New to blacktail deer hunting

[BeatsWorking]

Looking to get in to deer hunting this season and was lucky enough to draw a multi season tag, plan to hunt modern and muzzle loader. I have a small piece of property out near lake cushman where I plan to hunt 621. Been setting up trail cams and glassing in preparation to find some good spots but not seeing a whole lot out there. Was looking for any tips on tactics for hunting these elusive black tails. Seems like most of the deer I have seen so far are on cameras back in deep dark brushy game trails. Do folks have better luck glassing/hunting reprod or finding an area of traffic and waiting? Any help is well appreciated

[screedler]

There's a piece of literature you should buy and read "Blacktail Trophy Tactics" by Boyd Iverson. There's also a second version of this book as well... I only have the first. They're both out of print but it's a great resource for identifying habits and patterns of blacktail deer that you can take advantage of during the season.

One of the best pieces of advice from that book is to find the game trails between bedding and feeding areas and get yourself situated to observe. The deep dark bushy areas are where the big bucks will stay for the most part. I've shot some spikes during the day out in the sunlight on the side of logging roads in reprod but I considered myself dumb lucky to have come across the youngins.

It oughta be better hunting closer to the end of the modern firearm season when they're closer to the rut. Also; if it's raining GET OUT THERE!! The rain gets the critters moving moreso than during nice clear days. I reckon the noise from rain helps you in multiple ways, the leaves on the ground will be less crunchy when you step on them and the rain should get deer up and active more than they would be on a hot sunny day.

Good luck out there this season! Blacktail is delicious

[addicted1]

I’d say don’t get discouraged if you don’t see anything while hunting, they can hide really well. Just keep at it, might take a few seasons to figure stuff out. I’ll second Iverson books, you only need one of them (kind of expensive). But, has all the information to put you on a fast track for success.

[screedler]

I’d say don’t get discouraged if you don’t see anything while hunting, they can hide really well. Just keep at it, might take a few seasons to figure stuff out. I’ll second Iverson books, you only need one of them (kind of expensive). But, has all the information to put you on a fast track for success.

To validate what they've said, I spent the first 5 years of my hunting career with no tags filled and not a buck in sight, i didn't know what the heck I was doin.

[blackveltbowhunter]

With BT and in particular  blacktail bucks you will be hunting more by faith than by sight. If you are finding trails, tracks, scat and beds have faith. If you can find some old rut sign like rubs, and a fawn or 2 have faith. If you have pictures of does and fawns with no bucks, have faith. A buck will likely show when you least expect him, but the where should not be that shocking. The most experienced bt hunters I know have  great patience waiting for when but are not too surprised on the where.

[kodiak06]

Patience is key. Tree stand hunting/ground blinds are a good way to go about it. The brushy trails in timber are great AND you can bait if you want.

[BeatsWorking]

Thanks all for the great additional advise, it sounds like I will be sticking to the woods where I have better luck with my trail cameras and picking up some additional reading material. Another question I had was around scent and how critical it was for blacktail hunting, I assume I should be using some form of scent blocker while out in my blind to prevent being scented along with some form of Estrus Urine near the rut?

[MADMAX]

I use
3 different scents
2 different doe in heat
1 buck urine

[fish vacuum]

Move slow. Every step through the woods offers different windows to look through. They'll be standing there looking at you, and your lane to view them can disappear with one step in either direction.
Carry a grunt tube and give it a blow if you bump deer. I've killed a few bucks that I spooked and then convinced to give me another look with a single grunt. The only other time I use it is if I screw up and loudly break a branch.