Blacktail Deer Question

[AKBowman]

Im hunting a series of cuts/timber and benches. The big cut that I am hunting is about 1/4 mile wide by a mile long and runs long ways from mid way up the mountain to the bottom. There are some strands of timber left and one road that custs through it that is on a small bench. North facing slope. The other thing is that there is a really thick area of older reprop in the clear cut, I was thinking that it might hold bucks but havent glassed or run into any in there.

My question is: Am I more likely to run into deer on the bottom, middle or top of the cut? Has anyone noticed where the most activity is in a cut of this sort?

[Alchase]

Hunting Blacktail Bucks, I have had more luck 50 - 100 feet inside the tree line near a clear cut.
That does not mean they won't come out, but they do not get big being stupid, lol.

[deerhunter_98520]

i agree with alchase...skirt the outside edges of the cut or just inside the treeline...the big boys wont be coming out to the middle of that cut during the day unless there chasing a doe...then they just dont make any sense on what they do lol

[dreamunelk]

Pretty much what they said above.  I would add that glass every possible location in the cut for a bedded buck.  They will lay in the open all day and watch every one go by.   I have seen them crawl into a brush pile and just stay.  So in short look everywhere.  If there is sign then there is likey a buck.  However, keep in mind deer do not like to be exposed to wind and will almost always seek out the lee.  So an area may hold no deer in the morning will hold a gob in the evening.

[grizzlyadams]

Pretty much what they said above.  I would add that glass every possible location in the cut for a bedded buck.  They will lay in the open all day and watch every one go by.   I have seen them crawl into a brush pile and just stay.  So in short look everywhere.  If there is sign then there is likey a buck.  However, keep in mind deer do not like to be exposed to wind and will almost always seek out the lee.  So an area may hold no deer in the morning will hold a gob in the evening.

Are we talking about sailing or hunting?   

[RoyBoy]

ive hunted blackies my whole life im located in Roy. the best luck it usually at the tops and bottoms of clear cuts. they will only bed in the middle if theres a deep canyon threw it. they like thick brush though.. but during the rut if its a pretty primative location try to sitt upper right side or left depending on wind direction. try to find a high spot where you can see the most get blacktail buck in rut urine the brown bottle find the best trail and put it all threw it. then just sit. but only pick one clearing and watch it the whole season. you should be able to get a nice mature buck. let me know on your success. 

[AKBowman]

Thanks for the responses. I should clarify that I wasnt necenssarily talking about hunting I was more interested in scouting trying to get pics or spot them with my bino's prior to season so I can figure out what bucks are in the area.

Will the bucks most likely bed below or above or to the sides of the cut?

[True Sportsman]

Thanks for the responses. I should clarify that I wasnt necenssarily talking about hunting I was more interested in scouting trying to get pics or spot them with my bino's prior to season so I can figure out what bucks are in the area.

Will the bucks most likely bed below or above or to the sides of the cut?

For scouting you should have been out there during late June and August. Most bucks will be out in the cuts during mid day. At least that is the case where I am. Other than that, get a trail camera and set it up on the edge of the clearcut on a deer trail. If the bottom of the cut is Alder, like at a creek, then all the better. Hang a camera off a well used trail with big tracks.

The only other time to see bucks in clearcuts (reliably) is late October, or late buck during the rut.

You could hike from the top to the bottom along the edges, and look for sheds and trails.

[AKBowman]

Thanks for the responses. I should clarify that I wasnt necenssarily talking about hunting I was more interested in scouting trying to get pics or spot them with my bino's prior to season so I can figure out what bucks are in the area.

Will the bucks most likely bed below or above or to the sides of the cut?

For scouting you should have been out there during late June and August. Most bucks will be out in the cuts during mid day. At least that is the case where I am. Other than that, get a trail camera and set it up on the edge of the clearcut on a deer trail. If the bottom of the cut is Alder, like at a creek, then all the better. Hang a camera off a well used trail with big tracks.

The only other time to see bucks in clearcuts (reliably) is late October, or late buck during the rut.

You could hike from the top to the bottom along the edges, and look for sheds and trails.

I did have a few cams up during June/July (3 cams) but only got a pic of one buck. Two of the three cams I had set up off of the cut on trails about thirty yards into the timber but only got pics of does and black bears. The one I had set up on the bottom edge of the cut is where I got a pic of the buck. Just wondering if I was missing something.

I think I will work the entire edges like you said and find out where some good trails are. Seems to me like the trails I've found are only being used about once every 4 days and I'm not sure if I can put faith and the work to put up a stand and hunt it for 4 days on the off chance a buck MIGHT come by. If I KNEW there was a buck using the trail more regulary I would have more faith.

The other thing is the cut is about a 4 mile bike ride in and on the way out I have to push my bike up the hill for 35 minutes so if I hunt the evening until dark I wont get out of there until 1-1/2 hrs after dark, but that is what I think makes this spot good too.

[AKBowman]

heres the buck

[EAS]

hey AK, looks like your scouting is going about like mine. I have some awesome track and trails up north where I told you about, but so far I'm only seeing lots and lots of big doe. I will be changing cam chips soon so hopefully I will have some better info to share soon. were theres doe theres got to be a big daddy buck around...right!?! every night the doe come out and feed... and they dont seem to mind me watching them from about 60 yards out...

[AKBowman]

EAS-

  Yeah man PM sent! Its been interesting, I think I am just going to bomb the area with trail cams come late sept and two weeks in Oct before the opener. I might even not hunt the first week of the season and hit it hard the last week of Oct and the late hunt if I still havent tagged out. Im excited to hunt the rifle season with the archery equipment just not excited about having to wear the hunter orange.

[True Sportsman]

EAS-

  Yeah man PM sent! Its been interesting, I think I am just going to bomb the area with trail cams come late sept and two weeks in Oct before the opener. I might even not hunt the first week of the season and hit it hard the last week of Oct and the late hunt if I still havent tagged out. Im excited to hunt the rifle season with the archery equipment just not excited about having to wear the hunter orange.

Is this a Cascade blacktail or lowland blacktail? I ask because the lowland bucks rut earlier and late Oct. is best. Cascade mountain bucks rut later and late buck should be hot...

[AKBowman]

Its a mid elevation cascade BT. I've been kicking this around all damn summer trying to decide what to do and finally decided I am just going to purchase the archery tag and keep my options open for going over east. I can hunt 101 for whities and stay at my private in 204 then come back to the wetside and get the first week over here for the BT's.