Post by: wooltie on October 25, 2016, 02:16:52 PM
Do you kill the majority of your bucks in the timber or in a clear cut?
The timber is just that--tall trees, ferns/moss/vine maple/the crap that entangles your legs, all over the ground, often thick restricting visibility to less than 20-30 yards. Also includes old growth, but old growth typically kills everything on the ground, so nothing green grows.
A clear cut could be wide open, or full of 3-4' fireweed, or stacked with 3-6' christmas trees--the point is you can glass and see into it, often 100-200 yards or more from your vantage point. And you look for deer moving through or bedded down.
Little background on me--I killed my first BT buck by luck, in a clear cut while he was passing through w/his does. Then I switched to hunting the timber. I've spent plenty of time cruising the thick stuff, finding trails, poop, rubs, beds, all the usual sign. But I've rarely seen deer in timber, let alone a buck. Now, I suspect that I haven't seen deer in the timber because I haven't done the 'take two steps, glass everything, take two steps, glass everything, repeat' approach. So I am working up the desire to cover very little ground, but cover the ground thoroughly LOL.
For those of you who do kill bucks in the timber, have you found that moving that moving two steps at a time is the only or most effective way to hunt the timber?
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 25, 2016, 03:33:19 PM
Post by: outlawbuck on October 25, 2016, 04:02:02 PM
Post by: Old Man Yager on October 25, 2016, 04:06:55 PM
Post by: boneill on October 25, 2016, 04:22:46 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 25, 2016, 08:49:21 PM
Backyard bucks are hittin' the dirt pretty hard today. Nice ones too! Perhaps that should be a category here. ;)
Post by: ElevenBravo on October 25, 2016, 08:52:06 PM
Post by: wooltie on October 25, 2016, 08:59:53 PM
All the comments and 'advice' I read about hunting the timber point to taking one or two steps then glassing as much as possible, looking for parts of a deer. The deer could be standing or bedded.
I've never implemented this technique consistently over several seasons, so maybe I should start.
I just get tired of hunting clear cuts, next to roads, finding land that maybe people won't go to, behind locked gates but then some people have keys. Hunting timber sounds like a good idea, a way to get away from people and truly expand the huntable area--
Just wonder if the 'take a step or two, then glass everything' is truly what needs to be done to 'get er done'.
I think so.
guess I can try the last four days.
Post by: bobcat on October 25, 2016, 09:12:56 PM
Post by: Ingwe on October 25, 2016, 09:23:49 PM
Post by: elksnout on October 25, 2016, 09:24:37 PM
Post by: Turner89 on October 25, 2016, 09:48:40 PM
Post by: JDHasty on October 25, 2016, 10:03:50 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 25, 2016, 11:51:37 PM
I read a lot. I read this board, listened to Haugen. Read Boyd Iverson. Seems you can get a BT buck in either a clear cut or the timber. Clear cuts seem straightforward: you find one with food and decent cover, then wait for them to move through or pick the cut apart to find one bedded. Timber is another story.
All the comments and 'advice' I read about hunting the timber point to taking one or two steps then glassing as much as possible, looking for parts of a deer. The deer could be standing or bedded.
I've never implemented this technique consistently over several seasons, so maybe I should start.
I just get tired of hunting clear cuts, next to roads, finding land that maybe people won't go to, behind locked gates but then some people have keys. Hunting timber sounds like a good idea, a way to get away from people and truly expand the huntable area--
Just wonder if the 'take a step or two, then glass everything' is truly what needs to be done to 'get er done'.
I think so.
guess I can try the last four days.
Many hunters break up the day into smaller manageable pieces. Four hours in reprod at first light. Move to the timber and still hunt, with occasional calling (can or rattle/grunt) for four hours, then finish the day in reprod. I can't still hunt longer than 4 hours or so. Trying to move slow and quiet is very stressful. There's a lot of opportunities to mess up at every step.
Some guys hunt the timber by going a hundred yards then sitting quietly and hidden for a half hour or so (in a spot where you can see a ways). Move another hundred yards and repeat. Mid-day is a good time because the bucks are often cruising between 10:00 - 2:00.
Post by: PolarBear on October 26, 2016, 12:43:53 AM
Post by: JDHasty on October 26, 2016, 03:36:08 AM
Timber. 95% of a mature bucks life is spent in timber or brush.
I agree. I have said it before, I would give up 23 hours and fifty minutes of hunting every day before I would give up the last ten minutes of legal light.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 26, 2016, 05:13:45 AM
Post by: pope on October 26, 2016, 05:49:24 AM
My favorite terrain to hunt is a drainage that holds just a few big trees up and down the bottom of the drainage, with older cuts on each side, with timber or reprod above and below. Put a tree stand in there (assuming you've found a trail and fresh sign) and hunt it on days when the wind blows directly up or down the drainage (parallel to the trail). Deer will hear and smell you walking in, but 3 or 4 hours later, with your scent blowing 20 feet over their heads, they will forget your intrusion. Be ready to rock and roll at 10 a.m.
