BT Debate

[jwroberts]

Just curious if I can get a debate going here.  This may be my last year hunting in this state and I am still trying to get a "nice" BT, got a couple smaller ones but nothing to impressive.  What do you guys think is the best unit/area for a nice BT?  No honey holes just units or areas, regardless of weapon choice.  I am betting a few folks will say Hancock, Randle etc.  Cast your vote and lets see what we come up with

[seansfire]

wish i new. they are dam good at hiding from me.

[GrainfedMuley]

Way too wet and thick to hunt the west side.  No blackies where I am at.   

[littlebuf]

im partial to 654 myself

[tonymoe]

are you talking general? do you have any preference points?

[billythekidrock]

What is "nice".

A. Would the rack sit in a box in the garage?
Most counties on the westside have these decent bucks.

B. Be put on a plaque?
Look for units with limited access.

C. Full shoulder mount?
Lewis County and south of there.

[Jason]

if you can find them the Washougal unit 568 always seems to put out good bucks

[Kowsrule30]

IMO as Littlebuf already stated.... Mashel is the place to go.... 2 pt min...

[Alan K]

Every unit has monster Blacktails, you just have to find them. . . It's no easier from one unit to another in my opinion.

Maybe hunt one of those units that you can shoot a decent mule deer and tell everyone it's a huge blacktail? 

[Huntbear]

if you can find them the Washougal unit 568 always seems to put out good bucks

If you do your homework, and find them early, this unit has some monsters in it.  However, since most of it is weyerhauser land, there are roads everywhere, and general season it looks like a pumpkin patch. 

I have heard that the South Rainer area has some good ones also, but no experience there.

[bobcat]

Maybe hunt one of those units that you can shoot a decent mule deer and tell everyone it's a huge blacktail? 

Yeah, like me, I shot a nice buck in the Grayback and tell everybody it's a blacktail. Everybody seems really impressed!  

Seriously I agree with Alan, I don't think there is any one unit that's better than another, not in Washington. If you really want a good blacktail go to southern Oregon or Northern California.

[littlebuf]

 If you really want a good blacktail go to southern Oregon or Northern California.



if you want to call those blacktails

[bobcat]

Boone & Crocket call them blacktails, and so do the wildlife departments in Oregon and California. Why wouldn't I? What do you call them? They're definitely not mule deer.

[Shootmoore]

Oh lord here we go again  .

I'm only posting picks of whitetail on here from now on. 

Shootmoore

[Alan K]

Haha. . . I call them Oregon or California Blacktails. . . They might be genetically the same, but they're different in my book!

[littlebuf]

the title said "debate" so figured id pull out all the arguments  

[boneaddict]

Shoot one in the Klick and haul it across the line and take a pic.    There are some big ones in Eburg too

[littlebuf]

careful now bone you might get a thread on here with your name in the title and when ya open it up its just a bunch of butt pictures

[Red Dawg]

 

[singleshot12]

If you really want a good blacktail go to southern Oregon or Northern California.



if you want to call those blacktails

Not much of a challenge in those wide-open spaces though.

And yes it's drives me nuts that they call those scrawny deer blacktail.

[Track-er]

careful now bone you might get a thread on here with your name in the title and when ya open it up its just a bunch of butt pictures

        At least they were Blacktail butts.

[littlebuf]

three of um were 

[bow4elk]

What is "nice".

A. Would the rack sit in a box in the garage?
Most counties on the westside have these decent bucks.

B. Be put on a plaque?
Look for units with limited access.

C. Full shoulder mount?
Lewis County and south of there.

Perfect summary BTKR.

Add add that Darrington and that country up that way has always produced massive bucks...Coke can bases kind of mass.  Clark County is right up there with Lewis for 150"+ potential.  And for what it's worth, I don't think WA can really complete with OR for genetics and numbers of deer.  The Willamette Valley, especially around Eugene/Springfield is a well-known core area for big deer and lots of them.  Hairloss has taken it's toll on certain areas down there as it has up here in recent years.  This El Nino winter we're having will help yearlings get through their first winter.  After the first winter, survival rate goes way up, especially in bucks.  Side topic but what the heck...I'll put a cork in it!

[Dmanmastertracker]

 The Willamette does produce some hogs, unfortunately it's mostly private land, though you can buy a permit for one of the better tree farms in that area, but it does get crowded. I would head to Eugene, or south of there if you go to Oregon. Oregon, or Wa. hike-in if you want a better than average shot at a good buck, buy a cart if you don't have one, get back there over 2 miles, unless you have friends good enough to help with a pack out. Hancock does have some good bucks on occasion, but I think Littlebuf shot them already... .

