Post by: skagitsteel on October 25, 2017, 02:08:08 PM
Here are some video highlights from my season, I have a lot more footage to edit and will have something narrated, longer and better edited this winter, for now here are some highlights
Not a valid vimeo URL
Post by: h20hunter on October 25, 2017, 02:10:05 PM
Post by: rackattack on October 25, 2017, 02:11:54 PM
Post by: lewy on October 25, 2017, 02:14:26 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 25, 2017, 02:15:33 PM
Post by: SeatoSummit88 on October 25, 2017, 02:16:47 PM
Post by: justyhntr on October 25, 2017, 02:23:54 PM
Post by: X-Force on October 25, 2017, 02:25:46 PM
Some dandy blacktails taken up there this year.
Post by: BrownGoinDown on October 25, 2017, 02:26:41 PM
Incredible effort to catch up to him! Nicely done. That's a great buck.
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 25, 2017, 02:30:48 PM
Post by: jstone on October 25, 2017, 02:33:05 PM
Nicely done
Post by: Mfowl on October 25, 2017, 02:40:02 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 25, 2017, 02:45:31 PM
Wow! That's as good as it gets with a blacktail. There may be a few that score better, but I'd take this one with all the character any day. Look at that nose.... That is a beast.
I agree! I knew he was old and big when I shot, when I walked up on him I was not dissapointed!
Post by: JimmyHoffa on October 25, 2017, 02:48:53 PM
Post by: Martinhunter on October 25, 2017, 02:51:42 PM
Post by: J.Brower on October 25, 2017, 02:57:04 PM
Post by: shanevg on October 25, 2017, 03:01:56 PM
Post by: RUGER No.1 on October 25, 2017, 03:06:11 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 25, 2017, 03:06:16 PM
Post by: lokidog on October 25, 2017, 03:08:05 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 25, 2017, 03:10:28 PM
Post by: Smokepole on October 25, 2017, 03:14:28 PM
Post by: npaull on October 25, 2017, 03:16:23 PM
Post by: Igottanewknee on October 25, 2017, 03:18:29 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 25, 2017, 03:20:27 PM
Post by: Lightning_Rider on October 25, 2017, 03:21:30 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 25, 2017, 03:21:40 PM
Dang! Congrats on beating incredible odds to catch up with him. Would he have survived the first shot?
I got two in him intially, a neck shot which he would have recovered (went through rutted neck flesh) from and a broken leg as he was running off. He would have survived until something picked him off most likely
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 25, 2017, 03:22:14 PM
Post by: jackelope on October 25, 2017, 03:40:40 PM
Man, that is a hog! Love the scars. Congrats.
Dang, I don't know if they're scars or fat rolls on his face.
Beautiful buck...thanks for sharing.
Post by: highside74 on October 25, 2017, 03:44:13 PM
Post by: Special T on October 25, 2017, 03:44:47 PM
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Post by: meatwhack on October 25, 2017, 03:52:57 PM
Post by: JDHasty on October 25, 2017, 04:00:01 PM
I saw a photo of a big BT buck a buddy got day before yesterday that had all three points come off the main beam w/no forking. At first I thought this one was going to be the same way until I looked closer.
Post by: Craig on October 25, 2017, 04:02:14 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 25, 2017, 04:12:00 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on October 25, 2017, 04:35:57 PM
Post by: Milkman on October 25, 2017, 04:47:39 PM
Mount that beast!
Post by: Elkpiss on October 25, 2017, 04:51:24 PM
Post by: elkrack on October 25, 2017, 04:53:22 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on October 25, 2017, 04:56:16 PM
Post by: cbond3318 on October 25, 2017, 05:12:18 PM
Post by: bearhunter99 on October 25, 2017, 05:15:12 PM
Post by: Pinetar on October 25, 2017, 05:20:48 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on October 25, 2017, 05:21:22 PM
Post by: Buck Rub Jr on October 25, 2017, 05:28:43 PM
Post by: goldenhtr on October 25, 2017, 05:35:53 PM
Congrats
Post by: archerykraze on October 25, 2017, 05:41:09 PM
Post by: 3nails on October 25, 2017, 06:01:38 PM
Post by: The100Road on October 25, 2017, 06:15:54 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 25, 2017, 06:34:06 PM
That is such a cool old beast of a buck! Congrats! Good thing your friend was able to locate you quickly. You should have him and his wife (if he is married) over for a dinner for that.
