Post by: Atroxus on August 07, 2012, 10:00:32 AM
Post by: MADMAX on August 07, 2012, 10:01:23 AM
Post by: Jordanskylery on August 07, 2012, 10:15:17 AM
I switched to archery for that very reason, over crowded, short season, limits on deer able to take and by that point in the season many are nocturnal from all the hunting activity and pressure.
Hope that helps.
Post by: BnB on August 07, 2012, 10:23:24 AM
Post by: notellumcreek on August 07, 2012, 10:26:34 AM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 07, 2012, 10:30:04 AM
Post by: NWBREW on August 07, 2012, 10:31:07 AM
I currently hunt whitetails but I only hunt the late hunt. I do not bother hunting the general season.
Post by: Atroxus on August 07, 2012, 11:13:13 AM
:yeah: If you get out early for archery then you have a good chance, because none of them have been too pressured or shot at yet. I have seen some of the biggest bucks in september before they get real nocturnal. ALTHOUGH, every response I have got from this is the later the better. Once they hit the rut, they get pretty stupid chasing does. This was how I shot mine last year, on the last day of regular season (oct 31st), about 930 and he was just running around snorting in a cut lookin' for some action. Most seasoned hunters I know dont even bother with regular season, they scout and hunt the late buck hard. I have only shot 1 buck in my life so far so don't take my opinion too seriously :chuckle:
That's one more than I have. This is my third hunting season, and so far I have yet to even see a deer while I was hunting. Seen several while driving home, but they were standing in peoples yards mocking me. :P
Thanks for the info though everyone. Gonna put in my vacation request for late season this year. I hunted general last 2 years, maybe this will change my luck. <crosses fingers>
Post by: shedkid on August 07, 2012, 01:22:06 PM
Post by: rasbo on August 07, 2012, 01:44:10 PM
Post by: deerslyr on August 07, 2012, 01:49:59 PM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 07, 2012, 02:02:02 PM
But last few years, deer have been few and far between down there. Been very discouraging. You look an area over, walk through it looking for sign, drive the roads along the edges and while all the things are there: cover, food, water...and yet, not even a single track or used trail...just sterile land.
First year hunting Thurston Co. and have an antlerless tag for deer up here so looking forward to a new area.
So if you can spend anytime scouting your area(s) now, I would do it, so when you can actually get out and hunt, you know there are some critters there.
Post by: grundy53 on August 07, 2012, 02:02:44 PM
Ive always had better luck the last 5 days of general than the late hunt.:yeah: I would rather hunt the last four days of general season then the 4 day late Blacktail season.
Post by: headshot5 on August 07, 2012, 02:06:41 PM
Post by: jackmaster on August 07, 2012, 02:14:30 PM
Post by: sirmissalot on August 07, 2012, 02:23:36 PM
Ive always had better luck the last 5 days of general than the late hunt.
:yeah:
I have been tagged out by the end of general season the last 9 years, but I still always try to get out for late buck with a buddy or just to see what I see. I'd much prefer the tail end of general.
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on August 07, 2012, 02:26:02 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 07, 2012, 02:28:03 PM
Post by: Ingwe on August 07, 2012, 02:33:45 PM
Post by: Atroxus on August 07, 2012, 02:37:21 PM
Post by: grundy53 on August 07, 2012, 02:40:13 PM
Post by: deerslyr on August 07, 2012, 02:46:51 PM
Halloween is my favorite day to hunt Blacktails. If I only got to hunt them for one day a year it would be Halloween.
Me too.
Ive always told people if they want a good BT wait until the last few days of the season and go out on the nastiest piss pourin day, Hike or bike a few miles behind a locked gate, glass the cuts first thing and then still hunt your way through the big timber. If all you want is a legal buck then you should have no problem finding one atroxus. The only problem is staying out the entire day when your soaked from the first 15 minutes. :twocents:
Post by: grundy53 on August 07, 2012, 03:07:32 PM
Post by: Atroxus on August 07, 2012, 03:29:39 PM
The nastier the weather the better :tup:
That me be part of my problem. Last 2 years I was only able to get out when the weather was nice.
Post by: deerslyr on August 07, 2012, 06:09:29 PM
The nastier the weather the better :tup:
That me be part of my problem. Last 2 years I was only able to get out when the weather was nice.
IMO during rifle season its not worth the gas to even go out on blue sky days. Might as well do yard work while the weathers nice. I think the only BT ive ever killed on a sunny day was a doe? Looking back through all my pictures im soaked to the freaking bone with a big smile on my face.
Post by: bobcat on August 07, 2012, 06:15:06 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on August 07, 2012, 06:27:32 PM
the last 4 days of the regular season, especially if it is gonna be cold and nasty, if its gonna be warm and dry then wait for extended :twocents:
If I were you I'd go October 27-30. Late season, the rut is over. The last few days of October it's just getting started. You will still have the weekend to hunt for late season if you need it, correct?
I agree 100%
Post by: billythekidrock on August 07, 2012, 06:29:04 PM
Good to know...I am not looking for trophies yet though. I plan on shooting the first legal deer I see. I am mostly after the meat, and experience so that I can teach my son to hunt when he gets a little older and hopefully make it a family tradition we can share as he grows.
This changes things a bit for me. If you just want to notch a tag then you need to hunt the opener and the first few days of the season.
Post by: jess on August 07, 2012, 06:36:05 PM
Post by: Turner89 on August 07, 2012, 06:46:40 PM
I agree with Grundy. Around Halloween I always see big bucks rutted up cruising around. Late buck the swelled necks are usually pretty well gone and the buck settle down a bit, although you still see a few.:yeah: Last 4 days of general season. I believe they are the dumbest at that time. I take last week of general season off every year for blacktail.
I scout pretty hard the month of november also and I feel I see more bucks the last few days of Oct. thru first week of Nov. Then they start chilling out it seems.
Post by: Turner89 on August 07, 2012, 06:54:41 PM
Yeah You guys are right too about the last week of the general season...I have killed 8 of my biggest blacktail on Halloween ..THE LAST DAY :chuckle: :chuckle: :dunno::yeah: Halloween has a new meaning for me. My 2 biggest bt's have been Halloween bucks.
Post by: AKBowman on August 08, 2012, 05:24:27 PM
I agree with Grundy. Around Halloween I always see big bucks rutted up cruising around. Late buck the swelled necks are usually pretty well gone and the buck settle down a bit, although you still see a few.:yeah: Last 4 days of general season. I believe they are the dumbest at that time. I take last week of general season off every year for blacktail.
I scout pretty hard the month of november also and I feel I see more bucks the last few days of Oct. thru first week of Nov. Then they start chilling out it seems.
Agree 100%, trail cam pics prove the point and timing further. By the time late archery rolls around it is really hit or miss. I know a lot of guys havehad great rutting action late Nov/early Dec but its in small pockets for the most part and not nearly as wide spread action as the last week of Oct. I just pray for terrible weather the last week of Oct this year b/c I will be perched on a funnel trail in my tree stand on a creek between two cuts...with my bow! Cant wait
Post by: fish vacuum on August 10, 2012, 01:26:18 AM
Although, the majority of the GMUs close to you are permit only for the late season, so taking your vacation during the early season could allow you to hunt closer to home and reduce a lot of travel time.
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 10, 2012, 03:39:09 PM
Post by: Atroxus on September 11, 2012, 01:37:25 PM