Trophy Blacktail Hunting 2012

[proguide66]

ITS TIME !!!

Logged my first 'official' 9 hrs of persuit few days ago with ZERO sightings and ZERO fresh tracks.Fresh snow may have been the culprit comboe'd up with rain , never know the tracks might be present now. I was hampered by thick fog wich made timber hunting a waste of time for my firs 4 hrs ! Not to mention getting caught up in a massive blow down /rock face/mountan side for those hrs as well..aaarrrgh..
I went 'further' yet from the beaten pacth into some connecting areas I felt 'might' be secure holes for BIG bucks and was rewarded with confirmation.Crazy assed rubs and some sheds condensed in some cliffy 'shelves' gave up the 'secret'. The new 'zone' is a real bugger to get to but its probably going to harbour and possibly 'give up' a hammer buck !!
5 cams out so far and counting......if nothing gets a hole in the ribs this fall there's gonna be some cool live pics !!

Going to start going out often now but am going to make a 'guess' at first hammer down no earlier than Nov 15......we shal see!!
( I'm talkin BIG ASSED BUCK by the way !):mrgreen:

Hope lots of big bucks and fresh tips hit the following pages !!8)

[spear]

Been waiting 300 days or more for this thread to start up

[000BuckJr]

I'm ready for it. More youtube vids too !

[hunter1993ap]

are you chasing them with a bow again this year? good luck in that nasty country!

[guest]

Good Luck Steve !!

Looking forward to the BT 2012 interesting thread stories,pic's and vid's .

Your home work always pays off ! Good on ya

CT

[deer nut]

Oh no....another year of drooling over those huge moss-backed timber ghosts while I stumble around looking for a spike? Trophy coastal deer continue to elude me but I live in hope. Looking forward to your tales!

[TheProvider]

So it begins.... I think I need some proof of the those sheds

[Wood butcher]

Sweet, here we go again!! I was just watching last years video earlier today wondering if you had been out sniffing around yet.

[Spy]

Hope you have a good season and hammer a monster ! Looking forward to following your quest again !

[kennyj]

So it begins.... I think I need some proof of the those sheds

X2 on the sheds. Good luck Steve.
kenny

[5 spike]

Cant wait for the outcome.

[Big_Island_Hunter]

NICE! I've been waiting a year for this. Good luck.

[doubled]

And it starts again. Another epic thread that will spread hundreds of posts with pics and vids. Good luck Steve, give the people what they want. :wink:

[proguide66]

Going to be a gooder ! I'm going to 'try' to stay on plan and stick an arow in one and a chunk of lead in another.And FILM BOTH !! The sheds I found arent 'spectacular' but told me theres some wintering going on in that hole as well some rutting wich is a solid 'GO THERE' note taken.
I am REALLY putting an effort into the buck that drropped the antler in this video frm last year. I also found a 140" class antler this spring from a different buck maybe 50 yrds from the shed I found in the snow...tis outta bump up chances at a hammer up that mountain !!
The antler in the beginning of this video is the buck on the top of the 'hit list'. I believe I have a pic of him live with that very antler on his head to.
http://youtu.be/YxwC3GmqLHQ

[proguide66]

These guys are still alive....well , were last winter when they dropped em.http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/blacktailsheds031.jpg

This guy 'may be' interesting this year.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/PICT0032.jpg


And I have pics of this guy from last yr and year before...'might' get a buddy to harvest him on film this year.His body has signs of 'large' but his head gear might not have what it takes to be 'comando' buck.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/PICT0100.jpg

[proguide66]

I'm deffinitely curious about this guy for this fall to

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/PICT01662.jpg


I never did get a pic or see this buck again after taking this pic 2 years ago but love the bases.Bases are 100% key to flicking off the safety.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/maturebuck20102.jpg


I have a feeling THIS is the buck that owns the shed in the snow video. I'll take a pic of the shed on the same angle as this shot and see how it looks later.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/trailcam2010mrB098.jpg

This pic of this old fart is 2 years old now , the bases are just sick ! I wonder what came of him.If still alive no doubt an old revert fork by now !

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/trailcam2010mrB140-1.jpg

anyway , off to work !

[brian]

woohoo, I've been waiting all year for this thread to show up!

[TheProvider]

Wicked Steve... pics getting pumped for the weekend and so is the fresh snow

[wsm]

trophy blacktail is the animal i want most . so i cant wait so see your pics and videos. love them big blacktails

[Husky7mm]

U rock steve! I remember seeing your photos on trophyphotos.com when I just started hunting. It nice to see how deep your passion still burns. I feel the same about the mulies. Best of making your luck in 2012!

[bushpig slayer]

good luck steve, can't wait to see the vids

[Trekker]

Trail cams going up this weekend into a new area I hiked into last week. Lots of sign and saw the biggest blacktail tracks I have ever seen, track looked like a friggen mule deer. Hopefully get some pictures soon of this old bugger. Good luck to everyone.

Trekker

[proguide66]

Sweet...! THATS my favorite clue to Mr.BIG- huuuge tracks. They can hide all their lioves but they cant hide their tracks ! Thats the clue wich lead me to my two biggest bucks , their feet ! There was none like em ever seen by me!
Good luck Trekker !

[ElectricDyck]

I'm headin out in a couple weeks to my hot spot for some pre/rut action! Looking forward to some BT killin pics from you as per usual, good luck!

[TyTy]

Here is a picture I took in the begining of March IIRC. I was timber cruising, and came accross this. My hatchet in the pic is about 5 ft off the ground. A buck really went to town on this vine maple, there was a whole row of rubs. I was working here at the end of Nov. 2011 too and likely saw this same buck. didn't get a look at what he had up top, but had a HUGE body, biggest i've seen yet. he was running away with his does in some steep ground. a silly spiker chasing after them too, lol (spiker walked right up to us later that day).

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Blacktail_Rub.JPG (javascript:;)

This area is now logged, but I believe the real action takes place above these cut blocks, its mountain goat winter range up there. Hope to get up there for rememberance day long weekend. Only problem is it is very remote and last November there was 18" of snow. Thinking about purchasing a cross-country ski set up to get in.

Hopefully have something to contribute to this thread this year.

[hunter1993ap]

Sweet...! THATS my favorite clue to Mr.BIG- huuuge tracks. They can hide all their lioves but they cant hide their tracks ! Thats the clue wich lead me to my two biggest bucks , their feet ! There was none like em ever seen by me!
Good luck Trekker !

big tracks and big rubs! i love finding big fresh rubs on top of a fresh snowfall! i'm talking mule deer but i hunt in a lot of places similar to where you hunt! steep thick and big deer!

[TheProvider]

With all the snow up top going to explore some new areas this weekend.

Come mid November I'll be in this area:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/395901_10151143146530313_243884736_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/393951_10151143146750313_1008502067_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/394638_10151143146935313_1165859173_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408351_10151143147175313_1827898249_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408964_10151136246405313_975823218_n.jpg

I'm interested in the 4pt plus brow. Shed is two yrs old

[TheProvider]

A little better perspective on the 4pt and brow

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/201204_10152196693010313_274411546_o.jpg

[shadowhunter]

What elevation are you at there provider? Just curios.

[TheProvider]

1200-2400'.... 4pt with the chewed off main beam was one of the lowest but in really ugly steep thick terrain. If I can find a way to cross a certain washout I'll be able to get into some real good old growth right up to 4000'. Been wanting to get up into it for awhile now. Its a challenging 3.5hr hike to the wash out. But I'm positive that the area past the washout is holding some cranker bucks that have never seen people before

[shadowhunter]

Well good one ya, and best of luck! I hope to see a monster on the ground soon!

[proguide66]

I have been monitering some travel routes and finally the first tracks just showed the last 24 hrs. Does will be hitting the rut holes first , betting a buck or 3 will follow in a week...then all hell will break loose as usual ! CANT WAIT ! 3 more cams to go for a total 8 out there grabbing juicey pics of antler !!!

[270WIN]

do any of you have any pictures of the type of areas you hunt.. not asking you to reveale any areas of course

[proguide66]

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/alpineplay029.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/alpineplay028.jpg

[proguide66]

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/alpineplay011.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/workblacktail026.jpg

[proguide66]

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/IMGA0011.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/IMGA0012.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/IMGA0010.jpg

guess I better throw in what was conected to the antler !



http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/IMGA0006.jpg


The photos above show what big bucks hang in !

[moose2]

Nice buck Steve what year did you get that one.
Mike

[proguide66]

Nice buck Steve what year did you get that one.
Mike
I forced a 'hangover hike' the very next morning after Bartel shot his monster with me.im thinking 4 yrs ago now ? Have to check his thread.
The season was closing and I had a feeling lighting wasn't going to strike twice un one week for a 145" plus buck so I thumped him , funny it still won our club contest , fun day.

[MattB]

Great pictures! Do you find that video mode works better on the tcams? Ive found that having mine set on picture mode seems to spook the deer somewhat and then they start avoiding where i have the cameras set up.

[proguide66]

Great pictures! Do you find that video mode works better on the tcams? Ive found that having mine set on picture mode seems to spook the deer somewhat and then they start avoiding where i have the cameras set up.
I'm not worried about spooking them. All I am looking for is ONE pic of the 'right' deer......then its 'ON' He could never walk by a cam again but I dont care cause I know hes alive now and then its time to put the puzzle together. You cant 'pattern' a true trophy blacktail ( might if you have one feeding on crops) , one pic is all a guy needs...after that the cam wont do shit for you in harvesting one.
I use 3 pic bursts so I have a better chance of a clear shot on a brute. I like to leave my cams out for a month or two as well so I dont have it on video as I'm thinking it kills the battery faster.

