Archery Blacktails

[Abalone]

My trail camera expereince has convinced me that Blacktails are nocternal.
So how do you hunt them during archery season ?

I was told that Blacktails will respond to rattling all through the season has anyone tried this ?

Tough critters to hunt...

[earlybird007]

I have killed almost 20 blacktail bucks with a bow. They are not ALL noctunal, some of the big boys are though.

I have rattled in 5 or 6 bucks and killed a couple. It is better to tag team them though and I mostly hunt them alone.

My biggest was killed from a treestand. When they weather gets bad, they will be out and about. This is the best time to get one and the late season when some bucks are still rutting is the best time period. The wetter the better....

That said, getting a big blacktail can be a tough chore. Iv got 1 Pope and young buck in 33 years of hunting, but I dont pass on decent bucks. I like to spot and stalk, or still hunt when the wind and rain hit.

Hope this helps and good luck!!!


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[Twodogs]

I killed alot of blacktails with a bow the rut is the bset time for big bucks.
I have trail cam pics of them moving at 11:00 AM, i do best laying a scent trail.

[shinook65]

Patience..... Hunt a lot... Treestands have accounted for my two largest bucks, both killed in late November.. My largest buck, (body and rack) I spent 10 days in a treestand, without seeing a single deer. Nothing, nada.. But I had TONS of fresh sign under and around my little clearing.
It was Nov 2006, and we had that snow down low in the valley, I called in (well, lol) and headed up. The snow started right at daylight, and I got in there before 9:00, and there were tracks everywhere..! Sat ALL day didnt see a deer again..... grrrrrr.. (or burrrrrr)
Same story the next day, only I didnt get there till right at noon. This was the 10th day, and I told my son (who was about a half mile away in his tree) that this was my last day in this stand.. At 4:40 PM, I was done. I pulled my video camera off the swing arm, put it in the pack. Reached up and started unbuckling the swing arm camera bracket, and I heard "Crunch, crunch crunch".. My camera was in my pack, but just sitting on my stand seat. (not very secure for a very expensive camera,,lol) So I shuffled around, keeping my pack/camera wedged between the back of my legs and tree, grabbed my bow, spotted the buck, drew, and waited for him to walk into the clearing. ( I picked this spot for all the trails and rubs, but I had found a huge scrape under an overhanging branch, so I put my stand 23 yards from the scrape)..
He walked right out, and stuck his nose right into the snow covering the scrape!
ThuWhack! He didnt know what hit him.. He hopped toward me, and looked back at the scrape.. Then his legs buckled and he slid literally right down to the base of my tree..

[shinook65]

PS, I've taken almost all of my late season bucks after 10:00am and 2:00 pm...

[Drifter2007]

I took my first Pope and Young Blacktail last year. It was mid day, late in the season. I stalked him 3 times, the first 2 I got busted.

The 3rd, well....

It was a beautiful day indeed!

[Dave Smith]

Originally Posted by shinook65

Patience..... Hunt a lot... Treestands have accounted for my two largest bucks, both killed in late November.. My largest buck, (body and rack) I spent 10 days in a treestand, without seeing a single deer. Nothing, nada.. But I had TONS of fresh sign under and around my little clearing.
It was Nov 2006, and we had that snow down low in the valley, I called in (well, lol) and headed up. The snow started right at daylight, and I got in there before 9:00, and there were tracks everywhere..! Sat ALL day didnt see a deer again..... grrrrrr.. (or burrrrrr)
Same story the next day, only I didnt get there till right at noon. This was the 10th day, and I told my son (who was about a half mile away in his tree) that this was my last day in this stand.. At 4:40 PM, I was done. I pulled my video camera off the swing arm, put it in the pack. Reached up and started unbuckling the swing arm camera bracket, and I heard "Crunch, crunch crunch".. My camera was in my pack, but just sitting on my stand seat. (not very secure for a very expensive camera,,lol) So I shuffled around, keeping my pack/camera wedged between the back of my legs and tree, grabbed my bow, spotted the buck, drew, and waited for him to walk into the clearing. ( I picked this spot for all the trails and rubs, but I had found a huge scrape under an overhanging branch, so I put my stand 23 yards from the scrape)..
He walked right out, and stuck his nose right into the snow covering the scrape!
ThuWhack! He didnt know what hit him.. He hopped toward me, and looked back at the scrape.. Then his legs buckled and he slid literally right down to the base of my tree..

I LOVE THIS STORY!! Is this the one that you had pics of last year in the snow?? Awesome buck and congrats on your patience- just super happy for ya!!!!

Originally Posted by shinook65

PS, I've taken almost all of my late season bucks after 10:00am and 2:00 pm...

Help? Do you mean after 10 and BEFORE 2? THANKS!

[shinook65]

Yes Dave
Sorry! Betweem 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
The biggest blacktail I have ever seen, by far, was last year at 11:20 am on November 25th. At the exact same time that my son Dustin shot his buck last year 40 miles away with LDJ.

[Half fast Toyn]

I can take you out and show you 5+ big boys a day in the late season. Its almost criminal how they stand there. I cant tell you all my secrets but most involve 1 ft of snow, undriven roads, ridges, and the rut

[Blacktailfiend]

Originally Posted by Half fast Toyn

I can take you out and show you 5+ big boys a day in the late season. Its almost criminal how they stand there. I cant tell you all my secrets but most involve 1 ft of snow, undriven roads, ridges, and the rut

Is it really that good up in the deep snow???? Ive never really hunted the deep snow but some guys we camped next to last year did it religously and they kinda said the same thing......