Black Tail

[boneaddict]

Not sure I agree with the biologists or not, but thats the stance of the leading biologists in the field.

[coonhound]

I think the Blacktails are definitely the toughest, of course I don't have a ton of WT experience.  If it's just a legal buck you're looking for not so tough, but if your really looking for a trophy 100" + you're going to have to do your homework and put your time in.  My preference for hunting mature bucks is finding the largest tracks of roadless oldgrowth timber you can find and still hunting it extremely slow using your bino's often.  I've been pretty fortunate to take my fair share of respectable Blacktails and almost all of them have been taken far from the crowds in some pretty dark timber.

Of course like everything else, lots of trophy blacktails get taken by "slob" hunters but if you want to be consistent you really need to work at it.

I also agree, of all the trophy's I prefer the Blacktail over all others.

As far as tactics, I really think blacktails are truly unique, they have some similarities to both the WT & MD but not enough to focus your efforts in either of those styles.

I say if you haven't you really need to, it can become addicting,
Coon

[bucklucky]

Nice reply Coon , I agree with ya man. Blacktails are tuff and addicting. I've killed 7 over 100. Gota put your time in for sure. Locked gates are your freind when looking for good blacktail country!

[Skyvalhunter]

So you have killed 107 BT's?

[257 Wby Mag]

I think Charlie means he has killed 7 bucks over 100'' SkyVal.

Nicely put coonhound, I love it when guys throw stones at 100'' blacktails, they obviously haven't hunted western wash very much. I will also lower the standard another 10'', as I have killed some ripper 2 points that were big ol mature bucks, just didn't have the genetics. Blacktails is where its at for me too. I love hunting whiteys due to high strung, come to the call "horns" nature, seems like they are always moving. I love the country muleys inhabit. I'll take bucks, any flavor over bulls anyday...

[MountainWalk]

coon, you are spot on.
 having hunted and guided for mulies and whities, with succsess.
im not afraid to say that i have never killed a bt buck. my own personal min size is 3x3..

[Houndhunter]

thats what i do, 3 point min. unless i see a big'ol forked horn, i would take that too

[Dman]

I think Charlie means he has killed 7 bucks over 100'' SkyVal.

Nicely put coonhound, I love it when guys throw stones at 100'' blacktails, they obviously haven't hunted western wash very much. I will also lower the standard another 10'', as I have killed some ripper 2 points that were big ol mature bucks, just didn't have the genetics. Blacktails is where its at for me too. I love hunting whiteys due to high strung, come to the call "horns" nature, seems like they are always moving. I love the country muleys inhabit. I'll take bucks, any flavor over bulls anyday...

 There are some really nice regressed old blacktail out there. I killed a buck with worn teeth, pic was posted a while back from a PLWMA in '96, he was only 2x3, but weighed 160 gutted on Verne's scale (King Creek).

[SkookumHntr]

---I'm 3pt min on blacktail as well, I've only shot two 2points and both were about 16" wide and I thought they were bigger. I wish they would turn the Skook into 3pt min.

[Dman]

---I'm 3pt min on blacktail as well, I've only shot two 2points and both were about 16" wide and I thought they were bigger. I wish they would turn the Skook into 3pt min.

 I don't, for one reason. After talking one on one with the former State big game manager, he didn't feel that 3 point or better for blacktail would ever be a good thing, or necessary on the West side. Blacktails just don't have the winter kill, or lack of escapement enough to warrant a 3 point or better, though there are a few 2 point or better units in Western Wa..

[Dman]

 If you are after the rack only, the harvest of some of those genetically maxed out two points is a good thing anyways.

[257 Wby Mag]

I wish they would put a point restriction on as well, but it will never happen, 667 is the #1 proiducer on the westside? Ithink?

Darrell, I remember Vern well, when I worked in the brush, we would stop by and BS him, even bought/traded several shootin irons from him. I'm not sure if they are re-verted, or just geneticlly inferrior? I have 3 2 points that are 18'' wide, that I think most guys would smoke, 6-7 year old type bucks. Never have weighed one, never really got into that, but I've killed some big bodied critters. Here's my avatar buck with the pard holdin it, I think he's abot 185, the pics don't do it ANY justice. Killed in 05, 667, 116 5/8, gross.

[MountainWalk]

257, what a dandy buck. you'd be a fool to pass him up.

[257 Wby Mag]

Thanks, I don't think ANYBODY would pass up a buck that in Wa, maybe down on Arrow 5 in Cali, but thats apples and oranges.IMO....

[SkookumHntr]

---Ya, thats a shooter!