Blacktails

[Black Ghost]

There seems to be a lack of blacktail success photo's?     I expected a little more from the late season?  How is it is going out there?  The numbers seem to have drastically dropped... everywhere?  Maybe the lack of hound hunting is really taking it's toll.  The folks that usually get their deer every year seem to be struggling to find the #'s of deer?  Hope this is a duplicate post of other's questions, but this has got to be the worst I have ever seen. 

[bobcat]

Well, I killed a 2x3 buck on October 30th. The last blacktail buck I killed was back in about 2001. But it wasn't easy, that was the only buck I actually saw. I hunted every day of the first rifle season, except one. But the thing is, I know the bucks are out there because I have plenty of trail camera pictures of them. The problem is, almost all the pictures are at night. But I definitely think there are less blacktails than there was 15 to 20 years ago.
 
 

[tjthebest]

My brother just got a nice little 3 point today

[BOWHUNTER45]

everyone I have talked to today got sheet !!!

[deerhunter_98520]

its been a pretty bad year...ive hunted 14 days for deer...6 were in my spot cause they changed it to weekend access...3 of the days someone beat me to it first thing in the morning..and 2 of the other days i got there it was fogged in till noon  ive seen deer everyday there and 3 possible bucks...but between the fog/misty rain it was to hard to see headgear and all 3 started chasin does and wouldnt stop for a shot when i realized they were bucks...ill be out bright and early tomorrow and sunday and have a good feeling about the deer activity...the last 3 days at work ive seen 13 deer...2 nice fork horns chasin does 

[BOWHUNTER45]

its been a pretty bad year...ive hunted 14 days for deer...6 were in my spot cause they changed it to weekend access...3 of the days someone beat me to it first thing in the morning..and 2 of the other days i got there it was fogged in till noon  ive seen deer everyday there and 3 possible bucks...but between the fog/misty rain it was to hard to see headgear and all 3 started chasin does and wouldnt stop for a shot when i realized they were bucks...ill be out bright and early tomorrow and sunday and have a good feeling about the deer activity...the last 3 days at work ive seen 13 deer...2 nice fork horns chasin does 

good luck bud !! keep on pounding it !!

[singleshot12]

Just not seeing the deer this year, last year was poor too. I blame it on the economy, people are poaching more.

[bankwalker]

I havent seen anything this late hunt. last year in the same area the rut was going crazy during the late hunt.

This year in general has been the worst I've ever seen the deer numbers in my regular areas. And the second year hunting around shelton has been a bust after last season being very good.
However I have seen some quality bucks. But man oh man I'm hunting 100x harder to see them.

One thing I'm noticing over here by my house in Matlock is that I'm seeing 3x the cougar sign then last year. And a crazy amount of coyotes.

[big wood]

I AGREE THE DEER NUMBERS ARE REALLY DOWN. TEN YEARS AGO YOU COULD SEE 15-20 DEER A DAY IN HANDCOCK. 5 OF THE 12 TIMES I'VE BEEN IN THERE THIS YEAR I HAVE NOT EVEN SEEN A DOE. I HAVE SEEN 4 DIFFERENT 2 PTS THAT I LET GO. THAT IS TERRIBLE. WE NEED TO BRING BACK HOUND HUNTING AND TRAPPING.

[scoyoc5]

the deer hunting in the last few years sucks!

[Black Ghost]

i don't have facts to support it, but I believe that the poaching is consistent.  I don't think that this has much of a impact on #'s, but the predators have continually increased in numbers.  Second, the smart deer left over seem to remain nocturnal more than normal.  My son and I got some small bucks, but the numbers are very disappointing.  And the lack of success pictures seems to support what I have heard from everyone else.  Thanx guys.

[cowboybilly]

Shot this nice 4 X4 almost 4 x 5 point blackie off Baker Lake road today, 11/18. was a special draw quality buck tag. We were checking out places to hunt when this guy basically walked out in front of us 75 yards off. Killed lots of whitey and muleys But this is my first Black tail and i think body wise, he's in the top 2. Such a nice Buck. Thanks to 50CalJim for the help scouting, dragging, skinning and the use of the shop to hang him in! you are a good friend Jim! The blackie now resides at the MuleyHunter residence getting ready to assume the position! Thanks for everything Dave!!!!

[blackveltbowhunter]

Very nice buck Cowboy Hes a stud!

[singleshot12]

That's a VERY nice buck Cowboy, good for you!  What's wierd about this year is that most of the nice bucks that have been shot were harvested by first time blacktail hunters, meanwhile most of the veteran hunters haven't had any success at all.

I've hunted blacktails religiously for over thirty years and have tagged a nice one all of those years using the best blacktail tactics. Last year was the first year I got skunked, hunted hard and didn't even see a buck. The following summer I scouted without seeing many deer so decided to not purchase a tag and not hunt this season.

The lack of blacktails is due to a combination of things. 20 years ago hardly anyone hunted them now the last few years everybody's trying to get a blacktail, that, poaching, excess of preditors, and the use of herbicides by most logging companys have all led to the demise of the blacktail.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Shot this nice 4 X4 almost 4 x 5 point blackie off Baker Lake road today, 11/18. was a special draw quality buck tag. We were checking out places to hunt when this guy basically walked out in front of us 75 yards off. Killed lots of whitey and muleys But this is my first Black tail and i think body wise, he's in the top 2. Such a nice Buck. Thanks to 50CalJim for the help scouting, dragging, skinning and the use of the shop to hang him in! you are a good friend Jim! The blackie now resides at the MuleyHunter residence getting ready to assume the position! Thanks for everything Dave!!!!

Nice job Billy... I was just asking everyone if they knew who had those late Sauk & Nooksack Tags ...Last year I heard of many being killed but this year you are the only one I know of ...nice one ..