I now understand why Black tail are the hardest hunt in Washington.

[akashasdaddy]

I am not surprised that I was unlucky over the weekend I am a rookie and hunting alone, but besides all that I now know why black tails are considered one of the toughest hunts. There are NO animals in the woods. I spent more than 24 hours in the woods over the weekend hiking and glassing not just driving up and down the roads and didn't see even a doe. However, yesterday morning on my way to the woods I saw the BIGGEST 3 point of my life standing at the stop sign about 4 blocks from my house. He was chasing a doe. I stopped to look at him and he looked back pretty much taunting me saying neener neener neener. I'd be lying if I said I didn't die a little inside having to drive right by this monster but he was well within city limits and it was about 4 am and I kinda figured that since I did the right thing by driving past him that I would be rewarded with at least a spike. On the way to my spot I saw another 5 or 6 bucks and a handfull of doe all within city limits. So yes black tail are hard to hunt because to hunt legally you have to go to the woods but all the deer are in the city.

[CplRaines]

I do believe they have a firmer grasp of the english language than half the American population and that WDFW gives them advance copies of our rules and regulations. 

[bagmNtagm]

I do believe they have a firmer grasp of the english language than half the American population and that WDFW gives them advance copies of our rules and regulations. 

That would be very true, Last year i was delivering pizza in my hometown here in kent and I seen the biggest 4 point black tail (during late season archery) buck cross right in front of my headlights on Scenic hill and he to stopped and stared back at me in some guys front yard. It was as if he knew that the place to be was right in a over populated town

[TheFewTheProud]

They have tunnels

[BackStrappin]

Yes its true all the big bucks are living it up in the city .    It always hurts passing by big buck on the way to the hunting grounds . 

My advice to you is to take it easy out there .  Glass as much as you can you will start seeing deer.  It was a pretty bad hunting weekend weather wise on the westside of the state .

[runamuk]

They have tunnels

  

and copies of the regs I actually did find regs along with other garbage dumped in the woods one time 

[Hunterman]

What  :dunno:do you think we are the only ones who mark the calender with the seaon opener, and study the regs. ?? Every year its the sme thing..Deer all over hells half acer,, bucks, monster bucks, around every cornor  Then the season opens and POOF their gone..Yep their hard to hunt..Welcome to the fun 

Hunterman(Tony)

[Dmanmastertracker]

 I'd write the deer a deer to deer memo that there is a meeting taking place in the woods. All are expected to be present.....

[Helix]

So yes black tail are hard to hunt because to hunt legally you have to go to the woods but all the deer are in the city.

 

I can testify to that.  Pretty much all I ever see during firarms season are does while hunting.  but I've seen a buck the size of a muley with a massive rack, within 400 yards of my inlaws house in Maltby just chowing down on somebody's lawn laying next to a driveway. 

[wormfood]

I feel your frustration! Saturday and Monday mornings I had to chase the deer off the porch so I could get to my truck to drive out of town to go deer hunt. There is a real nice 1x3 that pretty much lives in my alley and I have been so tempted..........But its just not right. The kids have names for most of our local deer. Its so frustrating.

[Stilly bay]

I spent more than 24 hours in the woods over the weekend hiking and glassing not just driving up and down the roads and didn't see even a doe.

I wonder how many saw you?

they are out there, holding tight in the thickest brush, laughing as you slowly pass by within feet of them.

[3nails]

I spent more than 24 hours in the woods over the weekend hiking and glassing not just driving up and down the roads and didn't see even a doe.

I wonder how many saw you?

they are out there, holding tight in the thickest brush, laughing as you slowly pass by within feet of them.

Non of us EVER want to know the answer to that question. 

[buckmaster303]

pm me and i am sure i can help you out on this one i did not even bother going opening weekend figured id wait till yesterday decided to go out saw 14 by 2pm with 5 legal bucks holding out for the monster up there 

[wormfood]

Up where ?

