collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard  (Read 5173 times)

Offline Tree Farmer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 55
  • Location: La Center Wa
Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« on: October 23, 2020, 11:34:51 AM »
I have a little spot near my house that holds quite a few deer that I like to hunt. Last night I got home from work with about 30 minutes of light remaining. I jumped on my four wheeler, rode into my spot and hiked into the little opening where deer frequently cross. It was almost dark and I was getting ready to leave when a deer came quickly walking into the far end of the opening. He had his nose on the ground and was cruzing. I could see horns naked eye from about 130 yards. It’s only about 50 feet across this opening so by the time I get my gun up he was almost gone. I grunted to try and stop him. He immediately stopped. Did a 180 and tried to identify where the grunt came from. I was able to get one shot through the boiler room with my 20 gauge Remington 870. I live in the Battle Ground Unit firearms restriction. He spun around about three times and hit the ground.

I have trail cam pics from this summer and fall of a great 4x4 that I will include. This was the buck I was looking for. The buck I killed I have not seen nor do I have any pics. Because we have so many does I wonder if the rut brought him into this spot from another area. His neck was swollen, he was cruzing with his nose on the ground, and he stunk to high Heaven.

He had to have weighed 230 lbs. It took my 19 year old daughter, her boyfriend any myself about 3 hours to drag him out. By the time we had him hanging in the shop and cleaned up it was well over midnight. It has been a tough year. My 46 year old wife spent 61 days in the ICU at the begging of the year. We almost lost her. COVID and other things haven't helped. Our Lord works in mysterious ways and is always watching over us. I truly believe this was His work and I shed a tear during my prayer of thanks.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2020, 10:12:33 PM by bobcat »

Offline Fl0und3rz

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 51553
  • Location: E. WA
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2020, 11:36:41 AM »
Whoa!  Nice blacktail.  Congrats.  And glad to hear that things are looking up.

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20872
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2020, 11:37:45 AM »
Stud!

Online Boss .300 winmag

  • FLY NAVAL AVIATION
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+22)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 18760
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • How do you measure trying, you do, or you don’t.
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2020, 11:39:45 AM »
Nicely done.👍
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

Keep Calm And Duc/Ski Doo On!

Offline bornhunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2018
  • Posts: 2608
  • Location: Lewis County
  • Groups: NRA, RMEF, Wa Cattlemens Assc, Stevens County Cattlemens Assc
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2020, 11:39:52 AM »
Wow! What a buck. Congrats on that big boy.

Offline trophyhunt

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 19564
  • Location: Wetside
  • Groups: Wa Wild Sheep Life Member
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2020, 11:40:13 AM »
You killed a great deer!!!! 
“In common with”..... not so much!!

Offline Tree Farmer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 55
  • Location: La Center Wa
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2020, 11:40:53 AM »
Thanks. if anyone knows how to rotate the top pic please do so.

Offline WapitiTalk1

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 7902
  • Location: Wet Side, Rainier, WA
  • Groups: RMEF, NRA, US Army (R)
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2020, 11:41:10 AM »
Pig!  Congrats, really nice BT.
Darton Archery Maverick II
Traditions Vortek StrikeFire Smoke Pole
Weatherby VG-2 Boomstick
"Poking at a campfire with a stick is one of life's great satisfactions." Patrick F. McManus

Offline OutHouse

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 3295
  • Location: Cowiche WA
  • Department of Foliage, Lifetime Member
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2020, 11:53:10 AM »
 Very nice! Anyone else think that buck's left antler looks like a whitetail antler?

Offline Tree Farmer

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 55
  • Location: La Center Wa
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2020, 11:56:51 AM »
It sure does. I thought it was kind of strange.

Offline highside74

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 5161
  • Location: Eatonville wa
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2020, 11:58:05 AM »
What in the world? Holy moly!

Offline Fatherof5

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2019
  • Posts: 442
  • Location: Island County
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2020, 12:01:09 PM »
Awesome buck! Congratulations!!!!

Online jowings22

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Oct 2017
  • Posts: 125
  • Location: I'm here
  • Groups: RMEF
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2020, 12:03:45 PM »
 :yike: Congrats on a great buck!

