Both are considered to be mule deer subspecies, though blacktail deer are genetically much older than mule deer. Spot and stalk situations in California are a bit different, as you’re not always hunting alpine zones. If you have never seen or had a shot at a trophy blacktail deer, black bear or elk, come and learn proven techniques that you can use over and over again for a lifetime of successful hunting. The island has a very healthy population of deer. For archery hunters, a secondary vantage point should be used in order to fine-tune your plans for a final stalk that will hopefully deliver you into bow range. Particularly if you decide to use the trail camera on night mode, position your camera 20 feet at the most from the area where you anticipate the deer will activate the camera. Spot and stalk hunting for blacktail deer might sound like an impossible dream for hunters living in western Washington and Oregon, where thick timber, underbrush, and overgrown clearcuts rule out the possibility of seeing animals at any appreciable distance. A large part of the price of such hunts is the travel to these remote destinations; one way to save is to book a combination hunt or go with a few friends. To hunt the elusive blacktail deer buck is typically a battle of wits, with the buck often coming out the reigning champion. Once you arrive at that point, make sure that you can see the general area where the deer was hanging out, and verify that it’s within reasonable shooting distance. The singular anomaly to this nocturnal pattern is during rut, which occurs from late September and lasts until the middle of October, depending on what weather conditions are at play. Edibility Here are several key features you’ll want to keep an eye out for hidden in the brush and timber when hunting for a blacktail buck. We all have different capabilities. Habitat It is distantly related to the mule deer and closely related to the Columbia black-tailed deer of the Pacific Northwest. Sitka blacktails have a strong physical resemblance to whitetail deer, while Columbia blacktails have an appearance that seems more aligned with mule deer. Such natural funnels might include primary ridgelines that divide drainages, finger ridges that branch off from primary ridges and drop down into canyons or valleys, and even passages between rock outcroppings or along the bases of cliff faces. If you locate a region with primary rub and scrape lines, you’re very close to your target. Typically, fawn bleat calls are employed by hunters using still-hunting strategies. The camera should be positioned to waist height on the tree so it won’t be triggered if smaller game walks by. My name is Mike Lee, I am passionate about pursuing blacktail deer and making your next hunt one to remember. Another helpful tactic when blacktail deer hunting is to look for rubs and scrapes. Blacktails are common to coastal areas with wet, temperate climates. We offer self-guided hunts for Sitka Blacktail Deer. If things aren’t perfect, back out and try again another time. Sitka Blacktails offer a unique hunting experience and Prince of Wales Island is the best place to get your trophy. In areas where glassing long distances is out of the question due to thick vegetation, still hunting for blacktail deer is often the most productive strategy. They are there, within the blink of an eye they have vanished, never to show their whereabouts again. Located in beautiful Southwestern Oregon, we hunt areas located in the Cascade, Siskiyou and coastal mountains as well as the foothills surrounding the beautiful Rogue Valley. These, as with most all of our hunts, are a yacht based hunt. To hunt the elusive blacktail deer buck is typically a battle of wits, with the buck often coming out the reigning champion. Here, the trick is to move slowly and silently along deer trails that show evidence of recent use, particularly in the form of fresh tracks and scat. The most important thing is to obey the wind. But blacktail deer are not without vulnerability. This vessel based hunt on the extreme southern end of the island puts you in the most productive hunting grounds in the state. And if you’re skillful and lucky enough to kill him, you’ll be thankful to have a freezer full of steaks and roasts to serve as vivid reminders. Blacktail deer can live up to ten years in the wild but seldom make it past six years of age. You need to make sure you select a gun that won’t get caught in thick brush and that you can aim and fire swiftly if you happen upon your target. Oak Stone Outfitters offers incomparable Blacktail deer hunting in central California. Rather, you’re more likely to see just a portion of a deer, an ear, an antler, a patch of hair, a leg. The smart ones emerge from hiding only in the last moments of shooting light and return to their haunts within minutes of daybreak. Glass hill sides and throughways is great way to spend a November afternoon. 11/01/2016. However, due to their keen ability to elude even the most skilled hunters, be prepared for long days and every type of weather condition if you are serious about catching one of these pacific ghosts. To glimpse one of these bucks at close range as he navigates his dark world of ferns, moss, and giant timber is a privilege you will want to remember. While, in which sunlight can no longer penetrate to the forest floor, understory growth is greatly inhibited. The opportunity to collect a trophy Sitka black-tailed deer makes for a great hunting experience. Your gun also needs to be able to function correctly, even if it gets wet. The gun should fire just as dependably whether it is dry as a bone or gets soaked in a downpour. Sitka Blacktail Deer Hunting on Kodiak Island Although not indigenous to the Kodiak Island Archipelago, the Sitka Blacktail Deer seem to be perfectly suited to this beautiful mountainous terrain. Our editorial process is in no way impacted by partnerships. Sitka Black-tailed deer can weigh in at over 200lbs. For some avid deer hunters it is an opportunity to take a different species of deer. Once you’ve established that animals are using the area, find a good vantage point. ... Best black-tail deer hunting ranch. During the midday, it’s wise to use your optics to pick apart the slopes used by bedding deer. Blacktail deer are considered a subspecies of mule deer, which are common throughout much of the West. We have access to roughly 60,000 acres of private land in San Luis Obispo and Monterey County as well as 150,000 continuous acres near the Bay Area out of Hollister, CA. It is not uncommon to harvest bucks pushing the 200lb mark. There’s almost certainly a correlation between malnourishment and predation, as starving animals are easier for predators to catch. Related to mule deer, Sitka black-tailed deer are smaller and stockier than the Columbian black-tailed deer found in the Pacific Northwest. Odocoileous hemionus columbianus and Odocoileous hemionus sitkensis. During rut, the blacktail deer faces raging hormones and go out during the daytime seeking out does. For example, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. During the rut, bucks sometimes come in aggressively to the calls, stomping and circling and providing multiple shot opportunities. One of the greatest advantages to this strategy is that you’re likely to get closer and longer looks at a species of deer that seems almost magical in its ability to escape our attention. Great DIY bear hunting value either spot & stalk or over a bait. About the Sitka black-tailed deer: Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis . For the most part, does tend to stay close to the region they have chosen for their home range. Take advantage of that fact. General Weather Conditions: Unfortunately for hunters, the best weather conditions for spotting black-tails tend to be rainy, foggy, or misty days. A cautious, alert hunter will sometimes hear a deer before the deer hears him. Sitka Black-tailed deer from the Kodiak Islands is a wonderful animal to pursue. Ideally you’ll be looking down into areas of mixed timber and alpine muskeg and also up toward surrounding peaks and slopes with brushy avalanche slides and grassy basins. Trey is a lifelong hunter and avid camper. Rather than charging directly toward a deer you’ve located, it’s smart to head to a secondary vantage point that lies downwind of the deer’s general location and within rifle range. There are noticeable physical differences between Columbia blacktail deer and Sitka blacktail deer. While it might seem like an obvious tactic to hunt for Sitka blacktail deer, looking for does works like a charm. Hunts are taken in November, during the peak of the rut, or December, post-rut. Blacktail deer will hang around a particular spot for days on end if they’re undisturbed. A medieval copse of gnarled cottonwoods lay before us. For one thing, Columbia blacktail deer achieve larger sizes than Sitka blacktail deer; a big Columbia blacktail buck can weigh well over 150 pounds, while a Sitka blacktail buck will seldom achieve this stature. It’s even better during periods of drizzle and heavy cloud cover, or in the wake of a heavy rain. While still-hunting, behave as though you’re actively stalking a deer rather than walking in the woods. If you intend to hunt pre-rut, you must look for a region with a high populace of does. 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