new blacktail hunter (another one!)

[JRRJ2021]

Hello all,

I am a new (adult) hunter this year. I am hunting modern rifle season and due to needing to stay close to home for family time etc. I am limited to the areas I can hunt in. (mainly GMU 652, 653, 654). I have a large area I have been scouting for a while with some promising spots in it. I am not looking for a big buck - any one will do to get meat in the freezer. I do not mind back country but it has to be at least partially accessible to me (IE I can hike in without having to bushwhack too much).

My big question is this - if I have found a spot (or two) where I have seen Does during August and September as well as a lot of general deer sign, if I still hunt or even sit in a blind in an area where I know they are at, will the bucks show up as it gets closer into Rut to find the Does or do I need to go out and try to locate a buck specifically?

My second question is a little more varied but in general - weather wise - when does the snow start to hit the higher elevations in the area (say above 4000 feet) as I would count on the snow to drive some deer down a little lower elevation but also demotivate some hunters to get out into the area.

Any advice in general is welcome. I have been reading several books on hunting blacktail and know they are quite a challenge which I do not mind as I enjoy spending time outdoors as a long time backpacker and hiker. Books do not replace local knowledge however so I thought I would ask on here after lurking for a several months.

Thank you

[Grousehunter19]

I’m in somewhat of the same spot that you are. Would you recommend any of the books you read?

[b0bbyg]

I am no expert but I think bucks will be around the same areas as the does when it gets closer to the rut. 

I have one area I like to set trail cameras mostly for Elk but I do get deer (bucks and does) on the camera every year almost always at night.  While I have seen a few does during the day I have never seen a buck live in that area. One year I had 3-4 different bucks coming by the camera and salt block, never saw one while hunting.  So I imagine they are there just need to get into the thick stuff to find them or boot them out.

[JRRJ2021]

I’m in somewhat of the same spot that you are. Would you recommend any of the books you read?

I borrowed a copy of Scott Haugen Trophy Blacktails the science of the hunt and read it.
waiting for a copy of Blacktail Trophy Tactics by Boyd Iverson.

both I saw recommended on here by other people in the past.

Best of luck out there this fall.

[JakeLand]

Your best would be to spend all of November and into December up in the woods where you hunt , you will learn more about blacktail in those 2 months then any book

[predatorG]

Not sure if a blind is super necessary if you're hunting MF. You will be able to take shots from way further than a blind would be necessary. Get out there in the nasty weather during the last week of Oct. Find somewhere that you can glass from. Be there are early and as late as you can and bring lots of hand warmers. Then sit and glass into cuts and reprod and enjoy getting thoroughly soaked until you shoot a buck. That's basically the jist of MF BT season advice that you will get on this site. If I were you I would take advantage of the fact you have a ranged weapon and don't handicap yourself by going somewhere you can only see 50 yards. At that point you might as well just buy an archery tag.

[JRRJ2021]

Not sure if a blind is super necessary if you're hunting MF. You will be able to take shots from way further than a blind would be necessary. Get out there in the nasty weather during the last week of Oct. Find somewhere that you can glass from. Be there are early and as late as you can and bring lots of hand warmers. Then sit and glass into cuts and reprod and enjoy getting thoroughly soaked until you shoot a buck. That's basically the jist of MF BT season advice that you will get on this site. If I were you I would take advantage of the fact you have a ranged weapon and don't handicap yourself by going somewhere you can only see 50 yards. At that point you might as well just buy an archery tag.

Thank you. right now in the spots I am looking the longest shot I would have is about 175 yards. Being a new hunter I want to limit myself to 200 yards and under even with my rifle (the shooting range I go to only has targets out to 200 yards.) I am fine in nasty weather and even prefer it so hopefully that helps. My only thought with the blind is it would allow me to move around and stretch a little without alerting any nearby animals but it is probably not necessary.

[Judson]

If you seeing does and deer sign you will see a buck eventually regardless of the time of year. If does are there it means there is food, water, and shelter. Everything a buck would need

[Judson]

Blind is a great idea as long as you dont mind packing it. I find big cedar trees with low branches and sit leaning against trunk. I have hip shot deer from 5 feet doing that

[buggy]

If you're seeing does and sign in an area then the bucks are not far away just less visible. 