[Friday_30-06]

Great pictures Steve! I love the one of the buck standing staring at you in the snow! Fuels my fire for sure.

[rocksteady]

Nice avatar Steve... 2 horses arses in 1 picture :) :)

Just kidding looking forward to this thread getting good and interesting... Your vids are awesome...

[proguide66]

Nice avatar Steve... 2 horses arses in 1 picture :) :)

Just kidding looking forward to this thread getting good and interesting... Your vids are awesome...
haha....the ass on the bottom is my 3 yr old pure bred Canadien , had him planted as a little 'seed' three yrs ago and the pic is my first time on him...never bucked . Pretty cool feeling though !

[harbinger]

Hey Proguide, did you sweep your vehicles for tracking devices yet?

[MattB]

I'm not worried about spooking them. All I am looking for is ONE pic of the 'right' deer......then its 'ON' He could never walk by a cam again but I dont care cause I know hes alive now and then its time to put the puzzle together. You cant 'pattern' a true trophy blacktail ( might if you have one feeding on crops) , one pic is all a guy needs...after that the cam wont do shit for you in harvesting one.
I use 3 pic bursts so I have a better chance of a clear shot on a brute. I like to leave my cams out for a month or two as well so I dont have it on video as I'm thinking it kills the battery faster.

Makes sense. From what I've noticed deer continue travelling on a trail after I've set up a trail camera but once they've walked past it once they avoid walking past it again and other deer avoid that spot as well. I'll see if things change this year as I've got 4 cams out right now (1 right near a spot where a lion killed 2 bucks last week) and another 6 on there way, hopefully have them up this weekend! Looking forward to seeing more pics on this thread!

[proguide66]

Hey Proguide, did you sweep your vehicles for tracking devices yet?

Nah , I dont use my truck for hunting anymore ,I just leave it where I want all you guys to go !!:mrgreen:

[Rubberknot]

Maybe you could coax this guy off my front lawn! I pray he drops dead of a jammer in front of my garage!

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l603/rubberknot/Lawn%20Deer/080.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l603/rubberknot/Lawn%20Deer/083.jpg

[Camp Cook]

I've been up the hillsides that I hunt a few times now but have been so busy working I can only score a couple hours here and there I have not seen a single rub or large track actually tracks are far and few between this year.

I have finally started seeing a few does though and this last Sunday morning is the first time I saw that the does were out by themselves instead of being in pairs.

[markt308]

Hey rubberknot that is a cool lookin rack on that front lawn buck!

[proguide66]

Those urban antlers are cool ! All you guys who ake those pics in the yards , doesnt anyhone find their sheds anywhere?? You would think they would be 'somewhere' ?? in the garden er something?

[harbinger]

your truck was spotted at southside deli the other day...dozens of hunters crawling all over the south side of Whistler now!:wink:

[BiG Boar]

I've been up the hillsides that I hunt a few times now but have been so busy working I can only score a couple hours here and there I have not seen a single rub or large track actually tracks are far and few between this year.

I have finally started seeing a few does though and this last Sunday morning is the first time I saw that the does were out by themselves instead of being in pairs.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?72849-Chilliwack-Valley-still-has-some-nice-Blacktails

hmmm. could be related. hahahahaha

[proguide66]

your truck was spotted at southside deli the other day...dozens of hunters crawling all over the south side of Whistler now!:wink:

You do know I sold thye white half tonne as well the blue dually ! they oughtta drag the gang all over hells half acre now ! I have a new 'hit wagon' !!

[JoelC]

You guys dont have to chase his truck anymore, just pm me and i will give all his locations. Proguide needs to get whats coming to him, so if any of you blacktail freaks want to know where proguide gets all these bucks just let me know and I will be more than happy to supply gps locations.

[JoelC]

I also forgot I have the key to his girlfriends back door if anyone needs it also

[proguide66]

I also forgot I have the key to his girlfriends back door if anyone needs it also
I knew it was only a matter of time till you started drinking in the mornings TO !

[Shooter]

Now this thread truly does have the makings to be EPIC!.. lol

[Getbent]

Love it...

cant wait for more....good luck PG

[harbinger]

I heard there are guys camping in the field across from your place with radios. When you leave they call the tail crew who then follow you out.:eek: Not sure how you'll get away from them.. good luck though!

[TheProvider]

Steve parks truck. Hikes up hill in the snow for a km. Staples note to tree and setups a trail cam 20' away. Steve return a week later to check trail cam. Has plenty of pictures of guys following his tracks. The next set of pictures are of guys up at the tree reading the note "Have a Nice Day!" Last set of pics show grumpy hunters walking out of the area realizing they should spend their quality time finding their own spots.

[proguide66]

Anyone 'on' their monster yet? Young Matt the btail murderer is on a cranker. He mailed me the pics of his antler ...WOAH. I'm thinking 140",

I'll post up shortly. He's in the bush txting me and sending pics of fresh rubs ...its comin on !!

[dino]

your truck was spotted at southside deli the other day...dozens of hunters crawling all over the south side of Whistler now!:wink:

you mean in behind the gunrange

[Gateholio]

you mean in behind the gunrange

Yeah, awesome place to hunt BIG blacktails...The big ones are always behind the gun range. If you have patience, you can actually sit on the rifle range and wait for them to walk on by, then you have a nice rest to nail them at 300 yards.

[dino]

Yeah, awesome place to hunt BIG blacktails...The big ones are always behind the gun range. If you have patience, you can actually sit on the rifle range and wait for them to walk on by, then you have a nice rest to nail them at 300 yards.

nice try:wink: dont worry I dont hunt BT's and I didnt mention which gun range.

[proguide66]

Here's some shit worthy of this thread!!

Lets hope Matt uses his past ecperience and puts his puzzle together to show this bugger to us with the bone attached to a head !!!! he's a bruiser! look at what his browtine 'must have been' before getting chewed!!! damn , gettin antsi !:cool:

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo1.jpg


http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo3.jpg


http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo2.jpg

Not sure about the rest of the thread followers but I now know of 5 different bucks being chased this fall wich all are 140" plus class....hope someone dumps one for us to drool over soon !!:mrgreen:

[TheProvider]

Definately a bruiser of a buck Mat is chasing

[Gateholio]

Nice shed, hope he gets on that buck! Nice chunky base on it.

[Islandeer]

Put him down Matt !!

[proguide66]

Here's my 'secret weapon'..........The Queen of mondo shed finds !!




http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo4.jpg
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo6-1-1.jpg

[TheProvider]

Wicked sheds in the last pic. Gonna be a big of a BT. I always pick up those ancient chewed up sheds. Most ppl think there a waste but when you really think about it. Those sheds were probably off a 2 yr old. Now those sheds are probably give or take 4yrs old. Makes you wonder what that buck looks like now. Regardless of genetics he's getting old and gnarly

[lilhoss]

Big 3 point hot on a does ass at 1st light this morning.A few fresh rubs in my "secret" spot from last year.Pisses me off though that I can only get there "week to week" as the gates are closed.Good week to be sick! Some cold,bit of snow for next Saturday please.It's getting fun now!

[Camp Cook]

What kind of gates?

If they are for logging roads get yourself a free miners license and ask the logging company for the key they have to give it to you it is covered under the mining right away act of BC.

A free miner actually has more right to use the road than the logging company that put it in.

[BlacktailStalker]

What kind of gates?

If they are for logging roads get yourself a free miners license and ask the logging company for the key they have to give it to you it is covered under the mining right away act of BC.

A free miner actually has more right to use the road than the logging company that put it in.

And get charged if you get caught using the access for anything other than mining ? Bad idea.

[Camp Cook]

Seriously... charged with what?

[proguide66]

Here's what to work forward to !

Kenny at Wild Images did an awesome job on my btail 'display' , just made it home last night ! I placed a few sets of 'special bucks' at the base .Easy to sit and gaze at em remembering those wicked days it all 'came together'....better go try again in the am !!
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo8-1.jpg

Cant leave out Mr. 154 incher !

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo7-1.jpg

[yama49]

Nice mount steve, good luck...

[270WIN]

steve when your hunting through your spot just wondering how often you use the can call

[blackbart]

Awesome display on the dual mounts Steve. The one on the wall behind your new display looks like he might be from a little bit further east. Either that or he is one fricken serious stud of all time bc btail.

[proguide66]

Awesome display on the dual mounts Steve. The one on the wall behind your new display looks like he might be from a little bit further east. Either that or he is one fricken serious stud of all time bc btail.
ya , he is one of those boring 190" plus eastern Clearwater muley's...yawn...lol

[proguide66]

steve when your hunting through your spot just wondering how often you use the can call
I'm very familiar with my spots and know where I'm 'probably' going to be in ear shot of deer or soon to be eye shot.I use the call as I am slipping along to hold them there waitting for me( wich they usually do more often than come to it).So I tip it , slip 10 yrds , tip it ect.
I also really want to stay with does in the timber.I'll sit on a couple with my gun up ( kill that movement early as its way easier to have the barrel pointing in the direction when the big ******* comes out as opposed to him coming out at 30 yrds staring at you and the damned gun is pointing at the ground and it takes 1/4 of a second for him to hit bush.
I watch the does as long as possible silently , then when they are finally going to be out of my site I hit the call. 'Just' enough to keep em curious. Classic example is a few yrs ago I had 3 does 40 yrds in thick shit.Leaned on a tree , gun up , got comfy and waited.They milled away from me , yipped call , they stood and looked for an extra 5 min...moved away , tipped , got me 5 more min...they look to their right,I swing barrel right...5X4 128" buck walks out...blam....40 yrds and enough adrenaline to last till next fall !!
Anyway , guys using the call on btails and thinking its going to bring em in like a bull elk or a whitetail and just sit tipping it are in for a bit of a boring day.....it only acts as a curiosity thing , keeps em waitting for you to come.You could probably use any deer call.I use the can cause I heard two does making the EXACT sound obe fall while milling about in the drk timber , then blam 5X5 125" buck right near them.
I have had a few bucks come to it very slowly , but ALL the 140"plus bucks shot with it were just standing there looking from the edge of thick cover and took a bullet for it!

