Post by: MrSmallington on October 04, 2017, 03:58:19 PM
last year was my first year hunting. went east for mulies and saw 37 elk... no mules. a lot of does... so this year i have a new job and cant take off much time. im stuck doing fri-sun hunts at the cap forest. ive scouted out a nice camp site and found some tracks and poop. now. i know its heavily hunted. but im no road hunter. i plan to set up shop and wait somewhere between my tracks and the little creek. any advice? better off from up top looking down clear cuts to the woods or camp in the woods waiting? im pumped on just the fact ill be hunting smarter game this year. im not looking for a trophy just a freezer of meat. any advice on the elusive ghosts? next weekend cant come soon enough! also elk? anyone ever see elk there? i heard one call but jeez its so thick i doubt there many
Post by: Wolfdog2314 on October 04, 2017, 07:32:40 PM
Hunt when the weather is the worst.
Hunt your hardest the last few days of October.
Hunt all times of the day.
Watching a long stretch of closed road where I can see 3-400 yards has been successful. That or a good looking clearcut.
Look for sign. Blacktail love to do good little rub lines.
Don't get discouraged hunting these ghosts. You may go all season and not see anything, then come around the corner and a great buck will be standing there staring at you.
Good luck!
Post by: optic2 on October 04, 2017, 10:48:34 PM
Love hunting the elusive blacktail.
Hunt when the weather is the worst.
Hunt your hardest the last few days of October.
Hunt all times of the day.
Watching a long stretch of closed road where I can see 3-400 yards has been successful. That or a good looking clearcut.
Look for sign. Blacktail love to do good little rub lines.
Don't get discouraged hunting these ghosts. You may go all season and not see anything, then come around the corner and a great buck will be standing there staring at you.
Good luck!
The law says you can't shoot from or along a road. Does this include closed/gated roads or would they be exempt from that law?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 04, 2017, 11:18:21 PM
The law says you can't shoot from or along a road. Does this include closed/gated roads or would they be exempt from that law?
[/quote]
Not exactly correct, unless on Forest Service roads.
What it says is it is unlawful to shoot negligently from or along a public road, private property is excluded as long as the person is there legally, regardless of whether it is gated or not.
Link to WDFW FAQ:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/70/What+are+the+rules+about+shooting+from+a+road%3F
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 04, 2017, 11:25:39 PM
Post by: MrSmallington on October 05, 2017, 08:07:11 AM
Love hunting the elusive blacktail.
Hunt when the weather is the worst.
Hunt your hardest the last few days of October.
Hunt all times of the day.
Watching a long stretch of closed road where I can see 3-400 yards has been successful. That or a good looking clearcut.
Look for sign. Blacktail love to do good little rub lines.
Don't get discouraged hunting these ghosts. You may go all season and not see anything, then come around the corner and a great buck will be standing there staring at you.
Good luck!
thanks man. last year i hunted with a guy who only wanted to hunt a couple hours in the morning. this year i am going solo and plan on up at 3. hanging by the tracks i saw to noon ish. then hiking to the top of the ridge and watching the clear cut. i found a nice spot. spent 9 hours scouting the cap forest and this place was the only place i saw tracks and poop... im pumped. ill be out every weekend and then 4 days in the last part of the season in November.
Post by: MrSmallington on October 05, 2017, 08:11:01 AM
The law says you can't shoot from or along a road. Does this include closed/gated roads or would they be exempt from that law?
Not exactly correct, unless on Forest Service roads.
What it says is it is unlawful to shoot negligently from or along a public road, private property is excluded as long as the person is there legally, regardless of whether it is gated or not.
Link to WDFW FAQ:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/70/What+are+the+rules+about+shooting+from+a+road%3F
[/quote]
just did the hunters ed class... it is legal but is it smart? and ethical? thats what i was told
Post by: WSU on October 05, 2017, 08:16:02 AM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 05, 2017, 08:30:03 AM
Blacktails are challenging, frustrating at times and especially the older bucks, seem to just drop off the face of the Earth till after season.
But, that last week of October can be some of the best times to be chasing them.
If you can wait to hunt during those last days (espically during the week) when alot of hunters have used their time off for the start of the season and are limited to the weekend or are gearing-up for elk, it can be surprising how much more successful you can be.
Post by: MrSmallington on October 05, 2017, 08:55:40 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 05, 2017, 09:46:23 AM
Note: Talking about firearms here, as bows are for some reason, not legal in the same situtation (public roads).
