Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 08:52:10 AM

Title: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 08:52:10 AM: Was a wild year for me, seemed like the country got steeper, the weather worse an the bucks harder to find than previous years. Some essential gear from this years hunt:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: X-Force on November 07, 2022, 09:07:11 AM: Sure this isn’t a late season goat hunt? Lol

Can’t wait to get the rest of the story
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 09:09:16 AM: Late melt off and then a hot dry summer and early fall seemed to really throw things off in terms of 'normal' I had managed to turn up a few bucks in summer scouting, but as the trend as gone it seems as is if there are a few less to chase each year and several old haunts seemed to hold few to no deer. Although I saw plenty of bears this summers and another lion (week before season opened)
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 09:10:25 AM: Quote from: X-Force on November 07, 2022, 09:07:11 AM
Sure this isn’t a late season goat hunt? Lol

Can’t wait to get the rest of the story

sure felt like it a few times :chuckle: A goat hunt might have been easier than this one was
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: highside74 on November 07, 2022, 09:29:18 AM: Cramp ons and an ice axe?!!! GIT IT
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: boneaddict on November 07, 2022, 09:40:46 AM: Tagging along. This ones got to be good. I can honestly say I e never used either of those items for deer. Lol
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 09:44:39 AM: Opening week was probably a lot like most people experienced. Way too hot, smoky and little to no deer movement. I got out a couple times I saw a couple does and one younger buck the first week, planning on hitting it hard once the weather turned. When the weather turned, it really did. The high country went from summer to winter in a 24 hour period. Within a day or so of the first snow there was very quickly way too much snow in the places I like to go. I started to see little more deer movement in the snow, but it didn't get them going like in normally does and the rut still seemed a long ways away.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: jrebel on November 07, 2022, 09:45:48 AM: The anticipation is killing me. Sounds like a hunt that not soon be forgotten.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 10:02:13 AM: by the middle of the last week the weather posed quite the challenge, especially for someone wired like me who refuses to write off the season without 100% effort. There is 'snowed out' and 'truly snowed out' of the higher stuff, thoughts of heavy old bucks kept me pushing the limit every single day regardless. Many of the spots I hunt were truly inaccessible, most of my access routes into these spots were truly snowed out, some with 3' of snow that turned to concrete. One consistent theme was every place I had ever camped was truly snowed out beyond 'reasonable'. I resorted to alternate routes, no trails 100% vertical bushwacking 2500'-4500' gain each day every day in the dark. Wet brush and melting snow result in a lot of wet gear so each night gear strewn all over drying out, wake up repack and do it again. The deer were in some areas and pushed out of others. Crampons were worn most of the time and the ice axe was needed to ascend and descent in a few places.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 10:03:44 AM: Quote from: jrebel on November 07, 2022, 09:45:48 AM
The anticipation is killing me. Sounds like a hunt that not soon be forgotten.

Alright here's a pic, I'll finish up the story soon.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: highside74 on November 07, 2022, 10:07:00 AM: Holy Crap!!!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: mcrawfordaf on November 07, 2022, 10:07:07 AM: :yike:

BRUTE
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: highside74 on November 07, 2022, 10:07:54 AM: Someday turm them for us please
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: millerwheeler on November 07, 2022, 10:09:36 AM: :drool: o boy
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 10:11:24 AM: Quote from: highside74 on November 07, 2022, 10:07:54 AM
Someday turm them for us please

I don't know how :dunno: Some post straight and some do that
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: lewy on November 07, 2022, 10:12:25 AM: Looks like a dandy, tagging....
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: highside74 on November 07, 2022, 10:15:27 AM: Here and I shouldn't do that while driving :yike:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 10:29:42 AM: With deep snow and deer pushed down into the heavy timber my game plan became a tracking game. Get to snowline at first light, keep climbing trying to get on fresh tracks. I had seen some doe tracks and a couple smaller buck tracks as well as seeing 3 smaller bucks and letting them walk up until this point. About day 9 or 10 of my hunt I found the set of tracks I had been looking for. Blocky, large, toes indicative of an older deer, no doubt a mature buck. I followed these 3 hour old or so tracks with good wind and lots of snow falling from trees to cover my noise. The buck crossed over a timbered finger ridge into some really thick stuff, no doubt to bed down. I backed off his track and decided to climb above with a plan to circle back and hopefully catch him after he moved out that spot. I climbed up about 10 minutes (and maybe 150 yards) and the snow became impossibly deep. I decided I would turn back and come up with a new plan to approach the buck. I had been gone for maybe 15 or 20 minutes at most from where I saw the track disappear. What I discovered when I came back was a very large and very fresh set of buck tracks back over the top of my boot tracks headed the other way. I knew I'd been discovered! I followed the bucks track to see where he went knowing I would need to rest him a few days to have a prayer of finding his track again this season. I was blown away to discover the buck followed my backtrail step for step, every twist and turn for an an entire mile! He certainly wanted to know where I came from. After the mile his tracks dropped straight downhill right out of the snow. I have followed many sets of big buck tracks over the years and without a doubt there is always a significant amount of trickery involved (on the bucks part) unless its a full on rutting buck. it's the ultimate one on one chess match and they certainly are good at not being tracked down
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: X-Force on November 07, 2022, 10:46:20 AM: Stud! Great story so far
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Buckhunter24 on November 07, 2022, 11:10:15 AM: Tagged for later. Man some of you guys up north really know how to hunt the blacktails great buck
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: LDennis24 on November 07, 2022, 11:22:44 AM: Following!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: JakeLand on November 07, 2022, 11:24:44 AM: About time you get to posting !! It’s a good buck
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: dilleytech on November 07, 2022, 11:31:32 AM: I’m looking forward to about a half a dozen more pics of this buck… incredible.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Ridgerunner on November 07, 2022, 12:13:34 PM: This is going to be good.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 02:04:47 PM: I'll try to wrap this up quickly