[270WIN]

thanks steve.. great help. I was and am using it the same way just thought it may have been too much. now i just have to get out there and find them does

[270WIN]

steve just wondering what you carry in your day pack well hunting these ghosts

[Hombre]

Here's what to work forward to !

Kenny at Wild Images did an awesome job on my btail 'display' , just made it home last night ! I placed a few sets of 'special bucks' at the base .Easy to sit and gaze at em remembering those wicked days it all 'came together'....better go try again in the am !!
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo8-1.jpg

Cant leave out Mr. 154 incher !

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo7-1.jpg
Congrats proguide , those are beauty bucks.Saw a pic of a monster taken in 2010 from your neck of the woods.

Area definitely has big bucks.

[proguide66]

steve just wondering what you carry in your day pack well hunting these ghosts
My fav set up is a bare frame with a dry bag and rattle antlers on it. Simple and easy to strap shit on.Dry bag has camera , food,knife,sharpener,fire starter,license , twine,maybe a couple bullets.
My pocket has vid cam, call,lens wipes.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo9-1.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/IMGA0013.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/DSC02261.jpg


http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/08blacktail010.jpg

[ElectricDyck]

Always enjoy this thread, keep the action rollin...

My bro in law and I have made it a habbit to go to our blacktail spot every year now. Here's one of this years...

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/ElectricDyck/Blacktails%202012%20with%20Jeff/IMG_0687.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/ElectricDyck/Blacktails%202012%20with%20Jeff/IMG_0699.jpg

I spotted movement in some ferns and cedars when a doe popped out into the open then this guy got up and walked behind her casually stopping to stretch his legs, he got shot in the heat at 150 yards, jumped in the air, ran 10 yards like he was on a tread mill and fell over dead.

[proguide66]

Thats a solid buck right there,way to go !

[moose2]

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/ElectricDyck/Blacktails%202012%20with%20Jeff/IMG_0687.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/ElectricDyck/Blacktails%202012%20with%20Jeff/IMG_0699.jpg

Great pictures and a really nice buck Dyck
Mike

[proguide66]

18 hiking hrs for me , set of sheds.one new rub. ZERO deer sightins for me...and counting ! 3 days of work left then its full time game on for me !

[270WIN]

hey steve my work schedule pretty open if you ever want some one to tag along with you. carry your pack to make your hikes easer i be more then willing to help you out. just throwing that out there lol

[hunter1993ap]

i want to hear more about the mule deer?? looks like an awesome buck, and a couple other squeekers there as well;) youve got some nice old b-tails and they sure look chalenging to hunt. this is a great thread.

[Camp Cook]

Now that I look back I have probably spent at least 70 hours in the bush blacktail hunting since Sept 10/12 started up in alpine but I've dropped down now.

I've spent at least 55 of those hours hiking in/out or still hunting.

I guess I got out a bit more than I thought I did... :mrgreen:

Total sightings 10 does + 3 smaller bucks.

Proguide do you rattle/still hunt?

[proguide66]

I do everything above to wack em in my spots.I'm not calling yet as its too early .I'm using these hikes to check new spots wich put more puzzle pieces together for me.Once I know the layout of my spots and where they feed or where they rub LOTS I then know where/when I should sit tight and rattle a bit or use a call and slip along. How the deer 'work' my spots has a lot to do with how I hunt them.
Bedding shelves are a riot as I really love to slither along above them and stick em or snipe em from one shelf down or across to the next.They really seem to feel secure in those steep cliffs.Anywhere you find sheds you find their secure hangouts.100% of all the largest btail bucks I have wacked or been in on were killed right where their antlers drop or at least within 400 yrds.
If I 'know' I'm in earshot and the call or antlers arent doing anything I'l sometimes just slip away and let it be for a week , go hit another spot and keep turining them over so not to put too much pressure on a small and sensitive group.Doesnt take much to educate a true 'genetically superior' blacktail. Everytime you go he learns about you to! Doesnt take much to teach them that you sound like a call or that annoyting antler sound AGAIN. Timing is key.
I had one 'rut hole' yrs back I hunted the crap out of. I used the call , rattled,sat,slipped,rattled ect ect...saw 2 does and 100 rubs. Placed a cam and had a pic of 4 different 5X's ( one 160 class) a revert fork and some lesser bucks. One pic at night , the rest in daylight after they stepped aside and let me go through or by while rattling and calling. That group had me pegged , slipped to the side , listened to my antics , resumed after I left...drove me nuts. Rattlers and call left in truck, changed tactics , tried an approach from a new location in the dark , stayed silent and here they came from where Iormally was ....blam , 120ish 5X5 down....they were heading up and out of the thick shit I tried to call em in .
Anyway , the spot layout , deer sign has a lot to do with 'how' i'm going to hit that spot.I dont have a standard call or rattle sequence each time I go out.

[Trekker]

Starting tomorrow, 6 straight days devoted to those damn blacktails. going to hit the mountains hard. heading north island to a new spot for three days, then back to the regular stomping grounds for another three. hoping to get some antler on the ground, or at the very least some intel on where some old buggers live.

[proguide66]

So 'what is' a true 'trophy blacktail' to you guys following this thread? or if you dont like the name 'trophy' , whats a REAL BIG muthu to you?? ( would be cool to see a guy describe a mondo buck of his liking and nail it later on in the thread)

To me, a TRUE huge trophy buck is VERY prime or preferably past. MASSIVE bases is key 'finger print' for me , wide muzzle , wide forehead and thick assed heavy rack....point #'s optional,lol....to me a true old fart warrior who has eluded all the top predators all his life in his back yard and I GOT HIM! , thats a cool feeling as a passionate hunter.

Aside from that , each year I must admit , I have been REALLY trying to nail a monster 5X that goes 160" plus.I have seen pics of a couple , seen sheds and shot some close...but my ultimate goal is a 160" plus blacktail....this to me would be pretty sweet!8-)

How about you btail jumkies???

[lilhoss]

So 'what is' a true 'trophy blacktail' to you guys following this thread? or if you dont like the name 'trophy' , whats a REAL BIG muthu to you?? ( would be cool to see a guy describe a mondo buck of his liking and nail it later on in the thread)

To me, a TRUE huge trophy buck is VERY prime or preferably past. MASSIVE bases is key 'finger print' for me , wide muzzle , wide forehead and thick assed heavy rack....poin #'s optional,lol....to me a true old fart warrior who has eluded all the top predators all his life in his back yard and I GOT HIM! , thats a cool feeling as a passionate hunter.

Aside from that , each year I must admit , I have been REALLY trying to nail a monster 5X that goes 160" plus.I have seen pics of a couple , seen sheds and shot some close...but my ultimate goal is a 160" plus blacktail....this to me would be pretty sweet!8-)

How about you btail jumkies???

Well, you being from the Island originally,you know how hard it is to get a 100-110 class or higher buck.Myself,I like the older ,heavier ones, regardless of score and point configuration.The "mature buck" is the true test I think,and that's really the highlights of this thread.I've never shot a 5x5,but it certainly is on my wish list.Lots of 4's,3's,2's,etc but never a 5.
I grew up hunting with my Papa,and he had this hanging on his wall in the old house

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/papa_buck_4.JPG (javascript:;)
now at 45-ish, I bought the old home from the family and still have them hanging here today.I call it my incentive!
No doubt some of those deer you drop the hammer on are trophy class,but I can tell from your passion it's more about the chase and the success.

[ryanb]

Heavy 4x4 with long brows ;). As much as I like wide bucks, a wide rack really detracts from the blacktailness. So long tines, deep forks, and the tops of both side nearly touching. The ideal blacktail...still waiting to see him.

[proguide66]

No doubt about it , a 'true' 5X5 ' island blacktail is as rare as a 6 leaf clover! I shot two or three out of literally dozens. How many times I shot or seen shot 5X3 , 2X5 , 5X4 , ect...RARELY 5X5.
My first buck was an arrow at 15 yrds on a 5X4 up on the power lines behind Edward Milne school in Sooke , up on the moss bluff directly under the lines towards Harbour View rd...my 'step granpa' was soo freaked out it was a 5 he wanted to drop me off on one side of Sooke and make me pack it through town on my back with my bow in hand,haha...I was 13....

The craving for that excitement continues !!!

[proguide66]

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/DSC01011.jpg

This guy represent's a true trophy blacktail to me !! one of my best day EVER moments hunting blacktails.

[greenhorn]

No doubt about it , a 'true' 5X5 ' island blacktail is as rare as a 6 leaf clover! I shot two or three out of literally dozens. How many times I shot or seen shot 5X3 , 2X5 , 5X4 , ect...RARELY 5X5.
My first buck was an arrow at 15 yrds on a 5X4 up on the power lines behind Edward Milne school in Sooke , up on the moss bluff directly under the lines towards Harbour View rd...my 'step granpa' was soo freaked out it was a 5 he wanted to drop me off on one side of Sooke and make me pack it through town on my back with my bow in hand,haha...I was 13....