[jason stevens]

The recommendation of the reads is truth. Educate yourself. When it comes to blacktails I've found that old growth timber an thick habitat is key walk 2 steps an look an go slow.  You will walk right past good deer if your not looking. I've done it. So be patient.  Find an area that you think people won't go an then go but do it slow.  Blacktail are ghosts but you can get good deer if you take your time.thats my 2 cents.good luck on your upcoming season.

[bow4elk]

As was recommended already, read Boyd Iverson's and Scott Haugen's books. Boyd was a good friend and we spent many hours conversing, comparing notes, and swapping trailcam pics over the years.  He passed away a while back and is truly missed. Scott is also a friend and though he moved to AK recently, he still makes time to come back for blacktails! He developed a line of blacktail scents that I tested over about 3 years.  They were discontinued with Oregon's natural deer urine law prohibiting urine-based scents due to CWD precautions.  And Mr. Cameron Hanes' book is also very good too, and he put out a video as well. As with everything Cam does, he goes all in and it comes through in his book.  Lots of good info to absorb.

I'm a blacktail nut-job too, and spend a lot of time studying these deer and their ways.  I have put out a lot of practical information on the subject via podcasts and blog posts, which can be found on my site. Each year I mentor a number of new blacktail hunters and I've helped quite a few people tag their 'first' bucks - many bigger than any of my deer (which is even better!).  I'm not sure it gets any better than helping someone find their own success in the field.

On my old site, I wrote a 7 part series on my approach to blacktail deer hunting. That was about 10 years ago now. It's since been turned into a 2-hour seminar that I've presented many times over the years. I am always refining it as I learn and get schooled by these crazy deer!  I am glad to help with specific questions but go check out the posts and podcasts on my site too. I think you'll find these resources valuable because I tried to distill down many years of experience into concise methods, tips, and tactics.  Hit me up with specific questions and if people are interested, I'd be up for hosting a Q&A Zoom call or something to cover a bunch of stuff real-time.  Just an idea.

[fishnfur]

Several good answers here.  Jakeland cannot be questioned.  His many (massive) successes guarantee that he knows what he's saying, though that's not quite enough information for a new hunter trying to kill a deer this season.  Hitting the woods in Nov/Dec isn't going to get it done, but you will certainly be better prepared for next year by learning important deer sign that indicate good areas to hunt hard. If you search for posts by Jakeland (or perhaps Radsav), subject "Blacktail", you'll learn a ton of good information that compliments your other readings and field work. 
     
Books can give you a big head start if you really learn the material and then get in the field and try to put that information into a workable knowledge base.  You can't read a book and go out on the opener and expect to have success (unless it's pure luck).  It takes years to take all that book knowledge and acutally understand what it means when you're in the field, but sometimes that isn't necessary.  Being in the right place at the right time, intended or not,  trumps all else.  On the other hand, we hunters often say ""luck" is when preparation meets opportunity" Learning where and when deer might be in a spot takes boots on the ground time to produce consistent results.
     
Predator G and J Stevens provide good comment.  If you've got a rifle, there's no sense in sitting in a blind unless you're totally positive that deer will walk in front of your regularly.  Blinds really limit your field of view and often restrict your hunting to under a hundred yards ( or much less.)  Blinds are great for bow hunting in areas where an upclose shot is expected, otherwise I'd suggest a tree stand if you want to sit and wait for action above a known active area.  Still hunting is very hard and most hunters move way to fast.  Jakeland describes his still hunting a "slug slow".  He's not kidding.  Take that to heart  That said, if you know an area where deer frequent, sloooowly moving through the area while staying hidden/shaded/or otherwise hard for a deer to see will increase your odds over a blind (again, unless you're sure the deer will pass to and fro in their daily movements).  Noticable human movement and noise will ruin your hunt pretty quickly.
   