Day 11 & 12 of the hunt were spent in other areas where I have killed bucks in the past. Day 12 (Oct 30th) I cut a big set of mature tracks that were maybe 15 minutes old. The snow was noisy and I knew the buck would hear me coming, even tip toeing along his track slowly. I looped below his track at and couple well timed primos can calls got that buck to hold up and see what I was. White face, Barrel chest, wedge shaped muzzle, all the indicators of a fully mature buck. I held the crosshair on his neck and waited for him to give me a better look. He was an older 2 point it appeared, almost identical to my 21 blacktail and not even 200 yards from where that one died. He just didn't quite do it for me and I let him slink away, I was second guessing that decision most of the day.

Day 13 Oct 31st, the final day and I knew I wanted to put it all on the line with the smart timber buck I had tracked 4-5 days earlier. two weather systems had blown thru and I had been patient, not going back into his areas until he had a chance to settle down. I worked my way up pretty high with no new tracks, then about 8:30 am in knee deep snow, the same tracks without a doubt, I would get the rematch I'd hoped for. The tracks did not cruise the finger ridge, just went up and over into the thicker stuff, no question to bed down. The tracks were less than 30 minute old, it was snowing hard and the wind was in my face. I started slooowly down his track glassing everything I could see 20-50 yards in front of me. The hillside was 'cramp on's required steep and very thick timber. At one point I had to turn my back on the trail to lower myself over an embankment the buck walked down. I glassed everything carefully before I did. As I inched my way down the embankment being carful not to make a sound, I glanced over my shoulder and saw a large rack gliding thru the trees about 40 yards away, my heart sank a bit. I walked over to check out his very secure bedding site and discovered I would have had to be within 10 yards of him to see where he bedded. He got up and conveniently took a few steps my direction when I had my back turned and then split. He did not wind me, it was the last day of season and I had no other plan so I decided to keep tracking this smart old buck. I waited for a bit before I started down his trail and thought things through. I carefully tracked him, down, down, down, almost no snow left then starting to sidehill again (that is a good sign). I walked right into 2 does and a spike. I knew I could not bump them, so a few can calls, I sit down (30 yards from them) and let them do there thing. Watching the doe furthest from me look back, I was sure there was a 4th deer just out of sight. No question about it that buck took me right through those deer to see if whatever it was was still trailing him. They hung around me for about 10 minutes then fed/ walked down thru the timber and I resumed the trail. The tracks confirmed the buck had stopped and waited just out of site and now knew those deer had seen me. He continued to sidehill and eventually ran out of snow. I tracked painfully slow catching a track here and there in the dirt on the steep hillside.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 02:19:29 PM: The trail became impossible to follow without snow (I managed for 1/3-1/2 mile with no snow) It was getting to be afternoon time and I decided to make my final play. I figured the buck would do one of 2 things: 1. work back up and over the finger ridge through the snow to bed on the opposite side, or more likely stay below the snow and bed somewhere in a spot he could watch his backtrail well. I climbed back up and worked down the finger ridge in the snow confirming did not go over the top. Now I knew within about a mile of hillside that he had to have stopped somewhere. I worked down and across (thermals down and slight wind my direction) now traveling just below the snow in the exact opposite direction that I had been following the buck (Essentially I made a big loop around him). Time was running it, it was now 5pm and it gets dark much quicker in heavy timber on a cloudy rain/ snow evening. I tiptoed along, glassing everything. 20 minutes of light left and I can't see well anymore, I make out the faint shape of a large bodied bedded deer down in front of me and about 70 yards. I slipped the scope cover off and there he is in the crosshairs, intently bedded and staring the other way, carefully watching his backtrail with no idea I'm behind him. I put one shot in him bedded, he got up and I put two more in him real quick, which sent him tumbling down through the steep timber like a pinball machine. I was not disappointed when I walked up on him
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 02:29:42 PM: I had spent all of the time I possibly could on this hunt and had to be to work the next day, so there was no coming back in the next day with the goats or a 2nd trip. Butchering was a challenge on that steep hillside (I had to wedge the buck above a tree for butchering). When I almost finished boning him out, my game bag some how became un-wedged and went on a journey down the mountain without me, tossing meat out is it rolled down, down, down. :bash: :chuckle: I walked down collected my now empty game bag and recollected the now dirt covered meat piece by piece in the dark back up the hill. I got every last scrap back in the bag but it took a while to clean up at home the next day! Snow was coming down and the one trip load was heavy and it was very steep. Cramp on's were on my feet until the pack hit the tailgate at 11 pm. I was exhausted, but nothing could wipe the smile off my face. 13 days of chasing blacktail this year, 47,000 ft of cumulative elevation gain in those 13 days. I ran myself into the ground o that hunt but gave it 100% effort because its not over until it's actually over!

