Late Blacktail help

[Buckmark]

It's been 16yrs since i have really chased a blacktail, so i decided that for the late hunt i would give it a whirl for a few reasons.
1) Have never tagged one with the bow
2) I have a really nice set of blacktail antlers from when i was 11 that i would like to have head mounted.
3) I like venison..
Way back when, i would hunt the snoqualmie area (tree farm), i drove up there and low and behold trees do regrow, Every area i used to know is now grown back up so i have decided to stay close to home.
If anyone has any info on areas near north Snohomish, Skagit or island counties i would greatly appreciate it.
I am not not going to be picky, meat in the freezer is just as important as getting a nice cape so either or will work this year..
Thanks, Frank... pm's please..

[bow4elk]

Let's see that rack from when you were 11.

The blacktail rut behavior can go well into December but will vary depending on specific doe/buck ratios in the areas you are hunting.  Keep that in mind.  Bucks could be holed up alone or chasing does right into December; it's a crap shoot, really.  Bucks that are holed up will be very focused on conserving energy and remain close to food and security cover.  They eat so much variety that it's nearly impossible to know what they prefer unless you can find live deer feeding and hone in what they are eating.  Even then, bucks may choose different food sources than does as the late archery season progresses.

I've called in bucks in December with fawn bleats and rattling.  Last December I had two bucks aggressively fighting about 100 yards from where I was tending to my downed buck on a cold clear night.  I broke them up with my halogen light, both shooter bucks.

Think:
- Thick cover
- Minimal and deliberate movement, early, late and mid-day in security cover
- Continue to hunt near doe hangouts and feed areas
- Selective calling (near doe feed/bed areas)
- Still-hunting mid-day thickets and secluded "edge" habitat

Good Luck!

[Eagle eye]

All real good info right there bow4 elk!

[D-Rock425]

this is my dads deer from last year when we had all that snow in Dec.  I told him not to shoot it becouse it was a dink but he shot it anyway

[D-Rock425]

The only help i could give you is try to get permission to hunt some farms in the valley can find some big bucks in the river valleys