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@Sundance - thank you for your words of wisdom. I’ve read 4 books on deer hunting and 2 specifically on blacktail hunting. I’ve tried archery, modern rifle, feeders, minerals, cameras, tree stands, still hunting, rattling, etc and still haven’t connected. I’ve learned a ton, love getting out in the woods, and have had some nice bucks on camera. I feel I’m pretty good at finding where they live although I still struggle with bedding areas versus feeding areas. There are just certain dots I haven’t been able to connect. I know I’ll get there but speeding up the process a bit would be nice. I’ve been blacktail hunting for about 4 years now. I got close once during late archery but thought I was watching a doe until it got close enough for be to realize it had one antler. I wasn’t able to draw at that point. I also got close once last season during modern rifle but it was about 20 minutes after shooting light on the way back to my truck.Would love to buy you coffee sometime. I’m in North Bend but am happy to travel if you’d go for it. P.s.I don’t want locations. I like doing my own work.
Ok so it sounds like this is a worthwhile class. I understand that this wisdom can be gained a few other ways, but 1.) I don't know anyone who can, or is willing to mentor at this level and 2.) I don't have the free time to spend years or decades in the woods figuring out blacktail. I am 7-8 years into my hunting journey and have gotten one deer, back in 2019. Personally one of my struggles with blacktail and hunting in general is that unlike most hobbies, making incremental progress and securing "small wins" that build into big wins doesn't translate the same. If you're lifting weights you can make incremental progress. If you're learning an instrument or a new language or anything else you can measure your success step by step. With hunting, I find myself spending year after year wondering if I am doing the right thing, because the actions I am taking are not getting me any closer to success. There's nothing that validates it and says "Yes, you're improving!"I don't think this is an uncommon observation, either: we regularly hear about how "one day it all came together!" or "I didn't see any animals for 9 days of a 10 day hunt and then at the last 60 seconds of daylight on the last day, a deer appeared" - it feels (to me, a novice) to be very binary. Either you're getting an animal down or you're not.Now, if I were after some other species of deer in a different habitat where I could actually lay eyes on them but was just having a hard time connecting then it would be different, but blacktail are challenging in that regard.
I took the day course a couple years ago with my brother (i'm actually in the picture in the link provided) and with his insight really gave me a good understanding of all things blacktail. If you didn't have much experience hunting then this class would be worth it. If your already pretty successful hunter then maybe not. However if your having trouble finding trophy class bucks and you want to get a shot at them then this class is gold.Me personally i think its worth it. Think how much money we spend on the latest gear, gas for traveling, food, lodging. This class will give you the tools to spend your time more wisely and less time guessing where there at.
Quote from: ljsommer on September 19, 2024, 11:05:58 AMOk so it sounds like this is a worthwhile class. I understand that this wisdom can be gained a few other ways, but 1.) I don't know anyone who can, or is willing to mentor at this level and 2.) I don't have the free time to spend years or decades in the woods figuring out blacktail. I am 7-8 years into my hunting journey and have gotten one deer, back in 2019. Personally one of my struggles with blacktail and hunting in general is that unlike most hobbies, making incremental progress and securing "small wins" that build into big wins doesn't translate the same. If you're lifting weights you can make incremental progress. If you're learning an instrument or a new language or anything else you can measure your success step by step. With hunting, I find myself spending year after year wondering if I am doing the right thing, because the actions I am taking are not getting me any closer to success. There's nothing that validates it and says "Yes, you're improving!"I don't think this is an uncommon observation, either: we regularly hear about how "one day it all came together!" or "I didn't see any animals for 9 days of a 10 day hunt and then at the last 60 seconds of daylight on the last day, a deer appeared" - it feels (to me, a novice) to be very binary. Either you're getting an animal down or you're not.Now, if I were after some other species of deer in a different habitat where I could actually lay eyes on them but was just having a hard time connecting then it would be different, but blacktail are challenging in that regard.Mature blacktail are hard, they will school you constantly. Persistence and resilience have to be strong in your vocabulary. My best buck came after 5-6 days of not seeing a legal buck. I was working my process and starting to question my methods with the lack of results. Then, in a split second I had my buck-of-a-lifetime at 7 yards. Bow hunting mature blacktail is like fly fishing for steelhead, it's an hours game. A good buddy recently said that for for every inch of antler hanging on his wall, there is an hour of time dedicated to the pursuit. I feel that statement best encompasses my relationship with blacktail hunting.
I went to one of his seminars that was offered on this forum to vetsvery knowledgeable guy. I also saw him down at the Puyallup sportsman show.I’ve picked up a couple of good black tail over the years, but I’m a meat hunter mostly, I learned a few things
