Post by: Ridgerunner on October 09, 2010, 03:27:55 PM
Post by: tony04 on October 09, 2010, 09:56:18 PM
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on October 09, 2010, 10:00:40 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 09, 2010, 10:17:27 PM
http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html (http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html)
Hope it helps!
Post by: tony04 on October 09, 2010, 10:31:55 PM
Here's the rough draft of an article, Blacktails - The Next Level, I wrote a while back that you may find useful.
http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html (http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html)
Hope it helps!
very nice write up!
Post by: Caliber on October 09, 2010, 10:45:08 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 09, 2010, 10:46:58 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 09, 2010, 11:01:35 PM
Here's the rough draft of an article, Blacktails - The Next Level, I wrote a while back that you may find useful.
http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html (http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html)
Hope it helps!
I just read your article, excellent! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I love learning about blacktails.
Post by: bow4elk on October 10, 2010, 09:17:35 PM
Here's the rough draft of an article, Blacktails - The Next Level, I wrote a while back that you may find useful.
http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html (http://www.pnwbowhunting.com/2010/05/blacktails-next-level.html)
Hope it helps!
I just read your article, excellent! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I love learning about blacktails.
Thanks - glad you found it useful. I'm right in the middle of this years lunar data strategy and will post my plans when I'm done. I don't hunt solely based on moon but I incorporate the data into my plans.
Post by: tony04 on October 10, 2010, 09:24:34 PM
i just searched on amazon and found one of them. Blacktail Deer Hunting Adventures by Wesley Murphey. he has alot of personal hunting stories that are fun to read. but also has alot of info for hunting blacktail
Post by: bow4elk on October 10, 2010, 09:27:06 PM
i have 2 books that are great for learning about blacktail. i think the authors are both from oregon but they are VERY informative.. ii dont remember the titles, but ill try to find them and let ya'll know. i learned alot from them...
Probably Boyd Iverson, Scott Haugen, Cameron Hanes, or John Higley (older book).
Post by: tony04 on October 10, 2010, 09:35:25 PM
i have 2 books that are great for learning about blacktail. i think the authors are both from oregon but they are VERY informative.. ii dont remember the titles, but ill try to find them and let ya'll know. i learned alot from them...
Probably Boyd Iverson, Scott Haugen, Cameron Hanes, or John Higley (older book).
i just modified my previous post.
i think Boyd Iverson was the author of the other one..
Post by: bow4elk on October 10, 2010, 09:51:48 PM
http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/html/about.htm (http://www.blacktailtrophytactics.com/html/about.htm)
One tip we were discussing in detail this past spring was about blocking trails with brush & limbs to keep bucks from traveling around your stand/blind location. Blacktails are deliberate in their movements but they are also quite lazy and will often walk around a limb they can easily step over. I've been blocking trails and altering travel routes for some time as well. You can literally change a buck's route by simply making it easier to travel past your well-chosen stand location. All scent/wind/approach rules apply. Just because bucks can be lazy doesn't me you can too ;)
Post by: grundy53 on October 10, 2010, 09:54:47 PM
Post by: sagerat on October 10, 2010, 10:19:18 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 10, 2010, 10:22:25 PM
I wish I had the answer. Seems like a little luck is required! Like was said before these bucks are nocturnal for the most part. In my opinion the only way you'll walk up on one is if he's tending a doe. Any time from late Oct. thru Nov. it could happen. I don't believe the truley big bucks just "roam" in search of a doe, at least not in daylight. If a doe is ready, he'll find her and be with her for a short period of time, just long enough to get it done. If you stumble onto one at this point, he's yours. Also, watch the does! If you see a smallish buck with a doe, don't shoot! If they don't know you're there watch them, a big guy could show. I've witnessed this happen.
Excellent advice!
Post by: G.R.K on October 10, 2010, 10:43:07 PM
I wish I had the answer. Seems like a little luck is required! Like was said before these bucks are nocturnal for the most part. In my opinion the only way you'll walk up on one is if he's tending a doe. Any time from late Oct. thru Nov. it could happen. I don't believe the truley big bucks just "roam" in search of a doe, at least not in daylight. If a doe is ready, he'll find her and be with her for a short period of time, just long enough to get it done. If you stumble onto one at this point, he's yours. Also, watch the does! If you see a smallish buck with a doe, don't shoot! If they don't know you're there watch them, a big guy could show. I've witnessed this happen.