The craving for that excitement continues !!!

Just a heads up there aren't any big deer in Sooke anymore so no reason for anyone to head out here.....

[greenhorn]

So 'what is' a true 'trophy blacktail' to you guys following this thread? or if you dont like the name 'trophy' , whats a REAL BIG muthu to you?? ( would be cool to see a guy describe a mondo buck of his liking and nail it later on in the thread)

To me, a TRUE huge trophy buck is VERY prime or preferably past. MASSIVE bases is key 'finger print' for me , wide muzzle , wide forehead and thick assed heavy rack....point #'s optional,lol....to me a true old fart warrior who has eluded all the top predators all his life in his back yard and I GOT HIM! , thats a cool feeling as a passionate hunter.

Aside from that , each year I must admit , I have been REALLY trying to nail a monster 5X that goes 160" plus.I have seen pics of a couple , seen sheds and shot some close...but my ultimate goal is a 160" plus blacktail....this to me would be pretty sweet!8-)

How about you btail jumkies???

It's all about antler mass for me. It turns me on when the bases are heavy and the mass carries into a nice heavy branch and on up into the points.. Lots of points is cool, but mass means maturity to me. Some blacktails will just never make 4 points, so that heavy horned 3 with pop can bases is equally stunning to me.

The area I'm nurturing has given me lots of heavy sheds but dang the deer in there are elusive.... game cams out..... hopeful it will all come together.....

[CRjosh]

I like a lot of others would love to get a huge, mature 5x5! That being said, they definitely don't exist all that often on the island sooo I've really started to think that trophy Blacktails to me are mature big bodied chunky guys. Ones that gave me a real challenge hunting them. I always hold out hope that one day I will come across a massive antlered buck, but until then this one sort of represents a trophy for me!
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff502/madilljt/101_1893.jpg

[greenhorn]

Nice deer!!!! I agree that's a trophy!

[CRjosh]

Or one I get to share with the kids, this one made his day!
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff502/madilljt/101_1911-1.jpg

[IronNoggin]

I called this one the "Consolation Buck"

http://gallery.fishbc.com/albums/Ironnoggin/Consolation_1.jpg

Mistook him for the Biggie I was hunting in that area. A "nice" buck, but his Pa was what I'd call a Real Trophy.
They don't call them "Ghosts" without cause! As rare as hen's teeth on The Rock, but there is the odd one to be found...

Out to search for Him now... :wink:

Cheers,
Nog

[rifleman]

I like a lot of others would love to get a huge, mature 5x5! That being said, they definitely don't exist all that often on the island sooo I've really started to think that trophy Blacktails to me are mature big bodied chunky guys. Ones that gave me a real challenge hunting them. I always hold out hope that one day I will come across a massive antlered buck, but until then this one sort of represents a trophy for me!
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff502/madilljt/101_1893.jpg
That is one huge boddied island buck. nice thick & heavy rack. look at the size of his head & muzzle!!!!
did you weigh him by any chance?

[CRjosh]

No I didn't, but quite a few people were surprised at just how big the body was on him...if only the antlers had matched!
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff502/madilljt/101_1885-1.jpg

[bigslim]

Obsessed V.I. Blacktail hunter, there I admitted it. Those grey ghosts are so hard to outsmart, terrain/vegetation and weather all contribute to the complex puzzle.Seen a hand full of true monsters in my 30 plus years of torture.
only put a bullet in one
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh617/drofgib/huntingbc014_zps1e8e844f.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh617/drofgib/huntingbc013_zps3fca0c7f.jpg

[RayHill]

My ideal buck will be the one that was hard to find and made me work for him. Fat neck, big body, heavy bases, long brow tines, even with some broken head gear is fine with me. Throw in some war wounds and you have got yourself one bad ass deer, and a hell of a prized trophy! IMO

[TheProvider]

Mature.. big old brute. Older they get the more character there is and I love character. I have to say it wouldn't be a true trophy for me unless it has a great big rutted up neck on him. 160" would be awesome but I would be just as happy with a big old gnarly brute that used to be 140-150 in his prime but is now in 120-130. Old gnarly antlers!!

[proguide66]

obsessed v.i. Blacktail hunter, there i admitted it. Those grey ghosts are so hard to outsmart, terrain/vegetation and weather all contribute to the complex puzzle.seen a hand full of true monsters in my 30 plus years of torture.
Only put a bullet in one
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh617/drofgib/huntingbc014_zps1e8e844f.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh617/drofgib/huntingbc013_zps3fca0c7f.jpgho lee shit !!!!

[kennyj]

I'd REALLY like one Island buck in my lifetime that nets 115''. BUT if I never got to shot another BT I couldn't complain. I've been totally hooked on these little buggers for 40 years or more and have a ton of wicked memories.
kenny

[Trophyslayer]

Here's my best BT from a few years ago
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/jordankrause/282c26f53ceaeaf6469d607e90c7b036.jpg

Next week the blacktail hunting is going to get a whole lot more serious

[Shooter]

Thats one helluva cool buck!

[Buffalo Bills]

Obsessed V.I. Blacktail hunter, there I admitted it. Those grey ghosts are so hard to outsmart, terrain/vegetation and weather all contribute to the complex puzzle.Seen a hand full of true monsters in my 30 plus years of torture.
only put a bullet in one
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh617/drofgib/huntingbc014_zps1e8e844f.jpg
http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh617/drofgib/huntingbc013_zps3fca0c7f.jpg
Explain to me again Scott why you have this hidden in your basement and next to a Montreal jersey...tsk ...tsk....tsk

[bigslim]

Explain to me again Scott why you have this hidden in your basement and next to a Montreal jersey...tsk ...tsk....tsk

C'mon Stitch cut me some slack it's KEN DRYDEN!!!!

[Wood butcher]

C'mon Stitch cut me some slack it's KEN DRYDEN!!!!
Ha ha that was my first thought. Why is that buck in the basement and oh! ........Well at least it's Dryden.

The dream buck will have;the big roman nose, no neck and mass that carries from the bases right out to the tips.
If he fits this profile I could care less how many points he has. Always looking for the perfect 5 as well.

[270WIN]

how old you thinkthis rub is
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/534014_10152223830350268_923453765_n.jpg

[proguide66]

This yr rub for for sure !

Funny , thinking about what a 'trophy' is to some , here's a story.

Handfull of yrs ago I was on a few big buggers.One was my second yr on him and still didnt know 'what' he was.Well I tagged out on two awesome bucks with one going over 140".I couldnt help myself and still went looking for that huge footed bugger to see what the hell he was.
I tracked him one evening and he was 'just' ahead of me.I was running out of light and saw 3 mature does up ahead.KNOWING he would be there for sure in the am I called a neighber and gave him (what I thought) A MAJOR gift.
I gave him my big rattling horns , told him where to park , where to hike to in the drk and where to rattle.Off he went.I called later in the day and he was home.This is what he said,

" well , I went , did what you said and HERE HE COMES !. Grunting his face off , ripping into willow a mere 50 yrds from me.He was the widest,tallest , heaviest buck I had ever seen" , ( born and raised in Pemberton). Me - " well did you shoot the *******????"...he throws his hands up and says , " nope , his score would be worth shit"......imagine the look on my face.......He went on to say he was a huge 3 up top one side , 2 on the other with brows..I repo'd my rattle horns , went home and vomited....haha...aaarrrgh......( and he never shot a deer that yr..or actually anything for a bunch of years).

[hunter1993ap]

This yr rub for for sure !

Funny , thinking about what a 'trophy' is to some , here's a story.

Handfull of yrs ago I was on a few big buggers.One was my second yr on him and still didnt know 'what' he was.Well I tagged out on two awesome bucks with one going over 140".I couldnt help myself and still went looking for that huge footed bugger to see what the hell he was.
I tracked him one evening and he was 'just' ahead of me.I was running out of light and saw 3 mature does up ahead.KNOWING he would be there for sure in the am I called a neighber and gave him (what I thought) A MAJOR gift.
I gave him my big rattling horns , told him where to park , where to hike to in the drk and where to rattle.Off he went.I called later in the day and he was home.This is what he said,

" well , I went , did what you said and HERE HE COMES !. Grunting his face off , ripping into willow a mere 50 yrds from me.He was the widest,tallest , heaviest buck I had ever seen" , ( born and raised in Pemberton). Me - " well did you shoot the *******????"...he throws his hands up and says , " nope , his score would be worth shit"......imagine the look on my face.......He went on to say he was a huge 3 up top one side , 2 on the other with brows..I repo'd my rattle horns , went home and vomited....haha...aaarrrgh......( and he never shot a deer that yr..or actually anything for a bunch of years).
he didnt have the experience with the deer you had, or thats all i can think of. at least you still had a chance for him. i wish someone would give me that gift, i would of hammered him!

[Hoof]

Proguide66 I know you have your cams out in the bush have you had a chance to check them yet?? Hope you will be posting your pics of your new targets for this year!

[RayHill]

When you tag out early this year proguide, you can give me the heads up on the GPS coordinates to your honey hole and I will try not to disappoint you. Haha

[proguide66]

Proguide66 I know you have your cams out in the bush have you had a chance to check them yet?? Hope you will be posting your pics of your new targets for this year!
I checked a trail a few days ago and a BIG footed bugger went right for it but 'dog legged' right and missed the damned thing. Few cut branches and a second cam will have his ass on film in a couple days.
Majority of my cams are in tough to get to spots and I wont go there until I'm 'sure' the big buggers are in there.I want to make my visits less as possible for obvious reasons.So 'while' I am hunting 'the spot' I can stop and do a quick check of the cam to see if 'HE' is in there...shit its FUN !

