New to blacktail hunting

[crow360]

I am also new to blacktail hunting and am totally clueless. I have only seen a few does out in the north cascades and only a few bucks in downtown bellingham. Anyone hunt the whatcom/ north cascade area???  Also do you recommend archery or modern rifle?? the rifle season seems really short here?

[shafump86]

I was told about an area around Mckenna, Yelm that a friend has shot some bucks at. It is a walk in area. I have already gotten some topo maps and plan on starting to scout in april.

[YoterHunter]

i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.find a spot that has deer pay attention for bedding areas follow trails. find the feeding ares  and look for the thickist brush in the area .they will bed down in it and lay right there and let walk right past them.  good luck

[Skyvalhunter]

Just like you have heard more than once when you find them in your scouting know they don't usually range very far. But those big boys that seem to disappear in those thick bedding areas become very vulnearable during the rut as they can get on a hot does trail and travel. If you could pick a time to hunt them it would be that last weekend of the general season or that Nov 17th time frame when the now special permits are given out. Key is not to move to fast, watch alot even if you have to walk 10 or so yards then glass looking for deer parts behinds trees, etc. Yes they do like the fringes of clear cuts and alder patches with bracken ferns. Key to learning an area is to go in after the general season and look for sign, i.e. tracks in the snow or rubs. If there are does around during that time chances are the bucks aren't far away. or 10 cents for that matter.

[YoterHunter]

not al bucks rut that late. i shot my largest black tail last year  on october 23. it was in full rut .i just got my mount back saterday the neck is 31 inchs. ive shot a few in late buck and the necks wornt swollon at all.

[Skyvalhunter]

True but bucks can rut at different times just like a doe can come into estrus several times thru the year until bred. Have seen does in estrus even in December, etc.  Thus why you see some fawns smaller than others as their mothers were bred later .So there are variables.

[257 Wby Mag]

i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.find a spot that has deer pay attention for bedding areas follow trails. find the feeding ares  and look for the thickist brush in the area .they will bed down in it and lay right there and let walk right past them.  good luck

Care to post some pics of your trophy bucks? Not doubting just dig big blacktails. Later

[Coastal_native]

I was thinking back to some of the blacktails I've harvested...one thing I remember in almost every situation is I was caught off guard by a buck that new I was there before I even saw him...you have a fraction of a second to throw your gun up and shoot.  Don't let your guard down if you're still hunting.  He who hesitates, master...well, you know how it goes.

[dscubame]

All about the area which is what makes them attractive.  They are not a "ghost" deer.

[JimmyHoffa]

They are wily creatures.  I would suggest both area and tactic.  I am finding that blacktail bucks will hold tight in an area and don't disturb easily.  They will watch you from 20 yards away and you won't know until you hear them laughing at you.  I find they will hold this area until nightfall (many of the bucks seem to be very nocturnal), right before a big storm (they start moving middle of open areas in daylight feeding/moving), or spooked (if an area looks like a holding area and you can't find one, you can blow into a predator call and they are like--"oh no, this dude's making a noise that will bring in a cougar...I need to get outta here!")  Are there any more specific questions maybe we can all help with?  Best day seems to be near Halloween.

[dscubame]

They are wily creatures.  I would suggest both area and tactic.  I am finding that blacktail bucks will hold tight in an area and don't disturb easily.  They will watch you from 20 yards away and you won't know until you hear them laughing at you.  I find they will hold this area until nightfall (many of the bucks seem to be very nocturnal), right before a big storm (they start moving middle of open areas in daylight feeding/moving), or spooked (if an area looks like a holding area and you can't find one, you can blow into a predator call and they are like--"oh no, this dude's making a noise that will bring in a cougar...I need to get outta here!")  Are there any more specific questions maybe we can all help with?  Best day seems to be near Halloween.

Same can be said for the mule deer.  Good write up.

[Coastal_native]

Ok...I didn't really want to share this with you, but there is one sure fire way to outsmart a blacktail.  It takes years of practice to master this method...and quite frankly I'm not sure you can handle it.  It is a tactic I call "Ninja Mode".  You slip in and out of the forest undetected, taking on the shape and movements of the trees.  Obviously Yoterhunter is trained in the art...but he has forgotten one of the key principles of the Blacktail Ninja Assassin code...modesty.

 

[Skyvalhunter]

Plus wearing a loin cloth!!

[YoterHunter]

i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.find a spot that has deer pay attention for bedding areas follow trails. find the feeding ares  and look for the thickist brush in the area .they will bed down in it and lay right there and let walk right past them.  good luck

Care to post some pics of your trophy bucks? Not doubting just dig big blacktails. Later

Many years of hunting blacktail leads to great things as you see.  i also have a alot of other smaller 2-3 points. all the deer pictured score between 95-115. Hunting blacktail isnt the easiest, but with patience and learning where and what the deer like. will give you great results.      ....ENJOY......

[Coastal_native]

shafump86,

So, if you've been paying attention to this thread, you should take away two concepts.

1.) Don't bother blacktail hunting because it's really hard.
2.) Even if you were good enough to kill a blacktail, don't bother trying...Yoterhunter has already killed them all.