RE: 158 Columbian Blacktail
Marburg, I don't doubt that there are a few muleys about these foothills. A few, darn few! I've been living and hunting out of Chester for 24 years and just hunting here years before that. I have only seen one buck, from here West, dead or alive, that i would say was close to pure muley. From where they said that buck was taken, i'd bet my paycheck that either it's mother or father, possibly both, was mostly Blacktail. Without putting my hands on the buck or anything short of a DNA test, it's tough to call.
That said, many years ago there may have been more muleys in these parts so that's why the distinction between deer taken on one side of I-5 and those taken on the other. The system might not be perfect or exact in all cases but seems pretty fair
I think it's great that SCI now has a category for these possible cross bred deer, "Inland Blacktail", it's about time and would give credit to a possible cross bred buck that could never compete against the pure bred big boys from farther East.
Blacktailslayer, That's my story & i'm sticking to it. i agree and, Thanks!
Joey