak and run.  Every deer is different.  The mature ones won't give you many chances to screw up outside the rut.

[N7XW]

I'm curious what weapon you'll be hunting with.  If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend that you do one or more outings to make sure that gun is zeroed at 100 yards (or whatever range you desire).  Take along shooting sticks/tripod for additional stability and make sure you're proficient with your gun prior to hitting the woods.

I've hunted that area a bit prior to the implementation of trespass fees.  Most of the unit was heavily timbered and hard to see any distance at all.  Clearcuts are herbicide sprayed to the Nth degree so there's not a ton of deer food in them.  The deer do bed down in them once the trees are large enough to hide them, and sometimes bed down in a spot that has little cover at all, so you should visually check all interesting looking spots.  I imagine with all the recent cutting that Weyco has been doing, there are a lot more new clearcuts, so visibility may be much better in many areas now than in the past.  Sitting down and glassing a cut for hours may be productive, as will your method of getting into an area with a lot of sign early, hiding, and waiting for deer to show.  Attempting to stalk in on a deer is difficult at best, and not necessary in many situations unless your weapon of choice requires you to get close. 

I found that the area was heavily hunted by road hunters, which is often frustrating for hunters who get out of their vehicles and go into the woods.  In many areas, I found a lot of deer sign the close in areas that most hunters blow by as they hurry to get to areas deeper in.  Alder flats down along quiet sections of the rivers may provide a great opportunity as the rut gets closer.  Lots of food that attract the does   Stay hidden, move like a snail or sit still in a spot where you can see a long ways.

In the mean time, read as many of the old BT posts on this forum as you can.  Also, if you can get your hands on Boyd Iverson's book "Trophy Blacktail Tactics II" or Scott Haugen's "Trophy Blacktails, The Science of the Hunt", you'll easily gain a lot of knowledge that otherwise takes years to accumulate.

Good luck!

Great info there.

[Bogie85]

Don't be so sure about the spook more than a white tail.
Pro tip #479874 
Blacktail will just stand there as frozen as they can and watch what You do. My Dad says "They believe in their camouflage more than most animals". If You don't show signs that You have spotted them they often won't move a muscle.

Ooh that's a good note to know. Thanks for this!

[2MANY]

Note #762

Their tails aren't entirely black.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Don't be so sure about the spook more than a white tail.
Pro tip #479874 
Blacktail will just stand there as frozen as they can and watch what You do. My Dad says "They believe in their camouflage more than most animals". If You don't show signs that You have spotted them they often won't move a muscle.

Ooh that's a good note to know. Thanks for this!

I’ve actually used that to my favor in thick reprod that you only can see 20-30 yards in. Knew the deer were there but being quite they wouldn’t move, so I did little bursts of fast walking to get them up and moving, once I heard them move I sneaked toward them and was able to see them.😉

[Bogie85]

I'm curious what weapon you'll be hunting with.  If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend that you do one or more outings to make sure that gun is zeroed at 100 yards (or whatever range you desire).  Take along shooting sticks/tripod for additional stability and make sure you're proficient with your gun prior to hitting the woods.

I've hunted that area a bit prior to the implementation of trespass fees.  Most of the unit was heavily timbered and hard to see any distance at all.  Clearcuts are herbicide sprayed to the Nth degree so there's not a ton of deer food in them.  The deer do bed down in them once the trees are large enough to hide them, and sometimes bed down in a spot that has little cover at all, so you should visually check all interesting looking spots.  I imagine with all the recent cutting that Weyco has been doing, there are a lot more new clearcuts, so visibility may be much better in many areas now than in the past.  Sitting down and glassing a cut for hours may be productive, as will your method of getting into an area with a lot of sign early, hiding, and waiting for deer to show.  Attempting to stalk in on a deer is difficult at best, and not necessary in many situations unless your weapon of choice requires you to get close. 

I found that the area was heavily hunted by road hunters, which is often frustrating for hunters who get out of their vehicles and go into the woods.  In many areas, I found a lot of deer sign the close in areas that most hunters blow by as they hurry to get to areas deeper in.  Alder flats down along quiet sections of the rivers may provide a great opportunity as the rut gets closer.  Lots of food that attract the does   Stay hidden, move like a snail or sit still in a spot where you can see a long ways.

In the mean time, read as many of the old BT posts on this forum as you can.  Also, if you can get your hands on Boyd Iverson's book "Trophy Blacktail Tactics II" or Scott Haugen's "Trophy Blacktails, The Science of the Hunt", you'll easily gain a lot of knowledge that otherwise takes years to accumulate.

Good luck!

That's all good info, hopefully they don't spray a ton of pesticides still. I am using a .308 sighted in at a 100 yards and going to the range again this week to  make sure it's still sighted in properly. I thought about archery, but I am only proficient around 50-60 yards and didn't want to limit myself if my window of opportunity was small. The land available with the permit is around 390k acres so it's a lot of land to cover. Reaching up to the base of Mt Saint Helens itself. So I am hoping it pans out.

[Bogie85]

Don't be so sure about the spook more than a white tail.
Pro tip #479874 
Blacktail will just stand there as frozen as they can and watch what You do. My Dad says "They believe in their camouflage more than most animals". If You don't show signs that You have spotted them they often won't move a muscle.

Ooh that's a good note to know. Thanks for this!

I’ve actually used that to my favor in thick reprod that you only can see 20-30 yards in. Knew the deer were there but being quite they wouldn’t move, so I did little bursts of fast walking to get them up and moving, once I heard them move I sneaked toward them and was able to see them.😉

All great info, and stuff I will take into the woods with me.

[opdinkslayer]

If there are clear cuts I would advise you to spend time behind your binos picking them apart. Most people underutilize glassing when hunting blacktails and they can appear out of thin air in a unit. All 4 deer that myself,a buddy & my 2 boys harvested last year never knew we were there or that the shot was coming.