western washington blacktail hunting

[kglacken]

I have been hunting blacktails for 6 years now and have harvested a few smaller bucks. I have always dreamed of killing a monster BT and i've never had the chance to. I generally hunt the archery season just because of the longer season it allows. Also the amount of people who hunt the modern season is insane! Does anyone know of any good area to go for big bucks where I would be able to avoid the insane amount of people? Even if I have to walk in all day I would be willing to do it. If anyone has any tips or advice please let me know!

[billythekidrock]

Your best bet at a bt would be anywhere open during late October and November.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Are you talking sticking with archery? Or trying MF?

[kglacken]

I am not sure right now to be honest. I got a buck this year with my bow ( small 2 pt ) but i would like to just get a chance at a big buck would my chances be better to hunt MF in the rut? or longer season with archery?

[longrange7mm]

Instead of going way out in the deep woods what about concentrating your efforts closer to home on small parcels that people overlook or asking permission on private. If you are hunting with a bow you can hunt some areas that rifle hunters cannot go and find more bucks.

x2

[blackveltbowhunter]

I am not sure right now to be honest. I got a buck this year with my bow ( small 2 pt ) but i would like to just get a chance at a big buck would my chances be better to hunt MF in the rut? or longer season with archery?

   Well it depends. With anything theres alot of variables. If you have limited time off, and average access to properties. I would say MF is your best bet. My experience is that, for the amount of time spent in the field per mature buck sightings; MF has it all over bow season. The last week in October, and late buck I would spend in the field. If you find areas closed to MF that hold good bucks you can hunt with archery tackle during a bucks most vulnerable time. If you decide to, their are some decent permits that give you alot more time in early november rut.

[Bluemoon]

What area of western washington are you hunting?
Here is this years little Blacktail Non Typical  6 x 3  :

[kglacken]

I usually hunt the capital peak unit. or winston unit during elk season. I live 10 minutes from vail tree farm but hard to access in archery season

[Harold]

ive only got one buck that wasst out of vail, think im gonna keep a close eye on this thread

[billythekidrock]

I usually hunt the capital peak unit. or winston unit during elk season. I live 10 minutes from vail tree farm but hard to access in archery season

Very hard to pull a monster out of the CF, but as I stated before, your best opportunity would be during October/November regardless of what weapon you choose. It also depends on your definition of a monster.

[deerslyr]

To get a mature blacktail buck during the washington archery seasons is dam near impossible IMO and to the few guys out there that have my hat is off to you (theres a few of you on here). Its extremely hard to get a big bt when hes not runnin around during the rut. And when the big ones arnt running around during the rut there laid back in there core area that theyve know there entire life, usually in the real thick stuff. Trying to sneak up on one of them and get an ethical shot with a bow in these areas is so hard because theres so many different variables when it comes to archery hunting. If you want to have a good chance at getting a nice bt on public ground hunt every day from oct. 24th through the 31st and every day during late buck of the firearm season.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 If you have the willpower and means to get meat out from at least 3-4 miles behind gates, you shouldn't have any problem. The trick is getting a big deer out from that far back solo. It can be done, but to me it's the equivalent of many high buck hunts to get a bigger blacktail during modern season, unless you get lucky, which can happen as some have said to a higher percentage, hunting every day from mid-to late-season. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I honestly find that modern firearm has the fewest numbers of people in the woods.  By far the most on the roads or even the edge of the road, but getting back in there aways get you in with the critters.

[longrange7mm]

It is impossible to know every deer in the area you hunt out here, as said a couple times in this thread big bucks stay in the deepest thickest brush and they only appear out of there hiding spots when there hormones drive them out. If you hunt MF try calling and hunt were you seen does during your scouting trips. If your going to stay with archery set up food plots with good minerals, set up a couple trail cameras so you can see what kind of deer are in the area.Make sure you hunt every day you can even if it is nasty as hell out

And most importantly You cannot shoot a big buck if you shoot a small buck!!

[Alan K]

First and foremost:

You cannot shoot a big buck if you shoot a small buck!!

 

I've battled that for my entire hunting career to this point.  I've gotten to the point where I've taken enough BT's that next year will be the year I hold for a 3 point+. . . Could have this year, but I only had extended buck to hunt so I went 2 point minimum and got a 2xnontypical on Friday. I get so damn excited though when I see bucks I struggle with passing.

If you want to get out and get a one in the woods, spend all day glassing 10-15 year old reprod with openings in it.  That's where the big boys are at.  Of course during the rut they'll be anywhere there's a good number of does.  I've seen some great bucks during the first weeks of late archery but have always been on foot and couldn't close the distance.  I've always wanted to try treestands during late archery, but have just never had the time.  The time that I do have I feel like I need to press the issue a bit with limited days in the field.

I do know a few guys who shoot nice bucks every year on their back 40 coming into their orchards though, so if you want to go the private land and small parcel route that'd be the way to do it. 

Depends on what kind of a hunt you want. . . In their country, on their terms, in their habitat, 'wild' experience or back 40's, yard grown/fed deer, etc. The latter just isn't my thing. 

