Columbia Blacktail

B

Bura Nut

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Lets hear your stories, pointers etc...... talk about the differences of western wash/ore versus more open country like California......... What tactics do you use???????
 
Hey Bura, I think there should be a recognized difference between the Blacktail deer in the B.C. book. If you look at the B.C. bucks most all of them are Southern OR. and Califonia. The open country allows the antlers to get so wide and tall where up in the northern parts you don't see near the tall wwide bucks and the record books show that. I have two Black tail that I have got mounted from Washington. One scored 132 and the other 119 now they are great bucks for up here but for the bucks south they would probably been passed up. I think they should split it from Eugene North and Eugene South. Just my opinion and that with .50 wil get a cup of coffee. Later my friend, Jon
 
I could be wrong ( Iam at work I can't look in my book) but doesn't the world record blacktail come out of Wa. I belive Lewis county?? please let me know if Iam right or wrong...
curtis...
 
Nelly
The world record does come from lewis county washington.
Generally bigger blacktails do come from the more wide open places like cali. But occasionaly you will find a moster up here in washington, you just have to be willing to be patient and like the rain.

Later :) B_B
 
I agree with OFG. I personally see a huge difference even in washington with what I labelled migratory deer and local deer. Around my house in Olympia when I had to hunt close to home, these deer live in very brushy/think stuff and live year round. In other parts like Hood Canal, the snow will drive deer down to winter areas. These deer live in more open areas all year, and I think genetics allows the horns to grow wider due to the terrain. I may be saying it all wrong, but have a few bucks from both types of areas, and the color is lighter on the horns of open country deer (maybe rub their antlers on different stuff) and the horns are spread out more, like the california bucks I have shot around paso robles. The local bucks from around Olympia have tighter basket shaped horns. I have one 5x4 with 4" eyeguards that I am very proud of, its horns are almost black very dark brown probably from rubbing on alders. He has a very tight 14" inside spread and probably doesnt score over 115. He is a mature buck, gray face and throat, that maybe I am fooling myself, but he is a Trophy to me that if he grew up in more open area, would score substantially higher. I think we are dreaming, but a line of distinction would help identify the difficulty as well as differences in score of the brushy country deer versus the open country where you can spot and stalk.....
 
I also think that the number two Blacktail is from washington also.....you know the californian blacktail might have width and heighth but i havent seen anything with real mass like i do in washington oregon.....ive seen bucks from california and there kida spindlely..real thin horns....but I've seen some huge bucks up here, that have it all, length, heighth, and true MASS, talking about no circumference under 4 inches on one head.....
 
I live near Olympia, Wa. and I agree southern Oregon and northern Ca. show a much higher percentage of blacktails in the B&C Book, but I don't see a need for separate categories. The whole idea of the book is to keep a record of where the biggest of each particular species are coming from, and that's exactly what it does. If you get a good buck that you know is a trophy in the area you are hunting then that should be all that matters. Besides, if Washington was known for B&C bucks, there would probably be more guys coming here to hunt.
 
Alot of the so called Blacktails from Cali. are hybrids.But there are some monster blacky's in that state. The #2 blacktail is from Mendocino county, Ca. I am also from Wa. and hunt the brush bucks. Widest I have ever taken or seen was a 21" 2 point with 5 or 6 trash points coming off his bases. A buddy of mine went on a 7 day guided trip to Cali. and his 3rd day took a 24" 3x4. As for the Alder colored horns we have here, definately from lack of sunlight. Skyriver
 
Skyriver: like you said, most bucks I had seen back then would not be 20". I know they are/were there, but being so nocturnal, or jumping them while still hunting in the brush, many times you never saw the heads, just parts. I have a friend who shot a 20" forked horn, inside spread. Naturally, he did everything you should not have done, and shot it right off some railroad tracks. He just lucked into this deer. Why couldnt stuff like this happen to me??????? some of the biggest bucks I have seen have come to hunters by pure luck..........
 
mass come's from good food & lots of water, but most of all maturity...I've got two bucks with 4 1/2 " base's and another with 5 1/4 bases. From N-CA.
 
Interesting topic. The Blacktail racks I recently posted on this site were all taken in the most god forsaken, brushy , steep coastal mountains of N. Cali. Since most horn growth takes place in sping and summer range I dont see how open country could play a factor in "wide horn growth".
Also, when speaking of " those wide 'ol desert Muley's", I live in central Oregon in lodge pole tangles and fir thicket's.Right where those Muley's live during horn growth.The number of Muley's that meet that magical 30" plus mark coming out of those tight secluded hide away's would surprize most.
Anyway's, just my thought's and opinions.
Regards, WILL..
 

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