Thick Cover Blacktail Tips

[kschab123]

Hey all. Pretty new to hunting. Been out for blacktail last 3 seasons with no luck. Been out scouting a bit and found an area with a bit of sign. It on I mistrial timberland but it relatively flat so no real vantage points. The spot with sign is an cut with report that are about 7 feet tall and super thick. There are lots of tracks, scat and multiple rubs. It's on the edge of the cut near the timber line. The timber is almost impenetrable. Not super old. And the trails that enter it really disappear quickly. It's hard to move through the cut and timber without making a ton of noise. How would you guys approach this situation? Should I try to walk to deer trails in the cut and slowly and quietly as I can or should i find a spot near it and hang tight? Thanks for reading.

[boneaddict]

Get the best shooting lane possible with whichever weapon you chose that has the most traffic(by present sign) and wait.    They are starting to move. Be patient

[boneaddict]

ITs all about right place, right time...

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,243824.msg3267403/topicseen.html#new


The more land you can cover the more traffic that land gets, your odds go up.

[Fl0und3rz]

When pressured, deer species I have hunted will hold until you trip over them.  Might try flushing that cut from one end and getting any height advantage you can from the escape routes.

[kschab123]

Thanks for the replies guys. Nice buck bone addict. Were you walking roads or in timber when you got that guy?

[boneaddict]

Oh that’s not mine. I wish.   Just a demonstration of being in the right place at the right time.   

[kschab123]

Ah duh, different poster. Yeah, I was kinda hoping to bust one while making my way through the cut and dipping into the timber. Would stop periodically and listen but never heard anything. Was a blue bird day so maybe that pushed them a bit deeper. Do you guys think they are bedding or feeding in the reprod or both?

[boneaddict]

Probably both.  I hate stand hunting with a passion, but  Its been my experience that 95% of the hunters out there aren't slow or quit enough to get in on an animal in the thick where they are at.  My advice is based on that.   Exceptions would be if they are used to humans walking by them etc, or some will let you walk by, gambling you will just walk by.   

[brokentrail]

Since the weather forecast doesn't have any rain or high wind, I'd find where I could see as far as that terrain allows on the sign you already found and I'd probably sit all day if I could.  If I was seeing does, I'd for sure sit there all day and wait for a buck to show up during daylight.  These next 4 days they will be moving, so now is the time to sit and wait imo.

[CP]

Does rattling help? 

[yorketransport]

If you have the patience, find somewhere to sit and wait. I'm one of those guys that Bondaddict mentioned who moves too fast and is about as graceful as a 3 legged hippo. When I try to work through thick reprods I end up seeing the south end of a north bound deer more often than not.
 
By finding a small opening and just waiting it out I get closer to more animals, but I've found that I get fewer shot opportunities. This year I've been within rock throwing range of a couple different bucks and bulls by just sitting down and waiting. The only frustrating part is seeing the animals in pieces and never having a good shot because of how thick the cover is. I can hit a 10" target at 1000 yards under field conditions all day long, but I still can't bring myself to take a shot at a critter when all I can see is the head/neck from 20 yards away.

[kschab123]

Thanks again for the replies. I thought about sitting and waiting but there really isn't a vantage point as the terrain is so flat. Might try to walk the game trails as slowly and quietly as I can. Happy to have found some decent sign though at least.

[savagehunter]

Find a good spot where 2 trails intersect sit til you cant stand it then sit a little longer. In the cover ears are super important.

[savagehunter]

Ps dont sit on the trail sit down wind about 50 to 100 ft. Enough to have a view up each trail. 30 yds is a long ways in reprod

[rasbo]

Rattle the thick stuff,be very still and listen.move 50 yrs and repeat super slow,no,slower