Blacktail question(pics added)

[deerslyr]

im hunting a 60 acre piece of private property and found some really nice rubs that were made 3 or 4 days ago. I put out some estrus urine right by the rubs and ive been doing some rattling but so far ive only seen spikes chasing does. Should I keep hunting over the rubs? would it be better to give it 4 or 5 more days until the rut really picks up? ive never tried this type of hunting considering i usually hunt timber company where I can cover more ground and find the bucks moving but hunting on the private land that real thick you gotta catch them in there or try and rattle/call them in. Any suggestions id apprecitate, im trying to help my dad get this buck during rifle and if not ill try for him during late archery.

[7mag.]

It's a little early for mature bucks to respond to rattling, it seems like the young bucks are chasing the does right now. The bigger bucks won't start chasing until the does go into estrous, hopefully next week.

[PolarBear]

Using too much scent at the wrong time can chase a big buck away while attract curious immature bucks. Lay off the scent, back away from the rubs and don't get real agressive with your rattling.  Big blcktail bucks will shut down faster than anything and be damn near impossible to find.  

[deerslyr]

dam I hope i didnt scare him away this mornin was the first time i tried rattlin but ive put out scent in 3 different places over the last 2 days. Ill give it a break till the 28th or 29th and see if he starts workin the area again. another thing to consider is im the only one whose hunting this area and these bucks dont recieve any pressure so hopefully he doesnt get to spooked from me bein out there the last 2 days.

[PolarBear]

All it take is one time for him to feel pressured to mess the whole thing up.  If you are hunting rifle I would set up as far away from the site as possible and still have a shot, get as scent free as possible, sit still, quietly and wait him out.  Since it is private land, wait as long as you can (closer to the rut) to go after him.  Basically, hit him at his prime time and don't risk pushing him out of the area before hand.

[deerslyr]

Well based on that I already probably spooked him out. We have 5 or 6 does that stay around the place the whole year and I literally have never seen a buck there until the rut starts, but once the rut starts all sorts of bucks start movin through and some real toads at that. Im thinkin there will be more bucks movin through and theyll start gettin more and more stupid as the week progresses. Thanks for the advice PB and 7 mag I really appreciate it and I just learned somethin new about blacktail huntin even after I thought I new alot 

[Atroxus]

Sorry if I am thread-jacking...but I am curious when the rut starts/ends? I was told that only archery hunters get to hunt during the rut. Is that not true?

[deerslyr]

I usually see the most rutting action on the 30th of october thru the 15th of november..but im no expert compared to most of these guys.

[PolarBear]

I usually see the most rutting action on the 30th of october thru the 15th of november..but im no expert compared to most of these guys.

[billythekidrock]

Well based on that I already probably spooked him out. We have 5 or 6 does that stay around the place the whole year and I literally have never seen a buck there until the rut starts, but once the rut starts all sorts of bucks start movin through and some real toads at that. Im thinkin there will be more bucks movin through and theyll start gettin more and more stupid as the week progresses. Thanks for the advice PB and 7 mag I really appreciate it and I just learned somethin new about blacktail huntin even after I thought I new alot 

I wouldn't give up on him yet. Just back off as stated above. Since it is private land and there are does there, he will be back eventually. It is often just a matter of minutes. Sit back aways and stay right up until legal hours are over. That last couple minutes of daylight is often the best.

If they are not pressured (private land) then you should really not have to do much in the way of scents and rattling. I am not saying "don't do it". I am saying "wait until the perfect time". Right time of the rut, does in the area, maybe a small buck as well, weather, etc.

Good luck.

[7mag.]

Check out the thread "Blacktail tips,and tactics, helpful hints", or something like that. It's in the deer forum. There is a link to an article that bow4elk wrote, and is really good.

[deerslyr]

The problem BTKR is its about 20 year old reprod and REALLY thick and there are only a few openings you can catch them in so its kind of hit and miss unless you find a way to lure them in. Like I said ill give it a little while im not given up on him yet and im sure there will be more mature bucks makin there way through just gotta catch them. Thanks everyone for the help ill let you guys know how it goes 

[billythekidrock]

20 year old reprod? Sounds like it needs a pre-com thinning.

Yea, you may just have to wait until the time is right to try come rattling/calling. I have called in a few deer with the little bleat n heat cans.

[deerslyr]

its not timber company so there wont be any thinning and the guy who bought it was going to subdivide it but ran out of money...thankfully.

[billythekidrock]

It is too late for this year, but would it be possilbe for you to trim up a few trails for next year? Just a few clips here and there can give you some good shooting lanes.