After reading the RCWs on this last week, I came to the same conclusion; that it's completely illegal to shoot a bow from on or across the maintained portion of a public road, but with a firearm, you can't "negligently" shoot from on or across... Negligently, as it's applied here could be widely interpreted by the shooter and/or LE.
Post by: fishnfur on October 05, 2017, 05:25:08 PM
i also got an elk tag. anyone know of a good elk area withing 2 hours of tacoma?
Check out the hunting regs. The hills surrounding any of the specially designated elk areas all hold a lot of elk. There's lots of elk E. SE., SW, and W. of you. Read up for more information/or ask over on the elk board and look at the 2016 hunter success reports for elk on WDFW. You can quickly ascertain which units are best.
Post by: fishnfur on October 05, 2017, 05:50:14 PM
-Hunt all day for each of the last 4 days of Oct.
-Find a rub line and sit on it.
-try rattling (while hidden) 40 - 100 yds inside the timbered edge of a cut showing fresh sign. If possible, have the wind blowing your scent
-glass a cut from across a draw or ravine, or from above. Glass till your eyes bleed.
- find a bedding area on a south slope. Get above it and wait for bucks passing through (below you) as they scent check it for does.
Post by: BigGoonTuna on October 06, 2017, 04:25:42 AM
Post by: fishnfur on October 06, 2017, 08:08:45 AM
Look at a satellite photo and try to guess which areas are less likely to get walk-ins off the road. The nastiest, steepest, hardest to hunt areas often cause hunters who actually hunt in the woods to look elsewhere for someplace easier. These are the spots where the bucks hide in the early season. Late in the month though, those bucks will often be out cruising more, so presumably, they won't be home quite as much.
Alternatively, sometimes that first unit that you encounter, way low down as you first enter public land gets ignored by hunters as they go to greener pastures higher up. The deer notice that humans drive right by that area, so they take up residence in the relative quiet there. Those spots are always worth a look. Always park at well away from where you're hunting though. Stop a quarter mile or more before you get to the spot, or if its on a major road, drive right by the spot and park then quietly work your way back on foot.
Post by: MrSmallington on October 06, 2017, 08:18:18 AM
if you're in capitol forest, you'd be wise to try to get as far away from the road as you can. better yet if you can find somewhere gated off to walk in(there are a few areas like that in there, but not many). it gets hit hard because it's just because it's public and close to a ton of people, but most of those guys never get off the roads.
yea. i despise road hunters. was shot at last year by some old nimrod shooting his rifle while driving! i found a great place behind a gate fresh bedding, poop, rubs and tracks! only down side is its also by a great campsite. i plan on taking the last 4 days off in november but will weekend hunt/scout every weekend till then. the tricky part will be finding somewhere close enough so my hunting spot doesnt get stolen. but it is off a small road pretty deep. and i will be off in the woods pretty good. all in all im just way to anxious to get out there... thanks all for the tips! i plan on just sitting and glassing for 48 hours straight. get up at three am. and stalk till light.
Post by: 7mmfan on October 06, 2017, 08:40:05 AM
if you're in capitol forest, you'd be wise to try to get as far away from the road as you can. better yet if you can find somewhere gated off to walk in(there are a few areas like that in there, but not many). it gets hit hard because it's just because it's public and close to a ton of people, but most of those guys never get off the roads.
yea. i despise road hunters. was shot at last year by some old nimrod shooting his rifle while driving! i found a great place behind a gate fresh bedding, poop, rubs and tracks! only down side is its also by a great campsite. i plan on taking the last 4 days off in november but will weekend hunt/scout every weekend till then. the tricky part will be finding somewhere close enough so my hunting spot doesnt get stolen. but it is off a small road pretty deep. and i will be off in the woods pretty good. all in all im just way to anxious to get out there... thanks all for the tips! i plan on just sitting and glassing for 48 hours straight. get up at three am. and stalk till light.
Don't be discouraged if while you're in there, other guys come and go. If you get in there early and sit down and become part of the landscape, you'll see deer. Those guys that walk in after light and stand around glassing will be seen by any deer that are around. Blacktail have a great habit of just laying their heads down in the brush and disappearing until the threat leaves. But when that threat leaves, they will often get up and change beds. Many times I have had deer activity in my spots pick up immediately after someone has come and gone from it, or dirt bikes have gone by, or something like that. I guess what I'm saying is don't leave just because someone else walks through, the spot isn't spoiled.
