Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: huntingbaldguy on October 30, 2014, 12:50:38 AM

Title: Failed early blacktail so far, suggestions for tomorrow and late hunt?
Post by: huntingbaldguy on October 30, 2014, 12:50:38 AM: So Wednesday was probably my last day i could hunt for blacktail. Still couldn't quite nail down the area i was in despite 50 or so hours of scouting and probably 25-30 hours spent during actual hunting season.

Without specifics it's probably hard for you guys to tell me much, but i'm hunting public land, mostly clear cuts with some dried (til recently) pond beds and some well worn game trails mixed in. Today at the end of my hunt i went to an area i hadn't been to. I found an insane amount of rubs, 40 or so little trees/branches and half of them rubbed on, 2-3 of them looked fresh. I know what most of you will probably say, go back tomorrow, and i'm entertaining the thought honestly, i just don't know if i can pull it off because of prior commitments, and i also need to go to my elk area and nail down some spots to put a camp on friday.

So my questions is, if i could spend an evening hunt there tomorrow (assuming someone else didn't get there first), what are my best chances of calling a deer in. I have scent and wicks, but it's a generic blacktail piss. Should i get a dominant buck piss, or estrous doe? I found a spot to sit when i was there that's pretty concealed and off all 3 game trails to and from the spot. I have scent killer spray. I have a primos trophy call with 6 different pitches, fawn distress, doe bleat, doe estrous bleat, young buck, mature buck and trophy buck. I have an antler rattle. I've tried the call and the rattle numerous times and never brought a deer in, but i don't know if there's timing to it, or what. I also don't know how to use the grunts, how long to hold it, how loud to make it, etc.

Also if i can't make it tomorrow evening, what are your suggestions for late blacktail?
Title: Re: Failed early blacktail so far, suggestions for tomorrow and late hunt?
Post by: RadSav on October 30, 2014, 04:01:41 AM: Definitely be headed to that spot in the late season if it were me! Scent products when hunting from the ground same day I don't have a lot of faith in. Treestand, blind or advanced placement scent is great, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Calling is good this time of year. Grunt and rattle, leave the other stuff for another time IMO. I'd definitely hunt the area till 11:30 in the morning first before setting up to call. For me, calling is an action of last resort when dealing with rutting bucks. Morning is my favorite rut time. Afternoon and evening calling is my preference. If I were to guess I'd have to say that 85-90% of my rut bucks were taken between 9:30 and 10:30 in the morning. I believe a lot of guys scout and find the perfect spot, but leave too early in the morning for spot "B".

Good luck! Sounds like you found a real good place to start next time out.
Title: Re: Failed early blacktail so far, suggestions for tomorrow and late hunt?
Post by: 206dawgfan on October 30, 2014, 08:58:43 AM: Get there 2 hours before sun up. Sit till 12:00 you will get something. Sounds like you have some active bucks.

"Honey; Hunting is free meat". She'll never know the truth.
Title: Re: Failed early blacktail so far, suggestions for tomorrow and late hunt?
Post by: huntingbaldguy on October 30, 2014, 11:49:24 PM: Wasn't able to hit it up today, but will definitely be there on the late opener.