The sign and sightings that you're seeing indicates that there are deer in the area regularly.  You really have to ask yourself why are the deer  there to understand what is going on. Are they bedding, feeding, or just traveling through the area?  Figuring out why deer are doing the things that your finding sign of gives you better insight into their daily lives and insight on the best ways to hunt them in that particular situation.  Every spot is different, especially if you're travelling a good distance from area to area.  Browse changes.  Winds change (which in turn changes the way deer bed and feed).  Sun aspect in relation to a slope..... etc.
   
Killing a good blacktail is hard.  I always suggest two-point of better for bucks.  A 2.5 year old forkie buck will have 40 or more pounds of meat on them than a 1.5 year old spike.  If it's getting late in the season and a spike presents a shot, then you've got to decide how important that meat in the freezer is.  No one will second guess you. 
   
Regarding the snow..... that will only help you if you have a heavy dump above 4K before late buck season (mid-Nov). It probably won't happen in October and often doesn't happen during the late season.  If it does, then if you expect to take advantage of the deer movement due to snow, then I'd guess you should already know where the deer go when they go downhill.  They use consistent travel corridors year to year, and if you don't know where those corridors are or where the deer end up (honey holes) then you're just guessing.  Studies showed that something like 75 0r 80 percent of blacktail deer movement is at night so the odds are tough to say the least.  You need to do some serious scouting to figure out this puzzle.  Lastly, I'm wondering about White River....memory tells me there's virtually no deer hunting areas worth devoting time to.  First Nation leases and National Forest lands limit quality hunting spots.  I might be wrong...someone else can chime in..  Mashel ain't the best either (I believe).  Perhaps the Kitsap Peninsula or farther South or North?  I'm guessing here.  I never hunt there.  Skokumchuck has the highest success rates year in, year out (or nearly so)  Food for thought.    Hunting prospects by GMU can be found here: https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations/prospects
2020 hunter success reports idicate good areas to focus hunting activities on this year: 
https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/game-harvest#2020-harvest
   
Good luck.  Time in the woods is the real reaward for Blacktail hunting in the first few years.  Hunting success is a bonus. 

Disclaimer:  I'm not a great hunter but I spend a lot of time in the woods.  That's enough.  Don't believe everything you read but instead just add it to your knowledge base. 

[fishnfur]

As was recommended already, read Boyd Iverson's and Scott Haugen's books. Boyd was a good friend and we spent many hours conversing, comparing notes, and swapping trailcam pics over the years.  He passed away a while back and is truly missed. Scott is also a friend and though he moved to AK recently, he still makes time to come back for blacktails! He developed a line of blacktail scents that I tested over about 3 years.  They were discontinued with Oregon's natural deer urine law prohibiting urine-based scents due to CWD precautions.  And Mr. Cameron Hanes' book is also very good too, and he put out a video as well. As with everything Cam does, he goes all in and it comes through in his book.  Lots of good info to absorb.

I'm a blacktail nut-job too, and spend a lot of time studying these deer and their ways.  I have put out a lot of practical information on the subject via podcasts and blog posts, which can be found on my site. Each year I mentor a number of new blacktail hunters and I've helped quite a few people tag their 'first' bucks - many bigger than any of my deer (which is even better!).  I'm not sure it gets any better than helping someone find their own success in the field.

On my old site, I wrote a 7 part series on my approach to blacktail deer hunting. That was about 10 years ago now. It's since been turned into a 2-hour seminar that I've presented many times over the years. I am always refining it as I learn and get schooled by these crazy deer!  I am glad to help with specific questions but go check out the posts and podcasts on my site too. I think you'll find these resources valuable because I tried to distill down many years of experience into concise methods, tips, and tactics.  Hit me up with specific questions and if people are interested, I'd be up for hosting a Q&A Zoom call or something to cover a bunch of stuff real-time.  Just an idea.

I've got a question - what is your name?  I'd guess a hunter/author with the intials T.R.,  but i've no knowledge of any history with him and B. Iverson or S. Haugen. I've listened to podcasts, read now defunct web pages ( maybe seven parts on post-season deer scouting and core rut zones) and a published article or two about BT hunting by him which sounds mysteriously close to your resume.   Just curious.  I't doesn't really matter. Can't wait to hear some words of wisdom.

[bow4elk]

Yes, that's me alright.