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

[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..