Bedding question

[brian]

Will blacktails ever bed on steeper slopes, or will they generally look for something more level to bed on?

[Bow Walker]

Short answer? Yes. Depends on the terrain where they hang out. I've seen them way up on a stepped ridge - just below the top. And I know that they will bed/rest on flatter hilsides.

[lapadat]

Brian,

It all depends on food availability and protection from predators.

Blacktails will definately bed on extremely steep terrain. The benefit of being on a near vertical slope is the visibility it provides them to watch for predators. Look for busted up Cedar stumps (in a block) or small outcroppings (in timber) for beds. Nearly every bed I find in timber is on a lip that gives a commanding view of the downhill side.

They will bed on flat ground as well if there is protection and a food source available, however, I don't think they will purposefully move to a flat area just to bed.

[brian]

This is all good info to know. The more I Learn about them, the more questions seem to arise. Thanks guys!

[lapadat]

Brian,

The more reading you do the better you will understand deer and deer movement. I have been hunting Fraser Valley Blacktails for about 5 years now and I'm beginning to figure out how they think.

http://www.nwifc.wa.gov/wildlife/documents/finalreport_ana_05.pdf

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/muledeer.pdf

http://www.blacktails.net/article3.htm

You can also PM Blacktailstalker for some great blacktail articles.

[brian]

Yeah I've got a little binder full of stuff that I've downloaded. But I always want more. The reading is great, but I feel like theoretical knowledge will only get me to a good starting point. The best I can do is to be getting out there more and getting more hands on experience. Thanks for the articles, I'll give them a good read through.