Post by: Turner89 on October 06, 2017, 04:27:27 PM
:yeah:if you're in capitol forest, you'd be wise to try to get as far away from the road as you can. better yet if you can find somewhere gated off to walk in(there are a few areas like that in there, but not many). it gets hit hard because it's just because it's public and close to a ton of people, but most of those guys never get off the roads.
yea. i despise road hunters. was shot at last year by some old nimrod shooting his rifle while driving! i found a great place behind a gate fresh bedding, poop, rubs and tracks! only down side is its also by a great campsite. i plan on taking the last 4 days off in november but will weekend hunt/scout every weekend till then. the tricky part will be finding somewhere close enough so my hunting spot doesnt get stolen. but it is off a small road pretty deep. and i will be off in the woods pretty good. all in all im just way to anxious to get out there... thanks all for the tips! i plan on just sitting and glassing for 48 hours straight. get up at three am. and stalk till light.
Don't be discouraged if while you're in there, other guys come and go. If you get in there early and sit down and become part of the landscape, you'll see deer. Those guys that walk in after light and stand around glassing will be seen by any deer that are around. Blacktail have a great habit of just laying their heads down in the brush and disappearing until the threat leaves. But when that threat leaves, they will often get up and change beds. Many times I have had deer activity in my spots pick up immediately after someone has come and gone from it, or dirt bikes have gone by, or something like that. I guess what I'm saying is don't leave just because someone else walks through, the spot isn't spoiled.
I totally agree with 7mm on that. The key ,for me anyways, is to be there first. Then you know what's gone on there the whole day.
Post by: Turner89 on October 06, 2017, 04:53:47 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on October 06, 2017, 06:07:58 PM
My friend Ron swore they were attracted to the sound of a chainsaw.
Post by: predatorG on October 06, 2017, 06:21:24 PM
Post by: WAnoob on October 06, 2017, 06:55:53 PM
Post by: MrSmallington on October 09, 2017, 08:51:41 AM
Post by: Turner89 on October 09, 2017, 09:05:35 PM
Post by: viva_che1363 on October 09, 2017, 09:18:17 PM
Post by: Crunchy on October 09, 2017, 10:58:22 PM
Post by: JDHasty on October 10, 2017, 02:03:46 PM
Love hunting the elusive blacktail.
Hunt when the weather is the worst.
Hunt your hardest the last few days of October.
Hunt all times of the day.
Watching a long stretch of closed road where I can see 3-400 yards has been successful. That or a good looking clearcut.
Look for sign. Blacktail love to do good little rub lines.
Don't get discouraged hunting these ghosts. You may go all season and not see anything, then come around the corner and a great buck will be standing there staring at you.
Good luck!
thanks man. last year i hunted with a guy who only wanted to hunt a couple hours in the morning. this year i am going solo and plan on up at 3. hanging by the tracks i saw to noon ish. then hiking to the top of the ridge and watching the clear cut. i found a nice spot. spent 9 hours scouting the cap forest and this place was the only place i saw tracks and poop... im pumped. ill be out every weekend and then 4 days in the last part of the season in November.
Capitol Forest has no shortage of blacktails.
They are used to people and that makes the mature bucks particularly difficult in a lot of ways. They aren't usually "spooky" and as such will sit tight and let you almost step on them. I was pheasant hunting on a release site once and jumped a real monster buck that was hiding out half submerged in a slough, he got hung up between me and my dogs and I am sure he would have let me walk past him, but what he wasn't prepared for was me walking down the slough in hip deep water. I come round a bend and he exploded out of the water. I have a more than one friend who had one go down on it's knees and try creeping past while screened by ferns and salal. They absolutely do have the ability to move around to the side and behind and let most hunters just go right on by them w/o giving themselves away.
On the plus side these bucks that are used to a lot of human interaction sometimes think they are hidden when in fact they are not quite as stealthy as they think they are. As long as they think they have not been detected they are more likely than not to sit tight.
Blacktail bucks don't get to grow up into mature blacktail bucks by standing on the side of the road, or out in a clear cut in Cap Forest saying: shoot me. They rarely use the mountain bike or motorcycle trails or even the "major" deer trails. But that doesn't mean they are not there, they almost exclusively use subsidiary trails. You will find tracks on the former, but I think they were left at night.
Post by: MrSmallington on October 10, 2017, 02:46:57 PM
Blacktail is one word. Has different meaning as two words lol... :chuckle:
I'll have to go back and re-read my comments. I know when I type on my phone or use speech-to-text it separates them... everyone is out there butchering animals and i am here butchering the English language! :chuckle:
Post by: MrSmallington on October 10, 2017, 02:52:23 PM
Love hunting the elusive blacktail.