They roam a very long ways believe it or not.I've seen it and still don't believe how far they travel during the rut.
Post by: 7mag. on October 10, 2010, 10:46:57 PM
I wish I had the answer. Seems like a little luck is required! Like was said before these bucks are nocturnal for the most part. In my opinion the only way you'll walk up on one is if he's tending a doe. Any time from late Oct. thru Nov. it could happen. I don't believe the truley big bucks just "roam" in search of a doe, at least not in daylight. If a doe is ready, he'll find her and be with her for a short period of time, just long enough to get it done. If you stumble onto one at this point, he's yours. Also, watch the does! If you see a smallish buck with a doe, don't shoot! If they don't know you're there watch them, a big guy could show. I've witnessed this happen.
They roam a very long ways believe it or not.I've seen it and still don't believe how far they travel during the rut.
I was just gonna say something like that. How far did that one buck travel in a couple of days, 2 miles, as the crow flies? From where you saw him to where he got shot.
Post by: sagerat on October 10, 2010, 10:52:48 PM
Post by: G.R.K on October 10, 2010, 10:54:09 PM
Post by: G.R.K on October 10, 2010, 10:56:13 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 10, 2010, 10:58:24 PM
Alot farther than anyone will believe,but some know and that's all that really matters. ;)
I believe you. I know where you saw him and I know where he was shot. Real eye opener for me. I never knew that they would travel so far looking for does.
Post by: sagerat on October 10, 2010, 11:01:35 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 10, 2010, 11:03:26 PM
Have you killed more than one or did you just get lucky the once? Be honest.
He's the most picky blacktail hunter I've ever met. He's passed more nice bucks than I've seen. He must not like the taste of venison or something.
Post by: bow4elk on October 10, 2010, 11:04:07 PM
Post by: G.R.K on October 10, 2010, 11:06:37 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 10, 2010, 11:08:09 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 10, 2010, 11:10:49 PM
Scott Haugen once told me about a big buck with a unique rack that he saw one day, then saw him again several miles away the very next morning.
I've found that once the heat of the rut kicks in, those special few days, all the big buck rules no longer apply.
Post by: sagerat on October 10, 2010, 11:12:04 PM
Post by: sagerat on October 10, 2010, 11:14:37 PM
Scott Haugen once told me about a big buck with a unique rack that he saw one day, then saw him again several miles away the very next morning.
I've found that once the heat of the rut kicks in, those special few days, all the big buck rules no longer apply.
"heat of the rut", does it exist or do different does come into heat throughout the month? Opinions?
Post by: 7mag. on October 10, 2010, 11:21:49 PM
Scott Haugen once told me about a big buck with a unique rack that he saw one day, then saw him again several miles away the very next morning.
I've found that once the heat of the rut kicks in, those special few days, all the big buck rules no longer apply.
"heat of the rut", does it exist or do different does come into heat throughout the month? Opinions?
My opinion is; yes and no. I believe that the majority of the does come into heat at about the same time. But, there are some that come in early, and some that come in late. That's why the blacktail rut seems to last from the last week in October, to almost thanksgiving. Also, not all the does get bread, and they will come into heat again about a month after the first time. The "heat of the rut" as I call it, is those magical few days where you really need to be in the woods. When a big buck will walk right by you without even looking at you, in the middle of the day. Just my opinion, I'm in no way an authority.
Post by: 7mag. on October 10, 2010, 11:27:48 PM
Post by: sagerat on October 10, 2010, 11:31:22 PM
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 11, 2010, 12:18:46 AM
Quote
Just be ready to shoot fast, point blank, as they will often not move until you are right on top of them.
Dad watched me walk right past a bedded buck one time as I cut the corner of a clear cut. That wiley buck watched me without moving an ear. Dad glassed him. That buck got up out of the thick once I was nearly a hundred yards away. He did not spook at all and dad said I was less than 20yds from him. I never saw him until I met up with dad at the road edge some 500yds away from his bed and watched him turn into the thick.
-Steve
Post by: 7mag. on October 11, 2010, 12:50:15 AM
7mag:QuoteJust be ready to shoot fast, point blank, as they will often not move until you are right on top of them.