another pic of him. He broke off two tines on his right and part of 2nd eye guard on the left, most likely from the hard tumble he took. I didn't go back and look for them as daylight was all but gone when I walked up on him.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: highside74 on November 07, 2022, 02:43:46 PM: What a great story and buck.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: ljsommer on November 07, 2022, 03:03:50 PM: This read was worth every second. What an adventure!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Griiz on November 07, 2022, 03:10:23 PM: Enjoyed your story and the effort and smarts you put in to punch your tag. Some of those old bucks sure are crafty.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: pd on November 07, 2022, 03:27:52 PM: Wow. That was one sneaky buck. Congratulations to you.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: HikerHunter on November 07, 2022, 03:38:30 PM: great story and deer, thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: fishngamereaper on November 07, 2022, 03:41:56 PM: Awesome mountain buck. Love the cut up ears... he's a fighter for sure.
Great story. A good lesson for all us BT hunter's. Thanks for sharing. :tup:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: mcrawfordaf on November 07, 2022, 03:52:04 PM: Thanks for the write up and pictures. And congrats on an absolute brute of a buck!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Timberstalker on November 07, 2022, 04:08:16 PM: Awesome story and what a great buck. How many solid bucks in a row does this make for you? Seems like you whack a good one every year.

Congrats.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Widgeondeke on November 07, 2022, 04:08:47 PM: Truly enjoyed following you along the way :tup:

Congrats!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: X-Force on November 07, 2022, 04:19:29 PM: Awesome story.

Way to keep after it until the end.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 07, 2022, 04:21:29 PM: Great story and awesome buck!!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: elkboy on November 07, 2022, 04:28:04 PM: Great woodsmanship on your hunt! Way to think it through and be persistent! Congratulations on an awesome mountain blacktail, and a well-earned trophy.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: brokentrail on November 07, 2022, 04:34:11 PM: Awesome story and a great buck. Ty for taking the time to share.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: millerwheeler on November 07, 2022, 04:59:03 PM: Dude the dedication and story THANKS FOR SHARING congrats on a beautiful buck
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on November 07, 2022, 05:00:59 PM: What a great story! Thanks for sharing! Oh and great buck! :chuckle:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 07, 2022, 05:07:32 PM: Man thanks for sharing! That’s a great buck! Your dedication is second to none!!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Watimberghost on November 07, 2022, 05:08:43 PM: What a buck! Great write up! You really earned it
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: bearhunter99 on November 07, 2022, 05:33:34 PM: Way to keep at it! What a gorgeous dark heavy bruiser!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Born2late on November 07, 2022, 05:58:37 PM: I really enjoy your love of the hunt. Thinking through all the different scenarios to put yourself in a spot that will out smart him. I think these blacktails are the toughest animal to hunt and get close to mature bucks. Congratulations
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Mfowl on November 07, 2022, 06:33:59 PM: Fantastic buck and congratulations! Thanks for sharing, always appreciated!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 06:34:25 PM: Quote from: Born2late on November 07, 2022, 05:58:37 PM
I really enjoy your love of the hunt. Thinking through all the different scenarios to put yourself in a spot that will out smart him. I think these blacktails are the toughest animal to hunt and get close to mature bucks. Congratulations

They are a real challenge and good at humbling those that pursue them. I feel blessed every time I encounter one, knowing the deck is certainly stacked in favor of the buck to not be seen or live another year.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on November 07, 2022, 06:39:54 PM: Quote from: Timberstalker on November 07, 2022, 04:08:16 PM
Awesome story and what a great buck. How many solid bucks in a row does this make for you? Seems like you whack a good one every year.

