Blacktail Advice

[BUCKHUNT]

Im in the Quilcene area hunting blacktail for the first time and so far I've tried every tactic from glassing clear cuts to hiking the steepest slopes I've ever seen, where the vegetation is unreasonably thick. So far I havent seen anything; not even a doe. The only thing I've come across is relatively old sign in areas that were crawling with deer preseason. Since this is my first blacktail hunt I'm worried that Im using the wrong tactics to hunt them. Im also having trouble finding public hunting access. The Olympic Nat'l forest seems to have a ton of areas on the map, but once I enter the access points listed I usually run into "No Trespassing/No Hunting" signs. Definitely not looking for honey holes, just an area that can be productive and some insight on technique for hunting this species. Any input is appreciated, thanks.

[Buckslaya]

Sounds like you are using some good techniques, just have to wait for some crummier weather?

[Forrestrover]

You might try some of the timber company land around hwy 104.

[260Rem]

if your in quilcene go up penny creek.  Miles and miles of national forest.

[BUCKHUNT]

Off of Highway 104 was where i was glassing the clearcuts. Im wondering if I should expect to see deer in the clearcuts or along the edges of the woodland patches scattered around the area. I also tried venturing into the patches of woodland to find deer but got no results. Is there a preferred method?

[BUCKHUNT]

260Rem: I scouted Penny Creek before the season and was planning on trying it out tomorrow, thanks.

[Fl0und3rz]

Scott Haugen is often mentioned as a good resource. He has a few books on the subject.

Here is a sample article.

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/2010/09/24/hunting_mule-deer-blacktail-deer-hunting_gf_aa096204a/

There are more articles at that site that I have read, and I bought and read the trophy blacktails book.  If nothing else, it gives you some confidence that they are out there and to try different things.

FYI - It took me three or more years of public land hunting the same area (not on the Olympic Peninsula, sorry) to get into enough sign/activity to actually see a blacktail in the wild (a doe and no tag).  Now I know that there are animals in that area taken every year, so I will be back.  It is actually quite a bit off the beaten path with some older clear cuts, but it has been consistent in terms of fresh sign.

[sixty4nhalf]

Those area are difficult to hunt only because the # of hunters, people are out there all summer driving around, shooting their guns. My best advise is get off the roads, push some timber and sooner or later something will pop it's head out. Good Luck!

[Dmanmastertracker]

 If the sign is that old I wouldn't stick around. You want to find deer highway's this time of year, with steaming piles of deer sign, freshly bent grass, ferns, etc.... You'll see deer in clearcut's all day in the rain and morning and evening if it's clear, if there hasn't been a full moon. They will often bed in clearcut's in the rain and won't be visible until you almost trip over them, glassing from roads is only partially effective, you need to be above them, or move slow and try to get them to stand up, I've had success that way and there are fold's in just about every clearcut you won't see from the nearest road (and the deer do know this), which is where most will glass from... I was in Vail one time on a ridge above the 2,000 line as I watched truck after truck drive by this group of about 8 deer and not even see them less than 100 yards off the road below, they were in just a little ravine and knew they were out of sight. Another hunt in Kapowsin we glassed three legal buck's on a bench 1/4 mile below us and there was a road below them, again, truck after truck drove right by them, not getting out to glass over the little ridge between them and the road, there was at least 12 deer total and no one knew they were there. We drove the 2 1/2 miles back down to the road below, hiked over the little ridge and dropped two of the bucks, one was mine.

[JimmyHoffa]

You could try up Rocky Brook Rd.  You would probably need to go in from the 101 access, as the Dose access is only good for a mile or so before a logging gate.  Lots of roads to cruise in there.  Also, the suggestion about Penny Creek Rd, lots of miles of road there too.  You can also go along those power lines off 104.  Right now I'm not seeing much of anything either.  Finding lots of sign, but until there is some rain or at least clouds in the sky I don't really exect to see anything in the day time. 

[sixty4nhalf]

You could try up Rocky Brook Rd.  You would probably need to go in from the 101 access, as the Dose access is only good for a mile or so before a logging gate.  Lots of roads to cruise in there.  Also, the suggestion about Penny Creek Rd, lots of miles of road there too.  You can also go along those power lines off 104.  Right now I'm not seeing much of anything either.  Finding lots of sign, but until there is some rain or at least clouds in the sky I don't really exect to see anything in the day time.

The power lines off of 104 is so full of hunters, good luck seeing anything out there. Now you might see a small spike every once and a while. I did see a single antlered deer, referred to as a duck (half doe-half buck) in the movie Open Season, but other than that a lot of wasted hours were spent on the power lines.  Only to see nothing but hunters and rigs driving all over. 

[JimmyHoffa]

From what I've been hearing, there aren't too many deer falling in that area right now.  Lots of shooting, but not sure how much is deer related.  Heard that quite a few bears and bobcats have been getting lethal doses of lead in that area the past week, though.

[500 long]

Lots of good advice so far.  A bright moon sucks when hunting, unless you are walking out late. Persistence is key. Apples wouldn't hurt.

[sirmissalot]

Next week will be a lot better for hunting, don't give up yet. I used to hate blacktail hunting, they are so tough to hunt and figure out, especially a mature buck.

If you can find private timberlands to hunt, I suggest sticking to those. Walk in areas are perfect.

About what age do you think the clear cuts you have been glassing are? I am always looking for the "perfect" age clear cut, one with enough growth to let the deer feel safe and have plenty of feed, but still be able to glass it effectively.

[big J]

it could be changing fast I work on base and just saw 2 doe's bust out of the brush with a 3 pt chasin behind them seems early but they may be starting to rut. this is the first mature buck I have seen around any doe's this year. maybe one of them just came in early and he got wind of it, but it is the first big buck that i have seen in a while during the day