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I'm doing my first black tail hunt in 460 this year. Took some time reading through the threads that got references in them of "black tail tips" and "black tail." Appreciate all the great info provided there. Have a question on elevation though, and I'm sure it varies year to year and weather relating, but some guidance would be helpful.I spent most of the day scouting today, and spotted 4 different doe. 1 at a well traveled area at about 1100 feet, and 3 of them in a group at a relatively remote area of 2800 feet. No bucks unfortunately, but hopefully that'll change as the season progresses. Anyways I'll be camping relatively close to the location of the 3 doe I spotted, but the camp site is a bit higher in elevation, at just over 4000 feet. Of course with the season opening this weekend, I'm trying to make sure I'm putting my time in the best locations. I've only got 2 days more scouting available at best.So the question I have is what is the highest elevation I should be scouting at in this area at this time of year? Again I understand there's no magic number but some general idea's would be helpful.At 4200 feet in this area in 460 you start seeing small amounts of snow in the shaded areas, and I'm not sure is I should spend much time at these high elevations if dear aren't going to find much to eat up that high. Is there a method to the madness of what elevations black tail like to range in during this time of year? Are they tending to head up the mountains this time of year or down the mountain?Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you
My advice, go hunt whitetails or muley's, they are much easier to hunt if you looking for something better than a 3 point. Big blacktails are the toughest animal to hunt in my opinion. Save yourself from years of torture and forget about mature blacktail! Ok, I'm only half way kidding, good luck!
Quote from: trophyhunt on October 12, 2020, 12:31:14 PMMy advice, go hunt whitetails or muley's, they are much easier to hunt if you looking for something better than a 3 point. Big blacktails are the toughest animal to hunt in my opinion. Save yourself from years of torture and forget about mature blacktail! Ok, I'm only half way kidding, good luck! I appreciate the advice. I'm not really too concerned about size, I'll likely shoot at the first buck I see. Also I got a pass for Campbell tree farm in 460, and I've scouted it pretty frequently since September. Just picked up a game camera and set it up on Sunday at the location I spotted 3 Does earlier that afternoon. I'm pretty committed at this point to the black tail general. Perhaps late general I could fall back to white tail in a new area if no luck.My game plan for 460 relies on the area I'm hunting being pretty remote. Which it is because you have to have access with a key to even enter the tree farm. Then it's another 45 mins on gravel roads with a high clearance 4x4 to get back to the area I'm planning on hunting. I'll be out there Thursday night setting up, Friday scouting and start early Sat morning. Plan is to try and pick up on where these Doe's have been and then do the following:1) Hunt clear cuts first hour or so of daylight2) Then walk and glass timber extremely slowly during the day, Wind in your face. 150-200' in max, look as far as you can see into timber3) Mid day glass reprod 3-7 years. 3'-8' reprod.4) Finish hunting clear cuts last hour of daylightThis is mostly info I've gained from the forums, but hopefully it works out for me.
That's one of the mind tricks I use to keep My head in the game.I went out all day hunted hard and didn't "SEE" any deer, but they are there, Oh you can bet Your _ss they watched and just stood still.Helps on the days with no action. Plenty of black tail deer in the woods. They are just very very good at their job of staying alive and out of sight. Sneaky little buggers.