Buck tags - Blacktail

[Ridgerunner]

You don't hear much chatter about these tags, prime rut dates and alot of good blacktail country is covered by these tags.  Looking at the harvest reports they seem to have pretty low success rates, has anyone on here had these and had a good hunt?

[fishngamereaper]

My kid had one a few years ago as a youth tag and we passed on smaller bucks. Ate the tag...

The rut had actually died off in our area..First week of Nov isn't always the best...prime in our spots is usually Oct 25-30th...give or take a couple days.
We kill big enough bucks during general season we typically don't apply for these tags.. just did it for his last year of youth...

[trophyhunt]

I hunted with my buddy last year who had the white river quality deer tag, we only saw a small 3 point and covered a lot of ground.  Pretty much a let down for us, expected to have more opportunities during that time of year, starts Nov 1.  tag soup for him.

[Bullkllr]

My wife had the Skook a few years ago. Rut seemed hot right when it opened, but then buck activity seemed to take a nosedive. We saw what I can only describe as the biggest buck I ever expect to see and a small 3 point, but that was it for bucks. She ended up shooting a one-horned two point. Actually saw less deer overall than regular season.

[jason stevens]

The 448 unit tag is great. Alot of big blacktails if you can draw it. I've been out around my house with out the tag an wished I had it. Heavy horned dark old bucks

[Ingwe]

I have been lucky enough to have had one of these tags twice. I got a big 3 point first time.  I ate the tag second time. I saw a lot of 2 points and small 3 points both times. On second time I did see a couple really big bucks but couldn’t get a shot. My experience first 7 days of November are prime and then starts slowing down, at least in area I hunt. I would like to draw a permit again.

[kentrek]

You talking the actual buck category for deer hunts and not the quality hunts correct?

[Ingwe]

I have had the quality tags. Only 4 per unit in my area. I would rather hunt blacktails than elk

[Huckleberry]

I’m sitting on too many points for a blacktail tag. Once I go to zero and start again I’ll be putting in for these so I can have more hunts and less waiting. November is like October. If it’s nice they are in thick stuff, if it’s stormy or first/last light they might expose themselves. Big blacktail are almost everywhere and these hunts provide opportunity which is as good as it gets these days

[kodiak06]

Harvest stats are very misleading. A lot of individuals do not report their kills with that in mind. It's only $10 for not reporting.
Oregon made it $25 but not sure if it makes a difference here.

[blackveltbowhunter]

I have had 2 quality, and 1 buck. Hunting partner had a buck as well. Won't say specific units. But am happy to report my observations. Side note: I only apply for bt, so it's not like these tags are raining, lotsa points burned.

Both quality tags were home runs. Resulting in multiple buck sightings, lotsa rut action Several above average bucks,  was able to pass on bucks I would have happily tagged during general and essentially had the woods to myself. Harvested my goals on both permits.

My buck tag was tougher for several reasons.  Proximity to unit was an obstacle for scouting etc....  I also had a multi elk tag that year, which caused some moments of indecision. In the end, I saw few deer, fewer buck, no BIG bucks. Also battled heavy pressure from elk hunters.  Did harvest a buzzer beater, a solid forkhorn and was grateful to take him.

Hunting partners hunt was somewhat better, he was able to scout hard, saw more deer overall including a few nice bucks and rut sign. However, he also battled woods full of elk hunters, and sporadic rut action.  He ate the tag after passing a couple younger branched bucks.

To summarize. The majority of the buck hunts seem to be in units with lower deer densities, and larger elk populations attracting more folks to those areas. My personal goals would be lower on these hunts, unless I had the opportunity to become intimately familiar with the unit and locate a stud. However, like most blacktail country, a mossback is for sure hiding in a nook or cranny and that is the best time to catch him slipping up.

[JakeLand]

I have had 2 quality, and 1 buck. Hunting partner had a buck as well. Won't say specific units. But am happy to report my observations. Side note: I only apply for bt, so it's not like these tags are raining, lotsa points burned.