[blackbart]

PG66

You are a CRAZY sob, but then again I can appreciate and respect that quality.

[brian]

how old you thinkthis rub is

If you ever want to get more precise, take your knife and scrap off a bit of bark beside the rub and compare the colours you see. It'll give you a better idea of how smoking fresh a rub is. You can also smell it and see if it still has a fresh "tree been mashed" up smell.

[270WIN]

got this responce from a doe on nov 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE8-sStuNkQ&feature=youtu.be

[TyTy]

Heres a couple of sheds I found yesterday in my new spot. Its on the other side of "the line" but close to it. Ruishing out the door yesterday I forgot my hunting boots, decided not to make an excuse of it, and "scrambled" my way up into the bluffs. keep finding sheds. These are the best two. I knew there were some good deer around, now i have proof.



http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Blacktail_Sheds.JPG (javascript:;)

[proguide66]

Juicey bucks Ty ! hope you get one of em !

I had a buck make a rub on my '#1' cam...with his f ing ass in the shot and front end out of the lens...damnit !.

Another BIG buck at a different spot I have been 'kinda working' fo 3 years decided to do his expected 'foot showing ' in between cam placements.Bin trying to get his photo for a while now to decide weather to put full persuit er not...his feeet are rediculous. Had to pull a cam from his spot due to SD failure..and no replacement in my pocket..3 days later BIGFOOT drops his dew claws all over the damned place where the cam was...aaarrrrgh.
All hell is about to break loose in buck world here very shortly...like maybe 3 days !

[lovemywinchester]

Juicey bucks Ty ! hope you get one of em !

I had a buck make a rub on my '#1' cam...with his f ing ass in the shot and front end out of the lens...damnit !.

Another BIG buck at a different spot I have been 'kinda working' fo 3 years decided to do his expected 'foot showing ' in between cam placements.Bin trying to get his photo for a while now to decide weather to put full persuit er not...his feeet are rediculous. Had to pull a cam from his spot due to SD failure..and no replacement in my pocket..3 days later BIGFOOT drops his dew claws all over the damned place where the cam was...aaarrrrgh.
All hell is about to break loose in buck world here very shortly...like maybe 3 days !

Have you ever tried putting any doe scent in front of the cams PG? A drip system or just a spill on the ground. Seems like a good way to get the bucks to stick around in front of the cams for a bit. Thinking of trying in near the Loops for WT. I'm tagged out but just to see whats around.

[deer nut]

These blacktails are driving me nuts! I hunt on the island and have always thought the bluffs and remnant mature forest is where the bucks hang out. This has been confirmed by multiple encounters but as yet an inability to connect on a decent blacktail.To add insult to injury, it seems every time I muscle up and venture into the gnarly stuff, I come home empty handed and see gorgeous bucks when I get back to town! Tonight for example.....AAAARGH!!!! I think I've caught the blacktail addiction. Now I need to refine the technique! This thread inspires me.

[takla1]

Anchored a nice black-tail this morning with ruger#1 .Just after first light ,foggy raining.2-8 one of ruger#1 and mine best spots

[ruger#1]

Here is Takla1's pig of a blacktail. http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=28616&title=takla-12-2012-blacktail&cat=500

[proguide66]

Nice solid buck there!! great bases , looks mature for sure!

Only one of the BIG buggers on my hitlist is doing what he's 'supposed to' be doin right now , all my other spots are dead , no one there ...YET , but its comin !

[Wild Images]

Takla1's buck
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Takla_2012_030.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Takla_2012_026.jpg

[TheProvider]

6hrs of hiking through the mountains yesturday. Zero deer sightings in one of my honey holes. A few rubs but most werent rubbed to agressively. Next weekend will be devoted to BT's and the bow. I'm placing bets on thurs things will heat up fast!

[takla1]

thanks Wild images for clearing up those pics for me.He's a pigs of a BT forsure weight wise,over 200 lbs.Spread between widest point on antlers was 18 1/2 inchs,would of been nicer had he had some lenth to his top points but im real happy with him.He was with 4 does and i put one bullet from my 375 hh thru the back of his neck as he was makeing his escape,he will be mounted

[Sitkaspruce]

Man, I hate the fog!!!

Yesterday, we hiked into a spot I found on Google Earth (old grown up road, old cutblock, mature timber and a heli block). Was windy with blowing snow and COLD!!! As we arrived, the snow stopped and the fog rolled in. After a few hours of chasing nothing, no tracks, no rubs, nothing spotted in the 20 to 30 yards I can see, my buddy is on his way back to our meeting spot when he comes across three sets of tracks, two medium and one HUGE in his own tracks. The he can hear the buck grunting away in the fog.......he grunts back and gets the buck grunting even louder, but the fog restricts him from seeing anything. Soon the wind swirls and there is silence.....we backed out of there and will leave it for another day. Big wintering ground just below where we hunt, so as soon as we get some real snow, will be back there.

Nice Buck Takla!!

Cheers

SS

[takla1]

thanks Sitkas,im still pinching myself.For any young guys out there nows the time,dont let the weather stop you from getting out and finding your next Blacktail.We knew this deer was in our area as we seen a huge amount of scrapes this last week,lots with broken branchs up to 1" in diametre and up to 3-4 ft high off the ground.This buck had destroyed about 5 clumps of 10 ft willows in the last 3 days at the end of an old spur road up against old growth timber at about the 600 ft mark of our local mnts here in mission.I killed him not 50 yrs from this spot bedded up in the cutblock with 4 does.I have a feeling this treads going to get real busy this next week!

[proguide66]

Any of you out there who know what I have been trying to pull off the past 5 years...grab some popcorn....I am 100% within 300 yrds of my 160 plus inch columbian blacktail with my bow...cam on bow........PLEASE send good luck......have cell reception.....( he prob goes new #1 B.C. blacktail now.)

[Spy]

Good luck i hope you get him !

[Trophyslayer]

Lets the blacktail gods shine down on you PG good luck!

[proguide66]

Lets the blacktail gods shine down on you PG good luck!
Impatiently waiting for wind change so I can stalk, never had to fight nerves this bad in my life, I'm going to 'try' and sucker him with the rattlers , unless I get my eye on him first... Need to keep my noodle together , not sure I will be able to start the cam,some things become very un important when the shit goes down... Here I go

[ruger#1]

Impatiently waiting for wind change so I can stalk, never had to fight nerves this bad in my life, I'm going to 'try' and sucker him with the rattlers , unless I get my eye on him first... Need to keep my noodle together , not sure I will be able to start the cam,some things become very un important when the shit goes down... Here I go We know you can do it. Just make it the #1 blacktail in the record books. You deserve that.

[TheProvider]

Smoke him steve. Arrow through the vitals... slow and smart stalk

[lorneparker1]

Good luck sir!

Lorne

[proguide66]

Good luck sir!

Lorne
Thanks ! I've climbed up and around the mountain, thermals now in my face , should be un position in around 30 min , then start my first rattle sequence... Guessing 'if' it happens today it will be within 100 yrds kf where I found his antler.... The tension is nuts.

[TheProvider]

Tension is nuts but wait till your hands are wrapped around his antlers!!

[Bighorn hunter]

Good luck!!!

Bh

[DR.DOUG]

Good Luck Steve!!

[IronNoggin]

Get Him Steve! Best of Luck!!! :mrgreen:
Hope to see some Awesome Pix shortly now...

Cheers,
Nog

[proguide66]

Wind at back, fresh cat tracks where I was, found two sets of running deer tracks... I'm outta here . ABSOLUTELY ecstatic he made the winter and is BIGGER. Have till Dec 10 to pull it off. The girls haven't filled in yet , if there was good snow he may have received an arrow today .... I'll leave him be for 4 er 5 days.

[Trekker]

pg, you got any pictures of this guys sheds.

[TheProvider]

Perfect arrow him in 4-5 days.. then arrow cat a cple days later. Cats were on my deer remains within two days last year.

[TheProvider]

pg, you got any pictures of this guys sheds.

Trekker check out last years thread for the pics or his youtube page for the vid

[proguide66]

There is a bright light !

During my 'mountain crawl' something wasnt making sense.There was no droppings from the girls where there usually is when they fill in. Only one small fresh rub.I crawled that whole frikkin top/face and found no fresh large rut sign( wich usually accompanies EVERY big rutting bucks hangout.
I made a call to my non hunting freind who works in there ( and had a delightfull eye to eye look at him at 'oh' 8 frikkin am broad daylight) and realised he was on the opposite slope , not the one I was killing myself on.
I went for a 'looksy' and found he has two girls with him and found the trail they used to climb a big timbered mossy ridge. CANT get better than this an here's why-

The usual rutting/wintering hill is vacant , no one there yet ! He has probably the first girls to show up and is with them...he aint leavin them , period! From my hike I can guarrantee there is no bait to lure him away , (at least till the snow flies) his neck is full blown , 8 am road sighting by a crummy so he's dumb right now....the ridge they are on offers up great 60 yr shots all day long.....I'm stickin to my plans for arrow , tomarrow am its ON . I am also more confdent to rattle him up with so few girls around , this oughtta be good ! Its exactly what happened last year with his older uncle , not many girls around , rattle away , he comes a lookin to kick ass while hangin with the two does I trailed all morning and eats a broadhead at 15 yrds.....fingers crossed for a text book replay ! !!:twisted:

[proguide66]

pg, you got any pictures of this guys sheds.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/DSC00961.jpg


http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/trailcam2010mrB098.jpg


http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/DSC00960.jpg

This pic is two yrs old , the shed was found the winter after the cam pic...I believe its the same antler..never 100% but maybe 99.9 lol
If he grew anything like Hitches buck did AFTER I thought his shed from 4 yrs ago was prob 'prime' , god knows what hes gonna look like now.....I also have a feeling I 'may' have a trail cam pic of him right now , 'might' check tomarrow...IF he isnt dead after the am.

