Post by: tbrady on October 29, 2012, 01:03:49 PM
So, I've heard that Blacktails can best be found in clearcuts. Well I've hunted clearcuts of all shapes and sizes and miles from the nearest gate and I haven't even seen a doe in several days.
Is there an "ideal" clearcut these apparently mythical creatures prefer? E.g. I've been concentrating on ones that look to be 1-3 years old (regrowth just a few feet high) and usually ones 10acres or larger.
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 29, 2012, 01:14:38 PM
Ive walked the middle of cuts and found no sign, move to within 20 yards of cover/timber and tons of sign. Its just how they are.
And I like small secluded cuts.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 01:27:18 PM
3-5yr old cuts...provides lots of cover and feed....dog hair and/or tall timber surrounding it
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 29, 2012, 01:30:46 PM
Don't overlook the isolated "Islands" surrounded by clearcuts either. These patches of brush, trees and patches of cover can be deer magnets.
This a not so great example, but it shows what I am talking about:
Post by: tbrady on October 29, 2012, 01:51:31 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 02:05:28 PM
Post by: Moose-head on October 29, 2012, 02:10:47 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 02:27:43 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 02:28:44 PM
Post by: grousetracker on October 29, 2012, 02:42:36 PM
Post by: Clancy on October 29, 2012, 02:54:37 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 02:59:00 PM
Post by: tbrady on October 29, 2012, 03:22:22 PM
This is great info guys, I really appreciate all the responses. deerhunter_98520, you can PM or a pic or just give me the coordinates and I'll stop by and take a look. I promise not to hunt it; it will be for educational purposes only. :)
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 03:57:37 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on October 29, 2012, 04:27:00 PM
3- 5 years old for feeding, 5 years plus for bedding, and along the edges next to thick cover for quick escape.
Ive walked the middle of cuts and found no sign, move to within 20 yards of cover/timber and tons of sign. Its just how they are.
And I like small secluded cuts.
I agree.
But sometimes, depending on location, I find that first year cuts give up the bigger bucks. That is until the hordes find the cut.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 04:56:48 PM
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on October 29, 2012, 04:58:02 PM
Post by: Kola16 on October 29, 2012, 05:09:02 PM
You drive right past c post and take a right then go up the hill and you cant miss my spot :chuckle:
Drive right past c post heading east or west :dunno: :chuckle:
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 05:18:05 PM
You drive right past c post and take a right then go up the hill and you cant miss my spot :chuckle:
Drive right past c post heading east or west :dunno: :chuckle:
Now its gonna get confusing :chuckle:
Post by: dbor on October 29, 2012, 05:40:46 PM
Post by: Angus on October 29, 2012, 06:25:23 PM
3- 5 years old for feeding, 5 years plus for bedding, and along the edges next to thick cover for quick escape.
Ive walked the middle of cuts and found no sign, move to within 20 yards of cover/timber and tons of sign. Its just how they are.
And I like small secluded cuts.
I agree.
But sometimes, depending on location, I find that first year cuts give up the bigger bucks. That is until the hordes find the cut.
Couple weeks ago I talked to some guys in a 4Runner just a few minutes after daylight, after we chatted they headed up the road into a clearing that had been cut a year ago and just after they went out of sight I hear 2 quick shots, when I walked up there they had a nice 3x3 they were dragging down to the road. I've hunted this area all season (archery, muzzy, modern) and hardly gave that bare hillside a second look, I was back up there Sat and glassed that clearing hard for an hour, didn't see a damn thing but knowing what was there the week before changed the way I think about year old clearcuts.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 06:33:51 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on October 29, 2012, 06:47:23 PM
Why do you think that is? They just did a huge cut right by my honey hole
In my experience, most new cuts in general have a lot of activity (if are deer around) from the get-go. Deer are curious and like to check things out, they like to climb dirt hills and they like to eat the tender tips/tops of felled trees. There are small amounts of feed in even the newest cuts and the amount grows every year until they spray.
I don’t like monster sized cuts as they draw hunters and target shooters like flies to honey. I prefer smaller cuts that most people pass up or glass for a few minutes and leave.
My comment above is for those small to medium cuts that are surrounded by timber or in areas where there have not been many recent cuts and consequently, not much hunting pressure.
The cream of the crop (bigger bucks) have not been killed or educated and it usually takes hunters a year or so to find new cuts. Most hunters only find new clear-cuts during the season and someone who scouts can learn these new cuts and take advantage of the lack of pressure.
For example, this buck fed on the edge of a two year old cut and most likely fed there the year before.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_8971.jpg&hash=b4765077aecde8ef90ff34714319b8e261856e1c)
He was one of 8 bucks I would see regularly in the area. The first two years after the cut was created there were numerous three and four point bucks killed there. After that you would be hard pressed to find a two point in the cut even in the summer.
There are still bucks in the area, but they are educated and nocturnal.
Same thing with this new cut.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FwebIMG_88201.jpg&hash=cb481d2f4b2ec3203e9f242ef22427208704e279)
First couple of years you would find elk in there even though it didn’t have as much feed as cuts a quarter mile away. But fast-forward 2 years and even though the elk are in the area, they tend to stay in the older cuts or reprod due to pressure.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 07:13:31 PM
Post by: Bowflinger on October 29, 2012, 07:15:59 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 29, 2012, 07:49:28 PM
Post by: LoganOregon on October 29, 2012, 09:35:47 PM
Post by: fish vacuum on October 30, 2012, 01:16:50 AM
Post by: Lcl 66 Tinner on October 30, 2012, 08:20:53 AM
The ideal clearcut is one that doesn't have 10 rigs driving through it a day and isn't in an area that gets talked about on the internet.FACT
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 30, 2012, 08:48:41 AM
The ideal clearcut is one that doesn't have 10 rigs driving :chuckle: :chuckle: through it a day and isn't in an area that gets talked about on the internet.FACT
:chuckle:
Ya i wounldnt turn it into the Tripod Hog Hole either!
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 30, 2012, 10:01:21 AM
Post by: elkoholic on October 30, 2012, 10:04:26 AM
Post by: tbrady on October 30, 2012, 10:22:17 AM
I guess i shouldnt have said anything about c post then :dunno: :chuckle:
Thanks to deerhunter for sharing his honey hole location!! Look what I was able to find!