Both quality tags were home runs. Resulting in multiple buck sightings, lotsa rut action Several above average bucks,  was able to pass on bucks I would have happily tagged during general and essentially had the woods to myself. Harvested my goals on both permits.

My buck tag was tougher for several reasons.  Proximity to unit was an obstacle for scouting etc....  I also had a multi elk tag that year, which caused some moments of indecision. In the end, I saw few deer, fewer buck, no BIG bucks. Also battled heavy pressure from elk hunters.  Did harvest a buzzer beater, a solid forkhorn and was grateful to take him.

Hunting partners hunt was somewhat better, he was able to scout hard, saw more deer overall including a few nice bucks and rut sign. However, he also battled woods full of elk hunters, and sporadic rut action.  He ate the tag after passing a couple younger branched bucks.

To summarize. The majority of the buck hunts seem to be in units with lower deer densities, and larger elk populations attracting more folks to those areas. My personal goals would be lower on these hunts, unless I had the opportunity to become intimately familiar with the unit and locate a stud. However, like most blacktail country, a mossback is for sure hiding in a nook or cranny and that is the best time to catch him slipping up.

we need pics !!!!

[mikeandcilla04]

I had a quality blacktail tag last year, after 19 years of applying. It was fun and frustrating at the same time. In the past I have ran across good buck, during modern elk season. After 14 days of hunting, seeing 50+ smaller bucks, I shot the best buck I had seen. Ended up with a nice 3 point, but I was able to spend every day in the woods for 2 weeks. I also live local and it would be tough to have the tag, if you didn’t have the ability to hunt the entire season if needed. I will put in for the tag again, in hopes of finding a true 4 point someday.

[TeacherMan]

This thread needs pic 😎

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Harvest stats are very misleading. A lot of individuals do not report their kills with that in mind. It's only $10 for not reporting.
Oregon made it $25 but not sure if it makes a difference here.

In Alaska you can't get game permits the next year if you don't report.

[dylanb]

i drew a buck tag last year, got blessed with 60 degrees and sunshine but the rut is a special time. shot my buck the first day around noon chasing a doe. wish i could of hunted it longer. and i still have my quality points!

[greenhead_killer]

Now that’s a cool buck!

[Sundance]

I’ve had one draw tag for archery blacktail in 2013 that I pulled with a friend. We both harvested 4 days into the hunt, me on a non-typical 4x4 and him on an old 3x3. I haven’t applied since because I’m building points for mule deer hunts.

My advice for these tags is that just pulling the tag isn’t enough, you need to have historical knowledge of the area to consistently take mature bucks. I’ve identified core rut zones that have been unchanged for 10-20 years in some areas. I can put a camera there October 31 through November 15th and catch good bucks consistently working these spots during peak rut, sometimes 10+ legal bucks a day.

Where it’s different for me, is that during general rifle I still see a lot of cruising and find the deer are more responsive to calling. In a 600 acre area I may have 8-10 stand locations to work depending on wind and time-of-day. Come November 1st through the 12th that same 600 acres will be narrowed down to 1-2 spots which I’ll sit on for the whole day.

One area in particular I’ve taken 5 bucks on, all within an 300 yard zone. I can go to this spot for an all day sit any day in October and be lucky to see one good buck. Go back to this same spot November 5-10 and it’s a madhouse, literally almost been run over by bucks chasing does while taking film. For me these tags allow you to hunt mature bucks that are usually nocturnal in their most vulnerable state, and with next to no pressure.

My caution would be that just because you draw these tags doesn’t mean you can fly blind into a unit and stumble upon crazy rut action (but hey it happens). With some knowledge of an area and scouting these tags can turn what normally is a decent hunt, into a memorable experience hunting one of the toughest critters to connect on.

[Sundance]

Archery draw tag 2013

[Sundance]

2020 general season buck taken November 1st, last day of the season. This was the only year I can remember when the general season ran past the 31st, this buck was shot and died within 50 yards of my draw tag from 2013

[Skyvalhunter]

Nice buck but as the advancement of cougars and wolves travel west those types of bucks will be harder to come by