Post by: Parasite on December 29, 2018, 10:12:00 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on December 29, 2018, 10:16:17 AM
Post by: h20hunter on December 29, 2018, 10:17:33 AM
Post by: grundy53 on December 29, 2018, 10:58:57 AM
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Post by: Timberstalker on December 29, 2018, 11:24:02 AM
Post by: Timberstalker on December 29, 2018, 11:26:22 AM
There’s a few areas that you can concentrate on
Post by: nwwanderer on December 29, 2018, 11:43:31 AM
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on December 29, 2018, 12:04:43 PM
Post by: Parasite on December 29, 2018, 01:21:35 PM
I plan on going after steelhead, salmon, cutthroat, elk, and whitetail mostly. However, I do plan on applying for other hunts for moose, sheep, goats, etc plus hunting and fishing out of state. I just need to figure things out, plus also get to know people to hunt and fish with.
Since I'll just be concentrating on public land hunting (ideally), how is the public land hunting for whitetails? I'll be primarily archery hunting. I got guns, just prefer archery. Also, is there any situations like I've heard of like the pay-to-access tree farms or whatever? I'd rather not pay, but if it's reasonable and that's my only option, I'll do it.
Post by: Timberstalker on December 29, 2018, 01:33:17 PM
Welcome to Washington and HuntWa.
This state has lots to offer.
Post by: Parasite on December 29, 2018, 01:40:35 PM
I know there are blacktails around here and I'll give them a shot, but I'm not sure I'll get into them too much. Who knows? I'm not going to knock it until I try it.
As far as driving 200 miles to chase whitetail ... No big deal to me. I'll just burn some vacation.
Post by: hughjorgan on December 29, 2018, 02:03:44 PM
What's benchleg hunting?
I know there are blacktails around here and I'll give them a shot, but I'm not sure I'll get into them too much. Who knows? I'm not going to knock it until I try it.
As far as driving 200 miles to chase whitetail ... No big deal to me. I'll just burn some vacation.
Bench legs are a cross between black tails and mule deer.
Post by: Jonathan_S on December 29, 2018, 02:08:17 PM
Honestly, the whitetail herd is probably in better shape than the blacktail herd. It's definitely in better shape than the Mulies. So you could say it's our best deer hunting here in Washington.
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Its hurting too, a lot. Whitetail are more prolific than other deer species and will put up with a lot but the herd is in rough shape in real public land whitetail country
Post by: Parasite on December 29, 2018, 02:14:34 PM
So how are blacktail as far as table fare goes as compared to whitetail?
Post by: h20hunter on December 29, 2018, 02:17:33 PM
Post by: grundy53 on December 29, 2018, 02:28:03 PM
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Post by: grundy53 on December 29, 2018, 02:29:33 PM
Huh, interesting. A guy I met mentioned that they were crossbreeding, but I did not know to what extent and that there was a slang term for it. Good to know.Blacktails are really good. I prefer to eat whitetail but blacktails are close.
So how are blacktail as far as table fare goes as compared to whitetail?
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Post by: elkboy on December 29, 2018, 02:29:55 PM
Our whitetail deer herds took a hit in the winter of 2016-2017, and also was reduced by outbreaks of bluetongue/EHD disease (an insect-transmitted virus) in 2015 and 2016. Being whitetails, they are on the rebound now, but it may take another year to see more mature bucks.
Welcome to the Northwest!
PS- blacktail deer live in poorer habitat, nutritionally, than our whitetails, and thus tend to have less fat and often less iron in the flesh. However, a well-fed blacktail deer (say, living in a forest/farm landscape) is great table fare! My first deer was a blacktail spike that had been gorging on apples from old homesteads, and he had amazing venison.
Post by: fishnfur on December 29, 2018, 08:56:28 PM
Welcome to the WA and the forum!
Post by: Parasite on December 29, 2018, 10:59:56 PM
Post by: Not selected on December 29, 2018, 11:33:20 PM
Just curious, what's so special about hunting blacktails? I honestly don't see much hype about it.blasphemy!