Dad watched me walk right past a bedded buck one time as I cut the corner of a clear cut. That wiley buck watched me without moving an ear. Dad glassed him. That buck got up out of the thick once I was nearly a hundred yards away. He did not spook at all and dad said I was less than 20yds from him. I never saw him until I met up with dad at the road edge some 500yds away from his bed and watched him turn into the thick.
-Steve
Those old blacktail bucks are cagey. I had one get up less than 10 feet in front of me, while still hunting the reprod. After I recovered from a near heart attack, he was gone. Most of the big ones I have seen have been less than 50 yards.
Post by: coachcw on October 11, 2010, 06:45:50 AM
Post by: bow4elk on October 11, 2010, 10:17:44 AM
I think of the rut like the 'bell curve'. A few are early...some really late...but the bulk will center around a certain time---length of day, temperature, moon, etc. Some of the fawns (this year's crop) that live under my porch are already gray with buttons and one spike. But last week there was a brand new one--bright white spots. It may keep with the doe until late causing her to go into heat later. There is definitely a timeframe (Halloween +/- 1 week) when the bucks are being 'overworked'. I will see them completely change their habits---running around broad daylight, hanging around people, etc.
Good stuff!
Peak breeding based on my notes for the areas I hunt usually falls around November 12 (+/- 3 days). I'm not a biologist and don't pretend to be but the gestation period for blacktails is about 200 days (+/- ~10 to 15 days). So, my scouting starts in the spring when I start seeing the first fawns in my hunting areas. If you estimate the age of the fawns and back up 200 days, bingo - you now know when that particular doe was bred, thus leading you to peak rut timing. Now, this is the most practical way I've found to figure this out specific to the deer in my areas. It can and does vary quite a bit. For example, when I lived down in Springfield, Oregon in the early 90's I found the best action to be much later. Then again, I've rattled in several mature bucks during the last week of December in Bellingham when I was attending college. I killed three deer in a row on 12/31.
Here's a spotted fawn captured on September 6th. Does will typically give birth to a single fawn during their first breeding year, then twins each year thereafter (assuming good health). This fawn was with a doe and there is no way to know if the fawn had a sibling that died or if this was the doe’s first born. Sometimes first year does tend to enter estrous a bit later than mature does, or at least they bucks seems to favor mature does earlier. That is what I’ve witnessed but I’d love to hear other’s views or support or discount this assumption.
Here's my 2009 buck, killed on 10/24 bowhunting during rifle season with a rifle tag to coincide with pre-rut activity. This buck was tending a doe at daylight but the wind was bad so I left and came back for the afternoon. I still-hunted through the area and killed him at 18 yards as he stood from his bed.
Post by: 7mag. on October 11, 2010, 11:36:51 AM
Post by: Jellymon on October 11, 2010, 11:58:24 AM
Post by: bow4elk on October 11, 2010, 01:05:03 PM
THAT is a dandy blacktail. One hell of an archery kill. Was that in Washington?
Yes, last season. There are a lot of guys on this site who've tagged some monster bucks. There are a quite a few guys on this site who have the goods to back up their knowledge and expertise. Hopefully they'll come forward and add to this thread.
Post by: Glockster on October 11, 2010, 01:16:08 PM
Post by: bowtech721 on October 11, 2010, 01:17:58 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 11, 2010, 01:29:15 PM
Question for Bow 4 & others who kill these deer consistently: When I lived in Sitka we, and everyone it seemed, used calls on blacktails. It was very effective. ~Do you think WA b.tails as "vocal" as the Sitka variety?
Very susceptable to rattling but they aren't hard and loud grunters like whitetails can be. I've heard only a few buck grunts and they were soft and in close to my stand. I've never grunted in a buck but I've rattled in plenty. Usually it's the younger bucks that come flying in. Older bucks tend to hang back, look, listen, and then circle to scent check. You have to had a cross-wind or even slightly down-wind shooting window to catch them trying to get down wind.
Doe bleats work well for calling in does, and as you likely know, they work very well on Sitka Blacktails! Man, I've never had does respond like in SW AK. I subdue my calling for blacktails unless wind or rain noise warrants getting louder. I also started "jigging" my rattling antlers from my stand about 10 years ago to get the sound down on the ground and the added thrashing in the salal and ferns makes it sound more realistic. Just don't get caught yanking on the cord when a buck shows up! I use parachute cord because the color isn't as noticeable.
