I've been half heartedly trying to rattle in a blacktail for the last few years without any luck. I think i had one Thanksgiving day coming in, but if so he busted me before I saw him. I heard a deer blowing the alarm and running off.
I ended up tearing my quad that day going down through a clearcut. I went hunting all 4 days that weekend still but couldn't get way back where I like to hunt.
The following Saturday i had to work. On the way home I was talking to Jake (jakeland) about where I planned on hunting Sunday. I told him I wasn't going to our normal spot because of the torn quad. He told me he'd meet me on the way home and I could borrow his e bike and cart. That won't surprise anyone on here that knows Jake.
he's a good dude and great friend .
Sunday morning I headed up the mountain about 8miles back. Got up there about daylight.....totally fresh and no sweat soaked clothes
I headed down a well used game trail down through some timber. It basically follows a creek down fairly steep slope. There was a fresh set of yearling size deer tracks on the trail I was following . About 500yards down the trail with 900ft of elevation drop I decided to stop and eat a snack.
There's a big rock bluff to my right with some vine maple ontop. Perfect place for a buck to bed. I can see about 100 yds through the timber in all other direction. I rattled for about 10 seconds or so fairly lightly. Dropped the antlers and grabbed a candy bar. About 5 minutes later I rattled again about the same amount and a little louder, not much though. I dropped the antlers on the ground near my gun. Just then I heard a branch break behind me. I looked back and here comes this buck on a mission looking for the bucks he heard. He comes right down from that rock bluff and onto the same trail im on. He stops 20 yards from me and is staring right through me. I thought....crap he's going to walk right to me and my gun is laying on the ground next to me
. I didn't know at the time but the trail y'd right there. He looked to his right and fortunately took that trail
To the right. Now he's basically parallel to me at 20yards. As soon as his head went behind a tree I grabbed my gun and got on him when he got past the trees. BOOM! He took off straight down the mountain. I thought I missed
I reloaded and walked over to where I shot at him. Found a 50cal hole in a tree with hair imprinted in the hole
. Looked on the ground and found a drop of blood.
I started following his obvious tracks down the hill. Found another spot of blood and this time it was bright red and bubbles.
I knew I had him at that point just had to find him. 10 yards later there he was behind a stump.
Of course there's no phone reception so no calling my son or Jake for help.
I shot him between 11:30 and noon. Got him cut up and to the bike cart about 4:45pm.
That was probably my best deer hunting experience so far. Big adrenaline rush.
Now that I've actually rattled one in my confidence in rattling is high. I dont think ill be able to hunt any other way again. At this point in my deer hunting life just shooting any buck doesn't do it for me. It has to be a mature blacktail. That means you have to be ok not getting a buck every year.
Thanks again for the bike Jake.
