Post by: JNB on October 17, 2010, 11:48:47 PM
Thanks, and good luck/congratulations
Post by: bow4elk on October 17, 2010, 11:50:43 PM
Post by: PolarBear on October 17, 2010, 11:58:59 PM
Post by: smitty8202 on October 18, 2010, 02:53:58 PM
Blacktail don't need water sources as much as whitetails. They get most of it from the plants that they eat. The bottoms seem to be better than the ridges. On days like we have had recently your best bet is to hit the timber, sit and wait. Clear cuts in nice weather are not always a great choice, IMO. Most of the folks who I know that consistently take huge blacktails very rarely hunt clear cuts.
very true but it does vary, yesterday i saw 6 deer 3 does and 2 spikes hanging out in the clearcuts within the first hour and a half of day light. some deer like to hang out in them some dont. if you want to hunt clearcuts be there befor the sun comes up and ALOT of glassing. just wait for the deer to make a mistake. we have had a few days of really nice weather and its supposed to rain on thursday through the weekend i would be there for that. deer feel safe in the rain cause there sense of smell and hearing go down a little. just my :twocents: hope that helps
Post by: sticky on October 18, 2010, 03:17:32 PM
Post by: JNB on October 18, 2010, 04:01:46 PM
Post by: ser300wsm on October 18, 2010, 04:12:10 PM
Post by: Alan K on October 18, 2010, 04:16:14 PM
Post by: Martinhunter on October 18, 2010, 05:30:37 PM
Post by: AKBowman on October 18, 2010, 05:33:23 PM
Try to find where they enter or exit then backtrack those trails into the timber. If you can find a small opening 150-300 yards off of the cut with trails leading to the main cut then that should be a good spot to set up as that is probably a staging area for a buck on his way into a cut at night. Hopefully he will show at this staging area during day light hours.
Of course the rut changes everything. If its the last 10 days of the season and raining you should be in the woods sitting and watching.
Good luck to you and me!!
Post by: SFD2015 on October 18, 2010, 05:56:23 PM
I have never shot or even seen a deer in a clear cut (except for the one that crossed the road in front of my truck and I chased it into one and then lost it). That being said, I see Bucks being pulled from clear cuts EVERY year.
I'm with AKBowman on getting into the woods surrounding the cuts and hunting in there. Also find some really mossy areas and start looking on the ground for sign.
Post by: racksandtails on October 18, 2010, 07:04:32 PM
If you are determined to beat the brush, your not going to beat the alders w/ vine maples for deer sightings. Hint, if you don't wear out the knees of your pants, you're gonna walk right by them. :twocents:
Post by: PolarBear on October 19, 2010, 12:17:36 AM
Post by: webbspinner on October 19, 2010, 12:58:51 AM
Post by: PolarBear on October 19, 2010, 01:12:28 AM
Post by: webbspinner on October 19, 2010, 08:32:18 PM
Post by: PolarBear on October 19, 2010, 11:57:06 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on October 20, 2010, 04:41:37 PM
Trying to "jump" a deer and then take pot shots at it as it bounds off is a stupid idea! :bash: That is the best way to wound and lose an animal IMO. I have found that sitting and waiting in timber will serve you a lot better than trying to push them out. You might find a bunch of sign in clearcuts but they were probably made at night or in the very early or late hours of the day.
While I agree that pot shots are a bad idea, I spent many years pushing deer in the thick stuff. Heard more than I saw, but I always ended up with a deer every year. I think it just depends on the area and your level of experience.
Post by: PolarBear on October 20, 2010, 11:14:33 PM
No doubt but there is a difference between pushing them out and jumping them. If you push them right you can get them to move out of their hidey holes without them being at a dead run. If a buck is on the move but not flat out running or "bounding" off I see no problem with a competent person taking a shot. I was thinking of the folks that I see at Vail shooting at a button buck running mach 5. :chuckle:Trying to "jump" a deer and then take pot shots at it as it bounds off is a stupid idea! :bash: That is the best way to wound and lose an animal IMO. I have found that sitting and waiting in timber will serve you a lot better than trying to push them out. You might find a bunch of sign in clearcuts but they were probably made at night or in the very early or late hours of the day.
While I agree that pot shots are a bad idea, I spent many years pushing deer in the thick stuff. Heard more than I saw, but I always ended up with a deer every year. I think it just depends on the area and your level of experience.
Post by: billythekidrock on October 21, 2010, 05:50:24 AM
:chuckle:No doubt but there is a difference between pushing them out and jumping them. If you push them right you can get them to move out of their hidey holes without them being at a dead run. If a buck is on the move but not flat out running or "bounding" off I see no problem with a competent person taking a shot. I was thinking of the folks that I see at Vail shooting at a button buck running mach 5. :chuckle:Trying to "jump" a deer and then take pot shots at it as it bounds off is a stupid idea! :bash: That is the best way to wound and lose an animal IMO. I have found that sitting and waiting in timber will serve you a lot better than trying to push them out. You might find a bunch of sign in clearcuts but they were probably made at night or in the very early or late hours of the day.
While I agree that pot shots are a bad idea, I spent many years pushing deer in the thick stuff. Heard more than I saw, but I always ended up with a deer every year. I think it just depends on the area and your level of experience.
I hear ya. Very subtle differences. I am thinking about the areas where you would never get a shot at Mach 5. Most times you never even saw the deer.....only heard a "thump" as it leaves it's bed. :chuckle: