Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: James on October 06, 2014, 03:17:42 PM

Title: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: James on October 06, 2014, 03:17:42 PM: Yesterday out hiking I saw a blacktail doe and when I alarmed her, she bounded off flagging her tail in the air like a whitetail. She bounded off about 100 yards, stopped and stared at me for a few min, then took off again with her tail flagged up.

Anyone else seen this behavior in black tail or mule deer?
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: h20hunter on October 06, 2014, 03:18:18 PM: Yep...have indeed seen it on local blackies.
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 06, 2014, 03:21:21 PM: Yup, more times than I care to admit! :bash:
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: jackelope on October 06, 2014, 04:16:13 PM: Quote from: Blacktail Sniper on October 06, 2014, 03:21:21 PM
Yup, more times than I care to admit! :bash:

:yeah:

:chuckle:
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: boneaddict on October 06, 2014, 04:17:31 PM: Just another way to smile at you on the way out
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on October 06, 2014, 04:19:22 PM: What gets me is when someone comes running to you on the wetside screaming I seen a whitetail :yike: :chuckle: I have had that happen a few times ...I see them doing that all the time ...they walk away taking a dump with their tails up :chuckle:
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 06, 2014, 04:23:26 PM: James, Are you new to Blacktail hunting? All deer exibit the same behavior with their tail. Each can and will stomp, snort/weeze to alert other deer in the area. Some will, some won't. It all depends on how threatened they feel. Some will just run away. However, it sees that a Whitetail will most often flag you while running away.... Blacktails don't always. Muley's don't always. But I've been flagged by each more times than I can remember.

-Steve
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 06, 2014, 04:28:43 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on October 06, 2014, 04:17:31 PM
Just another way to smile at you on the way out

I thought it was because they don't have middle fingers... :dunno:
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 06, 2014, 04:30:59 PM: Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on October 06, 2014, 04:19:22 PM
What gets me is when someone comes running to you on the wetside screaming I seen a whitetail :yike: :chuckle: I have had that happen a few times ...I see them doing that all the time ...they walk away taking a dump with their tails up :chuckle:

I have seen Whitetails west of the PCT many times. (not very far west... but well beyond what the WDFW references as whitetail area) On occasion they do drop down out of BC. I have also seen them near Trout Lake/Skamania county. (Not just Columbia Coos WT)

-Steve
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: James on October 07, 2014, 08:06:30 AM: While I am far from a blacktail hunting expert, I thought I had seen enough of them in my outdoor adventures to have witnessed this before. I guess this just reinforces the fact you see "new to you" things in the woods every time out.

Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Blacktail Deer Tail Flagging?
Post by: Southpole on October 07, 2014, 09:03:43 AM: Quote from: JackOfAllTrades on October 06, 2014, 04:30:59 PM
Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on October 06, 2014, 04:19:22 PM
What gets me is when someone comes running to you on the wetside screaming I seen a whitetail :yike: :chuckle: I have had that happen a few times ...I see them doing that all the time ...they walk away taking a dump with their tails up :chuckle:

I have seen Whitetails west of the PCT many times. (not very far west... but well beyond what the WDFW references as whitetail area) On occasion they do drop down out of BC. I have also seen them near Trout Lake/Skamania county. (Not just Columbia Coos WT)

-Steve
I know a hand full of reputable friends that have also witnessed a rare westside whitetail, anything is possible. just because a guy hasn't seen it for themselves doesn't mean it can't be true.