Blacktail Tactics

[FLYIN_HAYN]

Any of you PNW guys got some tips or tricks for looking for pressured blacktail? We got blacktail on kauai actually brought over from Oregon. Our habitats range from scrub brush open country to thick dense rain forests to remote bogs, no real ag plots where they are.... trying to learn their diet since we dont got any preferred food like their natural range. from what ive learned, these guys move at night (not sure bout the rut) and can occupy all the different habitats we have.... we have plenty water from streams and springs all over so their main focus i feel is on finding food and safe places to rest. Where should i look for rubs and scrapes? What kind of food do they normally eat out in the forest? Do mineral licks work? When do they start rutting? Best ways to bring in does? Any good calls out there?

 

[jdawg]

Apples

 

[FLYIN_HAYN]

H

Apples

kauai blacktail are weird! They have really changed their diet out here compared to PNW.

 

[jdawg]

Interesting. I know a lot of people rattle lightly to bring them in then progressively get more aggressive. Scott Haugen explains really well. I haven't been successful. In fact, I have had a buck snort wheez and bound off. Maybe I was too aggressive https://www.scotthaugen.com/videos/blacktail-deer-hunting-tips/

 

[FLYIN_HAYN]

So after not having much luck in the lower units I began hitting up our high altitude bogs where no one really goes and have been seeing much much more sign. Been finding tons of rubs, doe and buck turds, bedding areas, and browse lines everywhere. Even seen a few does. I set some cameras out so we will see what kind action I get on em. The only issues I have is they are plateaus 5-6 miles in bushwhacking countr on the tops of mountains in the clouds. The wind is all over the place and there are really no solid trees to climb. You are also at the mercy of all the elements. It’s almost always raining from light mist to full thunder storms where your in the storm then to sunshine in like 10 mins. Rinse, cycle, repeat. There also are no real solid trees to climb so I’m still hunting through out the area. I been contemplating packing in a ground blind and stashing up in there.

 

[FLYIN_HAYN]

Here is what I’m dealing with...

 

[FLYIN_HAYN]

Here’s the sign I been finding

 

[FLYIN_HAYN]

Some more sign

 

[FisherHawk]

Blacktail hunting is the hardest hunting in the world, in my humble opinion. I hunted 8 years in the PNW for them and you can see plenty of signs. The hard part is that they are a very nocturnal animal. Read anything you can by Scott Haugen. Know the key rutting weeks as this is the only time I found Bucks moving in the daytime. My success came from finding the most used trail and set up high, down wind in a tree and wait. Good Luck!