[buckmaster303]

storm king. lots of deer out in the morning when the frost is on the ground i might be going out in the morning ill let you all know what i see maybe i can have my wall hanger on the ground. 

[wormfood]

was thinking of going that way tomorrow but hunting the skookumchuck side of the road.

[buckmaster303]

well to save you some time was up forest rd 74 because i herd they fixed the washouts witch they did but was up there for about 6 hours not 1 deer in the entire area not even a single fresh sign some bear scat here and there but not a thing might try the bottom of pleasant valley rd and hike in behind the gate and hunt the fern area few nice bucks in that area and not so much pressure since been closed for a few year but get in there early if you would like to know a few other areas pm me.

[wormfood]

If i go up that way in the morning I would probably be closer to Morton in the Murry timber stuff. Or another day in Pack Forest.

[Hyde]

I've been reading Boyd Iverson's Blacktail book.  What I've learned so far is that a blacktail will hold tight and let you walk right past them with nerves of steel.  I'm going to try a new tactic (for me), which is to walk very slowly, no more than a few steps at a time, and glass, etc.  It's a good book, I'm enjoying it so far.  If i would have taken as many notes and studied my school text books as hard, I would have been a straight A student ( I wasn't!).

I'm determined to get my first blackie this year.  We'll see though. 

[deerhunter_98520]

I've been reading Boyd Iverson's Blacktail book. What I've learned so far is that a blacktail will hold tight and let you walk right past them with nerves of steel.   I'm going to try a new tactic (for me), which is to walk very slowly, no more than a few steps at a time, and glass, etc.  It's a good book, I'm enjoying it so far.  If i would have taken as many notes and studied my school text books as hard, I would have been a straight A student ( I wasn't!).

I'm determined to get my first blackie this year.  We'll see though.

thats very true...on sunday i spotted a deer about 600 yds off...i drove around the hill to where the deer bedded down in some brush 50yds from a road and i started throwin rocks in the brush to get it to show itself...wasnt sure if it was a buck or doe...after about 20 rocks thrown my cuz decided to walk down there and he got about 15yds from it and it finally got up...but i dont know how many rocks had to have landed right next to her and she just stayed bedded and would not show herself.

[sixty4nhalf]

I feel your frustration! Saturday and Monday mornings I had to chase the deer off the porch so I could get to my truck to drive out of town to go deer hunt. There is a real nice 1x3 that pretty much lives in my alley and I have been so tempted..........But its just not right. The kids have names for most of our local deer. Its so frustrating.

I call mine Dinner, but they never come over........ 

[Arteman]

You ment to say Trophy Blacktails are the hardest hunt in Washington.  Young bucks are not very hard to come by if you put in your time even driving around aimlessly.  Hiking ill pass them up almost everyday, I wish they would make the westside 2 pt or better except for first year youth hunters.  It sucks knowing most spikes or small 2 pts you let walk will be dumb enough to show themselves for the next guy that will blast it, but such is hunting.  Just my opinion, doesn't make me mad or anything, just think we would have better bucks and a better herd from it is all.

[buckmaster303]

  agree

[bobcat]

I guess I'm just not that good. I can't even find a spike that will stand still long enough for me to shoot him. Not that I would this early in the season. I'd even like to pass on the smaller two point bucks, but I'm not sure when the time comes that I'll have the discipline to not pull up and squeeze the trigger. Last day of the late season, not a problem. First spike I see is going home with me. But I really hope I don't still have an un-notched tag for the late season. After all, I'm taking some time off work and that will give me the last ten days of the season to hunt all day, every day. 

[akashasdaddy]

Well I think I have put in my work been out everyday sun up to sundown sat, sun, and today and from about 3 pm til sundown monday and tomorrow because of classes in the morning and I haven't seen a thing. I am hiking in, I am glassin like crazy, I do walk real slow a few steps at a time even back tracking a little here and there and constantly lookin over my shoulder (that is how I was able to get a shot off on a bear, he popped out almost right behind me scared me and excited me so I missed, he wasn't that big anyway and I want deer got the bear tag for just in case situations) and yet nothing. I have followed game trails, stayin off them about 6 feet or so. Idk what I am doing wrong. I understand as a rookie I am probably going to eat tag soup and I can say that at least I am puttin work, but it really would be nice to get my first buck and put food in my daughters belly.

