Blacktail Deer Question

[Bogie85]

Hey All,

I have heard that the normal rate of success in Washington for Blacktail is one every 5 years. Being that I am new to hunting, and haven't had success yet. Still hoping I may get a chance during archery but modern rifle was a bust too many people kind of ruined it. That being said, the more I talk to locals the more I hear the statement that people are more successful specifically with blacktail by driving around looking for them. I am wondering if this is just situational, or if others seem to have the same experience? I thought originally people road hunted because they got older and hiking in to the woods etc. But now I am wondering if it's just a common thing because people have had better success that way.

[Onewhohikes]

It all depends on the area you are driving around in. are you driving stopping and glassing. Some heavily driven areas the deer stay away from.

[Griiz]

I sit on my butt in ground or tree stands waiting for them to come to me. If I’m still hunting I’m really looking for places for new stands. I never road hunt and can pretty much always harvest a decent buck with these tactics. Good Luck as blacktails can definitely be frustrating to harvest.

[JimmyHoffa]

My opinion:  I think to be good at it, you really need a passenger and the patience to keep driving slowly.  Even crawling along in the vehicle is still about 4-5 times faster than the guys walking.  If there are clearcuts or thinned/older timber, it would be tough to see what you need as one person also doing the driving.  If it's just overgrown roads, a lone driver hunter at any speed can probably have similar results.

[Bogie85]

It all depends on the area you are driving around in. are you driving stopping and glassing. Some heavily driven areas the deer stay away from.

Most of the locals are driving heavily wooded areas no glassing just driving waiting for one to pop out in the road.

[Bogie85]

I sit on my butt in ground or tree stands waiting for them to come to me. If I’m still hunting I’m really looking for places for new stands. I never road hunt and can pretty much always harvest a decent buck with these tactics. Good Luck as blacktails can definitely be frustrating to harvest.

This is good to know, man you aren't kidding lol. I spent 4 months setting up a bait station clearing brush, making a trail quiet to my stand. And then Rayonier bought out pope resources and shut down access screwing my last 4 months :/. Oh well lesson learned . I have yet to see 1 buck that I could put my sights on and take a shot. I have seen a few does, but not often. We were out this week and weekend and ran into a group of hunters that were 15-20 deep. Never saw one thing, saw sign but never saw a buck. It can be frustrating as heck, but I guess I like a challenge or something.

[Bogie85]

My opinion:  I think to be good at it, you really need a passenger and the patience to keep driving slowly.  Even crawling along in the vehicle is still about 4-5 times faster than the guys walking.  If there are clearcuts or thinned/older timber, it would be tough to see what you need as one person also doing the driving.  If it's just overgrown roads, a lone driver hunter at any speed can probably have similar results.

These people are just claiming they do bow hunting and drive 5-10 mph waiting for a legal deer to pop out on the road. I am still new to Big Game Hunting, but that's not really how I want to get a deer. I want my first deer to be achieved because I put in the effort.

[brokentrail]

My suggestion, no matter what kind of hunting you want to do, glass cuts, hunt timber bottoms with ferns, watch a crossing, etc,  is get as far away from people/pressure as possible.  I know there are people that drive around and manage to luck into a deer.  It has actually happened to me before when moving between locations but I do not consistently see deer that I have a chance at harvesting from my vehicle.

It also isn't how I prefer to hunt, YMMV.

[Onewhohikes]

YMMV?

[brokentrail]

YMMV?

your mileage may vary..... just means I gave my opinion... it may not suit everyone as we are all different.

[Special T]

Read Byod Iversons  "Blacktail Trophy Tactics 2" it will tell you a lot.

Start scouting right after the season ends. IMO this falls into 2 categories. 1 searching for a good area. Some times the area is obvious but access is impossible. I once found 80 acres of DNR land to hunt that was surrounded by gated communities. Once I found access it was awesome. 2 learning an area really well. Blacktail are everywhere but figuring out the how and where they move is pretty important since water and feed is everywhere. Most of scouting is done with a pistol, mapping software and hand pruners.

[EastLake13]

I went out blacktail hunting last year for my first time, and managed to get a spike. The weather was horrible, raining hard. I was absolutely soaked and the gut pile was floating away as the entire area started to flood after I got it down. The hunters I did see stayed in their trucks or tents.

This year, I didn't have much time but wanted to help my brother get his first deer. Each day we were able to get out, we returned to areas we had seen deer in the past but the weather was clear and very little wind. Hunters everywhere, and almost no deer sign. We knew we had failed in our preparation, in part because lack of time. I had done most of my work online trying to find access to public land, looking at county plat maps, reading easements on deeds, etc.

The advice I have is really only for an inexperienced hunter on what to expect, but I would look hard for difficult access to public land e.g. hard to find or difficult/long walk in. Prepare more than you think, even if the preparation is frustrating. Sometimes hiking through a bunch of really crappy terrain can at least rule it out, or teach you more about geographic features like plants, water sources, timber types (I'm from CA so this has all been difficult). And hunt terrible weather. That was probably the single most important element to my success last year and kept nearly all the other hunters in that area at home or in tents.