Post by: Parasite on December 29, 2018, 11:37:09 PM
Post by: Caseyd on December 29, 2018, 11:42:21 PM
It's a serious question. I honestly don't know. You just don't see it hyped up much on TV, YouTube, etc. I'm curious.
Cause they haven’t figured them out :chuckle:
Post by: cooltimber on December 30, 2018, 12:24:16 AM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on December 30, 2018, 12:26:50 AM
:yeah:It's a serious question. I honestly don't know. You just don't see it hyped up much on TV, YouTube, etc. I'm curious.
Cause they haven’t figured them out :chuckle:
It would take 3 seasons just to film a show.
If you like hunting, hunt Blacktail and Roosevelt elk.
When you get frustrated, head east for the "easy" hunting.
Post by: ThurstonCokid on December 30, 2018, 05:11:08 AM
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Post by: Magnum_Willys on December 30, 2018, 08:09:41 AM
Post by: cem3434 on December 30, 2018, 08:20:36 AM
It's a serious question. I honestly don't know. You just don't see it hyped up much on TV, YouTube, etc. I'm curious.
Hardest of the 3 sub species to hunt that we have available to us to hunt in my opinion. They are nicknamed the grey ghost and there is a reason for it.
Post by: fishnfur on December 30, 2018, 09:07:54 AM
I grew up eating blacktail but eastside table fare is better - a big blacktail in the rut is down there just above coots on the table fare list. Tho either in a crockpot with can of fruit cocktail can be made edible. :)
Any rutty animal can taste pretty off. Proper and timely handling during game processing goes a long way in ensuring a quality and taste of the final product.
RE: Blackies? We love the challenge of just finding the critters. Doe and young bucks are not too tough, but there are times that even finding any BT can be a challenge. Once a buck makes three years old, they tend to be nocturnal once the velvet comes off until the rut gets going. They can't be patterned easily (or at all, by most accounts) because food and water is everywhere, so the winds tend to be the driving force in which direction they travel. A buck may use a trail two days in a row, then stay off it for the next two months. The big boys have preferred bedding sites, but if the winds change, they may use a different area to bed, seemingly at random.
Outside the rut, a mature buck rarely sees the light of day, so opportunities for a shot tend to be the first and last thirty minutes of the day until late-October. If you attempt to hunt them in their beds, the sheer mass and noisiness of foliage that bucks call home makes finding them and getting close enough for a shot incredibly difficult. They may move out ahead of you as you hunt, or hide in place and let you pass, then sneak out behind you. There are many reports of bucks crawling on their bellies as they attempt to stay hidden during a slow escape, and I have personally seen them run at incredible speeds, and in complete silence, with their bellies almost dragging on the ground. If you like a challenge and want to test your hunting skills, Blacktail hunting might just ensnare you, though if you want a 160 inch rack, you better head east.
http://www.blacktailcountry.com/html/article3d32.htm
Post by: Tradhunter on December 30, 2018, 09:39:32 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on December 30, 2018, 10:22:51 AM
You'll notice though that it's the same people year after year who take mature animals. Kind of like mule deer and whitetail...hmm weird :rolleyes:
Consistent success is built on the same principles regardless of species.
Post by: Parasite on December 30, 2018, 10:39:25 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on December 30, 2018, 10:42:52 AM
Also I love the fact that your handle is Parasite and that your "host" made you angry.
A guy can make it happen with any of the deer species here in Washington. If you're hunting archery then you'll have two months of good time in the woods
Post by: fishnfur on December 30, 2018, 11:39:48 AM
Post by: bearpaw on December 30, 2018, 11:51:59 AM
We'll see what happens. I got a whole lot to figure out, and the older I get, the less years I have left to do it. Illinois was fun the last few years. Shot 8 deer in 2017, but since I moved I only got to hunt about 9 days in 2018. I grazed a 135" buck, and had a 160" buck almost in range. If I would have stuck it out a few more days, I would have tagged out, but my host pissed me off so I quit 5 days early.