[Arteman]

I only went Saturday, I hardly moved all day.  Walked in to a spot I know holds deer and just glassed, about midday I took a nap and the heat woke me up, literally put the glasses up and spotted a forknhorn right away feeding across a cut then bed down on the sunny hillside.  Later before dark seen a spike with one tall and short spike, total of ten deer and a herd of elk but no bulls.  Walking in at dark was the highlight of the day, had a decent little 3 pt in the headlamp about 15 yards away that stuck around forever before busting down into the timber.  Don't think ill be able to get out tell Thursday but can't wait tell next week, that's when things usually start falling into place, but with that said I hope passing on the forknhorn was good idea because in the end ill need the meat.

[sirmissalot]

You ment to say Trophy Blacktails are the hardest hunt in Washington.  Young bucks are not very hard to come by if you put in your time even driving around aimlessly.  Hiking ill pass them up almost everyday, I wish they would make the westside 2 pt or better except for first year youth hunters.  It sucks knowing most spikes or small 2 pts you let walk will be dumb enough to show themselves for the next guy that will blast it, but such is hunting.  Just my opinion, doesn't make me mad or anything, just think we would have better bucks and a better herd from it is all.

I was just thinking this the other day, after seeing all the little spikes and 2 points posted on everyones facebook.

It amazes me that even the 2 and 3 year old bucks are smart enough to become nocturnal or stay in the thick reprod once hunting season nears. If you go into your hunting spots in August you'll see deer (and bucks) everywhere. Even my trail cam activity slowed way down.

I agree with your hunting style Arteman, that is how I hunt and if you stay put, deer will materialize out of nowhere, standing up right in the middle of a clearcut even. Opening morning I walked into my spot, sat there and watched 2 different groups of does while 2 other hunters just kept walking around the area back and forth along the roads not even glassing, not only screwing up my hunt but theirs as well, without even knowing it I suspect.

[CAMPMEAT]

I do believe they have a firmer grasp of the english language than half the American population and that WDFW gives them advance copies of our rules and regulations. 

That's a good one.....

[BOWHUNTER45]

If your a serious blacktailer then you best be hunting hard next week...Things are slowly heating up ...find the sign and the does and be patient and lots of glassing and just maybe you will see what your looking for.....

[Huntbear]

I've been reading Boyd Iverson's Blacktail book.  What I've learned so far is that a blacktail will hold tight and let you walk right past them with nerves of steel.  I'm going to try a new tactic (for me), which is to walk very slowly, no more than a few steps at a time, and glass, etc.  It's a good book, I'm enjoying it so far.  If i would have taken as many notes and studied my school text books as hard, I would have been a straight A student ( I wasn't!).

I'm determined to get my first blackie this year.  We'll see though.

Best decision you could make....   Blackies will lay or stand there, and let you walk right past, then slip away.  HOWEVER, if you take 5-10 steps, then stop and scan the entire 360 degree area with binos even... and stand there for what seems like an enternity, then take another 5-10 steps and repeat.  The deer will get nervous, they will give away their position if you are watching, it may be a flick of an ear, or a turn of the head.. or actually moving, but it will happen. 

YOU have to be a very patient hunter..    be willing to cover less than a mile in several hours..