Post by: birddogdad on October 26, 2016, 06:48:09 AM
I've only had luck in timber on rainy, windy days. I've tried it on nice days but I really just don't have the patience to go as slow as I should. Last year we had a pretty good storm on October 31st, lots of wind and rain about as hard as it can rain. I was able to walk up on a buck and shoot it less than 30 minutes after parking my truck. If it's not stormy, I pretty much plan on hitting the clearcuts, and that's how it looks like it will be this coming weekend, so I'll most likely be sitting in a clearcut somewhere.
:yeah:
always has been successful for me too.. stormy, spot n stalk with a brush gun, nice weather, sit openings with a long gun (which has always been tough for me)..
Post by: wt on October 26, 2016, 08:57:49 PM
Post by: JakeLand on October 26, 2016, 09:16:23 PM
Tag, great insights, I'm learning a lot. Thanks!
Good to meet you today
Post by: DaveMonti on October 26, 2016, 09:29:01 PM
Post by: JakeLand on October 26, 2016, 09:35:08 PM
Post by: Duckslayer89 on October 26, 2016, 09:36:25 PM
Post by: Turner89 on October 26, 2016, 09:36:38 PM
Timber. 95% of a mature bucks life is spent in timber or brush.I agree......the other 5% is now, and you can find them in the cuts :tup:
Post by: BGLEMIN on October 28, 2016, 10:37:17 AM
Post by: mossyoak arrow slinger on October 28, 2016, 10:56:58 AM
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Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 28, 2016, 11:49:44 AM
Post by: DaveMonti on October 28, 2016, 11:50:58 AM
Post by: mossyoak arrow slinger on October 28, 2016, 12:59:22 PM
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Post by: Westside88 on October 28, 2016, 01:15:35 PM
Post by: PolarBear on October 28, 2016, 03:51:59 PM
Found a clear cut with a bunch of rubs through it and on Wednesday I had a nice buck sneak in behind me. I was unable to get a shot off and now I'm sitting on the same cut rub line. Have you guys seen the same bucks come back a few days later or should I move on from this general areaI have seen a buck in rut that I spooked come back to the same spot within an hour. Once they are horned up they can be really stupid.
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Post by: mossyoak arrow slinger on October 28, 2016, 07:59:46 PM
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Post by: fishnfur on October 28, 2016, 10:24:19 PM
Found a clear cut with a bunch of rubs through it and on Wednesday I had a nice buck sneak in behind me. I was unable to get a shot off and now I'm sitting on the same cut rub line. Have you guys seen the same bucks come back a few days later or should I move on from this general areaI have seen a buck in rut that I spooked come back to the same spot within an hour. Once they are horned up they can be really stupid.
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Good thought PolarBear. Even before the rut kicks in, bucks may return to the spot they got bumped out of by a hunter, often within an hour or so.
Bump a good buck. Back off a ways downwind and take a seat. He might be back in short order.
Post by: BGLEMIN on October 28, 2016, 11:31:58 PM
Absolutely love it!!
From what I've noticed, the larger of Washington bucks will be taken in timber. The majority of great bucks harvested will come from openings like clear cuts and burn areas, and the alpine.
The next world record is most likely hiding in a swamp.
Post by: fishnfur on October 28, 2016, 11:54:18 PM
I stay away from swamps. Probably most others do too. Hmmmm. Cogitate...
Post by: BGLEMIN on October 29, 2016, 12:33:19 AM
Interesting.If I were a buck I'd stay where you'd stay away??
I stay away from swamps. Probably most others do too. Hmmmm. Cogitate...
Post by: JDHasty on October 29, 2016, 07:42:06 AM
Found a clear cut with a bunch of rubs through it and on Wednesday I had a nice buck sneak in behind me. I was unable to get a shot off and now I'm sitting on the same cut rub line. Have you guys seen the same bucks come back a few days later or should I move on from this general areaI have seen a buck in rut that I spooked come back to the same spot within an hour. Once they are horned up they can be really stupid.
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Good thought PolarBear. Even before the rut kicks in, bucks may return to the spot they got bumped out of by a hunter, often within an hour or so.
Bump a good buck. Back off a ways downwind and take a seat. He might be back in short order.
A buddy and I were taking care of a deer and noticed that a two point buck had come up to within two hundred yards of us and wanted to come down the fenced easement we were on... it was pacing back and forth nervously. So we left the deer lie and hid in brush off to the side and when he got within 30 yards I busted him with a load of buckshot.
He was following his nose and was not going to be detoured period.
Post by: elksnout on October 29, 2016, 07:20:48 PM
Last five of my bucks in seven years have been taken in big timber.
