Smartest deer?

[EastWaViking]

What's your opinion on this?   I have hunted all three breeds in Washington State, each breed is different as far as how they react to being hunted.  Here is the order I would put the deer breeds in as far as spookiness and smarts.   From smartest to dumbest bucks. 

1.  Mature Whitetail
2.  Mature Blacktail
3.  Young Whitetail
4.  Mature Mule Deer
5.  Young Mule Deer
6.  Young Blacktail

Actually a grouse and a spike blacktail would tie for 6th place.   

[Kowsrule30]

IMO a mature BT is the hardest to tag.... 7/8 of the country has a mature whitetail on their wall....

[Huntbear]

Mature Blacktail bucks are the hardest big game animal to hunt in my opinion.  They are almost completely nocturnal, and will go into the thickest, steepest crap they can find, if pressured, and STAY there.  Whitetails, are more creatures of habit, and Muleys, well, even if spooked, they will stop and look back at ya.   

[EastWaViking]

IMO a mature BT is the hardest to tag.... 7/8 of the country has a mature whitetail on their wall....

True, but I'm saying the smartest deer not the most hunted.  I think a big blacktail is a real trophy and hard to get, because there are not that many of them.  But as far as wit and cunning, I think they are second to whitetail.  I have had mature blacktail bucks stop and offer a second shot, never had that happen with a whitetail.

[robescc]

Mature Blacktail. Hands down.  I would like to see a hunting show come to Washington or Oregon and hunt em.  Then we can see what they are really made of.

[shawnb]

White tail you can pattern very easily, black tail are fore sure the toughest to hunt. It's all about being at the right place at the right time

[littlebuf]

its a black tail but you'll never get a east side guy to admit those deer over there are stupid compared to ours. it would make him look real bad when he doesn't get a deer  

[EastWaViking]

 You need to have hunted and killed a mature buck of each species to be able to answer the question.   I still say Whitetail hands down are the smartest deer.  Blacktail bucks just move more at night, but they are not nearly as cunning and aware as a whitetail.  Blacktail are a slightly higher IQ muley... at least that's my experience.  

[littlebuf]

You need to have hunted and killed a mature buck of each species to be able to answer the question.   I still say Whitetail hands down are the smartest deer.  Blacktail bucks just move more at night, but they are not nearly as cunning and aware as a whitetail.  Blacktail are a slightly higher IQ muley... at least that's my experience.  

  sounds like a east sider

[EastWaViking]

You need to have hunted and killed a mature buck of each species to be able to answer the question.   I still say Whitetail hands down are the smartest deer.  Blacktail bucks just move more at night, but they are not nearly as cunning and aware as a whitetail.  Blacktail are a slightly higher IQ muley... at least that's my experience.  

  sounds like a east sider

a both sider actually.     11 years on the West side the rest on the best side.

[EastWaViking]

Let's make this thread more fun, post a photo of your best blacktail and best white tail and or muley.

[littlebuf]

all ive got is blacktails, white tails are to easy so i dont hunt them 

[EastWaViking]

 

[NWBREW]

all ive got is blacktails, white tails are to easy so i dont hunt them 

 

[NWBREW]

I've killed blacktails, mulies and whitetail. But over ther last 16 years it's been all whitetails.Once you learn them....it's easy....big bucks- the rut, little bucks- anytime. I only shoot the dumb ones, I never see the smart ones.