I think teaching yourself requires a lot comfort with upwards failure.

[Bogie85]

Read Byod Iversons  "Blacktail Trophy Tactics 2" it will tell you a lot.

Start scouting right after the season ends. IMO this falls into 2 categories. 1 searching for a good area. Some times the area is obvious but access is impossible. I once found 80 acres of DNR land to hunt that was surrounded by gated communities. Once I found access it was awesome. 2 learning an area really well. Blacktail are everywhere but figuring out the how and where they move is pretty important since water and feed is everywhere. Most of scouting is done with a pistol, mapping software and hand pruners.

I was trying to find a copy but they are over 100 bucks each right now since I think they are out of print. Yeah I have gotten better, found a rub line this year and heavily used trails. I need to find a new spot that people can't get to as easily.

[Bogie85]

I went out blacktail hunting last year for my first time, and managed to get a spike. The weather was horrible, raining hard. I was absolutely soaked and the gut pile was floating away as the entire area started to flood after I got it down. The hunters I did see stayed in their trucks or tents.

This year, I didn't have much time but wanted to help my brother get his first deer. Each day we were able to get out, we returned to areas we had seen deer in the past but the weather was clear and very little wind. Hunters everywhere, and almost no deer sign. We knew we had failed in our preparation, in part because lack of time. I had done most of my work online trying to find access to public land, looking at county plat maps, reading easements on deeds, etc.

The advice I have is really only for an inexperienced hunter on what to expect, but I would look hard for difficult access to public land e.g. hard to find or difficult/long walk in. Prepare more than you think, even if the preparation is frustrating. Sometimes hiking through a bunch of really crappy terrain can at least rule it out, or teach you more about geographic features like plants, water sources, timber types (I'm from CA so this has all been difficult). And hunt terrible weather. That was probably the single most important element to my success last year and kept nearly all the other hunters in that area at home or in tents.

I think teaching yourself requires a lot comfort with upwards failure.

Yeah rain helps a lot. But when the weather sucks they do move at least. I know that because my buddy got one last year when it was pissing down rain. I have found sign and know where deer are holding up. The problem is the weather doesn't play in my favor. If it's too nice they just don't move at all. I have tried rattling in spots I know bucks are located, I have tried fawn bleat calls. I have hiked 15 miles into a spot with no road access, I just can't get them out of the forest. I had a bait station setup and cam with deer showing up. But it's hard to find these boogers, I am ok with failure. I have failed 4 years in a row lmao, but I am not giving up. I know I will eventually have luck play my way.

[Special T]

Read Byod Iversons  "Blacktail Trophy Tactics 2" it will tell you a lot.

Start scouting right after the season ends. IMO this falls into 2 categories. 1 searching for a good area. Some times the area is obvious but access is impossible. I once found 80 acres of DNR land to hunt that was surrounded by gated communities. Once I found access it was awesome. 2 learning an area really well. Blacktail are everywhere but figuring out the how and where they move is pretty important since water and feed is everywhere. Most of scouting is done with a pistol, mapping software and hand pruners.

I was trying to find a copy but they are over 100 bucks each right now since I think they are out of print. Yeah I have gotten better, found a rub line this year and heavily used trails. I need to find a new spot that people can't get to as easily.

keep searching online with several different book sellers. I told this to a guy I now not near me. it tookk him a while but he found one for $20. BTTT the first edition is good also if you can find it. I dont remember how much difference was in the 2nd book. Its too bad Byod Iverson has passed away because LOTS of knowledge is in that book.

[Onewhohikes]

Sometimes I think your better off sitting in an area if you have had deer on cam. Problem is if the pics are all nocturnal. I have a tough time sitting and waiting.

[brokentrail]

I really think if you can force yourself to sit, and sit all day,  you have a better chance of getting a deer, as long as there are deer using/in that area.  I see a lot of deer that are not within the 2 hour morning/evening time most folks are usually in the woods.

[Buzz2401]

I shoot a deer every year.  Usually small 2-3 points.  I typically start out driving from clear cut to clear cut glassing.  If I am not seeing anything in the cuts I will move to still hunting the timber.  I personally have had horrible luck still hunting unless I get some good cover weather(wind, snow, fog, rain).  If its calm and sunny it can be incredibly hard to sneak up on deer in the thick western Washington woods.  Not an expert by any means but it works well for me and has for 25+ years.

[JakeLand]

My opinion skip road hunting as it’s not hunting
99% of my hunting is done steep and deep where no one else wants to go
Rain and wind is your friend I prefer hunting steep ground with small benches or small older cuts along timberlines once you 6+ miles in is where you start to not see anyone

[cooltimber]

I really think if you can force yourself to sit, and sit all day,  you have a better chance of getting a deer, as long as there are deer using/in that area.  I see a lot of deer that are not within the 2 hour morning/evening time most folks are usually in the woods.

You r right ,im better between 10-3;30.

