New to blacktail hunting

[shafump86]

I will be hunting blacktails for the first time i have hunted whitetails and mule deer but never blacktails any advice will help.

[MuleySniper]

Id probably focus on tactics first then possibly concentrate on an area, so I voted tactics.
MS

[ICEMAN]

Since you already have the basics, I would just focus on areas....  Find and learn an area. Blackies do not travel too far and if you spend time working an area you will find a buck to focus on...

[blacktailcrzy]

you need to find a are with good genetics or you will be shooting a scrub focus on finding a mature buck and stay on him

[Coastal_native]

My best advice to someone new to blacktail hunting would be...give up now, you don't stand a chance.   

Take everything you know about deer hunting and throw it out the window.  I'll swallow my pride and admit that the few mature blacktails I've harvested had more to do with luck than skill.  I've never outsmarted a blacktail...I've just happened to be in the right place when a buck was being stupid. 

That being said, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of being there when a buck does something stupid.................................................................

what? you actually think I know what those things are...I told you man, I just got lucky.

Good Luck!

[trophyhunt]

I agree with coastal native, give up now!!! The blacktail will just fill you  up with hate and anger, if you want to shoot spikes or 2 points you will like it. It took me 23 years to finally shoot my first 120 class blacktail and trust me I've been putting in my time.  I found that mule deer and whitetail are a lot easier to hunt. But if you choose to stick with it, I would scout more than you ever had to with mule and white's.  Blackies are pretty smart and don't like to have suprises in their area so if you set up a tree stand do it long before the season starts, and of course just like any species the rut is the best opportunity to take a big one. Good luck 

[jackmaster]

i picked areas, you can have all the best tactics, gear and all the other B.S people are trying to get you to buy but if there are no deer in that area or piss poor genetics well you might as well just shoot does. blacktails are the hardest north american animal you will ever pursue anyone can go out and get small spikes 2pts and little 3pts, but to whack a world class blacktail and i am not talkn about one that makes boone&crockett i am just talkn a good tall heavy mature buck that has seen his huntn seasons then you have to have an area that holds them and a mineral content to grow them, there is plenty of big ass blackies that get them selves killed in a wide open clearcut with a zillion cars drivin by but to whack one on his terms then there is no other critter worth huntn than the wiley gray ghost

[Armadillo]

 

Even if your a really good hunter it makes it that much harder to harvest any blacktail buck if your not in a good area. I have been fortunate enough to have found a good area that affords a couple opportunities per season at nice blackies...Having said that I scouted for two years in order to find this place, with my binocs and trail cameras. Even after 5 seasons total I still havent harvested a nice blacktail (have shot at a one though). If you cannot afford the gas and time to scout, there is a ton of information online if you pour over hiking websites where people talk about deer constantly.. but the WDFW harvest statistics give a good jumpoff point on which GMU to look at

[Armadillo]

Oh yeah thats why I chose "Area" being the more important of the two since you know how to act when hunting deer already you will have the luck-factor on your side while in a good area.

[Armadillo]

One more tip... Walk far behind a gated road then get off the road as far as is comfortable to you. When opening day comes you do not want to be anywhere near a road because ive seen about 99% of the people in my area just walk the main logging roads during the season. In this area Ive never even seen other hunters venture into the woods or onto the old overgrown skids (for reasons unknown). That is where you want to be as that is where the deer want to be also

[jackmaster]

one other thing dude, it would help if we knew where you live, we might be able to point you in the right direction, and if i was you i would no way hunt them blackies while they are still in velvet wait till its gone, the late archery season will give you some good chances at the late rut, if i was you being a green horn when it comes to huntn the wiley gray ghosts then you should put in for the multi season hunt, that would give you alot more time to pursue them, are you picky about what you shoot? there is nothing like sneaking up on a blacktail when he is hiding in some thick ass vinemaple and wind swept hell and making the perfect shot, he dont even have to be the biggest but you will cherrish him non the less that i can guarantee, there isnt anything like it sir, you will get hooked instantly or you will go back to huntn muleys and whiteys

[wildmanoutdoors]

I have 2 tips for big Blackies!
1. Buy Boyd Iversons book.
2. Bow hunt during the rifle season, there dumber!

[Harold]

if your looking for a trophy give up now! goin on 7 years of huntin blacktails and all my retarded a$$ has been able to get is 2pts...

[wildmanoutdoors]

2nd Alder and Ferns! 

[257 Wby Mag]

Amount of time in the woods+good areas=success. Use your glass, don't worry about it not pissin down rain like most folks preach about, just be out there ALL day long during prime . That honker in my avatar was killed @noon Oct 28th or 29th between noon and 1, so have many of my other good bucks. hint.........

I voted area, the the old saying about real estate, location, location, location. Good Luck..