[jackelope]

there's no good blacktails north of I-90. all you guys keep on believing that and everything will be ok.
I  guess you all should stop hunting those deer that are anywhere near the cascades because they would all be those friggin mutant deer. I'm ok with that.

[KimberRich]

I agree with most everyone..  You can find a great buck in almost every unit if you put in the time and do some hiking. 

I live it Kitsap/Mason area and have always thought a decent 3x3 to be a great buck in our area and I've hiked all over creation and back hunting them around here and never got a shot at one.  I've killed some nice WT and Mulie bucks in my life but honestly the deer I'm most proud of was a medium sized forkie I shot on the last day of the season in a canyon I wouldn't wish on anyone, after hunting hard every single day of the season. 

Depends on what a trophy buck is to you..


This buck showed up out of nowhere in my yard a couple years ago.. Three days before archery season..  Of course.

[jwroberts]

wow, I haven't been able to get on here for a few days but you guys have put up some great posts.  You guys have definitely given me some things to look into.  I am more than willing to hike.  Two years ago I shot a nice WT in MT.  We left the truck before 7 and got back to it after 8.  Shot the deer at 1 and packed out the rib cage and shoulders/neck on my shoulder while my brother in law packed out the hind quarters and head/cape in his pack.  I enjoy the hard work part of hunting.  Couple of you asked so... for me I would love to get a big three point or better to make a shoulder mount.  Thanks again, may have to look into OR, have some family down ther, maybe something will work out

[Blsum]

Heres and idea for figuring out trophy potetial for areas. If you look in the record books they will tell you which counties had how many entries. Figure out which counties have the most entries and you figure out where most of the big deer are coming from. Next take a look at some maps of those counties and see if you can figure out what area's look like they would be the best deer habitat.

[Alchase]

Kimber Rich, that is a Black tail of my dreams, droptine and all, lol

Must be a McCormick golf course buck, lol
Just kidding.

[KimberRich]

Kimber Rich, that is a Black tail of my dreams, droptine and all, lol

Must be a McCormick golf course buck, lol
Just kidding.

Double Drop!!  I agree..  Best BT I've ever seen and it was in my yard..  Go figure.  Not a McCormick buck but not to far away..  Mullenix Road in Port Orchard.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Kimber Rich, that is a Black tail of my dreams, droptine and all, lol

Must be a McCormick golf course buck, lol
Just kidding.

Double Drop!!  I agree..  Best BT I've ever seen and it was in my yard..  Go figure.  Not a McCormick buck but not to far away..  Mullenix Road in Port Orchard.

 Oh no, you did it, now you are going to have every slack jawed yocal poacher from here to Canadia patrolling Mullenix Rd .

[haus]

Just curious if I can get a debate going here.  This may be my last year hunting in this state and I am still trying to get a "nice" BT, got a couple smaller ones but nothing to impressive.  What do you guys think is the best unit/area for a nice BT?  No honey holes just units or areas, regardless of weapon choice.  I am betting a few folks will say Hancock, Randle etc.  Cast your vote and lets see what we come up with

use the wdfw site if your data diggin, looking at the stats, say density wise the far north or south of WA. Hunt the OP if you want to avoid the "its not REALLY a true BT", rants. Personally I call 'em blackies all the way to the trail, on a deer to deer basis. 

Like the others say, each unit has them, heck within each square mile of BT country there's probably a nice 4x4 lol. August man, best time to scout, their all out sunnin'. Whole reason I switched to archery, I was scoutin' 510 in early September, walked up on a herd of about 14 BT's, give or take a couple, maybe 6 bucks, 3 really nice 4x4's, just hangin out in this cut right below the road I walked in on, sob's laid there and looked at me from bout 40 yards....till my phone rang  course MF opener comes around.....not a damn deer in sight.

[Curly]

578 and 388 have some pig blacktails.  Some benchlegs and pure Muley in there too though.  578 will have more blacktail genes than 388.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

there's no good blacktails north of I-90. all you guys keep on believing that and everything will be ok.
I  guess you all should stop hunting those deer that are anywhere near the cascades because they would all be those friggin mutant deer. I'm ok with that.

Exactly,  stay south of I90 to find any decent bucks....   

[DOESLICKER]

 

[DOESLICKER]

Go to the big horn show and u will find out what GMU has big BLACK TAILS.