Killing a big blacktail?

[bow4elk]

Any deer in the Rut is unpredictable, but there is a location that that buck frequents daily a favorate salad bar, or a favorate bedding area, or at least every couple days, find that spot with trail cameras, and very careful scouting, the trails he comes and goes on it takes dedication and a lot of time. If he makes it through the late buck hunt there is a very very good chance he will be in the same general location next year.  Measure his tracks look for those tracks while scouting if he is truely big you should know his print size by sight mark these location on a google map of the area. Every time you go into this area check the wind morning and evening so you have a good idea where to set up.  Put all your efforts together and you will know where this bucks core area is.  Get a very comfortable tree stand, use extreme sent control, and sit all day. One tip get a gameboy or some video system to play in the tree, because this aint Iowa and you aint going to see 30 deer, maybe 2 or three. 

Great advise Hunter Dug!  I will read a book or write in a notebook but sitting all day is key.  Daylight till dark isn't for everyone, but it can be the best way to tip the odds in your favor.  You have to be ready too so don't get lazy or sloppy.  We all know how quickly and quietly a deer can wind up in your shooting lane.  If you are not ready, you likely will never see that buck again.

[bow4elk]

I have seen 3 4pt + blackies where this one likes to graze in the last 4 years.. I assume there is somthing that they really like in this spot.  I have also seen some does there in the last week or so.  Seems like a good spot but the deer aren't there everyday.. seems like its just part of a larger circle that they cruise.  Anyway Ill give it a go and see what happens.

Remember that does are in estrous for a short period of time; about 24 hours.  Bucks will be holed up with a particular doe until they allow him to breed her, then he bails and hits the streets again searching for another receptive doe.  This trolling behavior will often become a frenzy of all-day movement as the number of available and breedable does dwindles.  bucks get a bit panicky about it and will be scent checking all doe trail networks in the process.  They will often travel perpendicular to trails as a way to scent check the greatest number of trails as quickly as possible..

Also, the gestation period is around 198-200 days for blacktails.  So you can also work backwards from the first fawns dropping this next spring.  Count back 200 days and you'll come up with the specific date breeding took place, or at least a very tight window.

[trophyhunt]

I've been hunting these evil deer for 22 years, I have killed plenty and passed up some pretty nice 3x3s the past few years. When i say plenty i mean plenty 2 points or 3x2's, I am a firm believer that 60% of the big deer killed that make the book are POACHED. Lots of people see the big ones during elk season or at night, that's when they get taken a lot, I just hope some day to see the BIG one during the right time of year and in the day time. Good luck this late buck, and i hope that someone hasn't allready taken your big buck during this last elk season.

[finnman]

If they did they were trespassing.

Talked to Bob M. today, he said they saw some real nice bucks during the elk season, and no bulls during the rifle season. He said he thinks the rut is just tapering off around the ranch. He also heared that up high things were still going strong. I hope you kill that buck before a cat does!

[Skyvalhunter]

Blacktail are not much of a migratory animal. If there is does around the area where you seen him he will be there. Usuallythe only things that move them is rut(where they go to find a doe if none are around) and deep snow. But their range is usually around a mile.

[bow4elk]

Blacktail are not much of a migratory animal. If there is does around the area where you seen him he will be there. Usuallythe only things that move them is rut(where they go to find a doe if none are around) and deep snow. But their range is usually around a mile.

Their home range is often 1-2 square miles for lowland bucks but they will travel welll outside that during the rut in pursuit of does.  Some foothills and most all Cascade blacktails are indeed migratory. They will move with the season, and are not beyond dropping down to rut with lowland doe groups.