[TheProvider]

Awesome... hope you get him in the am. I know I'm definately pumped up for the weekend!!

[Brew]

Good luck tomorrow. Cant wait to see some pictures of a dead deer. I saw another nice three pointer today. they are really getting dumb this week and running about mid day.

[Camp Cook]

Oh man this is getting me going...

I took the afternoon off today I headed up the valley to check out a new spot actually one of my 20 years ago spots.

I had spotted a couple of does in this area a few weeks ago but no rubs yet then just 15 min before dark I had a doe 10 yards to my left once she spotted me she didn't stick around long after another 10 minutes I had another 2 does 20 & 30 yards ahead of me.

Spotting these does has made me decide too take the morning off going to still hunt where these does were and maybe try rattling as well.

[ryanb]

Had a two point yesterday, walk straight towards my truck on the road, thought he might have a fight with my bumper...but veered off the road at 5 yards. Have to say, the rut seems a bit slow getting going in Pemberton this year...none of the usual spots seem "populated" yet. Hoping things turn around here soon.

[sled92]

So? Any update PG66? Little foggy out there today?

[Getbent]

Put one in em today PG66...
Good luck man.....stoked for you!

[proguide66]

Puzzle complete, made my way into his bedroom closet -BINGO ! Found his does feeding spot, his tracks, main trail and about 10 to 15 rubs in his 'gym'.... Timing now . Placed a cam so there WILL be a pic of him very soon ( NEVER leave home without a cam!!) if not him dead via stainless !! I just finnished one more additional hike to include or discard a potential area but nothing in it. Which is great cause it narrows his area BIGTIME ... Just need a real shit eatin night with rain and hell to keep them in the open a little longer in the am
Hiking up there for last light might be dicey due to cliff climbing out , looks like a strict a.m. spot.I'll load pics of one of his rubs when I get outta here !

[ruger#1]

I beleive in you Steve.

[Rackmastr]

Cant wait to see how ya make out!!!

[TheProvider]

Awesome!!!!

[Getbent]

Cool...I like that...his gym!

[takla1]

rain and snow mixed higher elevations comeing this fri-sat-sunday.Im thinkin a biggen should fall in the next few days best of luck pg

[1980skywalker]

This thread is awesome, almost like watching a movie but you have to imagine it all in your head through the eyes of pg66. You have a ton of us behind you Steve, not that you need any motivation but we are all rooting for ya, living the dream buddy. You just might accomplish what 99.9paaaacent of us never will,
make it count! We all just might be 'watching' hunting history in the making and I really hope we are, you are an ambassador of our great sport, GOOD LUCK!!!

[proguide66]

Thanks fellas ! Today the 'good luck' wishes musta worked as I was ready to 'sell my soul' for a mere fresh pile of crap...then 'there it was'.

So , my first sign of 'him'. This is what I call a mere 'head butt' while observing sign. He stopped at the 'tree' and gave it a 'bit'....fresh as hell , note taken I 'might' be on the right track....or was it a random act as he just passed through?
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo15-1.jpg

Farther along FINALLY doe sign shows......fresh.
little further , rub..another and another...all huge all fresh all along a 'route' and a solid monster print very fresh in some dirt ( moss and rock everywhere , no snow = zero tracks) Each rub was a very aggresive one , maybe 15 of em. All on hardwoods spruce and fir...basically a bucks 'bowflex' set up,lol
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo13.jpg

[proguide66]

sometimes different bark will seem 'oxydised' to an old shade and will be confusing to how old it really is.Lots of the rubs had this color on the bark so I guess he never really got into the underlying wood. Look at bottom shows fresh shrapnel on top of this years leaves = fresh....

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq155/proguide66/photo14-1.jpg

[proguide66]

note the gouges that go horizontal up by my top bow cam...how the 'f' did he do that? might have to nickname him 'Slasher' , lol.

Hitches crazy huge buck made some unbelievable gouges with that nasty long brow tine last fall and the rubs were quite similar to this big one. Cant wait to see what he looks like now !!!!...Think I'll go to work for a few days to help rest up myself for the next assault , lol

[Trekker]

quite the shed pg, going to be swwweeeeetttt to see what he looks like now. hopefully in a picture on the ground. good luck.

[kennyg826]

Hope you connect! You've definitely done ur homework!

[TheProvider]

Cple days at work an let him do his thing. Rumour has it snow friday meaning there will be more than one cranker BT hitting the ground on saturday.

[hitch]

You mean work a couple other spots for a fews days. Not actually workin! Let's see what happens over the next few days. With a few hammers on the hit list, something big is hitting the ground this weekend. Hopefully it's the big guy I'm tryin to figure out!

[bushpig slayer]

This is the best thread I love true mature blacktails and all the input from everyone I can read this stuff forever I hope everyone gets to live the dream of a true hog blacktail I'm still dreaming about mine.soon I can feel it.good luck pg and everyone.

[proguide66]

Side note for my 'local truck chasin weaklings'. For around 7 er more years now I have been avidly seeking ( basically year round) secluded places to hunt unbothered by others. 100% of the time these places actually suck for hunting as there isnt very many deer there.( straight up).I hunted one particular place for 5 er 6 years now off and on and have physically seen 3 different bucks in all that time and killed one..only ONE. This is an example of just how it really is in all the places I go.( I havent laid my eyes on one deer this fall-yet)
Obviously , few deer on a mountain attracts few predators and the few bucks that know this usually grow to be damned big......and I have the patience to stay on them for 'most times' years.
During my persuit of these very rare animals I avidly help EVERYONE around me and lots on the internet to get themsleves a big buck or learn HOW TO find and hunt a spot properly for themselves.
But STILL , there's a few 'challenged' guys who spend more time trying to figure out where 'T -F' I hunt than they do at trying to learn themselves.
Its quite comical the shit I go through to side track you loosers.I get dropped off basically 99% of the time and leave mine and others vehicles strewn about the 'sea to sky' to either make you go there or use you to push deer to my secluded spots and its been working perfectly each year.

Anyway , take a note..I HELP many many people and ask or recieve ZERO in return 100% of the time and am happy doing it.

Of course everyone has another 'side' to them.......lets put it this way.....lets just say you actually DID follow me to one my my secluded places to basically F&*%K me.....lets just say the VERY improbable happened.... You will find out real quick what happens when you hunt a predator and dont bring enough gun when you catch up to him.......payback will be a very very bad experience.
Anyway.......this note is intended for a very few individuals , you know who you are...so do I.

Back to the happy parts !!

lol


'f' work , I'm in the bush again......might have to go on welfare soon as I am pissing off customers to the max , hopefully its all worth it in the end!

[deer nut]

All of us are tempted to "track" you, but most of us just do so through your posts here PG66! Hope you connect (with a buck that is). You have validated my long-held theories about coastal deer. Now if I could only learn to slow down in the bush, maybe I'll see more than the ass end of those big bucks! :-D

[lovemywinchester]

Season is over soon so keep hunting I say. One good thing about working in the sea to sky is that most customers have zero expectations of guys actually showing up for work or jobs getting done on time. Gives a man lots of leeway to persue his hobbies. At least they don't have to call Tapleys to get ahold of you.

[Dutch Ppoacher]

interesting thing you mention that "I HELP many many people and ask or recieve ZERO in return 100% of the time and am happy doing it." my hunting partener and i where talking about that very fact the other day while heading back from the mountian. it is true! and this thread kicks a##!

some of the older fellows in my hunting group are leary of our photos going on here for the same reason. spot chasers! i was even asked to take the few i once posted off, for that reason.

it is a small world and someone is going to ID someing in a photo one time or another.

DP

[MB_Boy]

At least they don't have to call Tapleys to get ahold of you.

Spoken like a true Leafs fan! :wink: :mrgreen: :wink:

[Getbent]

That is effed up man!
I can't believe guys would follow you around to see where you go...I have followed these threads for a couple of years and heard mention of this but WTF... as you said, you provide TONS of info to any willing to ask for pointers for success.
I learned long ago that you only get out what you put in and you obviously put in monumental effort to score on these mature BT's.

what a bunch of losers...

again, go put one in em today!!!

[takla1]

wow,lots of twists and bends to this blacktail thead!this brings back memories of hunting prophet river back in the 80's.We had shot 2 bull moose and when doing so we'd drive out to the alaska hyw to lum&abners outpost and celibrate with a home cooked burger at the restraunt there,take the day off of hunting have some drink and just generally have a good relaxing day,well this particular day after eating our meal and getting back in the truck for the drive back to camp i noticed 2 young guys in a truck following us.We had heard them talking at the outpost about not knowing where they should go,and they seemed real hard up for a moose.It didnt take long to figure out they were tailing us to find our spot so we took them on one hell of a nasty side trip into some of the worst mustkeg,corderoided wet clay roads imaginable{of course my truck was built for it }last we seen they were about 200 yrds behind us hi-centered on an approach to a washed out bridge.Went back the next day and you could tell they had one hell of a time unstucking themselves and retreated back to the hyw.Served them right .Im a little mellower now and im sure i would help the fellors out...oh well live and learn

[ruger#1]

Ha Ha. I just say lock the gate behind you.

[Gilmore]

Looked for PG66 this morning for an hour, couldn't find him so I went home.