[JakeLand]

I’ve never shot a mid day buck, always crack of dawn or last minute till dark and a vast majority are in the rain

[brokentrail]

I’ve never shot a mid day buck, always crack of dawn or last minute till dark and a vast majority are in the rain

Really @jakeland ?  I never would have assumed that with how far in you go and I assume you are in there daylight to dark?  I have killed deer in the early morning, mid-day and last light but all of my deer combined probably don't score what one of yours does    The biggest blacktail I've ever shot was a crab claw 3, everything else has been forks.  Granted, first legal deer I get a chance at, I'm taking it.

[fishnfur]

Hey All,

I have heard that the normal rate of success in Washington for Blacktail is one every 5 years. Being that I am new to hunting, and haven't had success yet. Still hoping I may get a chance during archery but modern rifle was a bust too many people kind of ruined it. That being said, the more I talk to locals the more I hear the statement that people are more successful specifically with blacktail by driving around looking for them. I am wondering if this is just situational, or if others seem to have the same experience? I thought originally people road hunted because they got older and hiking in to the woods etc. But now I am wondering if it's just a common thing because people have had better success that way.

The success that road hunters have is based on several factors 1) luck that a buck jumps out in front of you, 2) covering a lot of ground by glassing many cuts during a single day rather than just one, or 3) by having several hunters in the rig looking into and under the forest for deer as they drive slowly down the road. That one in 5 years is an average based on all hunters.  Some kill bucks every year (Jakeland and others), some never kill bucks but just like getting out of the house and trying.  The first years are the toughest.  Once you get a shot off on one, your confidence level goes way up and you have the patience to suffer the bad weather and long sits (or bike rides - Jakeland again!) because you now really know that there is such a thing as a BT buck.  They are no longer a myth. 
 
As far as archery hunting in the late season, I've had no luck myself, though I've often lost the fire for hunting after modern firearm.  I continue to hear stories by other hunters that have managed to rattle in big bucks near clearcuts/reprod all the way into late December.  I would definitely make rattling a significant portion of your strategy post-rut, and probably make it vigorous loud rattling that might get a local buck off his butt to go investigate. 
   
The bucks are not actively cruising anywhere near the level they were previously.  As the weather gets colder, deer metabolism slows down so they don't need as many calories input to stay alive during the winter starvation period.  That presumably means less and less movement.  If a local doe is still unbred and cycling through estrus periods, there are bucks still interested in taking care of her needs.  The next 10 days or so should be the best of the remaining season -BT studies showed that 99+ percent of the doe population has conceived by the first few days of December.  That doesn't mean the bucks have totally lost interest, but their odds of finding a hot doe are very small, so presumably, they are back to doing things that ensure their winter survival.   

I may be wrong but the way I see it, to find a buck in the late season, you need to do one of three things - 1) them in their beds, 2) assault them as they come and go to feed (which is now very close to where they bed since the best browse is long gone), or finally - 3) lure them in by making them think they have a chance to breed another doe.  Good luck!

[fishnfur]

I just posted this on a different BT thread, which differs from my response above: 
--------------------------------------------------------
I just went back through my old messages and found this short statement by PolarBear who is a very good hunter:

"If I was hunting late season I would still do a drag line but sit in a spot and watch the edges of the timber or saddles where they cross to feed.  I usually don't call or rattle after the middle of November.  The bucks are not as interested in does and are now in the feed before it gets really cold mode. You could try some light rattling or doe bleats just don't go overboard with it.  I have seen bucks come back into rut at the end of December.  I helped an old timer kill a HUGE 5x5 on New Year's Eve a few years back that was pushing a doe really hard.  It was the one and only time I have seen a blacktail buck in full rut that late in the year."

I added after his comments:
My first instinct would be to rattle loudly hoping to get noticed by every buck within earshot.  Perhaps his way first, then louder later.  Keep moving periodically to areas outside the sound range of the last location.  The quasi-biologist in me thinks that bucks don't come and go in and out of rut, they just continue to respond to an estrus doe until they loose their antlers.  The buck may have been focused on eating previously, but if a hot doe is close, food is quickly forgotten and all he wants to do is breed.   

[slowhand]

My opinion skip road hunting as it’s not hunting
99% of my hunting is done steep and deep where no one else wants to go
Rain and wind is your friend I prefer hunting steep ground with small benches or small older cuts along timberlines once you 6+ miles in is where you start to not see anyone

Tell Me this doesn't sound exactly like Deerburger.
Jake Knows His Sh-t and has had great success harvesting mature blacktail. I have followed him on here for a long time. When He talks I listen. also 3nails is the man.
You are doing things right Zack. We just had the covid muti season sellout, pope resorces, no access deerburger gate, and mexican mafia year from hell. Spend your time setting up a bait station and camera at that rub line we found. Its by far the most rubs I have ever seen in one location.
Also Your buddy slowhand knows his stuff. LOL
Loosing My two best areas to pope resorces made it tough.

[Skyvalhunter]

lets see those rubs