I'll admit I know nearly nothing about blacktail deer but I can't believe they are already hard horned. When do they shed their horns? When do they rub velvet off?
Being a school teacher with summers off it has always appealed to me to hunt CA. When I started to do some research a few years back I got mostly negative reports. They said much of the open units was private land, poison oak issues and other maladies. I'll admit it kind of turned me off but maybe I should reconsider?
The kid don't even look like a boy any more. Been here long enough to watch him grow up before my eyes, one season at a time. Wow. Congrats to him. You did good Harry.
Very nice buck.
Sort of half and half around here as far as still being in velvet.
Had a great hour and a half stalk on Sunday that got me within 40 yards.
But not shot.
Bill
[font color="red"]From My Smokin Cherry Red Hot Barrel & My Dead Cold Hands I Shall go down Fighting for American Pride & Rights!
I Know I'm Out Numbered by Pusssies & Brainwashed Democrats that'll Throw Their Hands in the air & I know I can't Lick the U.S. Military by Myself when they Turn on us but I'll make
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Thank you guys.
At 53, I realize that days like yesterday will not last forever and truly enjoy every moment as a valuable gift.
Best wishes to you guys in your upcoming seasons.
Hope I can continue to share what I love so much for as long as I can...
YES SIR.........NICE BT THOMAS, TRY NOT TO MAKE YOUR OLE MAN LOOK BAD, HE CAN DO THAT ON HIS OWN !!!! J/K HARRY.....YOU HAVE DONE WELL WITH THAT YOUNG MAN, I BET HE KNOWS WHAT A GREAT OLE MAN HE HAS GOT. TAKE ER EASY................YD.
I also had no idea any species of deer was hard horned by mid July. When do they rut? When do they drop antlers? Is it only California blackies that are hard horned this early or are Washington state blackies later?
Congrat's very nice buck....funny how in different places some bucks are hard horned and in other areas most are still in velvet. Up near Ukiah saw some still fuzzy and some hard horned.....go figure?
Yours looks like the velvet has been gone awhile. Where did you shoot him?
That buck was just a few days out of velvet when he took it on the 22nd, around here most are hard horned by now, with rutting activity starting by about the third week of September, this year rifle season ends Sept 21st.
The blacktails antlers in the northern part of California are still growing. They should rub out by the Sept.10th or so. The rut is usually going strong around Thanksgiving.
Time for Thomas to get even more picky with that 2nd tag, and get his fishing gear in order.