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.