[harbinger]

Looked for PG66 this morning for an hour, couldn't find him so I went home.
He picked up a grey tacoma that he switched out with a Hyundai sonata that he left on the highway at lilloet where he got on a motorbike and parked it at Alice Lake, then he hiked over the hill and was picked up on the Ashlu were he drove up to the Elaho left a jetta there and then hiked into the upper lilloett. From there a purple prius drove him to the gun range but parked at the Pembie Petrocan.

[frenchbar]

should be a snap to lose gilmore and his 1977 john deer...lol and really people following and looking for spots is fing lame get a life losers!

[bushpig slayer]

wow pretty weak of those douche bags let the real hunter do his thing and stop lookn for hand outs lazy f***ers.

[Gilmore]

He picked up a grey tacoma that he switched out with a Hyundai sonata that he left on the highway at lilloet where he got on a motorbike and parked it at Alice Lake, then he hiked over the hill and was picked up on the Ashlu were he drove up to the Elaho left a jetta there and then hiked into the upper lilloett. From there a purple prius drove him to the gun range but parked at the Pembie Petrocan.


Not today, he was still in bed....

should be a snap to lose gilmore and his 1977 john deer...lol

John Deere?? Ewwww!!

[MB_Boy]

and really people following and looking for spots is fing lame get a life losers!


No kidding.......you just gotta love the internet and what it breeds. :roll::roll:

[frenchbar]

No kidding.......you just gotta love the internet and what it breeds. :roll::roll:

must be the guys from the local sportshop...

[Gateholio]

The guys chasing PG66s truck make me laugh. Don't they know I drink Kokanee and a 36 pack is cheaper than gas money, faster and more effective than their surveillence? :)

[IronNoggin]

"But STILL , there's a few 'challenged' guys who spend more time trying to figure out where 'T -F' I hunt than they do at trying to learn themselves."

LOL! FAR too common an experience!

I drive a reasonably recognizable truck and often go through some rather extreme measures to "hide" it - especially when hunting some of the near-by "overlooked" areas (they can't possibly be in there... LOL!) Obviously that doesn't always work, and on the occasion someone else starts working one of "my" areas, I'll usually simply abandon it... for a spell...

Not always though! Reminds me of the time one of the Local Ladz knew I was on a decent buck, and so spent too much of his time figuring out just where the hell I was going. He did eventually succeed. Fortunately arriving just in time to watch me hitch that old bugger into the bed of the truck! :twisted:

Made a little error last night - one of the Ladz saw where I'd parked just after dusk. Usually I'd be a little choked, but not this occasion. He decided to park and wait me out to learn what I had seen. As he was waiting, the Biggie crossed right in front of him and down the hill - and him with NO rifle in the truck! He was still shaking when he related that little bit of intel, and unfortunately for him, has to work today. Guess he knows where I'll be this evening... and now armed with that little bit of information have changed up today's Game Plan just a tad... :-D

Over here on The Rock, they are moving. Time to get out there is NOW!

Best of Luck ProGuide! These to me are The Best threads each season, and I am sincerely looking forward to the culmination of your hunt!!

Cheers,
Nog

[Camp Cook]

spot chasers

That is why you will never see a pic of where I shot an animal you will only ever see the hide/head/antlers with a rifle laying across it.

PG66 I totally understand it is totally pathetic how some low life have to F up others areas.

2 years ago after 2 months of trying to get out of me where I hunt with my 2 sons a buddy pieced together where we were going.

He went in the very next morning and shot one of the biggest antlered 4X4 blacktail bucks I had ever seen 50 yards from where we stand waiting for day break.

He headed back into town dropped of the buck then headed back with a buddy of his back that same afternoon they shot another 4X4 I new these bucks were there just hadn't laided eyes on them yet.

If he would have asked if I minded him going into the spot I would have probably said no problem go ahead I can't get there for another week at least.

Long story short every time that I have been back to that spot there are other guys there now it is totally F up there now pathetic is an understatement and as to the buddy I have nothing to do with him anymore he showed his back stabbing personality style to me.

[Salty]

The guys chasing PG66s truck make me laugh. Don't they know I drink Kokanee and a 36 pack is cheaper than gas money, faster and more effective than their surveillence? :)

I call BS, that's barely enough Kokonuts for you you souse!

LOL. Yep, I do the head shake thing on guys always looking for a short cut. If they wanted help from PG or other successful hunters how about going about it the honest way and just ask? You might not get their current place that they're zoned in on but... news flash.... you need a lot of potential spots to be sucessful, not just the one you are trying on a given day. I had some friends up this last weekend to where I thought was the best bets after all the scouting I've done over the last close to a year and it ended up a bust. Didn't find one buck. Stalking a hunter for his spot of the day is not only bad ju ju, its a stupid way to go as far as odds go. Get out and find your own spots and work them FFS. ..

[lorneparker1]

Internet scouting is something that is very real. If you ever look at waterfowl pictures they have very little background in them.

Lorne

[ElectricDyck]

You'd think you were hunting sheep?:-D Good luck on your pursuits!

[Gateholio]

Salty, you are right. Make it a 55 can box then.;)

[TheProvider]

What most ppl dont realize is it takes more than just a great spot to shoot crankers Bts or any animal. Yes Steve has great spots for Bt, s but theres hundreds of mountains that hold great BT's. Knowing the area and the deer behaviour in that area is what you need to know to consistantly shoot big a$$ blacktails

[Salty]

Salty, you are right. Make it a 55 can box then.;)

Dude, there's holes in the cans.. i swear. LOL

[digger dogger]

That is why you will never see a pic of where I shot an animal you will only ever see the hide/head/antlers with a rifle laying across it.

PG66 I totally understand it is totally pathetic how some low life have to F up others areas.

2 years ago after 2 months of trying to get out of me where I hunt with my 2 sons a buddy pieced together where we were going.

He went in the very next morning and shot one of the biggest antlered 4X4 blacktail bucks I had ever seen 50 yards from where we stand waiting for day break.

He headed back into town dropped of the buck then headed back with a buddy of his back that same afternoon they shot another 4X4 I new these bucks were there just hadn't laided eyes on them yet.

If he would have asked if I minded him going into the spot I would have probably said no problem go ahead I can't get there for another week at least.

Long story short every time that I have been back to that spot there are other guys there now it is totally F up there now pathetic is an understatement and as to the buddy I have nothing to do with him anymore he showed his back stabbing personality style to me.

You asked for it, with threads like this, and b.s'd about where you hunt, so you've had a hand in pressure in a couple spots..http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?72849-Chilliwack-Valley-still-has-some-nice-Blacktails

[MattB]

Gut pile chasers are everywhere. What happened to guys actually putting effort in and figuring out areas for themself, that's half the fun. Is there no pride in figuring out things on your own anymore?

[TheProvider]

Ok enough B@@tchin about about lousy hunters... lets start seeing pics of big bucks, big rubs and big sheds!!

[ruger#1]

I'am tracking Steve right now. I snuck in his house last night and put a GPS tracking collar around his neck. I can give you his last position right now. I will need $250.000 up front. I would like it in toonies and loonies.

[takla1]

Ive found lots of good spots over the yrs just looking at the topography of the land.things i look for are smaller timbered hillside nect to a road without any pullouts around.park, hike over the first hillside and hunt the next ridge,look for deer trails and rubs, south faceing is best ,when you do shoot something its tougher to get out with your game as you will have to climb the back side of the hill next to the road but i can guarentee you wont bump into anyone else in there.A good pack board and your set.Now that doesnt sound like too much work does it for all the cheaters out there ps,just remember to guard its location ....lol

[hitch]

Well, no big bucks or rubs for me , however today was very productive. 11 deer, 2 bucks ......no shooter but now it's all about timing cause i know he's doing loops in the spot I'm in. I hope I can catch up with him this weekend at some point. Haven't seen him yet but his tracks are getting me pretty juiced up! 5 does in a real quite spot for him to start bangin. Up till now I think he's just being keepin tabs on them but soon he'll start getting randy and I'll be waiting!

[Gilmore]

I haven't even been out. I am just going to go to the spot and shoot the hammer, it's really not as hard or as dramatic PG66 makes it seem.

[Camp Cook]

You asked for it, with threads like this, and b.s'd about where you hunt, so you've had a hand in pressure in a couple spots..http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?72849-Chilliwack-Valley-still-has-some-nice-Blacktails

WOW are you ever clueless in your assumptions I was hunting a very small area just past Hope the fellow in question lived in Hope after he shot the deer he took his buddy that also lived in Hope.

You are so totally full of wh*ning schit on where you think I hunt that it is mind boggling.

had to edit my post to add this :rolleyes:

:mrgreen:

[digger dogger]

I have enough respect, for a fella that hunts that same "valley" on the same mountain, as you!(you guys park by one another) I wouldn't post your parking spot coordinates..:-) I used to hunt the same side as you, 15 yrs ago but the other side has been good to me over the last few yrs..

And I wouldn't definetly brag about a buck that I shot, then intentionally start a thread, misleading internet hunters to, go to the "Chilliwack valley"


Camp Cooks Quote;
"PG66 I totally understand it is totally pathetic how some low life have to F up others areas."

My buddy feels the same way about his spot now!!








So no whining shit hear Cam p Cook,

[lovemywinchester]

Take your pissing match somewhere else before you get this thread closed!

[hitch]

And these are the days of our lives........Gotta love the Nov. rut!

[proguide66]

ANYWAYS......movin back on track.

