Hunting report-Westside Blacktails

[Open-sights]

Hunted the Westside for the last two days during the late muzzleloader season.  We hunted clearcuts, transition zones near timber, inside the timber, in the thick brush where there were beds, everywhere really, but no shots.  We pushed out a total of 5 deer yesterday, we heard every one of them crash away, but no shots offered.  We had to find them hunkered down in the nastiest, thickest stuff you could imagine.  We followed tracks and deer sign into the heart of it and found them.  Only problem was they could hear us coming no matter how much we slowed down and how quiet we were; there was no way to make your way through the thick stuff without occassionally snapping downed limbs and trees branches.  Will try a blind near their exit/entrance next time.

On day two we hunted two new areas and went back to where we busted out the 5 bedded deer.  Saw no deer, and this time heard no deer.  Not a single one.  But man there was a TON of fresh sign everywhere.  It looked like a deer freeway and there were lots of fresh droppings less than 12-24 hours old.  They must be moving/feeding at night if at all.  I know a lot of the deer will not move much for a couple weeks following the rut, especially the bucks, because they are recuperating from so much breeding activity; but they have to eat sometime.  It was pretty poor hunting, but I feel okay about it because I hunted hard and feel like I hunted well.  I hope you all experience some better luck with respect to actually seeing and shooting a deer.  Keep us posted with pictures, please.  Jeff

[PolarBear]

2 words for you, tree stand.

[Schmalzfam]

We did the same but, we didn't hear or see a deer. Well, one the we think got pushed but, I was all brain farted and it didn't come together..Good luck. My hubby and Son are hunting the late Muzzy, I was rifle. Hopefully, they can get it done:)
Sheree

[Kowsrule30]

My friend missed a doe ysteday.... 

[stumprat]

Saw nothing but does this weekend. Hunted out of the treestand Friday. 4 does walked under me. The rest had to be kicked out of bed after feeding every night. Let me tell you, you won't find a better days sleep than a Summit Viper treestand

[kramman]

just got back this evening from the OP for a day hunt we saw 4 deer 1 was a nice forkie just could not get any closer then 180 yds.We also saw 9 elk 3 of which were spikes overall a pretty succesful day.Even though it was late season still saw alot of road hunters I was really surprised.All the animals we saw were behind closed gates.good luck to all       Kram

[bobcat]

I like to hear these reports of how nobody saw anything, or killed anything. Makes me feel better knowing that I wasn't the only one.    

[stumprat]

I like to hear these reports of how nobody saw anything, or killed anything. Makes me feel better knowing that I wasn't the only one.    

 

[PNWCOONASS]

I'm with you Bobcat,  I too hunted all weekend.  Didn't see, here or jump anything.  the wind and rain was nasty on saturday so I thought it was going to be a good day but nothing.  I only heard one shoot all weekend.  I was hunting 633. 

[rasbo]

zero for me today,not even an elk

[markts]

I saw elk from Thursday through the weekend. Snuck in on a herd that had a bedded bull but was only a spike. Saw deer three out of 4 days. One decent branched buck pulled a fast one on me . Had a good 4 days overall. Anyone with a 658 cow tag should PM me if interested in some help. Mark

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

Got my deer near E-burg in early season. Chased elk in 550 this weekend.
Saturday saw only one doe and at least 100 hunters. Elk busted me before I saw them in the trees.
Sunday walked all day behind locked gate on 101. Saw a one deer, 3 point buck at 30 yards, and all the time in the world if I still had a tag! Chased cows in the trees..... close but no 

[Schmalzfam]

We found a very well used fresh track/highway!! The areas is only open to archery. we never found the elk. We came aross the trail deer hunting.
But..someone else was in there before us..maybe they had some luck!!

[js99]

I was able to come across 3 does in tall timber on cat roads while scouting out an area for a bow hunter friend.  One just froze at 20 yards, the other two were spooked.  Just got in behind a gate and walked grassed up cat roads.  It seemed that the deer had no need to come out into clearcuts or transitions until night with all the vegetation in this kind of area.  It was much warmer in the timber and no frost on the ground as opposed to the clear cut nearby that was frozen solid.

[croix]

you won't find a better days sleep than a Summit Viper treestand

I concur. I was sound asleep in mine when epq21 shot his bear. Tough to get your bearings straight when you wake up to gun shots 20 feet in the air. 

I have to say though that the tree stand may be my favorite new hunting aid. I had doe walk right under me and bed down within 30 yards. I don't read or see much about stand hunting blacktail. This was my first year with one and I only used it a few times but I'm convinced that it will pay off - maybe next year.

I saw more deer sign this year in the west side areas that I hunt, but saw fewer deer. Only bucks that I saw were during archery season while I was bear hunting with a rifle. Go figure.