Author Topic: Prince of Wales Blacktail (Read 5996 times)

Fl0und3rz · « **on:** November 13, 2019, 10:49:53 AM »

Working on photo resize. Please stand by.

7mmfan · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2019, 10:56:39 AM »

Awesome!

Only got to hunt them once, plan on doing it again.

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2019, 10:57:13 AM »

As he lay.

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:01:56 AM »

The bay off in the distance where we beached the boat.

First photo you can see a rub in the foreground.

Second photo, way in the background cut is where this guy was cruising for chicks.

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:14:39 AM »

Quote from: 7mmfan on November 13, 2019, 10:56:39 AM

Awesome! Only got to hunt them once, plan on doing it again.

Thank you. I have only ever been one other time, about ten years ago. It was an all expenses paid trip by my FiL, who has a place up there. I helped him fire rehab a rental this summer and fall, and I think he wanted to repay my help.

It was two days of brutal, wet, cold fun. I brought my milsurp poncho the first day, and it only rained a little. I left it at home the second day to lighten up the pack and it poured. Go figure.

The ILBE pack held up well, although I think I better look for a better fitting hip belt pack, since loaded up, I could not get the belt to snug up enough to keep it on my hips.

I was in the middle of a cut, he was at the top. I whiffed the first shot, and fortunately he stuck around. We cut him in half and packed/dragged him out through about 400 yards of blow down, cut, and muskeg. Rubber boots are a must, and I sunk my boot above the knee a couple times in the muskeg.

Locals say that wolves have taken their toll in this area, and there was no shortage of wolf scat. Although, coming back on the ferry to Ketchikan, there were multiple trucks with multiples in the back.

All in all, with all the planes, trains, automobiles, buses, ferries, it was a very good time, and I am very thankful for the opportunity.

Forgot to mention, .270 Win. with 130 grain Winchester Super-X ammo. Broke right front shoulder, likely clipped an artery, and it likely partially broke the left shoulder. Bullet was in the hide on the opposite side, largely intact and slightly expanded. Probably about 150 yards shot.

7mmfan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:19:09 AM »

That's fantastic, sounds like a great time. You're right about the rubber boots. I frequently wear my Xtratuffs in the field down here like I did up there, and get some odd looks. Long walks on rocky roads are tough, as are steep sidehills, but otherwise, I can't think of a better hunting boot.

Did you see any other bucks, or many other deer?

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:28:01 AM »

Saw another mature buck tending a doe as they escaped on the other side of a cut/draw that I was ascending, but they were down the other side, before I could even get my rifle up. Another of the party got shots on two but missed in close brush.

While I was sitting on a knob in the muskeg, emptying the water out of my boot, a yearling came running in to my call and then slowly circled around to get the wind on me for about ten minutes and to within about 15 feet. It was pretty cool to think that I may have been the first or only human that deer has seen. It circled around and slowly made its way into the brush.

I blew the call again later and it came busting back out across the muskeg, and then on the far side of the muskeg another mature deer ran across, but I couldn't get a good enough look to see if it was a buck.

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:33:27 AM »

Oh and plug for this app.

US Topo Maps

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atlogis.northamerica.free&hl=en

Free version won't let you cache maps for offline use. But Pro was only $15, and it worked pretty well, once you get the hang of it, and you can do multiple different map layers including satellite and topo. It was my only GPS and it worked well enough on a five year old Samsung Note 4. Don't know if it is available on Apple.

Going to give OnX a try on my Android tablet for 117 late MF deer. It seems pretty slick.

7mmfan · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:51:01 AM »

Quote from: Fl0und3rz on November 13, 2019, 11:28:01 AM

Saw another mature buck tending a doe as they escaped on the other side of a cut/draw that I was ascending, but they were down the other side, before I could even get my rifle up. Another of the party got shots on two but missed in close brush.

While I was sitting on a knob in the muskeg, emptying the water out of my boot, a yearling came running in to my call and then slowly circled around to get the wind on me for about ten minutes and to within about 15 feet. It was pretty cool to think that I may have been the first or only human that deer has seen. It circled around and slowly made its way into the brush.

I blew the call again later and it came busting back out across the muskeg, and then on the far side of the muskeg another mature deer ran across, but I couldn't get a good enough look to see if it was a buck.

Was it a locally produced call you were using. Meaning, local to POW? I've always been curious if those calls would work for BT down here. They seem to work like a champ up there.

OutHouse · « **Reply #9 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:55:05 AM »

Nice buck! And, nice to see you in the deer threads. Based on your heavy presence in political topics, I wasn't sure if you were a hunter or not! Great job

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2019, 12:13:21 PM »

Thank you. Yes, it is the locally produced call. My FiL told me the guys name, but I forgot. I'll post it up if I remember to ask him about it. FiL swears by them. The other hunter of the party had mixed opinions. I think you have to get the tone right. If nothing else, it makes a good signalling device when in the woods, without radios.