Post by: steen on October 11, 2010, 01:34:03 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on October 11, 2010, 01:35:02 PM
Here is a couple of questions for your deer hunters - Regarding deer on the east side of the slope (Naches, Bumping, etc...) technically mule deer, but in my opinion seem to be blacktail or a cross breed:
1 - Do they respond to calling ??
2 - Will they still be in the rut during late archery (starting Nov. 25th?)
Thanks in advance for any input!!!
Best regards,
Brian
Post by: Holg3107 on October 11, 2010, 01:40:17 PM
Post by: rasbo on October 11, 2010, 01:41:56 PM
Post by: the1rod on October 11, 2010, 01:43:05 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 11, 2010, 01:46:31 PM
I followed some old bear sign into a no good rotten steep pos area..In there I found three deer beds,that nobody could even come near without the buck escaping unnoticed..They are the true demon deer,unless the rut is on..This is close to the location I found two 5 point thick sheds
I have stood in beds just like those, in spots just like those...and I cussed out loud because those bucks are not killable in those areas. Post those sheds again, please...finish painting the picture ;)
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on October 11, 2010, 01:51:15 PM
This one was all luck. One of those days when it payed off to be in the woods. He never even saw me.
This one as well, though I think it helped to be over 3 miles behind locked gates. Nice buck 7mag.
Post by: bow4elk on October 11, 2010, 01:56:55 PM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on October 11, 2010, 02:05:16 PM
Here we go! Nice bucks guys - be sure to tell a blurb on how you came to tie on your tag.
That is my '07 buck and best blacktail and the hardest earned. I hiked in that AM behind locked gates approx. 3 miles around a clear-cut bowl, saw some fresh buck track's heading over the other side of the ridge, so I backtracked a mile and hiked down the the end of a spur on the other side of the ridge, from there I hiked down a trail going out into a big cut, going very slowly and glassing the canyon's above and below me for another 1/3 of a mile or so. Finally, at the end of the trail, I glass down in the last big canyon and there he was with his head down, eating. Right away I could not get over his size, he boned out later at 110lbs of meat. I was able to drop him with one shot, though he did run about 75 yards down-hill into a thicket. He was downed at around 10AM and I got the last load out of two trips out right at dark, around 6pm. I lost over 8lbs in water weight that day. :yike:
Post by: 7mag. on October 11, 2010, 09:11:09 PM
Post by: inmysights on October 14, 2010, 06:42:49 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 14, 2010, 06:59:30 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 14, 2010, 07:05:21 PM
Post by: AKBowman on October 14, 2010, 07:31:33 PM
Here's a question for all you experienced BT hunters:
How many days in the woods do you usually hunt to kill an average sized buck (3 point or smaller): please denote rifle or archery.
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 14, 2010, 08:40:27 PM
Post by: AKBowman on October 14, 2010, 09:59:14 PM
It seems almost impossible to kill them from the ground. I have always stand hunted them but the problem I had with that is that I do all my scouting ending in August/September and by the time Thanksgiving rolls around they have changed their patterns and my stand is hung. I sit for half a day then give up on it with ni fresh track on the trail I am sitting. I killed a doe 2 years ago in 636 sitting on the top of a huge original growth stump.
This year I am going to hunt higher and keep my fingers crossed it snows before Dec 7th!
Really nice deer though. Do you know what he scores. 110" or so?
Post by: 7mag. on October 14, 2010, 11:26:00 PM
AKBowman, I usually rifle hunt, and hunt hard all season. I see very few nice bucks until late October, or November. Last year I had a multi-season deer tag, and missed a real nice 3x3 on Labor Day. In late September, the more mature bucks seem to be harder to find all of a sudden, until the pre rut starts.
Post by: elkslayer069 on October 15, 2010, 01:35:20 AM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 15, 2010, 06:46:33 AM
Until last year the majority of my hunting was on foot, last year I planted my butt in a stand and had alot more opportunity. I agree alot changes from September to mid November. Between nocturnal behavior and hunting pressure its hard to determine if a buck you saw in velvet is even alive come late archery. I like to scout inseason and January for a bucks bedding area, I may not actually see the buck but should get a pretty good idea of where he is living this time of year. In summer I spend time near that area to locate the buck, then I can start to put the pieces together as he is probably not to far from his core area just spending more time in the open during daylight hours. I try to keep tabs on what gets shot in the area Im planning to hunt, if a certain buck I may be after has been killed hopefully I hear about it. If theres no indication that a certain buck has bit the bullet I will start my search just prior to the season in the same area. My experience is that throughout the rut the buck may have moved in search of does or in response to hunting pressure or both, leading me to believe he's been killed when actually he is just working his way back home. With the skewed buck to doe ratios typical of westside, he may not be back in his core area till around christmas. Guess I should buy a couple trailcams and try to take the guesswork out of it huh. What fun would that be! LOL
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on October 15, 2010, 07:27:00 AM
The buck on the right is also a 667 buck. Nice bow buck blackvelt.