Lol! Your on!
Post by: skagitsteel on October 25, 2017, 06:35:42 PM
Oh man! :yike:
Mount that beast!
Already at taxidermist!
Post by: archery288 on October 25, 2017, 06:35:51 PM
Post by: Southpole on October 25, 2017, 06:48:29 PM
Post by: rasbo on October 25, 2017, 06:56:45 PM
Post by: kodiak 907 on October 25, 2017, 07:06:13 PM
Post by: blacktailer on October 25, 2017, 07:29:04 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 25, 2017, 07:38:18 PM
Okay... I seen this post when he first posted it... I was going to post something immediately, but then I didn't. When I first seen that buck, I'm not kidding, shivers went up my spine... had to think a bit. For anyone whoever grew up in the northwest Washington and is a deer hunter, this buck is something you hope to have the opportunity harvest/kill. I'm sooo envious right now, I'm so happy for you skagit, soak it all in. A guy doesn't see them bucks like that too much anymore.
Wow thank you! I can tell you when I shot I knew he was big and heavy framed. After I tracked him and watched him get out of his bed I got the full side profile of his Roman nose and heavy trashy frame and my heart skipped a beat. When I pulled the trigger and watched him drop right there I couldn't contain myself and ran up to him real quick to make sure he was as heavy and Knarly as he just looked. I was not disappointed!
Post by: WAnoob on October 25, 2017, 07:47:30 PM
Post by: JWEBB on October 25, 2017, 07:50:55 PM
Post by: actionshooter on October 25, 2017, 07:52:36 PM
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Post by: lipripper on October 25, 2017, 07:55:15 PM
Post by: Westside88 on October 25, 2017, 08:25:46 PM
Post by: Harbor_hunter on October 25, 2017, 08:32:57 PM
Post by: highside74 on October 25, 2017, 08:34:35 PM
That is such a cool old beast of a buck! Congrats! Good thing your friend was able to locate you quickly. You should have him and his wife (if he is married) over for a dinner for that.
Lol! Your on!
Now it all makes sense after seeing the connection with 3nails. 2 giant bucks this year for you guys. Big bucks at snow level in Blacktail country is awesome.
Post by: fishnfur on October 25, 2017, 08:37:07 PM
Post by: JakeLand on October 25, 2017, 08:39:45 PM
Post by: DaveMonti on October 25, 2017, 08:40:41 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on October 25, 2017, 09:30:02 PM
Post by: Turner89 on October 25, 2017, 09:31:18 PM
Post by: redi on October 25, 2017, 09:46:03 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 26, 2017, 12:04:30 AM
Wow, a truly amazing buck. Was it shot in the timber or in an opening?
Small clearing in big timber
Post by: fish vacuum on October 26, 2017, 01:32:07 AM
Post by: lazydrifter on October 26, 2017, 02:45:47 AM
Post by: wingsandwilds on October 26, 2017, 04:47:17 AM
Post by: pope on October 26, 2017, 06:57:58 AM
Post by: ebusa on October 26, 2017, 07:10:16 AM
What caliber did you use? Might be time for a magnum? lol :chuckle:
Post by: skagitsteel on October 26, 2017, 08:32:35 AM
Great Job! Congrats! What a TOAD Blackie!
What caliber did you use? Might be time for a magnum? lol :chuckle:
300 win Mag, berger VLD. Frst animal I have shot that has left the scene after being hit with that combo! My initial shot placement was off, would not have mattered if it was .338 Lapua.
Post by: JDHasty on October 26, 2017, 08:35:15 AM
Heavy...HEAVY blacktail. That tracking story is over the top. Thanks for posting and congrats, you're an inspiration.
Probably wore out the knees on his pants is what I was thinking.
Post by: skagitsteel on October 26, 2017, 08:40:46 AM
Heavy...HEAVY blacktail. That tracking story is over the top. Thanks for posting and congrats, you're an inspiration.
Thanks! For me Heft is king! Add that to a big frame and it's the ultimate buck for me. I knew odds were against me in tracking that buck down, there were about 3 different times I though I would have to give up after losing his trail (like when he ran through the occupied deer beds and sent several other deer running, leaving a scene of fresh trucks running every direction!) however I decided I would go until my cutoff time (2-3Pm) to get back to atleast familiar ground by dark. I was 3 hours from the truck at intial shot and buck was running downhill away from truck! I was getting closer to cutoff time and looking over a bench thinking I will probably make it to the edge of that bench, but then be out of time and have to turn back. I was mentally pretty fried. I noticed a coyote slink away in front of me and I thought, it could be! The thermal had shifted so he could no longer wind me if he was still below, I continued and just 100 yeards below where the coyote was he stood up.
Post by: REHJWA on October 26, 2017, 09:12:27 AM
Post by: Odell on October 26, 2017, 09:28:55 AM
Please post up the taxidermy photos when he's done. I know that will take a while, does your taxidermist offer a 'rush order' price? If so I say we start a go fund me here so we can see it sooner!! haha
Post by: Rainier10 on October 26, 2017, 09:37:38 AM
What an awesome buck. Glad that you were able to track him down and close the deal.
Thanks for posting.
What a buck.
Post by: zagsfan1 on October 26, 2017, 09:46:45 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 26, 2017, 10:07:35 AM
Whoah! That's a big ol' gnarly blacktail alright! Nicely done!
:yeah:
Post by: couesbitten on October 26, 2017, 10:43:08 AM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 26, 2017, 11:29:30 AM
You passed the test in my mind and I have great respect for your perseverance.
Oh there is a #4. Sometimes in spite of all our effort a wounded animal gets away. Some survive and some don't. It's gut wrenching if you care at all about hunting. The best that can come out of that situation is to really think over the whole situation from the shot until you had to give up and figure out what went wrong and do everything in your power to make sure it doesn't happen again. I've been there.
Post by: gonehuntin68 on October 26, 2017, 11:52:02 AM
Post by: Matth on October 26, 2017, 12:07:10 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on October 26, 2017, 01:16:54 PM
Awesome buck and congrats. :tup:
Post by: skagitsteel on October 26, 2017, 01:49:16 PM
Skagit, how bad was he hit with the initial shot? There is a learning experience here for a lot of us. #1 it's amazing what an animal can take and keep going. #2 be patient and do your best at following up. There are many who just give up if they don't find an animal in the first 10p yards or so. I remember spending an afternoon looking for a buck my brother shot when we were kids. He was using a shotgun with buckshot and swore he had hit it. It was a rainy day. What little blood there was, was soon washed away, but my dad found one or two drops where it jumped over a log so we kept looking. It had ended up in a salal patch in a gulley and that salal was well over your head. Dad found it while fighting his way through to see if there was any sign on the other side. I also tracked a buck over a mile that a buddy had gut shot on Kodiak. It had circled a bowl up in the Mts. then crossed the trail almost where he'd shot it and dove down in a thick alder patch. I caught up with it in the alders but it still led me on a long chase before I was able to finish it. I'd see it but usually it's but or just a patch and it would go some more. It finally stopped in a small clearing on a hillside and I got a clean shot. #3 if there is even a chance you connected, you owe it to the animal to give your all to find it.
You passed the test in my mind and I have great respect for your perseverance.
Oh there is a #4. Sometimes in spite of all our effort a wounded animal gets away. Some survive and some don't. It's gut wrenching if you care at all about hunting. The best that can come out of that situation is to really think over the whole situation from the shot until you had to give up and figure out what went wrong and do everything in your power to make sure it doesn't happen again. I've been there.
Some solid advice, I learned a lot that day.
