Blacktail

[bhammac]

Have a multi-season tag, usually use archery tag in past seasons with success.

Was trying to fill an early tag in Western Wash for Blacktail. Scouted hard all summer, got my stands set up, have located lots of deer prior but since opener the deer have seemingly vanished or only are hitting my trail cams at two in the AM. Hunting both private and public. Granted, I know Blacktails are good at this but.....

Just wonder what everyone's philosophy is regarding early season tactics for Blacktails versus waiting till rut? For a lot of multi-season vets, is it worth even hunting early? 

Thanks.

[ASHQUACK]

Unfortunately blacktail are there when their there. I have a few on camera but not a one in daylight after 09/01. It's like they know. I've hunted the multi-season tag and have given up on early deer.

[fowl smacker]

Saw a lot of deer archery season.

[Grousehunter19]

I have had this problem as well. What I ended up doing was putting a bait pile in a small clearing along a game trail. The clearing is open enough to shoot in, but is enclosed and has enough brush that the deer feel safe eating there during daylight hours. The one I hunt is about 5 yards wide at the widest point and 15 yards long. The bucks stopped coming in during daylight hours after the first 3 days of the season. However the does still routines come in during daylight hours.

It’s been hard to draw on them without them noticing me on the ground. But maybe a tree stand would be easier?

[bb76]

Try putting out some apples.

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[Huckleberry]

Jump shoot everything. They are animals in the woods. If the going is thick and tough the deer are there. I almost walked over this one last week. Head height ferns, salmonberry and blowdown is usually a recipe for success. Shots are tough but unlike the other deer, blacktail usually don't instantly bolt.

FYI the trail cams and tree stands I walked by were on relatively open game trails for the area. I don’t know why an animal would use them in the daylight short of the rut or summer and velvet horns. I can’t imagine the owners were doing much more than sitting.

[dreadi]

Bait and sit.


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[slowreflexes]

I have a multi-season tag also and have had about the same experience where I am only seeing deer moving after dark. I have only seen does in the daytime since the season started. I have been mostly still hunting, but I've seen several blinds out near bait piles.

I walked by someone else's bait pile yesterday and it looked like the deer were eating the apples. 

[slavenoid]

I use my multi season tag by carrying the wrong weapon. You see all kinds of deer at bow range if your holding a rifle looking for bears.

My personal experience is deer (blacktail) are easy to find early archery and it gets harder and harder to find them during the day until the rut hits. I did find two nice bucks today in a tight pocket in reprod with does. I might have to actually dust off the muzzleloader.

[MAVsled]

wait for late October and the blacktail rut.
Early season as velvet disappears, so do the blacktail bucks.

Sit your treestands then. I'd still use my bow, but wear hunter orange if rifle season.

[mboyle0828]

Is the rut still on during late (November) archery?

[Mallardmasher]

Is the rut still on during late (November) archery?

2nd estrus, more younger buck action, or if a hot doe a toad will be in pursuit. The thing about blackmail is, in the velvet stage they tend to stay in more spacious areas, when the velvet goes, they go back to there thick lairs, in the summer, I am not looking for deer persay, but the evidence they left behind last year. Look for heavy big rubs, not a rub here and there but a concentration. This is his home, and should be where you place your stand, not in his bedroom, but the hallway leading to it….

In Sept, pay close attention to barometric pressure, and moon cycles. Twice in sept we had little or no moon periods, and weather fronts approaching, and both days my cams lit up with day time big buck photos……

And again as said before apples. Haha, in oct, the ladies will still be eating them throughout the day, and the bucks will be trailing them hard…… just my thoughts

[bhammac]

Appreciate all the insight and suggestions!

[blackveltbowhunter]

This is a tough question. If you have a specific buck located that will not get pressure during September, ( no elk season or hunting, little overall pressure, private land, or deer that are accustomed to human disturbance ) then September can be the best time to kill him with archery. Depending on the circumstances I have seen them continue summer pattern well into the first week. If he disappears on you will need a little luck but he probably hasn't gone far, very likely a change of bedding area and more nocturnal pattern. The bad news, you will need some luck and to tread lightly to locate his new bedding area and set up closer to it, or lure him out with some bait to catch him during daylight whether this works depends on a host of factors, several of which are beyond our control.  The good news is he is still on a pattern. Probably eating in the same locations, returning to the same bed etc.... just doing it later. 

   

[high_hunter]

Jump shoot everything. They are animals in the woods. If the going is thick and tough the deer are there. I almost walked over this one last week. Head height ferns, salmonberry and blowdown is usually a recipe for success. Shots are tough but unlike the other deer, blacktail usually don't instantly bolt.

FYI the trail cams and tree stands I walked by were on relatively open game trails for the area. I don’t know why an animal would use them in the daylight short of the rut or summer and velvet horns. I can’t imagine the owners were doing much more than sitting.

Good advice and great pic.  Classic BT image from my experience....frustrating during Archery but less so in Muzzy or Modern!

@bhammac get out as much as you can, especially during the low light hours.  In my experience, the blacktails like to stay in a reasonable home range so just have to put in the time once you know where they are (or to find them).  Once the rut kicks in you could find them out any time.  Find the does and find the bucks.  Take the first good opportunity that is presented.  Good luck.