Hunt when the weather is the worst.
Hunt your hardest the last few days of October.
Hunt all times of the day.
Watching a long stretch of closed road where I can see 3-400 yards has been successful. That or a good looking clearcut.
Look for sign. Blacktail love to do good little rub lines.
Don't get discouraged hunting these ghosts. You may go all season and not see anything, then come around the corner and a great buck will be standing there staring at you.
Good luck!
thanks man. last year i hunted with a guy who only wanted to hunt a couple hours in the morning. this year i am going solo and plan on up at 3. hanging by the tracks i saw to noon ish. then hiking to the top of the ridge and watching the clear cut. i found a nice spot. spent 9 hours scouting the cap forest and this place was the only place i saw tracks and poop... im pumped. ill be out every weekend and then 4 days in the last part of the season in November.
Capitol Forest has no shortage of blacktails.
They are used to people and that makes the mature bucks particularly difficult in a lot of ways. They aren't usually "spooky" and as such will sit tight and let you almost step on them. I was pheasant hunting on a release site once and jumped a real monster buck that was hiding out half submerged in a slough, he got hung up between me and my dogs and I am sure he would have let me walk past him, but what he wasn't prepared for was me walking down the slough in hip deep water. I come round a bend and he exploded out of the water. I have a more than one friend who had one go down on it's knees and try creeping past while screened by ferns and salal. They absolutely do have the ability to move around to the side and behind and let most hunters just go right on by them w/o giving themselves away.
On the plus side these bucks that are used to a lot of human interaction sometimes think they are hidden when in fact they are not quite as stealthy as they think they are. As long as they think they have not been detected they are more likely than not to sit tight.
Blacktail bucks don't get to grow up into mature blacktail bucks by standing on the side of the road, or out in a clear cut in Cap Forest saying: shoot me. They rarely use the mountain bike or motorcycle trails or even the "major" deer trails. But that doesn't mean they are not there, they almost exclusively use subsidiary trails. You will find tracks on the former, but I think they were left at night.
thanks! yea after scouting my area I saw three does. came across droppings and tracks with no trail in sight. figure i will be in the woods for the most part of my mornings and above the clear cuts during the afternoon. found nice bedding areas near my spot too... all real promising. Not looking for a trophy anything to stock my freezer... it will be my first tag ever so I'm glad it will be challenging.
Post by: 7mmfan on October 10, 2017, 02:57:24 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 10, 2017, 03:21:31 PM
The last few days of the month, I'd be looking for big bucks out cruising the woods above doe bedding areas between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. But hey, what do I know? Given my success rate, doing the opposite of what I do is probably the best move anyone could make!
Post by: MrSmallington on October 10, 2017, 03:47:39 PM
Post by: jj-ak on October 10, 2017, 04:15:54 PM
Post by: JDHasty on October 10, 2017, 04:43:50 PM
Someone can chime in if they think I'm off here, but I would do vice versa. Be in those clear cuts an hour before light until about 11:00 and then still hunt the timber until about 2:30 or 3:00 before returning to the clear cut for the evening. If you have a heavily used travel route to and from the cuts, you can sit close to those in the timber as well.
Could be. The only real time I spend in Capitol Forest is in mid summer.
And if that travel route is below a bedding area I would be really focused on watching it
Post by: fishnfur on October 10, 2017, 05:28:07 PM
Someone can chime in if they think I'm off here, but I would do vice versa. Be in those clear cuts an hour before light until about 11:00 and then still hunt the timber until about 2:30 or 3:00 before returning to the clear cut for the evening. If you have a heavily used travel route to and from the cuts, you can sit close to those in the timber as well.
Could be. The only real time I spend in Capitol Forest is in mid summer.
And if that travel route is below a bedding area I would be really focused on watching it
You're the Master Hunter, so correct me if I'm wrong. My understanding of the situation: Depending on the time of day - as thermals kick in and start rising in the morning, you would expect cruising bucks to be downwind, (or uphill), of bedding areas. In early morning or towards last light, when thermals are sinking/going downhill, then doe scent would hit the trails below the bedding area, and bucks would scent check below.
JD - you tagged out yet??
Post by: Turner89 on October 10, 2017, 05:44:52 PM
Someone can chime in if they think I'm off here, but I would do vice versa. Be in those clear cuts an hour before light until about 11:00 and then still hunt the timber until about 2:30 or 3:00 before returning to the clear cut for the evening. If you have a heavily used travel route to and from the cuts, you can sit close to those in the timber as well.x2