Offline BLDtraLR

  • BLOODTRAILER or BLDtraLR for short
  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 620
  • Location: Auburn, wa
  • }--->$ Mathews V3X Wishin i was on a bloodtrail
  • Groups: Washington ST archery Pope & Young club
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2020, 12:06:29 PM »
 :tup: :tup:
}---->$  Always on the money with the Mathews DLD/V3X

Offline blackveltbowhunter

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 4108
  • BLAM
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2020, 12:26:07 PM »
Great deer!! Congrats!

Offline Hectocotylus

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 186
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #15 on: October 23, 2020, 12:26:49 PM »
Beautiful deer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline SeatoSummit88

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 343
  • Location: Bothell
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #16 on: October 23, 2020, 12:36:12 PM »
That is one stud BT. Nice work! I hope they are still rutting and acting stupid come mid Nov!
If I'm not selling, I should be hunting, If I'm not hunting, I should quit!

Offline HillHound

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2019
  • Posts: 1618
  • Location: Central Washington
  • Groups: NRA, RMEF
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #17 on: October 23, 2020, 12:44:04 PM »
That’s an awesome buck! You sure wouldn’t think it from the size of its body but those antlers look like he’s crossed with one of those Columbia Whitetail. Years ago I had a buddy kill a 6 x 6 black tail about an hour north of you that looked just like a white tail rack.

Offline Tenkara

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 862
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #18 on: October 23, 2020, 01:34:01 PM »
Awesome buck, congrats.

Offline Rainier10

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 15967
  • Location: Over the edge
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #19 on: October 23, 2020, 01:40:50 PM »
Great googley moogley that is a stud blacktail.  Congrats.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example instead of his advice.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HuntWa or the site owner.

Offline Lucky1

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 3940
  • Location: Kelso
  • Groups: NRA. GOP
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #20 on: October 23, 2020, 01:51:23 PM »
Cool buck. God is good!
He looks like he has some Whitetail genes ...
Socialism
Is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. It’s inherent value is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchill

Online pianoman9701

  • Mushroom Man
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 44687
  • Location: Vancouver USA
  • WWC, NRA Life, WFW, NAGR, RMEF, WSB, NMLS #2014743
    • www.facebook.com/johnwallacemortgage
    • John Wallace Mortgage
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #21 on: October 23, 2020, 01:53:31 PM »
Fantastic buck.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace

Offline Henrydog

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2016
  • Posts: 1103
  • Location: Eastern Washington
  • Groups: NRA Life Member, RMEF, Phesants Forever
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #22 on: October 23, 2020, 01:58:20 PM »
That is a dandy.  Nice work

Offline sjhgraysage

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 397
  • Location: Spokane
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #23 on: October 23, 2020, 02:07:08 PM »
You were blessed with a great buck.
Congrats!

Offline Jlittlebear31

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Nov 2016
  • Posts: 34
  • Location: Monroe
  • Groups: RMEF
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #24 on: October 23, 2020, 02:10:30 PM »
What  brute!!!
"Raise your sons to be men and your daughters to accept nothing less"

Offline IFunk

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2019
  • Posts: 118
  • Location: Seattle
  • Groups: BHA, TBOW
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #25 on: October 23, 2020, 02:11:24 PM »
What a gorgeous and unique looking BT Buck!

Offline JakeLand

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (+35)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 4492
  • Location: Wet side
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #26 on: October 23, 2020, 03:54:53 PM »
Wow !

Offline teanawayslayer

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2010
  • Posts: 4203
  • Location: Eastside
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #27 on: October 23, 2020, 04:26:56 PM »
Great buck!!
Happiness is being in the woods!!!

Offline Webfoot

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 314
  • Location: Forks Wa.
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #28 on: October 23, 2020, 04:43:40 PM »
Great blacktail. Good job.

Offline codak

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 20
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #29 on: October 23, 2020, 07:17:01 PM »
what a wonderful buck! your story was awesome to read. The lord does work in mysterious ways!
Dang oh!

Offline fishnfur

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 3805
  • Location: longview
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #30 on: October 23, 2020, 07:19:32 PM »
Very nice! Anyone else think that buck's left antler looks like a whitetail antler?

I think they both look like WT antlers in the last photo.  Very cool - looks like he was getting a dropper on the R.  Every once in awhile, a BT buck ends up with a rack that looks suspiciously like a WT, especially in the lowlands.  Columbian WT's were common in the region from the Columbia River up to Southern Puget Sound in the distant past.  Hybridization has been confirmed between the two species previously, so it makes perfect sense that every once in a while, the BT offspring get a rare mix of genes that produces antlers that appear to belong to WTs. 