Congrats.

Thanks!

I believe its 8 in a row, 2 of the 8 were on the younger side.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: lewy on November 07, 2022, 06:40:21 PM: Well earned. Hunting old blacktail bucks, esp in timber, is quite the undertaking. Sometimes you guess what they are going to do and a lot of times you are wrong, or maybe right but the timing is off. Really a chess match. I enjoyed the write up!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Okanagan on November 08, 2022, 10:28:31 AM: Great old buck, and rare excellent hunt ability, told well. Bravo!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Turner89 on November 11, 2022, 09:12:53 PM: Great story Skagit. Way to get it done in the toughest BT season I can remember. :tup:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: fishnfur on November 12, 2022, 01:26:45 AM: Affter serving nearly 24 years in the Navy and having met quite a few mean SOBs and Special Forces type gluttons for punishment, (ie Navy Seals, US Army Green Beret, etc.), I've got to say that they don't have anything on you (IMHO). I heard their stories over those years - situations that make us average guys cringe at the thought of enduring such hardship. Year after year though, just as those warriors endured incredible odds, tirellessly pushing themselves to complete their missions, you similarly show incredible fortitude in how you keep pushing yourself through those toughest of situations, unendingly pursuing animals that must meet or exceed your incredibly high standards . You consitently conquer incredible adversity, seemingly indifferent to how much suffering you encur in your pursuit. Somehow, you always seem to rise above those many challenges that present themselves along the way, and push yourself - just gut it out, until you've succeeded in your self-assigned goal.

Once again, just as in years earlier, I am in awe. Superb buck, great story, incredible hardship. Congratuations somehow seems inadequate. Perhaps as we in used to say the Navy to commended exceptional successes: "Well done" is most appropriate.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: AlpineBeard on December 22, 2022, 03:29:19 PM: Epic hunt for an epic buck!
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Ironhead on December 22, 2022, 03:43:46 PM: Wow, you seem to do it every year. Congrats on a great mature buck.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: MeepDog on December 22, 2022, 04:24:58 PM: That's a great story. I knew they were crafty but following your backtrack is nuts. Awesome write up
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: Rutnbuxnbulls on December 22, 2022, 05:24:19 PM: Thanks for the detailed write up. Awesome buck and well played hunt. Loved the play by play action of your story, felt like I was right there without having to endure your wet side grimy steep ass hillsides and moss covered crap. Seriously though, well played, you won the ultimate woodsman chess match.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: huntnphool on December 22, 2022, 10:29:09 PM: :tup:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on December 22, 2022, 11:44:54 PM: Quote from: AlpineBeard on December 22, 2022, 03:29:19 PM
Epic hunt for an epic buck!

you as well this year :tup:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on December 22, 2022, 11:47:46 PM: Quote from: MeepDog on December 22, 2022, 04:24:58 PM
That's a great story. I knew they were crafty but following your backtrack is nuts. Awesome write up

I knew they had the potential to backtrack, I was shocked how far he followed my backtrail.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: 2MANY on December 23, 2022, 07:29:55 AM: Congrats.
I'm curious what crampons you use and if they would work well in steep frozen scree with snow over it?
Are they comfortable?
You inbox is full.
Thanks
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 23, 2022, 07:57:46 AM: Thanks for the story. That's a great blackie. :tup:
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: 22shtur on December 23, 2022, 09:02:16 PM: Ooh-rah. Endured everything to the end and enjoyed a great payoff. Awesome.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: skagitsteel on December 24, 2022, 07:05:26 AM: Quote from: 2MANY on December 23, 2022, 07:29:55 AM
Congrats.
I'm curious what crampons you use and if they would work well in steep frozen scree with snow over it?
Are they comfortable?
You inbox is full.
Thanks

Made some room- been full for over a year looks like😂

I use camp frost crampons. Generally crampons do not work well In rocky stuff. They are a game changer in steep timber and meadows. they are tolerable but not comfortable (no real crampon I've tried is very comfortable) spots where terrain eases up I definately take them off.
Title: Re: bottom of the 9th Blacktail- the backtracking buck
Post by: trophyhunt on December 24, 2022, 07:38:42 AM: I respect the hell out of big blacktails, hate them, but respect them. They are the hardest animal to hunt, smart creatures. To stick with it like you do is really rare, hunting big black tails gets frustrating to say the least, it’s too easy to give up. I’ve hunted them for 30+ years and have only killed a couple that I consider big, one I missed has your same thick crab claws, found his drops after the season and mounted them. Congrats again, like everyone has said, thanks for sharing. Huge accomplishment !!