Make that six timber blackies in eight years. :tup:
Post by: wooltie on October 29, 2016, 09:22:27 PM
I hunted the timber the last few days. The timber varied. Tall old growth, with open, fern laden bottoms where you could see 100 yards. Or low canopy fir trees mixed with alder, ferns, moss, and covered with a matchbox full of small twigs and sticks. To attempt walking quietly and not breaking a stick was like a game out of A Saw movie. Most you could see was 20 yards.
Been following a rubline running north and south with rubs every 10-20 yards and fresh poop. This patch of timber rests against some pretty open cuts. The cuts have a lot of sign. Thinking they use this area during the night. Haven't seen any does yet. No gunshots either.
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 29, 2016, 11:00:24 PM
I started hunting blacktails when I was a kid 1963. All my dad and grandfather did was hunt the brush and timber behind grandparents place so that is how I learned to hunt.. It was mixed alder, maple and nice second growth timber with a lot of vine maple. We had well over a section to hunt. I was taught to hunt slow and look. My dad and grandpa always got big bucks and after I learned patience, I got a lot of nice bucks. Then the timber was divided and some logged every few years. So I learned about hunting clear cuts. Got a lot of deer out of the clear cuts especially after 6-8 years of replant. But my favorite way is to hunt timber. But not much mixed timber to hunt anymore as state and timber companies spray so much. Plus I am getting to old to hunt like I used to.
We had similar upbringings. I started in 1964 and all we did in those days was hunt timber. But we were always looking for fern patches in old burns and a good alder patch always seemed to be the best. And as you say a good mixed patch of conifers with alder and maple was always good too. I never dreamed you could be successful in a clear cut until the early 70s when I started hunting with a girlfriend's dad and he taught me a lot about that kind of hunting. Now it's probably 50-50 for me or maybe 60-40 in favor of clearcuts of various ages. But I'd take a good alder patch over anything if I can find one.
Here's a tip when hunting clearcuts that have vine maples growing in them. Deer love bedding in the vine maple clusters. When they are leaved out, they offer very good cover, hard to see in, but the deer can see out. But when the leaves fall, it's a lot easier to see into the clumps and spot deer bedded there. Deer are creatures of habit and sometimes seem to think they are still invisible bedded in the vine maples. Give them a good look after the leaves drop.
Post by: redi on October 29, 2016, 11:25:55 PM
Post by: Eric M on October 30, 2016, 04:50:07 AM
Post by: klikboom on October 30, 2016, 10:34:52 AM
Post by: PolarBear on October 30, 2016, 04:43:28 PM
Post by: elksnout on October 30, 2016, 07:07:03 PM
Where I hunt mostly (95% of the time) is old growth timber. Huge tracts of timber with varying elevation between 2000 and 3000ft. Mostly fir and hemlock forest with vine maple, ferns, big leaf maples, etc. It's steep country with benches and saddles. Nobody hunts there. They drive right on by. I've seen one hunter all this time. No joke. With heavy vine maples I don't spend much effort hunting there until the last week of the season. The visibility is just too restrictive. Plus, the last week of October the bucks are thinking about you know what. I still hunt by moving slowly and stopping often to glass. I also sit often. Maybe not for long but I do sit where I have a good view. I try to travel just below the crest of ridges and almost always see the bucks feeding below me. All the bucks come out on pack boards if that gives you a clue as to being close to roads.
I would hunt clear cuts more if there weren't so much pressure on them. I just do not like hunting around others.
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on October 30, 2016, 07:28:08 PM
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Post by: JBabcock on November 01, 2016, 04:45:54 PM
Post by: SteelheadTed on November 03, 2016, 05:39:13 PM
Four seasons of coursing the elusive blacktail, I've hunted timber more than any other cover type.
Absolutely love it!!
From what I've noticed, the larger of Washington bucks will be taken in timber. The majority of great bucks harvested will come from openings like clear cuts and burn areas, and the alpine.
The next world record is most likely hiding in a swamp.
I've got trailcam images of two bucks in the swamps near my in-laws property, all times of day. I've crashed through there a couple times and could never find them. I've even had someone wait on the other side to see if I bump them out without knowing it. Their dog has chased them out of there before as well. I figure it's just something I gotta figure out. Some pattern I'm missing or they are gone before I get close. I've never hunted in their in the rain. That helps everywhere else so it might help here. One is a nice four point so it's worth the effort me thinks.
Post by: fishnfur on November 04, 2016, 12:24:17 AM
I don't know about all of you, but I find a lot of variation on how easy it is to hunt big timber. In some stands the ground is moss covered in places and can be relatively easy to remain quiet. Others, there may be a significant understory of brush and noisy as all get out. The amount of light making it to the forest floor determines whether and understory of any significance will be present. Thinned mature timber stands where I hunt are the worst of all. The sudden opening of spaces between trees causes a whole new set of reprod hemlock and brush to grow where there was none prior to the commercial thinning. I try to stay away from these when I'm still hunting just for sanity sake. There's probably a lot of animals in there, but they know where I am at all times.
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