Operation black tail

[Wentrot]

I have been wanting to document many things so figure I will write my ramblings down for all of you to see.For the past five weeks or so me and a fellow member (whom may or may not wish to be named, I will ask first) have decided to get a loooong head start on region 2 black tail scouting in hopes of popping our cherry come fall. He has some hunting experience however my horns are very, very green. He had an area that he knew had a lot of sign a year or two ago so we decided that would be a good place to start. So far it appears to have been worth it.We have managed to get close to six deer in total(no bucks) and got one on the trail camera which chose to keep his/her head down to low. Each deer we have managed to come across was bedded down in the clear cut which is between dense forest, while the one of the trail cam was headed towards the cut. We found ourselves getting quite frustrated as we have been quite one track minded on finding an old shed or a rub or two so it was a great feeling when we finally came across a bunch of rubs in the area, so the *******s are/were certainly in there.That is pretty much the condensed version of everything until now-I will update this each week.Here are a few pictures of our findings.http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/Mobile%20Uploads/20140125_140315_zps9d7ohgrc.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140125_140315_zps9d7ohgrc.jpg.html)http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/Mobile%20Uploads/20140125_140337_zpsnpjlpdug.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140125_140337_zpsnpjlpdug.jpg.html)http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/Mobile%20Uploads/20140201_103609_zps103b9159.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140201_103609_zps103b9159.jpg.html)http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/Mobile%20Uploads/20140201_104629_zpsdmdmvukm.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140201_104629_zpsdmdmvukm.jpg.html)http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/Mobile%20Uploads/SUNP0010_zpswmdk0jsn.JPG (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/SUNP0010_zpswmdk0jsn.JPG.html)

[BCBear]

pickup Boyd Iverson's books on Trophy Blacktail hunting 1 and 2. Boyd knows BT real good

[quadrakid]

Its a very good idea to scout this time of year. You can often find the smaller less used trails that bucks often use. Hunting season should be for hunting not scouting. Good luck on your quest.

[Wentrot]

pickup Boyd Iverson's books on Trophy Blacktail hunting 1 and 2. Boyd knows BT real good

Just ordered the first copy, thanks for the idea.

[pin_head]

I'm the mystery friend. I've gotta say it feels good to return to my old spot we've dubbed "The Oasis". Between all the rubs and locations we're confident that we are on the track of no less than 4 bucks!

Verrry exciting stuff for a couple of virgins, my past success is limited to grouse and a moose calf last October. It hasn't been for lack of effort, but the deer have eluded me for nearly five years now.

With all of the miles we've been putting on it's hard to imagine we won't be rewarded come fall, if the gods are really on our side I hope to try with the bow

It will be good to keep this post going with our findings and progress, hopefully some of the pros can chime in and help us to slowly decipher the blacktails code.

cheers,
Brad

[walks with deer]

I too live in mission and am sure I know where you are looking keep at it your definetly in the right pot and it does not matter in that spot when you scout as they will be there in september.

Be aware there is a number of cats in that area I typicaly bring something with me.

[greenhorn]

You didn't really ask for advice but I can't resist:

One mistake I made early on is being impatient. So my advice is to find what you think is a good spot and then sit and hide. Make sure you are concealed, don't silhouette yourself, don't fidget every two seconds... just try to disappear.

[Wentrot]

You didn't really ask for advice but I can't resist:

One mistake I made early on is being impatient. So my advice is to find what you think is a good spot and then sit and hide. Make sure you are concealed, don't silhouette yourself, don't fidget every two seconds... just try to disappear.

Advice is more than appreciated! Every bit helps.

Thanks.

[Robinhood]

pickup Boyd Iverson's books on Trophy Blacktail hunting 1 and 2. Boyd knows BT real good

Excellent advice! Some very valuable information in these books.

[Wentrot]

So I figure with hunting season here I would bump this one back up. Kind of forgot about this until just yesterday.
It has been a long journey and a heck of a lot more work, money, time and FUN then I expected. From seeing the first buck to finding the first sheds it has been a rush. I learnt a heck of
a lot and managed to break my deer cherry on opening day which was a big monkey off of my back.Small but damn tasty thus far.


We have managed to dial in to a couple solid areas that each hold a good amount of deer but the one I have been obsessing about for the
past few months is quite special due to his size and the fact that he regularly says hello to the cameras-I will be dedicating a large
chunk of free time to persuing him in the near future. Here is a zoomed in shot from when he first showed himself in early summer..

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/hjhvgfcd10_zps244ee801.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/hjhvgfcd10_zps244ee801.jpg.html)



Anyhow, figured an update was needed so hopefully the next time I show him off I am in the picture with him :mrgreen:


By the way, thanks for the advice given- that Boyd Iverson book answered many questions.

[835]

no pics of the small deer?!
that buck looks like he is worthy!

[Wentrot]

Apologies...Believe me, after taking this guy the one in the above photo is more than worthy! ha ha got to start somewhere.

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae344/matthewtrot/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1405_zpslycppkvc.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/matthewtrot/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1405_zpslycppkvc.jpg.html)

[835]

nice little buck, i bet he was tasty..

[835]

i like to take the whole hind on a spike as one roast,,, get a tonne of people over for bbq... great party roasts

[Wentrot]

Here is another of the fella in the first photo I thought was quite cool.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbgGQS0nKg4&list=UUIaHz8dML-os9jYxPeSlTZw

[Wentrot]

i like to take the whole hind on a spike as one roast,,, get a tonne of people over for bbq... great party roasts

This was the first time butchering a deer so to be honest we didn't have that much of a clue on the specific cuts, every thing cooked so far has been excellent though and like you said, the roast I made was amazing-Even had the girlfriend eating it which was a big win

[835]

keep doing it yourself... eventually you will start to know what you are doing... the cool thing about doing it yourself is you can cut the meat with a cooking idea in your head. When i trim good cuts i keep it seporate from the other stew meat and lable it "Stir fry" that way you get some decent meat for stirfry rather then cutting up a perfectly good steak....

if you get yourself one of them old school meat grinders they work too... i have a 2hp plugin... but you dont "NEED" it...

As well cutting it yourself, you get the whole "Cradle to the grave" of your food,,, and that is something.... when i talk to peopl ewho arent into hunting and on the edge, you can ask them if they know where their food comes from..
because i do!

[Wentrot]

keep doing it yourself... eventually you will start to know what you are doing... the cool thing about doing it yourself is you can cut the meat with a cooking idea in your head. When i trim good cuts i keep it seporate from the other stew meat and lable it "Stir fry" that way you get some decent meat for stirfry rather then cutting up a perfectly good steak....

if you get yourself one of them old school meat grinders they work too... i have a 2hp plugin... but you dont "NEED" it...

As well cutting it yourself, you get the whole "Cradle to the grave" of your food,,, and that is something.... when i talk to peopl ewho arent into hunting and on the edge, you can ask them if they know where their food comes from..
because i do!

It is certainly a very rewarding feeling knowing where it came from start to finish.....As for grinders, one of these days the type you speak of will be purchased-We tried the kitchenaid grinder attachment first which was crap and now we are using a Cuisinart grinder which seemed to handle the bit of deer meat used very good-time will tell how long it lasts I guess.

[kennyj]

Thats a great buck you got on video. Right now is your best time to bag him IMO.
Good luck
kenny

[Wentrot]

Thats a great buck you got on video. Right now is your best time to bag him IMO.
Good luck
kenny


Well, I better get to er then-May I ask why you think now is my best time? Pisses me off that we are back to summer heat tomorrow again though!

[Spy]

Get him now before he becomes a goast !