[Kent Hunter]

Get yourself a good GPS unit and head over to the peninsula. Get off the roads and head into the woods. The two biggest blacktails I have ever seen were when I was hunting the Dickey unit for elk. One of the bucks was a true monster!! The other one wasn't much smaller. The other plus to hunting the peninsula is that if bear season is still open at the same time you have a real good chance at a bear. There are a ton of bears over there. I'll second what the other posters have said also. Don't soot a small buck!!

[PolarBear]

Which side of Vail do you live.  As someone who is basically butted up against it, I can tell you that there are some monsters in the fringes of that unit away from the roads and fairly easy to access spots.

[SkookumHntr]

-Your best bet is to draw the rut tag for the Chuck. They rarely show themselves till early November

[kglacken]

PolarBear- I live on the yelm/rainier side of vail.

[PolarBear]

Me too.  There are a lot of little tracts of land out side of the main Vail treefarm where you can do nice, short hunts and still get into some big bucks if you just have the patience and stealth.  Unfortunately, Weyco has decided that all of their timberlands on the Rainier/Yelm side of the Deschutes are going to be harvested for all saleable timber and then sold for development so a bunch of those little honey holes are going to be gone soon.      They are currenly doing that to a tract across the road from me that use to hold some real nice deer and elk.

[kglacken]

Ya i am planning on scouting the thompson creek and johnson creek roads during the summer and hopefully i will be able to draw the rut hunt permit for the skook. that would be nice

[deerslyr]

I would avoid thompson and johnson creek an take polarbears advice, there are tons of little tracts of land that always get over looked because people are concentrated on the traditional said areas. These areas get hammered thoughout the season and no one expects to find deer on a a couple hundred acre trac of land so there is relatively few people, and yes there are monster bucks in areas like this.

[elkspert]

First thing is to find an area that has good genetics. Spend July and August in the woods trying to find a couple of the big boys. Once that velvet comes off they will be hard to find again until the rut. It took me 5 years of hunting the same area until I killed one. Scored 132 and change.

[JRob]

Hunt modern rifle,  Hunt close to home in an area you have already determined has deer. Hopefuly you have already seen a big buck track or nice rub in the area.  Sounds simple but it seems alot of people waste time in areas void of animals.  Hold out for the last week in October preferably from mid week on.  It is usually pissing rain and NOBODY's out of there truck. Take the week off and hunt the week days which makes for even less people and more deer.  Start early and walk jack firs, old clear cuts Maybe big timber. Between 800am and 1100am seems good.    Most importantly believe without a doubt that you will see a nice buck and hold this attitude for days if need be, this will keep you looking. Again it sounds simple but many times I have had people walk by me very close when I was in orange and not see me.  It looked like they were just going though the motions and didn't believe they would see anything.     Anyway I live in the same basic area you do and these things work for me............Some times!     Just one persons opinion.

[Alan K]

If you know the Capitol Peak unit fairly well, just dive into any of the steep and deep holes without roads in the bottom.  That's where the big boys are in that unit.  A buddy of mine knocked down a great buck down in a bottom in late Oct. this year, had black horns that seemingly never saw the light!  Bottom line with Capitol Peak is you have to get away from the roads.  There's just so much pressure in there everyday it seems that the deer are nearly nocturnal.  Get into the big timber in the hell holes!

[Bluemoon]

I only Hunt GMU 505. I hunt MF and only late buck, to many birds to shoot in October.  When I first moved down here I was the best forked horn and spike shooter there was.  Coming from Eastern WA,  I was a bird hunter but seeing I had moved into Blacktail country I thought I might learn how to hunt them..I met up with an old timer who taught me how to slow down and hunt and not to look out more then 100 yards at max.  The biggest bucks I have seen have all been within 50 yards just watching me walk by.  The hardest part was learning to look past them and not locking eyes with them.  When that happens you are toast they are gone.  It now takes me over an hour to go less then a half mile I am amazed at the amount of animals I now see.  The last four years have produced 1 four point,two three points with eye guards and this years 6 x 3 (picture is on page 1 of this topic..
One of the most important things to remember has already been stated here.  To shoot a big buck don't shoot a small one.  Slow down and enjoy your hunt just being able to be outdoors
is a successful outing..

[Harold]

I only Hunt GMU 505. I hunt MF and only late buck, to many birds to shoot in October.  When I first moved down here I was the best forked horn and spike shooter there was.  Coming from Eastern WA,  I was a bird hunter but seeing I had moved into Blacktail country I thought I might learn how to hunt them..I met up with an old timer who taught me how to slow down and hunt and not to look out more then 100 yards at max.  The biggest bucks I have seen have all been within 50 yards just watching me walk by.  The hardest part was learning to look past them and not locking eyes with them.  When that happens you are toast they are gone.  It now takes me over an hour to go less then a half mile I am amazed at the amount of animals I now see.  The last four years have produced 1 four point,two three points with eye guards and this years 6 x 3 (picture is on page 1 of this topic..
One of the most important things to remember has already been stated here.  To shoot a big buck don't shoot a small one.  Slow down and enjoy your hunt just being able to be outdoors
is a successful outing..

That is some good advice bluemoon. i didnt start the thread by you have helped me out alot and what you said has made sense... Thank you.