As I hope many other guys out there are putting their 'puzzles' together , I did a 'peak' today and stiched the last 'string' in 'Mr.Bigs' route. There is a 'large' chunk or realestsate above where I found all his rubs.I was kinda stressed he 'may' be cruising around there wich would mean a shit load of 'looking' hikes and less % chance of a run in.
WELL , to the north of his 'rub route' I found his track coming from the slope I found his antler...wich 'hopefully' means I finally found the 'brige' he uses to cross valley to his 'rub zone' from the zone he normally ruts and runs around in 2 to 3 ft of snow chasing all the does that migrate to the hill ( but arent there yet).
SO....I'm petty cconfident I'nto his full route/hangouts.So now I am going to wait until the morning after the first all night rain/snow shitstorm then slip in using the predetermined wind directions and do the full circle rattling and calling every 100 yards ALL DAY LONG...I am 100% confident now that if I do this I will be in earshot of him at least once during the day , I'd actually bet the farm on it at this point.
Just have to hope he likes my 'tune' and comes to recieve an arrow placing him into " hunting history"...shit , its sooo much fun isnt it???

[TheProvider]

The rut is about to hit hard. We'll be seeing pics of atleast two BT's going over 135" in this thread in the next 10 days

[BiG Boar]

Oh no. My secret black tail spot got all took....

just kidding. Obviously....

Lets be honest, how many black tails have ever made the cover of big buck magazine.

May as well start a thread about who is the tallest midget.....


BTW. I heard about a giant B&C baby rabbit that got shot, but it's still just a bunny.

[proguide66]

Trophy blacktails are too hard to find let alone find enough to fill some boring magazine filled with the easiest animals to shoot , WT and muleys...YAAAWWNNNN.....lolol

( ya gotta expect a reply like this on a 'blacktail thread' !!:p)

You mean Bigbuck is still published????

[blackbart]

Wow, and then wow again on so many counts. Did I happen to say WOW yet?

News flash - it is still hunting season everyone. Save the grade school antics for the off-season.


Lets keep this thread above board on all angles so everyone can enjoy it to the end.

Anyone want to start a pool on who gets hurt first? The phantom 160" buck, the primary predator, the scavanger predator(s), the crew of misfits dangerously shuttling vehicles or the lift attendant at the village??? Let the drama unfold and get the popcorn out.
BB

[TheProvider]

I used to love BigBuck mag but now a days its seems half the stories are of pushing bush or driving farm land, hoping out and shooting a few hundreds yards. No offense its tactics that work but make for one hell of a boring story. I'd rather read this thread over and over again through out the year and read about real hunters hunting "smart" deer ;)

[BlacktailStalker]

Sweet sounds promising.
We have NO snow here, everything is heading STRAIGHT to the highest peaks again :mad: even the friggin does were at 4,000' today and with this weather, all my spots are socked right in with fog ! Not looking good... Sat in some BIG timber today and rattled for an hour to no avail. It's never worked for me but when ya can't see anything I supposed it can't hurt. Good luck!
Very bummed my season ends tues til the last 4 days of the season in dec.

[OutWest]

I used to love BigBuck mag but now a days its seems half the stories are of pushing bush or driving farm land, hoping out and shooting a few hundreds yards. No offense its tactics that work but make for one hell of a boring story. I'd rather read this thread over and over again through out the year and read about real hunters hunting "smart" deer ;)

"That's how we do it on the prairies. We take 'em out one leg at a time."

[ElectricDyck]

Saw a love struck 2 point on a grassy hill beside the road near maclure and clearbrook in abbotsford on the way home where I usually only see does. I think it's heating up....

[takla1]

ruger#1 and I are heading into our spot again this morning.will be checking the gut pile from my 4pt {still have a bear tag}.hopefully ruger gets his 4pt today,,,good luck to all

[proguide66]

I dont know what the hell shit is eating around here but I saw a bear track on the road shoulder gravel today that had over 1" in width on either side of my work boot....:shock:...seen a blackbear print once ever in my life that was 1 inch on either side of my boot , shot him and it was 8' nose to tail on the money.....this things paw was wider.Wonder if a grizz was on 'tour'.Couldnt see claw prints in the gravel , but toe and pad were easy to see.

[TheProvider]

Big fella... he would definately have alot of fat on him

[hitch]

Couple more dinks today. Does are holding in the hole. Something is going to happen soon!

[TheProvider]

Tomorrow. Checking the forecast... rain, rain and more rain :D

[TheProvider]

Bringing a big set of 3pt sheds for some rattling. Of course I'll be hauling the tripod and cam along with my bow.. Damn near feels like christmas morning tomo... wait a minute hunting blacktails is better than christmas morning!!

[rattling_junkie]

This is a really neat thread. I have only bowhunted for blacktails for one season down in the LML when I still lived in BC. Only ever saw a couple of does. My brother ended up arrowing one that scored around 129" a few years later. I am now a whitetail junkie but definitely appreciate the passion for blacktails on this thread. Good luck with your quest!

[Alex]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/webkit-fake-url://3329165E-0A5B-493B-8616-FEAE98B2271D/imagejpeghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/webkit-fake-url://FB9B53DB-2DB0-442E-9542-ED2FA1FE3FCB/imagejpeghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/webkit-fake-url://117A54E3-C39B-403D-8E48-70FC37C7CB3B/imagejpegGot this fella in pemby yesterday. Tough hunting but they're up there! Hmmm, pics to come I guess...

[takla1]

back from our evening hunt fraservalley where i shot my buck monday.No sightings of doe's or bucks,none of the numerous rubs that were created by my 4pt{dead} were freshened up and no new tracks.Rugers side other the mnt gave up a few new sets of doe tracks and one good size buck track.Seems like they have moved to a higher elevation.Hopefully this warm weather moves on soon and we get back to freezing temps and snow at the higher elevation to bring them down again.giving it a days rest and back on sunday

[Trekker]

blacktail porn coming. shot a nice 4 x 3 with eye guards this morning. old heavy sucker. pics to follow!

[LiquidGuides01]

Cant wait Trekker! Came close this morning following around those "timber ghosts" and quite a few of does around.. they didnt seem to mind the strong winds and rain, lots movin around on my mossy ridges

[proguide66]

blacktail porn coming. shot a nice 4 x 3 with eye guards this morning. old heavy sucker. pics to follow!

Cant wait to see him !!!

here's my day...kinda lame , but 'he's' comin !

[proguide66]

http://youtu.be/BvoiIkF6VDU oops

[shadowhunter]

Great vid pg... got my blood pumping! best of luck on the monster!

[harbinger]

http://youtu.be/BvoiIkF6VDU oops

I like the music choice on this one!

[frenchbar]

that was great !thanks for taking us along

[ruger#1]

Steve! Stop teasing us with deer porn.

[Spy]

Great Video ! I like your new buddy,he seems to like you,should be a shooter in 5 ! I hope you get his dad,good luck & thanks again for sharing your wealth of Knowledge !:-D

[TheProvider]

definately wanna see the 4x3......... cam on bow looks good Steve....

My day..... decided to push into another mountain side today. Picked a great approach. Didn't climb to high in the dark as its new area and want to learn it an not miss anything. Anyways less than an hour of hiking up. Standing on top of a rock bluff and I look down. Bingo!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/52289_10152258420120313_1281894829_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/52712_10152258420705313_818196588_o.jpg

Didn't look for the other side as I wanted to look and explore. Hiked up into the old growth. Extremely foggy and wind swirled no matter which way I headed. Rain, snow, hail I was soaked to the bone and cold. Stop for a snack and water. Decided to try a lower rock bluff so I started heading down. 2mins later see an old chewed up shed. Decide to check for the other side. 10yrds past the shed theres a set of hammer blacktail track in snow probably a day old. Followed a little ways but wore my old boots and kept slipping in the steep stuff. Landed on my tripod and busted it so I figured I'd head down. Few mins later... Bingo!!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/665120_10152258421975313_637961114_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/54549_10152258422510313_407353714_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/54753_10152258422850313_1077175215_o.jpg

Ended up taking the worst miserable way off the mountain. Looked at google earth once at home again to refine my approach area and more ridges/rock bluff areas to explore. Now to decide to go back tomorrow or to a honey hole

[TheProvider]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/175517_10152258423230313_1107606800_o.jpg

[bowhunterbruce]

video looks great on the bow steve . goodluck bud
bhb

[shadowhunter]

great pics Provider!

[rudysteelhead]

Good luck in the new spot. Couple of dandy's in there.

[Trekker]

Well, not to much of a story. Hiked in before light to one of my 'go to' spots with the head lamp, managed to get on two does.. kept on them for around 40 min with the help of the can call, when all of a sudden this guy popped up over a bluff. Im not sure if this is the buck from the monster prints I found earlier in the year, but I just couldnt let this fella walk.

He goes 4x3 up top with eye guards, this is a south island blacktail.

I was planning on trying to get the kill shot on film, but of course it never seems to work that way. Here is a short video, for some reason the sound doesn't work either, sorry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoEj7OxBHFk&feature=youtu.be

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u482/tristanmacdonald/PB170083.jpg

[Trekker]

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u482/tristanmacdonald/PB170087.jpg

[TheProvider]

Cool Buck!!! Congrats/ Love that right side. His left eye looks messed up was that just from falling?

[Trekker]

Cool Buck!!! Congrats/ Love that right side. His left eye looks messed up was that just from falling?

My first shot didn't quite do it so I put one in the back of his head, which probably caused the buggered eye.

[Trekker]

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u482/tristanmacdonald/photo1.jpg

[kennyg826]

Congrats on a cool buck!

[proguide66]

Thats a beuty buck !!! very cool. Tomarrow am should be super...