I thought it was a joke - like a snipe hunt - at first. I have tried fawn distress down here, to see if it gets them to stand up or come investigate a few times, with no success.

7mmfan · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2019, 12:44:27 PM »

I've had more than a few does come charging in down here while distress calling for bears. Never a buck though. I've also never tried it later in the season. Worth a shot sometime.

highside74 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2019, 12:56:21 PM »

Man I love stud 2 points, but...

Your use of black face while hunting is distracting

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2019, 01:03:35 PM »

Thank you. He had a nice symmetry to him and a kind of squarish profile from the back. No pics, though.

I am looking to become Prime Minister of Canada or Governor of Virginia.

WapitiTalk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 13, 2019, 01:22:28 PM »

Excellent! Congrats

WoolyRunner · « **Reply #15 on:** November 13, 2019, 01:28:06 PM »

Congrats. What part of the island were you on? I love chasing those Sitkas!

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #16 on:** November 13, 2019, 01:29:15 PM »

Thank you. Near Hollis, by boat, about 15 minutes from the ferry terminal.

Ironhead · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2019, 01:33:31 PM »

Beautiful Buck, I have always loved the color of their stout antlers their blocky build and double throat patches.
I have killed quite a few when I lived in Juneau and always regretted not getting one mounted. Looks like a good reason to go back.

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2019, 01:41:49 PM »

I decided on a euro, mostly because of space restrictions. I'll probably regret it. He had a pretty cool little black dot or Marilyn Monroe beauty mark about the size of a dime right below his right gum line.

I think my FiL was disappointed that I wasn't going to shoulder mount it, but I just don't have the space for it. I'll definitely go back. I am going to go back likely for the kids spring break and help him finish up the house they are building.

WoolyRunner · « **Reply #19 on:** November 13, 2019, 04:26:52 PM »

Awesome. Did you see or hear any wolf or wolf sign? A friend of mine posted a video a few weeks back of wolves howling off the edge of a landing he was on.

Chesapeake · « **Reply #20 on:** November 13, 2019, 04:42:00 PM »

There are a few folks making deer calls up there. AKTIS and Drop Shot are a few.

I've tried them down here, they don't seem to have the same effect on Columbia black tails.

That's a nice rutted up forkey. Nice red horns.

Curly · « **Reply #21 on:** November 13, 2019, 04:44:36 PM »

Congrats

KFhunter · « **Reply #22 on:** November 13, 2019, 05:58:59 PM »

nice buck, he sure is purdy!

didja shoot from here to here? if so I'm impressed

j_h_nimrod · « **Reply #23 on:** November 13, 2019, 06:29:26 PM »

Quote from: 7mmfan on November 13, 2019, 11:19:09 AM

That's fantastic, sounds like a great time. You're right about the rubber boots. I frequently wear my Xtratuffs in the field down here like I did up there, and get some odd looks. Long walks on rocky roads are tough, as are steep sidehills, but otherwise, I can't think of a better hunting boot.

For sure! I know for a fact I have taken more animals in Xtratuffs than any other footwear, mountain goat to bear to deer. They take some conditioning of the foot n ankle, but hard to beat.

j_h_nimrod · « **Reply #24 on:** November 13, 2019, 06:39:52 PM »

Good job, Sitka on POW are a great hunt. Numbers and size are down significantly over the last number of years, I know guides no longer offering deer hunts because the population is down so much. The wolf population is a heavy suspect, though Regs on wolves are being made more liberal this year so there will hopefully be an uptick in the next few years. Back in 1999 the population and health was great with some real nice animals every year. Most of the guys I knew then road hunted and turned up a good number of big forks, 3x3s, and bigger each year. Still some Booners out there but just not as many. Last hunt I guided there was in an epic remote area during the rut and we only turned up 2 decent bucks and harvested none

Lucky1 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 13, 2019, 06:40:22 PM »

Cool buck. Congrats.

JimmyHoffa · « **Reply #26 on:** November 13, 2019, 06:41:50 PM »

Congrats. Was wondering if Putin was going to give you a vacation.....

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #27 on:** November 13, 2019, 07:45:40 PM »

Thanks, all. He was estimated to be a 5 year old or so. He was heavy and stinky, and he had rub remnants you can probably make out in the pic in reply #2.

Me and Vlad are tight. If you're ever in Moscow, I know a few ladies he could hook you up with if you are into soiling former POTUS' mattresses.

Lot of wolf sign, scat, broken up fawn ribs, etc. No howling. No actual sightings or tracks.

