Post by: skagitsteel on October 27, 2021, 10:00:40 AM
Having spent many nights in the backcountry chasing elk already this season, I was a little more limited on how many nights I could pack in deep for blacktail. That left me with mostly day hunts and some ridiculously long middle of the night treks into a few of my areas, hunting hard all day, and returning to the truck late in the day.
2020 I took a buck that turned out it was much younger than expected. I was determined to get back on track this year and find a fully mature buck, I had an area that I knew held one good buck and I hunted it hard, rotating into a couple other spots when it needed a rest. I didn't see a single deer until my 3rd full day of hunting hard. A few of my areas have been hit really hard by the lions the last 2-3 years and it certainly shows. Very occasional deer, might be 1 buck and 2-3 does on each huge timbered hillside that I hunt with a lot of real estate to hide them. I kept after it, day after day, moving slow, glassing behind every tree and into every deer bed. Rain, snow, high winds, wet brush, no question it is a total grind. The morning of the 24th found leaving me truck around 3 am convincing myself it 'wouldn't be that bad' despite what the weather forecast said :chuckle:. A few hours later I was cresting over the rocky exposed top of the mountain in a complete blizzard. Blowing 60-70 easily, maybe more, I was mostly bothered that I had forgotten my ski goggles :chuckle:. I lost my footing a few times, blown off my feet by the high winds and tearing a big hole in my favorite rain pants! I ended up having to stay on all fours across some of the most exposed stretches to keep going. Eventually, daylight came and I reached that patch of dark timber I was headed for. After watching a 40' tree crash down in front of me, I decided to work my way around to the protected side of the mountain. It was still bad just not 'as bad'. after 7 hrs of still hunting my way through the timber, blowing rain and snow the entire time, I noticed something that didn't look right in a patch of brush in front of me. Looked through the binos, and sure enough there was the white face of a buck staring at me from his bed 80 yards away. I didn't have a clear view so I took a few steps forward, he stood up from his bed. I could see his body now, but not his head. Definitely had a big barrel chest that looked like a 55 gallon drum, I knew by the body it was most likely a good mature buck. I sidestepped left and his head came into view. Wide head, big chest, not a big frame, but looked like 2x3 with good mass. He was very content to stare at me from heavy cover and I wasn't sure at this point if I wanted to pass or shoot. I slowly sat on a downed log, took off my pack and leaned my rifle up against a tree. The wind was so loud, noise didn't matter, I just moved real slow. I just stayed their and looked him over, got a little video, really wanting him to give me a side profile before making a final choice. I watched him for what seemed like forever, but was actually about 10 minutes.
Post by: skagitsteel on October 27, 2021, 10:02:26 AM
Walking up on him.
Post by: skagitsteel on October 27, 2021, 10:04:24 AM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 27, 2021, 10:07:06 AM
Post by: salt n sage90 on October 27, 2021, 10:09:49 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 27, 2021, 10:42:52 AM
Post by: jason4429 on October 27, 2021, 11:21:55 AM
Post by: elkboy on October 27, 2021, 11:28:59 AM
Post by: bearhunter99 on October 27, 2021, 12:03:12 PM
Post by: JakeLand on October 27, 2021, 12:08:46 PM
Post by: fowl smacker on October 27, 2021, 12:15:31 PM
Post by: castie2504 on October 27, 2021, 12:43:57 PM
Post by: WildlifeAssassin on October 27, 2021, 02:55:28 PM
Post by: wafisherman on October 27, 2021, 03:00:47 PM
Post by: Birdguy on October 27, 2021, 07:44:48 PM
Post by: Goshawk on October 27, 2021, 08:38:53 PM
I'm often disappointed when I read about hunters taking spikes, 2pts, or immature bucks then complain about their small size. If everyone would show a little restraint and hunt for a mature buck only, there would be a lot more toads gracing the walls and a lot more meat in the freezers.
Post by: High Climber on October 27, 2021, 08:51:21 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on October 28, 2021, 08:42:20 AM
Cool story, best part is the pack goats!
Those goats have seen some adventures, I'll have to add ore about them when I have time. They did close to 500 miles in the backcountry with me this year
Post by: skagitsteel on October 28, 2021, 08:50:00 AM
Good for you!
I'm often disappointed when I read about hunters taking spikes, 2pts, or immature bucks then complain about their small size. If everyone would show a little restraint and hunt for a mature buck only, there would be a lot more toads gracing the walls and a lot more meat in the freezers.
I get your point, and I always do my best to hold out for a mature buck. With current deer numbers in this state I really can't blame someone for just trying to fill a tag on a legal animal. I think its just good to assume areas that have more hunting pressure will have a younger age class of deer. I hunt some pretty remote country that actually doesn't have very many deer at all, when I'm in those areas its big buck or nothing, I won't shoot a young one in those areas. When I'm hunting with my wife or kids closer to roads, shorter hikes, more pressured areas, ect were whacking the first buck and no shame in doing so. Lots of newer hunters out there and guys who simply don't have the time to be be passing animals, I won't knock anyone for the animals they choose to take.
Post by: JDHasty on October 28, 2021, 09:12:24 AM
It doesn't surprise me one bit, I have seen more big blacktail bucks (by far) in weather like that than in any other weather scenario.
When I'm after a nice buck this is what I am hoping for. FWIW, I saw five different really decent bucks, nothing really outstanding, but better blacktails than most hunters will ever take, out enjoying the stormy weather with their lady friends on Sunday evening. Rutting hard and this weather pattern is everything I could possibly ask for. It doesn't hurt that I thoroughly enjoy being out hunting when the weather is like that anyway.
Post by: Lady Grouse hunter on October 29, 2021, 12:42:08 PM
Post by: Turner89 on October 30, 2021, 12:04:23 PM
Post by: MountainTracker on November 09, 2021, 06:27:52 PM
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Post by: elkoholic1 on November 09, 2021, 08:11:53 PM