Blacktail Scouting/Property Selection

[dmr400]

Hello All.

I'm a recent transplant from Eastern Oregon, and am excited to try my hand at blacktail hunting this year.  I've done some reading on the subject, including Scott Haugen's book, seems pretty good.  I've started my scouting for next fall on Google Earth, and went out and drove by what looked on the computer like some promising area's this weekend.  I live in Pierce County, and would like to try and find a section of private property to work on.  I'm well familiar with the trials of asking permission to hunt and all it entails, but I'm having a problem here I've never had before.

Basically, none of my old standby scouting techniques are going to work!  Typically in Oregon I would glass private private property from public land, and from the information I gained that way make my decision about where to ask for permission.  With the different topography and vegetation here, this isn't going to work.  Some of the property I drove by this weekend couldn't be seen from the road at all.

So what do you look for when you're trying to find a piece of private ground? South Slopes? River Bottoms? Another terrain feature?  Normally if asked that question at home I would say find a food source, look for the logical bedding ground, and you'll be all set.  But I don't know how to do that here, without being able to get on the property in the first place.  It doesn't seem efficient to go to the trouble to ask for permission only to find there isn't anything about that property that will attract deer, but I don't know how else to go about it.

Any tips would be appreciated!

[dmr400]

56 views and no replies...I'm guessing I'm not posting this to full effect.  Would it be better off in the Deer Hunting Forum?

[bobcat]

I would use aerial photos to decide which properties have potential feeding areas for blacktail deer. Just look for any large openings, where there may be an abundance of feed for the deer.

[lokidog]

Agree with Bobcat.  It also wouldn't hurt to get pemission to hunt a property even if it doesn't turn out to be a productive one.  You never know when one of those contacts will lead you to another that will work.  And, who knows, you might find an elk/turkey/coyote hotspot as well.

Good luck and good hunting.

[blackveltbowhunter]

DMR....  Your off to great start your starting early and with prior experience in gaining permission you should do well regardless. A Couple things come to mind.... I didnt see mention of what weapon you are planning to use... more importantly what season?
    Looking at arials is a great start.... and I would simply start by seeking permision on the largest tracts of property that have decent vegetation. Clearcuts or large opening that will grow browse mixed with large woodlots as bedding areas, trails crossing the road, and APPLE trees should be a good starting point. Hope this helps. 

[Special T]

I would get Boyd Iverson's Blacktail trophy tactics 2 (book). I would also get permission from as many places close to where youlive as possible. I think there are more BT than peopel think, but they are hard to scout. You need to beable to walk the property inorder to scout effectively on this side of the mountains. This time of year is perfect because you can see more before the vegitation grows up. Trails are easier to see and all other forms of topography. Not to mention if you find a great spot or 3 its way easier to hide your trimming of bushes now than later. remeber hiding from the deer is half the battle, hiding from theives and other hunters is the rest. good luck!

[dmr400]

Thanks for the replies gentleman.  I will be hunting archery (all I do), probably some early season, some late.  No one pays attention to sun exposure? I.e. south faces for more browse, north for cool bedding, etc?  If so that's quite a change for me.