[krism83]

A buddy of mine and I were hunting some Weyerhauser land out near Brady opening day. Not a doe or buck to be seen, there was a lot of pressure in the area and I figured if we made it back on the property far enough it would push them towards the hills. So we drove in a ways, found a good spot and hunkered down for about 5 hours. It was also the best spot we could get him to hunt being as he is a disabled hunter. We waited and waited and waited, glassed the area every 10 to 15 minutes waiting for something to make a move, but the only thing we saw in the area was a bald eagle. A couple of guys offered up some info about where they had seen a big 3 point during archery season not to far away so we decided to check it out for the evening hunt. Got to the spot set up shop again and sat for another 3 hours or so with out seeing a damn thing move. Frustrating way to start the season, but I haven't lost all hope yet. Going out tomorrow to Grapeview on some info I got from a friend and then I'm going to hit it as hard as I can next week after work to see if I can at least notch a tag this year. Been in kind of a slump with all four tags the last couple of years.

[FSTaxidermy]

If your a serious blacktailer then you best be hunting hard next week...Things are slowly heating up ...find the sign and the does and be patient and lots of glassing and just maybe you will see what your looking for.....

Was a good morning, saw one buck on the scent of his girl! starting to heat up

[500 long]

Look at the threads about deer populations. I've said it for years that they should transplant these garden fed city deer to the "depleted" areas.

[JimmyHoffa]

Look at the threads about deer populations. I've said it for years that they should transplant these garden fed city deer to the "depleted" areas.

Man I wish.  There is a herd in my yard as I type this that I'd offer up.  The cougars are chowing down on everything outside of town.  2,500 cougars (WA estimate) at 1 deer a week equals 130,000 deer per year.

[500 long]

I ask any one who could answer. What would it take to get someone to transplant them.  The technology is certainly available. I would love to do a little "catch and release" if I was allowed. We as a group have a voice, can we make it happen?

[Helix]

I ask any one who could answer. What would it take to get someone to transplant them.  The technology is certainly available. I would love to do a little "catch and release" if I was allowed. We as a group have a voice, can we make it happen?

New Zealand did it with a number of game species and ended up having to cull elk with helicopter gunships to keep them from destroying the entire eco system.  I think I could be done responsibly on a limited basis to replenish the herd but if it was overboard it could be a disaster, kind of like reintroduction introduction of exotice wolves to WA, ID, MT

[500 long]

I ask any one who could answer. What would it take to get someone to transplant them.  The technology is certainly available. I would love to do a little "catch and release" if I was allowed. We as a group have a voice, can we make it happen?

New Zealand did it with a number of game species and ended up having to cull elk with helicopter gunships to keep them from destroying the entire eco system.  I think I could be done responsibly on a limited basis to replenish the herd but if it was overboard it could be a disaster, kind of like reintroduction introduction of exotice wolves to WA, ID, MT

Now that's the kind of positive attitude i like to hear.  An over population of deer is unlikely but easily rectified with multiple tags.

[BOWHUNTER45]

the main reason they do not like transplanting game is because they are so worried about spreading diseases.... Its just like elk .. they planted some from ST.Helens up here and the elk population went nuts ..  so they should move some of these blacktails around and see what that does to the populations... like a few of those klickitat bucks up here to Skagit then we may have some world records in no time 

[500 long]

The biggest point count deer I've seen in person was within Anacortes city limits, a no hunting area of course.

[Helix]

I ask any one who could answer. What would it take to get someone to transplant them.  The technology is certainly available. I would love to do a little "catch and release" if I was allowed. We as a group have a voice, can we make it happen?

New Zealand did it with a number of game species and ended up having to cull elk with helicopter gunships to keep them from destroying the entire eco system.  I think I could be done responsibly on a limited basis to replenish the herd but if it was overboard it could be a disaster, kind of like reintroduction introduction of exotice wolves to WA, ID, MT

Now that's the kind of positive attitude i like to hear.  An over population of deer is unlikely but easily rectified with multiple tags.

True issue more tags and the problem would be solved if you over did it.  The reason it didn't work in NZ was likely not enough hunters and they were depending on sportsmen coming from other continents who wanted to hunt them.  That is a pretty pricely elk hunt if you ask me. 

[hrd2fnd]

The kids have names for most of our local deer. .

Me too Dinner