Excellent way to close out the season Tree Farmer.  Hopefully this success means you've turned the corner on a rough year and things are now headed in a positive direction.  Shoot me a PM sometime if you want to talk trees.   
“When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”  - Will Rogers

Offline 7mmfan

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 5496
  • Location: Marysville
    • https://www.facebook.com/rory.oconnor.9480
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #31 on: October 23, 2020, 07:48:00 PM »
Excellent buck, great job!

In relation to the antlers, blacktail are prone to all kinds of goofy antler configurations. I know a guy that's killed two near Darrington that had similar antler configurations that ones left side. The all off the main beam is consistent with Whitetail, that's what we recognize it as, but it happens in blacktail as well as mule deer. A close friend killed a whopper Mule Deer in sage brush of Yakima County a few years ago that had all antler points of the main beam. It happens.
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.

Offline pd

  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 2527
  • Location: Seattle?
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #32 on: October 23, 2020, 10:07:50 PM »
Forget about that four point in the trail camera. You shot the much better buck.

Congratulations!
Si vis pacem, para bellum

Offline Axle

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 2088
  • Location: Issaquah
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #33 on: October 24, 2020, 07:08:35 AM »
Good story  :tup: :tup: :tup:
I am the man what runs with the football: Jerry Clower

Offline abhold87

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 174
  • Location: Moxee
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #34 on: October 24, 2020, 03:45:03 PM »
Amazing buck congrats
The pursuit of happiness is best spent In the outdoors doing manly stuff like killing things or fishing.

Offline fishnfur

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 3805
  • Location: longview
Re: Blacktail Down and Rutting Hard
« Reply #35 on: October 24, 2020, 04:03:42 PM »
Excellent buck, great job!

In relation to the antlers, blacktail are prone to all kinds of goofy antler configurations. I know a guy that's killed two near Darrington that had similar antler configurations that ones left side. The all off the main beam is consistent with Whitetail, that's what we recognize it as, but it happens in blacktail as well as mule deer. A close friend killed a whopper Mule Deer in sage brush of Yakima County a few years ago that had all antler points of the main beam. It happens.

Agreed.  Muleys and WT also hybridize occasionally.  The antler configuration could show up many generations after the original cross-breeding. I don't think I've ever seen a WT with forking like a muley though....  Hmmmmm

Regardless,,,, great success on that stellar buck!  Congratulations again.
“When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”  - Will Rogers

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Bow mount trolling motors by GWP
[Today at 07:32:25 AM]


Nevada guide draw Mule Deer by High Climber
[Today at 07:18:34 AM]


Anterless 1334 muzzle loader by Bendejo
[Today at 07:17:52 AM]


Cowiche Quality Buck by buglebuster
[Today at 07:10:20 AM]


2025 Draw Results by Elkaholic daWg
[Today at 07:02:27 AM]


Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help? by Rugergunsite308
[Today at 06:27:17 AM]


SE raffle tags holder by HntnFsh
[Today at 05:39:57 AM]


11th Annual 'Pull For Scouting' Clay Crushing Classic by high_hunter
[Today at 12:27:18 AM]


AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!! by high_hunter
[Today at 12:21:33 AM]


Ritzville Rifle Buck - GMU 284 by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 11:49:16 PM]


Antlerless Moose more than once? by shootem
[Yesterday at 11:25:51 PM]


Nooksack Muzzleloader Bull Tag by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 10:42:24 PM]


My wife drew quality deer DESERT rifle 10/18-10/26!!!!! by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 10:17:15 PM]


Palouse buck deer by blumtnelkndeer
[Yesterday at 10:14:00 PM]


Drew Quality by Jimmer
[Yesterday at 09:34:00 PM]


Quality Swakane by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 09:09:17 PM]


Observatory quality bull rifle by buglebuster
[Yesterday at 09:00:02 PM]


A little Martini Cadet varmint rifle I have been working on by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 08:43:33 PM]


Pogue Quality by geauxtigers
[Yesterday at 08:38:35 PM]


2025 OILS! by HUNTNORTHWEST
[Yesterday at 07:46:27 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal