Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: shafump86 on March 21, 2011, 09:23:04 PM

Title: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: shafump86 on March 21, 2011, 09:23:04 PM: I will be hunting blacktails for the first time i have hunted whitetails and mule deer but never blacktails any advice will help.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: MuleySniper on March 21, 2011, 09:45:25 PM: Id probably focus on tactics first then possibly concentrate on an area, so I voted tactics.
MS
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: ICEMAN on March 21, 2011, 09:49:05 PM: Since you already have the basics, I would just focus on areas.... Find and learn an area. Blackies do not travel too far and if you spend time working an area you will find a buck to focus on...
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: blacktailcrzy on March 21, 2011, 10:13:37 PM: you need to find a are with good genetics or you will be shooting a scrub focus on finding a mature buck and stay on him
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Coastal_native on March 21, 2011, 11:14:24 PM: My best advice to someone new to blacktail hunting would be...give up now, you don't stand a chance. :chuckle:

Take everything you know about deer hunting and throw it out the window. I'll swallow my pride and admit that the few mature blacktails I've harvested had more to do with luck than skill. I've never outsmarted a blacktail...I've just happened to be in the right place when a buck was being stupid.

That being said, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of being there when a buck does something stupid.................................................................

what? you actually think I know what those things are...I told you man, I just got lucky. :chuckle:

Good Luck!
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: trophyhunt on March 22, 2011, 06:45:30 AM: I agree with coastal native, give up now!!! The blacktail will just fill you up with hate and anger, if you want to shoot spikes or 2 points you will like it. It took me 23 years to finally shoot my first 120 class blacktail and trust me I've been putting in my time. I found that mule deer and whitetail are a lot easier to hunt. But if you choose to stick with it, I would scout more than you ever had to with mule and white's. Blackies are pretty smart and don't like to have suprises in their area so if you set up a tree stand do it long before the season starts, and of course just like any species the rut is the best opportunity to take a big one. Good luck
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: jackmaster on March 22, 2011, 07:03:50 AM: i picked areas, you can have all the best tactics, gear and all the other B.S people are trying to get you to buy but if there are no deer in that area or piss poor genetics well you might as well just shoot does. blacktails are the hardest north american animal you will ever pursue anyone can go out and get small spikes 2pts and little 3pts, but to whack a world class blacktail and i am not talkn about one that makes boone&crockett i am just talkn a good tall heavy mature buck that has seen his huntn seasons then you have to have an area that holds them and a mineral content to grow them, there is plenty of big ass blackies that get them selves killed in a wide open clearcut with a zillion cars drivin by but to whack one on his terms then there is no other critter worth huntn than the wiley gray ghost
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Armadillo on March 22, 2011, 07:17:53 AM: :yeah:

Even if your a really good hunter it makes it that much harder to harvest any blacktail buck if your not in a good area. I have been fortunate enough to have found a good area that affords a couple opportunities per season at nice blackies...Having said that I scouted for two years in order to find this place, with my binocs and trail cameras. Even after 5 seasons total I still havent harvested a nice blacktail (have shot at a one though). If you cannot afford the gas and time to scout, there is a ton of information online if you pour over hiking websites where people talk about deer constantly.. but the WDFW harvest statistics give a good jumpoff point on which GMU to look at
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Armadillo on March 22, 2011, 07:19:42 AM: Oh yeah thats why I chose "Area" being the more important of the two since you know how to act when hunting deer already you will have the luck-factor on your side while in a good area.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Armadillo on March 22, 2011, 07:25:03 AM: One more tip... Walk far behind a gated road then get off the road as far as is comfortable to you. When opening day comes you do not want to be anywhere near a road because ive seen about 99% of the people in my area just walk the main logging roads during the season. In this area Ive never even seen other hunters venture into the woods or onto the old overgrown skids (for reasons unknown). That is where you want to be as that is where the deer want to be also
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: jackmaster on March 22, 2011, 12:15:10 PM: one other thing dude, it would help if we knew where you live, we might be able to point you in the right direction, and if i was you i would no way hunt them blackies while they are still in velvet wait till its gone, the late archery season will give you some good chances at the late rut, if i was you being a green horn when it comes to huntn the wiley gray ghosts then you should put in for the multi season hunt, that would give you alot more time to pursue them, are you picky about what you shoot? there is nothing like sneaking up on a blacktail when he is hiding in some thick ass vinemaple and wind swept hell and making the perfect shot, he dont even have to be the biggest but you will cherrish him non the less that i can guarantee, there isnt anything like it sir, you will get hooked instantly or you will go back to huntn muleys and whiteys
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on March 22, 2011, 12:38:09 PM: I have 2 tips for big Blackies!
1. Buy Boyd Iversons book.
2. Bow hunt during the rifle season, there dumber!
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Harold on March 22, 2011, 01:39:39 PM: if your looking for a trophy give up now! :bash: goin on 7 years of huntin blacktails and all my retarded a$$ has been able to get is 2pts...
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on March 22, 2011, 01:48:06 PM: 2nd Alder and Ferns! ;)
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 01:51:23 PM: Amount of time in the woods+good areas=success. Use your glass, don't worry about it not pissin down rain like most folks preach about, just be out there ALL day long during prime . That honker in my avatar was killed @noon Oct 28th or 29th between noon and 1, so have many of my other good bucks. hint.........

I voted area, the the old saying about real estate, location, location, location. Good Luck..
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: crow360 on March 22, 2011, 03:08:28 PM: I am also new to blacktail hunting and am totally clueless. I have only seen a few does out in the north cascades and only a few bucks in downtown bellingham. Anyone hunt the whatcom/ north cascade area??? Also do you recommend archery or modern rifle?? the rifle season seems really short here?
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: shafump86 on March 22, 2011, 07:31:42 PM: I was told about an area around Mckenna, Yelm that a friend has shot some bucks at. It is a walk in area. I have already gotten some topo maps and plan on starting to scout in april.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 07:53:18 PM: i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.find a spot that has deer pay attention for bedding areas follow trails. find the feeding ares and look for the thickist brush in the area .they will bed down in it and lay right there and let walk right past them. good luck
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 22, 2011, 08:09:49 PM: Just like you have heard more than once when you find them in your scouting know they don't usually range very far. But those big boys that seem to disappear in those thick bedding areas become very vulnearable during the rut as they can get on a hot does trail and travel. If you could pick a time to hunt them it would be that last weekend of the general season or that Nov 17th time frame when the now special permits are given out. Key is not to move to fast, watch alot even if you have to walk 10 or so yards then glass looking for deer parts behinds trees, etc. Yes they do like the fringes of clear cuts and alder patches with bracken ferns. Key to learning an area is to go in after the general season and look for sign, i.e. tracks in the snow or rubs. If there are does around during that time chances are the bucks aren't far away. :twocents: or 10 cents for that matter.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 08:22:26 PM: not al bucks rut that late. i shot my largest black tail last year on october 23. it was in full rut .i just got my mount back saterday the neck is 31 inchs. ive shot a few in late buck and the necks wornt swollon at all.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 22, 2011, 08:27:20 PM: True but bucks can rut at different times just like a doe can come into estrus several times thru the year until bred. Have seen does in estrus even in December, etc. Thus why you see some fawns smaller than others as their mothers were bred later .So there are variables.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 08:31:35 PM: Quote from: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 07:53:18 PM
i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.find a spot that has deer pay attention for bedding areas follow trails. find the feeding ares and look for the thickist brush in the area .they will bed down in it and lay right there and let walk right past them. good luck