1st shot was neck that ended up just going through rutted neck flesh. Second broke his leg on the run, never even realized I hit him again until I found him. Last shot was broadside double lunger and that did it. Never lost an animal and Never in my life have I had an animal go more than 20 yards after being hit. One clue I used in tracking was that I recognized a limp the way he was sluffing his tracks on steep side hill. It got to a point when he got on game trails that I had no more to go off than recently compressed pine needles
Post by: Gobble Doc on October 26, 2017, 01:59:43 PM
Post by: Whitenuckles on October 26, 2017, 02:27:07 PM
Post by: MuleySniper on October 26, 2017, 07:40:28 PM
MS
Post by: opdinkslayer on October 26, 2017, 08:04:39 PM
Post by: riverrun on October 26, 2017, 08:16:35 PM
Post by: stringer on October 27, 2017, 12:41:27 AM
Post by: spin05 on October 27, 2017, 01:04:02 AM
Post by: hunthard on October 27, 2017, 01:06:30 AM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 27, 2017, 04:52:40 AM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 27, 2017, 06:43:00 AM
Skagit, tried to send you a PM but your inbox is full. I see your photo is being used someplace else on the web and didn't know if you were aware.
Sorry made some room! Please do let me know!
Post by: sjhgraysage on October 27, 2017, 08:44:58 AM
Post by: SteelheadTed on October 27, 2017, 01:02:29 PM
Post by: fish vacuum on October 27, 2017, 02:07:09 PM
The terrain in the background is a clue as to where these guys often hang out.☝☝☝☝ Yeah. What he said. Makes it extra exciting when you're encountering them where a long shot is 60 yards.
Post by: fish vacuum on October 27, 2017, 02:13:01 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 27, 2017, 02:43:43 PM
Such a great example of what blacktails can be. Deer like that are rare, but they prove that blacktails aren't all small. That buck was probably walking around at over 250lbs.
Obviously didn't get him out whole so can't know for sure an exact weight but I can tell you after seeing some big ones he was every bit of that! I wish I had thrown a tape around his chest girth
Post by: Dan-o on October 27, 2017, 06:39:49 PM
But then I woke up.
While awake, i've never even seen a blacktail that size
Post by: mtn.goat on October 27, 2017, 10:11:07 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 28, 2017, 12:45:38 AM
I just commented on your DANDY buck in the big blacktail thread..... Absolute Blacktail of a lifetime! Passing on good to great bucks is the most rewarding thing a big blacktail hunter can do IMHO. Good on you and helluva' tracking job! You earned it!
Thanks! I have a whole new respect for an old buck like that. The things he did to elude me were mind boggling, he knew exactly what was going on, sidehilled below me Back and forth to see where I was coming from, 90 degree turns in brush patches that I couldn't see tracks in, running through occupied deer beds to create confusion. When the thermal shifted and he was not strong enough to go uphill and stay ahead of my scent I have to wonder if he knew he was finished.
Post by: MountainTracker on October 28, 2017, 06:33:29 AM
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Post by: big wood on October 28, 2017, 10:00:04 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 28, 2017, 11:36:57 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 29, 2017, 10:05:13 AM
OK - I'll ask. I might have missed it, but did you get a green score on that monster?
Not getting it officially scored as its not important to me and would not make
Book after deductions. Based on my inexperience I got 136 1/4" gross the first try. Watched some you tube videos on how exactly to measure tine length, etc... and gave it another try double checking all measurements and got 140 1/8". Take that with a grain of salt because it's not my area of expertise, but I'm prob not too far off.
The only score I care about is mass and this buck had just a hair under 32" of mass! So if someone asks me 32" is what I'm going with :chuckle:
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 29, 2017, 10:11:38 AM
Your buck is what a big old blacktail should look like.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 29, 2017, 10:59:32 AM
Skagit, I'd take that buck any day over any of those tiny California bucks that look like mule deer racks and make the book.
Your buck is what a big old blacktail should look like.
:yeah:
Those Cali deer should be checked genetically against our blacktails up here, I think they would find their more mule deer then blacktail. :twocents:
Post by: saylean on October 29, 2017, 07:46:10 PM
Post by: kodiak 907 on October 29, 2017, 09:58:23 PM
OK - I'll ask. I might have missed it, but did you get a green score on that monster?