There's pretty good whitetail hunting in eastern WA, but do yourself a favor and view the location of WA wolf packs and avoid those specific areas, game numbers are not rebounding from the last winter kill in those areas. I think the biggest adjustment for you will be only hunting for 1 deer per year. But you can make up a lot with all the diversity of species in hunting and fishing in the northwest. It;s pretty easy to plan hunts in adjoining states too.
Post by: bearpaw on December 30, 2018, 11:57:41 AM
Post by: ljsommer on December 30, 2018, 01:32:31 PM
:yeah:It's a serious question. I honestly don't know. You just don't see it hyped up much on TV, YouTube, etc. I'm curious.
Cause they haven’t figured them out :chuckle:
It would take 3 seasons just to film a show.
If you like hunting, hunt Blacktail and Roosevelt elk.
When you get frustrated, head east for the "easy" hunting.
If you like *nature walks* hunt blacktail. If you're anything like me, you'll spend hundreds of hours bringing your best hunting-game and you won't see a single animal. They truly are ghosts. I know for a fact, 100% that there were deer around me last time I was out but I also knew I had no chance of seeing them.
Post by: boneaddict on December 30, 2018, 01:39:21 PM
Post by: gee_unit360 on December 30, 2018, 01:50:23 PM
I’ve seen at least one world record, without hesitation, and several others that would blow your mind. 💥🤯
LOL
Post by: Parasite on December 31, 2018, 04:21:29 AM
Post by: boneaddict on December 31, 2018, 05:05:38 AM
Post by: elkboy on December 31, 2018, 09:01:39 AM
Post by: grundy53 on December 31, 2018, 09:48:06 AM
Predators are out of hand, massive wildfires destroyed key range, bad winters, over harvest, piss poor management.....:yeah:
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Post by: grundy53 on December 31, 2018, 09:52:26 AM
Honestly, blacktails have not had it good in the last decade either. Intensification of forestry practices and loss of key low elevation habitat to development are leading causes.In SW Washington the hair loss epidemic destroyed the herd in the mid 90s until a few years ago. They still haven't recovered from that. Probably has a lot to due with intensive spraying of clear cuts which kills most of their browse.
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Post by: boneaddict on December 31, 2018, 09:56:27 AM
Post by: slowhand on December 31, 2018, 05:21:03 PM
Never tried for a whitetail. I would like to some day, bit to far of a drive to scout, hunt, and give it 100%. maybe some day.
Mule Deer hunting used to be so great. We hunted them every year in Cle elum. Now the herd is in such bad shape I look down on the people that still chase the few remaining ones around. Maybe in the future it will be good again.
Been after the Blacktail for years now. When the guys here say it's difficult it is no exaggeration. They are a true challenge, but I enjoy it that much more. My preferred method is to get way way back in the hills to hunt them. You know they are around You and by the end of day You have likely been in the presents of a giant with out even knowing He was there. Every once in a while one slips up and give You a chance.
That is the moment every Blacktail hunter lives for. I love it!
FYI You can rattle them in like a white tail also. not sure if Your into that. I know many whitetail guys are. Good luck and share Your adventures with us.
Post by: brew on December 31, 2018, 07:48:13 PM
Post by: brew on December 31, 2018, 08:01:02 PM
Post by: brew on December 31, 2018, 08:19:50 PM
Post by: ljsommer on December 31, 2018, 09:00:42 PM
;)
Post by: Redbeard on December 31, 2018, 09:35:27 PM
I caught this thread late. Where at in So. IL? I hunt Hamilton Co there. This year I Had a bruiser walk under me but I only had a doe tag. Hunting is alright here but I do miss the hardwoods.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on December 31, 2018, 09:58:11 PM
Brew that's incredible - 6/7 blacktails? Insane. I finished the season hard, gave it 100%. My 100% wasn't anywhere near good enoughSure if you shoot does it increase the chance of harvesting.
;)
I got Blacktail deer in my yard, finding them is not the issue.
Bucks though...
You went 3/7 counting the bucks, still better than average.
But most hunters take a few years to figure out an area before they get a chance at a buck, and few can consistently harvest mature blacktail bucks on public land.