Care to post some pics of your trophy bucks? Not doubting just dig big blacktails. Later
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Coastal_native on March 22, 2011, 08:34:29 PM: I was thinking back to some of the blacktails I've harvested...one thing I remember in almost every situation is I was caught off guard by a buck that new I was there before I even saw him...you have a fraction of a second to throw your gun up and shoot. Don't let your guard down if you're still hunting. He who hesitates, master...well, you know how it goes.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: dscubame on March 22, 2011, 08:36:07 PM: All about the area which is what makes them attractive. They are not a "ghost" deer.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 22, 2011, 08:46:29 PM: They are wily creatures. I would suggest both area and tactic. I am finding that blacktail bucks will hold tight in an area and don't disturb easily. They will watch you from 20 yards away and you won't know until you hear them laughing at you. I find they will hold this area until nightfall (many of the bucks seem to be very nocturnal), right before a big storm (they start moving middle of open areas in daylight feeding/moving), or spooked (if an area looks like a holding area and you can't find one, you can blow into a predator call and they are like--"oh no, this dude's making a noise that will bring in a cougar...I need to get outta here!") Are there any more specific questions maybe we can all help with? Best day seems to be near Halloween.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: dscubame on March 22, 2011, 08:47:37 PM: Quote from: JimmyHoffa on March 22, 2011, 08:46:29 PM
They are wily creatures. I would suggest both area and tactic. I am finding that blacktail bucks will hold tight in an area and don't disturb easily. They will watch you from 20 yards away and you won't know until you hear them laughing at you. I find they will hold this area until nightfall (many of the bucks seem to be very nocturnal), right before a big storm (they start moving middle of open areas in daylight feeding/moving), or spooked (if an area looks like a holding area and you can't find one, you can blow into a predator call and they are like--"oh no, this dude's making a noise that will bring in a cougar...I need to get outta here!") Are there any more specific questions maybe we can all help with? Best day seems to be near Halloween.

Same can be said for the mule deer. Good write up.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Coastal_native on March 22, 2011, 09:03:34 PM: Ok...I didn't really want to share this with you, but there is one sure fire way to outsmart a blacktail. It takes years of practice to master this method...and quite frankly I'm not sure you can handle it. It is a tactic I call "Ninja Mode". You slip in and out of the forest undetected, taking on the shape and movements of the trees. Obviously Yoterhunter is trained in the art...but he has forgotten one of the key principles of the Blacktail Ninja Assassin code...modesty.

:chuckle:
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 22, 2011, 09:04:35 PM: Plus wearing a loin cloth!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 09:25:50 PM: Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 08:31:35 PM
Quote from: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 07:53:18 PM
i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.find a spot that has deer pay attention for bedding areas follow trails. find the feeding ares and look for the thickist brush in the area .they will bed down in it and lay right there and let walk right past them. good luck

Care to post some pics of your trophy bucks? Not doubting just dig big blacktails. Later

Many years of hunting blacktail leads to great things as you see. i also have a alot of other smaller 2-3 points. all the deer pictured score between 95-115. Hunting blacktail isnt the easiest, but with patience and learning where and what the deer like. will give you great results. ....ENJOY......

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi903.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac235%2Fjasonsi27%2FIMG_2530.jpg&hash=53df5f13c0632d755b044337b97eba190f5f99a3)

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Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Coastal_native on March 22, 2011, 09:31:37 PM: shafump86,

So, if you've been paying attention to this thread, you should take away two concepts.

1.) Don't bother blacktail hunting because it's really hard.
2.) Even if you were good enough to kill a blacktail, don't bother trying...Yoterhunter has already killed them all.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Kowsrule30 on March 22, 2011, 09:34:20 PM: Nices BT Yote!!!
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 840dc on March 22, 2011, 09:34:42 PM: Dang nice bucks, heres mine from 2010. I took off my loin cloth for the photos. :chuckle:
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 09:35:14 PM: not all of them my buddy missed a big one last year. so i no were theres one more.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 09:39:09 PM: Nice... I'll have to do a group pic of some of my buck too. I've been fortunate killin good bucks too, not bench legs either. Lotsa time spent in the woods!! I always hear about how blacktails live and die within a square mile, from my research thats BS. I've seen bucks move 2-3 miles in a couple days during July-Aug, during the pre-rut they'll really cover ground. This is in Lewis County around Chehalis- Centrailia area, so they're not migrators. Again, nice bucks. Later
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 09:41:06 PM: Boy, that forked horn second from the bottom is a honker!! I'd a head mounted him...
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 09:43:52 PM: Heres my avatar buck. 116'' gross..
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 09:46:31 PM: 110'' buck, spinly, no eyeguards.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 840dc on March 22, 2011, 09:48:03 PM: Thats a nice buck 257, Bow4elk has a website with tons of great info heres the link

http://www.outdoorblog.net/pnwbowhunting/2010/05/18/blacktails-the-next-level/ (http://www.outdoorblog.net/pnwbowhunting/2010/05/18/blacktails-the-next-level/)
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 09:51:51 PM: Both pics showin up? Mommas mean muggin me, gotta watch "the fighter'' with her. I'll post more tomorrow. Just off the top of my head, think I have 9 4-points now, couple 18'' forks, couple 3's over 18''. Nothing is more rewarding than smokin a good western wa salamander neck. Southern Ore and Nor Cal is all novel and schitt, but they are cheater bucks....grin
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Kowsrule30 on March 22, 2011, 11:51:17 PM: Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on March 22, 2011, 09:51:51 PM
Nothing is more rewarding than smokin a good western wa salamander neck. Southern Ore and Nor Cal is all novel and schitt, but they are cheater bucks....grin

totally agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: trophyhunt on March 23, 2011, 06:38:00 AM: Quote from: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 07:53:18 PM
i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.
You should try hunting them in season or during the day, it's a lot tougher.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: jackmaster on March 23, 2011, 06:52:55 AM: Quote from: trophyhunt on March 23, 2011, 06:38:00 AM
Quote from: YoterHunter on March 22, 2011, 07:53:18 PM
i dont know what most of you guys problem is. ive killed a black tail almost every year for the past 20 plus years.with several trophy class bucks.
You should try hunting them in season or during the day, it's a lot tougher.
i agree :chuckle: but we are talkn about actually getn outta the pick up and finding them :chuckle:, damn nice nice bucks dude, care to let us in on your area :chuckle:
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: jackmaster on March 23, 2011, 12:10:01 PM: Quote from: singleshot12 on March 23, 2011, 07:19:16 AM
One thing that I've found out is blacktail are very rarely in the same spot for more than a day. They seem to travel in groups and have about a three mile home radious. So if you see them in one spot one day chances are they won't be there the next so expect them back there in about a week.
a big dominant buck doesnt have to travel he owns his area and receptive does come to him, he may get out and travel a bit mostly with a small buck, but for the most part he doesnt travel miles on end he will stay and die in about a square mile where he has spent his dominant life. It all comes down to what kind of time you have and how serious you are about huntn the hardest animal you will hunt in north america and what areas you want to hunt, but most serious blacktail hunters that i know are ok with not killin a buck at all in hopes of getting one of those gray monsters, if you enjoy a challenge then here you go , you wont be disapointed
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 23, 2011, 02:59:48 PM: i will give you one hint be in the woods around noon. ive killed acouple of my bucks at 1in the after noon. shot another buck in the same spot at 1;15 the necks year .about 50 ft apart.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:22:51 PM: Here's a cool one killed a couple years ago around 9 am. seen him the day before, could've texas heart shot him, but passed. Went in the following morning, he was out ruttin does. Watched him chase and lip curl for about 1/2 hour, then he lined out and I couldn't get a shot. Right before he topped a ridge, he stopped to look back, the 257 Roy barked, he ate schitt. This buck has a ''coolness'' factor I'll never see again. Well worth the tag....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:29:23 PM: A decent 3 point with a couple non-typ points. About 10 am, hornin a tree, first mon of season. 257 Roy. Note these were all in clearcuts, where only spikes and forks hang out. Buy some swarovskis, sit your ass down, and have faith........
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: chester on March 23, 2011, 05:31:34 PM: Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:29:23 PM
A decent 3 point with a couple non-typ points. About 10 am, hornin a tree, first mon of season. 257 Roy. Note these were all in clearcuts, where only spikes and forks hang out. Buy some swarovskis, sit your ass down, and have faith........