Not getting it officially scored as its not important to me and would not make
Book after deductions. Based on my inexperience I got 136 1/4" gross the first try. Watched some you tube videos on how exactly to measure tine length, etc... and gave it another try double checking all measurements and got 140 1/8". Take that with a grain of salt because it's not my area of expertise, but I'm prob not too far off.
The only score I care about is mass and this buck had just a hair under 32" of mass! So if someone asks me 32" is what I'm going with :chuckle:
Did you score it as typical or non-typical? I’m guessing non-typical with a gross of 140. Personal opinion is that deer should get credit for every inch they grow.
Post by: skagitsteel on October 30, 2017, 08:47:22 AM
OK - I'll ask. I might have missed it, but did you get a green score on that monster?
Not getting it officially scored as its not important to me and would not make
Book after deductions. Based on my inexperience I got 136 1/4" gross the first try. Watched some you tube videos on how exactly to measure tine length, etc... and gave it another try double checking all measurements and got 140 1/8". Take that with a grain of salt because it's not my area of expertise, but I'm prob not too far off.
The only score I care about is mass and this buck had just a hair under 32" of mass! So if someone asks me 32" is what I'm going with :chuckle:
Did you score it as typical or non-typical? I’m guessing non-typical with a gross of 140. Personal opinion is that deer should get credit for every inch they grow.
You are correct and I agree he grew em let it count, perosnally score is not a big deal to me. If I had a long tined 140-150 buck in his prime standing next to a 120-130 Old heavy buck, I'd shoot the old and heavy every time. I passed two higher scoring 4x4's standing next to my last years 3x3 because he was heavier antlered, bigger bodied and atleast looked older from my vantage point. My personal favorite Blacktail (all about the mass!!) that I've seen in person was shot by a 'good friends' :chuckle: daughter, had some beer can bases and grossed around 128. Mass, frame and a big body to go with it are my favorites!
Post by: JDHasty on October 30, 2017, 09:09:48 AM
OK - I'll ask. I might have missed it, but did you get a green score on that monster?
Not getting it officially scored as its not important to me and would not make
Book after deductions. Based on my inexperience I got 136 1/4" gross the first try. Watched some you tube videos on how exactly to measure tine length, etc... and gave it another try double checking all measurements and got 140 1/8". Take that with a grain of salt because it's not my area of expertise, but I'm prob not too far off.
The only score I care about is mass and this buck had just a hair under 32" of mass! So if someone asks me 32" is what I'm going with :chuckle:
Good call. I know a couple guys who have a pile of big BT racks and won't let anyone near them with a tape measure. I was at one of their home and heard him tell another guy this. "I enjoy them for what they are, and don't get caught up in which one is a quarter inch larger than any other. You are welcome to look, but if you want to measure any of them then it's time for me to vamoose you."
Post by: JakeLand on October 30, 2017, 11:09:23 AM
Post by: skagitsteel on November 02, 2017, 08:21:11 PM
Post by: tgomez on November 02, 2017, 08:36:40 PM
Post by: pope on November 02, 2017, 09:09:20 PM
Post by: fishnfur on November 02, 2017, 11:05:58 PM
Post by: kodiak 907 on November 04, 2017, 08:28:08 AM
Post by: skagitsteel on November 04, 2017, 04:07:37 PM
Nice addition with the video. Hiking solo through blowdown timber after dark is no joke.👍🏼
With 130-140 ibs :chuckle: sometimes i question my sanity in the moment. By the next day I'm ready to do it again.
Post by: skagitsteel on April 05, 2018, 09:02:09 AM
Post by: skagitsteel on April 05, 2018, 09:04:23 AM
Post by: Southpole on April 05, 2018, 09:08:53 AM
Post by: JakeLand on April 05, 2018, 09:13:40 AM
Post by: huntnfmly on April 05, 2018, 10:11:00 AM
Post by: RB on April 05, 2018, 11:26:56 AM
Post by: fishnfur on April 07, 2018, 12:19:52 AM
Post by: Muleyslyr on April 07, 2018, 09:47:20 AM
Post by: hirshey on April 07, 2018, 07:32:26 PM