This was the actual shot. The larger picture was just near the top of the cut before getting into timber, saddles, and muskegs.

redi · « **Reply #28 on:** November 13, 2019, 08:43:46 PM »

Nice buck love the double throat patch

Turner89 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 13, 2019, 09:16:52 PM »

Very nice buck

I shot my first buck on pow in 1989. Back then we got a total of 6 deer tags. 2 of the tags had to be used on islands aside from pow if I remember right.
There was tons of bears at that time, and I don't know if the wolves were considered abundant, but I would see them every now and then.
Looking at the pics of the clearcuts, they don't look as full of foliage as I remember them being when I was up there. I wonder if they are spraying pesticides as much as some places down here? I'm pretty confident that's running the deer out of one area I hunt.(timber company)

RB · « **Reply #30 on:** November 13, 2019, 09:22:32 PM »

Quote from: 7mmfan on November 13, 2019, 11:19:09 AM

That's fantastic, sounds like a great time. You're right about the rubber boots. I frequently wear my Xtratuffs in the field down here like I did up there, and get some odd looks. Long walks on rocky roads are tough, as are steep sidehills, but otherwise, I can't think of a better hunting boot.

Did you see any other bucks, or many other deer?

My brother, nephew and every guy I know in SE AK hunts with the same boots!! Have never hunted POW but have heard stories. Great write up and nice Buck!

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #31 on:** November 13, 2019, 11:46:39 PM »

Thanks, guys. My first one on POW was about 10 years ago, a smaller forkie. I was very pleased with my experience. I would say the cuts were about 3-5 years grown. There was no shortage of foliage. And I doubt they'd even bother. There was another large area harvested just up the road from my FiL's place, very recently, and to be honest, it is not even a dent with how abundant the resources are up there.

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #32 on:** November 14, 2019, 05:09:14 AM »

Quote from: RB on November 13, 2019, 09:22:32 PM

Quote from: 7mmfan on November 13, 2019, 11:19:09 AM
That's fantastic, sounds like a great time. You're right about the rubber boots. I frequently wear my Xtratuffs in the field down here like I did up there, and get some odd looks. Long walks on rocky roads are tough, as are steep sidehills, but otherwise, I can't think of a better hunting boot.

Did you see any other bucks, or many other deer?

My brother, nephew and every guy I know in SE AK hunts with the same boots!! Have never hunted POW but have heard stories. Great write up and nice Buck!

Ryan I don't understand why you don't hunt there given you have people to hunt with there

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #33 on:** November 14, 2019, 08:45:16 AM »

Non-resident license/tags are not as cheap as they once were. IIRC, it was ca. $600 for license and two deer tags last time I went. Now it was $600 for license and one tag, with no price break for a second tag. Then you have to figure air/ferry. Plus food and lodging, if you don't have contacts there. Guide/charter if you need water transport.

I am extremely thankful for an opportunity that I was literally given.

Twispriver · « **Reply #34 on:** November 14, 2019, 06:01:44 PM »

Blacktails are my favorite deer and that is a really handsome buck - congrats

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #35 on:** November 14, 2019, 06:40:33 PM »

Thank you, sir.

pd · « **Reply #36 on:** November 14, 2019, 09:15:10 PM »

Quote from: Fl0und3rz on November 13, 2019, 01:03:35 PM

Thank you. He had a nice symmetry to him and a kind of squarish profile from the back. No pics, though.

I am looking to become Prime Minister of Canada or Governor of Virginia.

Awesome. Inside baseball.

RB · « **Reply #37 on:** November 14, 2019, 09:29:32 PM »

Quote from: 7mmfan on November 13, 2019, 11:51:01 AM

Quote from: Fl0und3rz on November 13, 2019, 11:28:01 AM
Saw another mature buck tending a doe as they escaped on the other side of a cut/draw that I was ascending, but they were down the other side, before I could even get my rifle up. Another of the party got shots on two but missed in close brush.

While I was sitting on a knob in the muskeg, emptying the water out of my boot, a yearling came running in to my call and then slowly circled around to get the wind on me for about ten minutes and to within about 15 feet. It was pretty cool to think that I may have been the first or only human that deer has seen. It circled around and slowly made its way into the brush.

I blew the call again later and it came busting back out across the muskeg, and then on the far side of the muskeg another mature deer ran across, but I couldn't get a good enough look to see if it was a buck.

Was it a locally produced call you were using. Meaning, local to POW? I've always been curious if those calls would work for BT down here. They seem to work like a champ up there.

Just for giggles I tried a Sitka call in eastern washington watching some whitetail, they threw their tails in the air, snorted and wheezed away out of sight and ear shot hahaha. Have tried it here for blacktail and no luck, but in SE AK it is so cool to call them in!

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Author Topic: Prince of Wales Blacktail (Read 5996 times)

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