Shh....dont tell everyone... :chuckle: thats actually some of the best BT advise ive seen posted on here ever.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:34:33 PM: Heres a great 110'' buck. I say great because he is basiclly a 2 point. He is a 3x3, but his 3rds are only 1'', so he would score 108 as a 2 point, no eyguards either. Bout 10-11 am, thickish re-prod, holloween....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:37:01 PM: Quote from: chester on March 23, 2011, 05:31:34 PM
Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:29:23 PM
A decent 3 point with a couple non-typ points. About 10 am, hornin a tree, first mon of season. 257 Roy. Note these were all in clearcuts, where only spikes and forks hang out. Buy some swarovskis, sit your ass down, and have faith........

Shh....dont tell everyone... :chuckle: thats actually some of the best BT advise ive seen posted on here ever.

I've preached it for years on btc and here chester, but folks still fail to connect the dots. Hopefully folks keep huntin the timber, during late buck!! Laffin....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:43:20 PM: A good 110 buck, killed during the'' witchin hour'', right at dark, came out of a patch of re-prod, nose to the ground like a old coon dog. 243 shhhhwaaker, 1 shot, puzzy got the best of him... grin
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 23, 2011, 05:44:14 PM: Boy you sure looked young there!! :chuckle: This was pre hickory shirt time? That was the style I used quite often. Nice bucks thanks for posting the pictures and the tips.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:50:31 PM: Heres a 120'', my best, nother 243 victim, clearcut around 3 pm. Notice the pattern?
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 23, 2011, 05:57:04 PM: You have always taken nice bucks down there as far back as this site started it seems like. There are nice bucks to be had out there. What is the highest score on your blacktails?
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 05:58:50 PM: So, to the beginer blacktail hunters, I don't know your finacial status, but buy some 10x42-10x50 swarovskis, take a loan out if you have too, get a cabelas card,etc or pay cash, just get em. Don't WASTE your time the first 21/2 weeks, stay home, spend time with your wife and kids, whatever. The last 4 days of Oct, hit it, daylight til dark. Call in sick, quit do whatever. Forget late buck, unless you hunt the cascade foothills, but along the I-5 corridor, late Oct is where its at. Good luck this season.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 06:01:21 PM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on March 23, 2011, 05:57:04 PM
You have always taken nice bucks down there as far back as this site started it seems like. There are nice bucks to be had out there.

Ya sky, I've always gotten after pretty hard. Should post more but folks have seen em. Then there's the pards bucks..... Hopefully I've helped the newbies.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: chester on March 23, 2011, 06:20:49 PM: @257 you pretty much just spelled out MF blacktail hunting to a T. hopefully some of the new hunters will read and we should have a bunch more success stories come next season.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 23, 2011, 06:22:21 PM: most of the area i hunt. i dont walk real quit. ive learnd to make just the right amount of noise to get to stand up to see what it is.i have real bad hearing. so i dont hear the deer the way i use to.but i have keen eye sight.always look for coller that dosent go with the terain. most importon thing to remember hunting blacktail.look for the white spot. when walking in the woods if see something looks white stop and scope it. it could be a deer looking at you.ive spoted most of my deer by seeing the white of the face. hope some of this information helps .good luck.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 23, 2011, 06:52:35 PM: nice bucks 257 wby mag. some day when i shoot another old buck it will get mounted.he was aged at 9 1/2 years old. i would have love to se him at 5 to 6 years old. he has reseaded back. his face was real grey hardly any teeth left. 20 1/2'' wide.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:01:06 PM: Here's the one that started it all. 19 1/2 3 point, bout 85 or 86, think I was 10 or 11. Ruger 77 6mm, 9 am clearcut. Boy how time flys.grin....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:05:03 PM: 18 1/2 '' 3 point, 300 win, around 10 am... looks to be about 14 years ago. That little guy is a sophmore, 180lbs benchin over 300 lbs. Hell whoop my azz before long. grin...
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:08:21 PM: Good heavy 3 point. 20 years ago, I was 16, opening am, 300 win, bout 830.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:11:44 PM: 15 years ago,afternoon buck, 243 great eyeguards. wished I'd taken better pics in my earlier years, didn't until I had the money to subscribe to eastmans, then learned some tips....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:15:45 PM: 18 years ago, I was 18, first date for the old lady and I, .54 Thompson Renegade, 3 pm, clearcut, Fall River unit. Only buck I've killed that far out. Mullet and tan, kinda look like a fag. grin...
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:19:08 PM: Nother 4 point, noon, clearcut, bedded, thank god for swaro's. Bitch of a pack out.....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:20:12 PM: I'm still voting areas, not tactics! grin...
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: MuleySniper on March 23, 2011, 07:41:38 PM: Mullet should be added to the poll choice :chuckle: Nice pic .257 :chuckle:
MS
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on March 23, 2011, 07:47:44 PM: i will secnod that. kind of like a busines. location location. to be sucsesful. nice bucks 257 :rolleyes:
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Alan K on March 23, 2011, 08:47:20 PM: Love seeing those pictures 257!