Post by: croix on October 15, 2010, 07:35:41 AM
i'll throw mine in for fun.
some of my navy buddies hadn't hunted western wa. and didn't know where to go, so i took them out on 30 Oct 05 to an area that has a decent BT population and holds some bears. i had no intention of shooting a deer because i was scheduled to go NE for late season whitetail in about a week, but i figured i could keep an eye out for bear while they learned what it's like to hunt BT :o i hadn't scouted or hunted a single day yet, but i knew it was a good time of year for BT.
i dropped each of them off as we headed up the hill and gave them general areas and direction to hunt. i went to the end and walked about a mile past the gate to an area where a friend had missed a bear on the edge of a gulley the year before. as i walked in the dark, a doe came onto the road and RIGHT AT ME. if i hadn't waved my flashlight and made pssst noises she would have run me over, but she turned and headed the other way. 30 seconds later a little fork horn came out, turned away from me and followed her trail. his nose was to the ground and he never knew i was there.
i sat down about 15 minutes before legal shooting light in a spot where i could overlook the bear gulley. 30 minutes later this guy walked over a little knob about 100 yds from me and i knew instantly that i would not be making whitetail camp. he was facing me with his head straight up and i center punched him. he did a little spin around dance on his back feet and took off - right towards the gulley. it is a steep nasty gulley and i REALLY didn't want to go in after him so i took a couple of running shots, the last of which took out his shoulder and heart and he piled up. when the raucous of my shooting several time had died down, i heard an old guy on the other side of the gulley yell "Well did you get him?" :chuckle:
anyway, a grand total of 30 minutes in the woods for the year and this is what i had to show for it.
BTW - GMU 627
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 15, 2010, 08:06:37 AM
Post by: AKBowman on October 15, 2010, 09:11:55 AM
The problem I have had in the past 2 yrs is I have to spend the first week of late season hunting elk and my elk hunting and deer hunting areas area about 100 miles apart on the westside. I am going to stand hunt elk this year so I might get lucky and get a chance at a buck at the same time.
I really want one of those ONP border bucks though. I've seen some with GIGANTIC bodies. Check out this thread...
http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/powder-keg/70284-another-big-blacktail-deer-archery-during-rut.html (http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/powder-keg/70284-another-big-blacktail-deer-archery-during-rut.html)
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on October 15, 2010, 09:26:56 AM
Post by: J Snow73 on October 15, 2010, 09:53:38 AM
i see more deer moving when its stormy out. the rain and wind also help when walking because it covers up any noise you make. when its nice and sunny out, i usually end up fishing for the coho's because the deer bed down all day:yeah: I went out last weekend just scouting around and saw 10 deer in the pouring rain on the roads were usually maybe see 1 or none on a nice day. Stormy out usually means less people/traffic etc. and thats ok with me. Rain gear and a towel for when i get back is all i need :IBCOOL:
Post by: 7mag. on October 15, 2010, 10:10:27 AM
Post by: bucklucky on October 15, 2010, 10:23:08 AM
Post by: bow4elk on October 16, 2010, 09:19:31 AM
Whats a Blacktail ? A deer :chuckle:
Funny...repost some of your bucks! :chuckle:
Post by: bow4elk on October 16, 2010, 09:37:33 AM
An autumnal equinox occurs when the sun sets due west and rises due east. It marks the change of the season and also when day and night fall into balance, lasting for roughly the same equal lengths. After the autumnal equinox, the days become notably shorter. The harvest moon refers to the autumnal moon at its brightest, when farmers worked to bring in their crops by its light. This year, these two events coincided in the wee hours of Sept. 23 in the northern hemisphere. This event will not occur again until 2029.
The second full moon after the autumn equinox falls on December 21st this year, when last year, it fell on November 2. All the research by Alsheimer and LaRoche point to (my words here) an increased activity level by does and bucks within several days of this event, so you can see how that would be a boon for rut hunting last year. This year, it will be interesting to see how the rut plays out.
Personally, I'm finding a lot of good rubs but not seeing the "chasing phase" heat up as it did this time last year. By this day last year, I was seeing lots of fork-horn bucks chasing does daily, even while driving around. I've only captured one decent 3x3 buck on five trailcams since September. It's like a ghost town out there in my traditionally good spots.
We'll see...
I'm still planning to hunt the last week of October with my bow (rifle tag) because all else aside, this is traditionally a magical time in the blacktail woods!
Post by: 7mag. on October 16, 2010, 09:43:27 AM
Post by: bow4elk on October 16, 2010, 10:13:38 AM
Seeking Phase = 10/31 - 11/8
Chasing Phase = 11/7 - 11/15
Breeding Phase = 11/11 - 11/25
Peak "seeking" phase spans 3-4 days before and after the rutting moon
Chasing phase - 3-4 days after the rutting moon, into the breeding phase
Breeding phase - ~7 dayas after the rutting moon, lasts about 14 days. 70-80% of does are bred during this time.
Any blacktails that are not bred during the peak breeding phase will come back into estrous ~28 days later, which is why the "second rut" in December can be an excellent time to kill a mature buck. I've rattled in a few in late December.
And while I'm at it, here's the best buck I've found thus far and a couple decent rubs than have been made in the past week. Notice the rub in the background. Blacktails seek out willows for their sign post rubs during the pre-rut and rut. Tip: If you find willows and they are not rubbed, you're not in a traditional rutting area.
Post by: 7mag. on October 16, 2010, 12:23:41 PM
Post by: wt on October 16, 2010, 09:56:54 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 16, 2010, 10:42:39 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 16, 2010, 10:53:56 PM
I'd rather be lucky than good any day. I beat my braincells silly trying to unravel these deer and it amazes me how many "first" bucks I score that look like this. Very nice buck!
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 17, 2010, 09:07:41 AM
Post by: AKBowman on October 18, 2010, 05:19:02 PM
... Its no record but I'll probably bag smaller bucks in the future.
Probably will but that is a great BT. This will be my fourth year hunting elk/BT's and I have never seen one close to that. Hope you get one bigger but it will be tough to beat that big dude!
Nice cape too. Did you mount him?
Post by: billythekidrock on October 23, 2010, 01:23:11 PM
One tip we were discussing in detail this past spring was about blocking trails with brush & limbs to keep bucks from traveling around your stand/blind location. Blacktails are deliberate in their movements but they are also quite lazy and will often walk around a limb they can easily step over. I've been blocking trails and altering travel routes for some time as well. You can literally change a buck's route by simply making it easier to travel past your well-chosen stand location. All scent/wind/approach rules apply. Just because bucks can be lazy doesn't me you can too ;)
A small pair of clipper/cutters can work wonders for opening up new travel routes. It doesn't have to be much work either. Just trim a couple branches each time out. They love the path of least resistance...until you get to their bedding area. :chuckle:
Post by: GlennGTR on October 23, 2010, 02:37:14 PM
Post by: BLR 243 on October 23, 2010, 02:55:23 PM
Post by: BLR 243 on October 23, 2010, 02:56:53 PM
Post by: BLR 243 on October 23, 2010, 02:58:24 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on October 23, 2010, 03:06:32 PM
Hunt alone.
Both of these were killed on the same day on opposite ends of the county. We were hunting by ourselves and met up later. I think these were second weekend bucks and both had does.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F1443PICT0059-copy.jpg&hash=208f3ea7afdf663859bccadac578a2536a339af8)
Watch the does.
This was another Capitol Forest buck I think killed on the second weekend. It was hanging with 3 does. They stopped, he stopped, he dropped.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F1443webPICT0008.jpg&hash=f085ed143a4b0b9480f5ee05b7666d1659c74562)
As stated before, look behind you.
I shot this buck while helping a friend look for his 3pt. While we were trying to enter a swampy vine maple jungle, I decided that we were making too much noise and I backed out. While back tracking I saw this guy sneaking out the way we came in.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F1443IMG_1202.jpg&hash=56e8e0e869782c742bac359a4e8dda5322a0d7fe)
Hunt slow!