Post by: Parasite on January 01, 2019, 01:57:21 AM
Parasite,
I caught this thread late. Where at in So. IL? I hunt Hamilton Co there. This year I Had a bruiser walk under me but I only had a doe tag. Hunting is alright here but I do miss the hardwoods.
Redbeard,
I lived in St. Clair county, but hunted a lot in Jefferson and Franklin counties. Almost all public land. I'd see up to 70 deer some nights depending where I hunted. Screwed up several opportunities at large bucks over the years. Wish I would have gotten back into hunting there sooner. I do have one trophy for the wall though. I'll probably go back for 2019, but that will be it. I'd like to start hunting Kansas again. How very, if Eastern Washington or Idaho works out, I'll just hunt here.
Post by: Redbeard on January 01, 2019, 09:01:40 AM
Post by: Tradhunter on January 01, 2019, 09:29:52 AM
Post by: fishnfur on January 01, 2019, 09:36:10 AM
I hear a lot of people on here talking about blacktails and how hard they are to hunt.
Location, location, location. :chuckle: You go down to the Longbeach Peninsula (if you could find access) and your group would probably all tag out. Take 'em all to Ryderwood, and you'd be lucky to see anything bigger than a spike. BTW - No one says BT does are hard to hunt. 6/7 is a great season though. Great job!
Parasite - Looking forward to a couple pics on the success thread next fall. We'll find out then what you decided to do. Happy New Year!
Post by: ljsommer on January 02, 2019, 05:57:39 AM
I hear a lot of people on here talking about blacktails and how hard they are to hunt.
Location, location, location. :chuckle: You go down to the Longbeach Peninsula (if you could find access) and your group would probably all tag out. Take 'em all to Ryderwood, and you'd be lucky to see anything bigger than a spike. BTW - No one says BT does are hard to hunt. 6/7 is a great season though. Great job!
Parasite - Looking forward to a couple pics on the success thread next fall. We'll find out then what you decided to do. Happy New Year!
Uhh, I think I am gonna say that "blacktail does are hard to hunt" - I saw exactly as many does as I did bucks this season: a whopping zero.
Post by: Bango skank on January 02, 2019, 07:38:49 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on January 02, 2019, 08:09:17 AM
I'm originally from Michigan, but lived the last 6 years in Southern Illinois. I'll miss the whitetails in Illinois, but that's it. I also lived in Kansas for 3 years and miss hunting for whitetail and Rio Grande turkeys. Now I'm living in Olympia.
I plan on going after steelhead, salmon, cutthroat, elk, and whitetail mostly. However, I do plan on applying for other hunts for moose, sheep, goats, etc plus hunting and fishing out of state. I just need to figure things out, plus also get to know people to hunt and fish with.
Since I'll just be concentrating on public land hunting (ideally), how is the public land hunting for whitetails? I'll be primarily archery hunting. I got guns, just prefer archery. Also, is there any situations like I've heard of like the pay-to-access tree farms or whatever? I'd rather not pay, but if it's reasonable and that's my only option, I'll do it.
If you liked turkeys we have lots of them here too, so plan on spring turkey for sure! :IBCOOL: If you hunt Merriams in the NE corner you will be seeing what the whitetail deer habitat looks like. We also have Rios and Easterns. If you manage to take one of each, they call it the Washington mini-slam. I've done it 5 years in a row.
Post by: Parasite on January 02, 2019, 08:49:16 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on January 02, 2019, 09:31:26 AM
Post by: renrutbocaj on January 02, 2019, 12:29:50 PM
Merriam's this spring will probably be my first Washington hunt. I love hunting Rios, but don't care for Easterns. I better look at the regs here soon. Hope I didn't miss an application date.
No need to apply, they are over the counter tags, and they upped the bag limit to 3 turkeys in the spring. Please fill all 3 tags if you are planning to hunt in NE Washington.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01972/wdfw01972.pdf
Good luck, and welcome to Washington
Post by: Parasite on January 02, 2019, 01:08:04 PM
Post by: h20hunter on January 02, 2019, 01:10:58 PM
Post by: Parasite on January 02, 2019, 01:26:02 PM