Another thing with blacktails, or at least mature blacktails. . . . You can't shoot 'em if you shoot forkies and spikes first! I've yet to practice it, only taking one 3 point of the 10 blacktails I've taken to this point, but maybe this will be the year (and I'm pretty sure it will be) I am able to contain myself and pass on the little guys to hold for the biggun's.

And I'll echo what many have said already. . . Glass, glass, glass. . . Find yourself some 10 year old reprod that you can see into decently and pick it apart. The big boys hang in that stuff - they feel safe in it. And don't just scan looking for parts of deer, look at every little feature you see and identify it. If you cant for sure say it's a branch in the shade, etc. etc. get a different angle and look again.

There's no doubt you need a good area to increase your odds, but I'd say that good tactics will get you a deer no matter where you hunt. It might not be a super genetic monster rack, but you can pull a mature blacktail out of any unit.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 23, 2011, 08:48:49 PM: Now thats the hickory shirt we are used to seeing!! :chuckle:Great pics
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Kowsrule30 on March 25, 2011, 09:15:41 AM: Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:15:45 PM
18 years ago, I was 18, first date for the old lady and I, .54 Thompson Renegade, 3 pm, clearcut, Fall River unit. Only buck I've killed that far out. Mullet and tan, kinda look like a fag. grin...

Too funny!!!!! Almost pissed myself!!!!!
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Armadillo on March 25, 2011, 10:10:12 AM: Ive only seen one deer in a clearcut the rest were in thinned out alder and ferns maybe ill switch it up this year, nice bucks 257
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: grundy53 on March 25, 2011, 10:42:04 AM: Area is importent but if you just stumble through a good area your not going to have much luck. Atleasts with good tactics you can find the few good bucks in a bad area....
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: jackmaster on March 25, 2011, 12:15:49 PM: BAD AREA means no nutrients or minerals thus a poor antler genetics, thats why scouting is so important and what it boils down to is the kind of deer your looking for, i love blacktail to me they are the kings of the animal world therefore i only try to hunt the places that have good genetics which is fairly easy to find if you get out and scout in the summer when all bucks are out in the open do to there tender antler growth... good minerals and proper forage = equals big ass bucks :twocents:
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: Buckslaya on March 25, 2011, 12:18:07 PM: Quote from: 257 Wby Mag on March 23, 2011, 07:15:45 PM
18 years ago, I was 18, first date for the old lady and I, .54 Thompson Renegade, 3 pm, clearcut, Fall River unit. Only buck I've killed that far out. Mullet and tan, kinda look like a fag. grin...

I got a good chuckle out of this picture. First date deer hunting, must be a trooper.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: YoterHunter on April 10, 2011, 07:59:22 PM: hey-rock 425 look at. new to black tail hunting. look at page 3 from yoterhunter.
Title: Re: New to blacktail hunting
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 12, 2011, 05:42:31 PM: I did nice looking bucks