I think this was an afternoon in the middle of the first week. My brother and I were hunting together on this one. He was a speed demon and would blast through an area. I slowed down. Got that feeling and just sat. I could hear my brother calling for me from our ronde-point at the bottom of the draw but I did not respond. Something told me to sit, and sit and sit. I only moved about 20 yards in 30 minutes. Pretty soon I could hear my brother calling for me from our initial entry point. I moved a couple feet and finally saw this buck staring at me. He had at least 4 does with him.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F1443IMG_1187.jpg&hash=cd078af83450cbc849e57289320ef39dcdd5513f)
Hunt the nastiest weather.
Mine is the same buck as above (pulled him out of the freezer for the pic) and one my father shot during late buck. The buck was by himself in the waist high salal during a monsoon. The wind was whipping the trees and rain was coming down sideways. The buck took off like a rocket and the old man hit him in the base of the neck with a 12 gauge slug.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F1443IMG_1204.jpg&hash=e4479d24d0c64bff88181ff8fb0dad8c356bc80a)
The fog can be your friend.
I don’t remember when this one was killed but it wasn’t the opener or late buck so probably the second weekend or last weekend. The fog was thick and there was at least one other guy hunting the area. Hunt slowly and wait out the fog. Often the deer will hand around long enough for a shot.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F1443IMG_1192.jpg&hash=f4f1ee0418d728c641c2f68aea018bd98628ed25)
Don’t be afraid to try odd tactics.
I worked all night and got off just before daylight. I hunted my way back to an old cut and found nothing. I was tired and the wind and rain was driving me nuts. I decided to go home to bed around 10. On my way out I heard some moaning in the thick stuff and thought it was a bear. I decided to take a peek and after some slow stalking I saw a doe. She started moaning/bleating and walking away. I saw a glint of antler on another deer. I blew a couple kisses and squeaked on the back of my hand. He came back and died.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2F3ptIMG_0315.jpg&hash=9fb93d82e5a172f4f67cd2e0ce9ab49ef843bfa2)
Post by: 7mag. on October 23, 2010, 04:45:20 PM
Post by: grundy53 on October 27, 2010, 05:22:59 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on October 27, 2010, 05:54:36 AM
Post by: halflife65 on October 27, 2010, 07:12:37 AM
My anti-virus software if freaking out because it looks like it's infected with a bunch of viruses (the fake AV stuff). I definitely don't think that it is intentional on the part of the site owner but he probably needs to get that thing cleaned up. Just be careful when surfing it (I'm going to avoid it until it's cleaned up.)
Anyway, on topic: good advice so far - rain or right after rain is the best and it's tough to get a trophy blacktail. Boyd I. and others have started using tree stands in some places. I've never tried it, though.
Post by: Mudball on October 27, 2010, 11:26:38 AM
So for the rain hunters how do you keep your bino's dry and fog free? I still can't figure that one out. :dunno:
like many others have said any BT tail buck is a trophy they are tricky.
Post by: bobcat on October 27, 2010, 11:30:31 AM
Post by: Dadbear on October 27, 2010, 11:31:20 AM
Post by: grundy53 on October 27, 2010, 02:40:35 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on November 01, 2010, 09:07:23 PM
Get rid of the rifle sling.
Them big bucks have a habit of showing up when you least expect them. For about 15 years I very seldom had a sling. Made for tired arms at times, but it helped me notch a few tags.
Iron sites or see through scope mounts.
It is hard to hunt the thick stuff in the rain with all the fir needles and fern pollen in your scope.
Roll or throw rocks.
Sometimes rolling a rock or two down an overgrown cut will get the deer to show themselves. One time I jumped a good deer (judging the track) and followed him into some real nasty brush. I threw a few rocks into the thicket and then backed out to a spot where I could view the area. I killed that 4x4 buck when he tried to hook back around the way he came. I believe he thought I was coming in after him and he was heading back to where he came. Not a big rack, but he weighed 198 lbs gutted.
Watch every animal.
I have been alerted to bucks by does, birds and yotes. One yote was sitting on a stump looking down at a doe and two point. I missed a large 4x4 because I didn't pay enough attention to a doe. She looked up at me then down into a hole. She rotated/moved her ears back and forth then she left. Right on her tail was a big old buck.
Post by: 840dc on November 02, 2010, 06:07:31 AM
Post by: billythekidrock on November 02, 2010, 06:18:16 AM