Been trying to kill one of the bucks behind my house, but after a big rain and wind storm blew through the northwest Monday I decided to go up in the higher country and look at some new real estate.
I'd cut timber in this area a few years ago, and remember when the snow came it was like a funnel for deer baling out of the high country. The roadside willows had been getting thrashed by the bucks, which is always a good sign!
I finally located some big timber that I wanted to hunt, grabbed my bow, rattlers, and worked my way up a ridge. I'd worked the antlers in two areas without a response, but the third spot I stopped to rattle I could see a deer working it's way toward me through the timber. I could see it was a small buck, which was good enough for me!
After a few minutes the buck had come to within 30 yds, but stopped and seemed nervous. Then the buck began moving around to my left staying just out of my effective range. I was wondering if he had caught wind of me, but he stopped and looked back and seemed to be looking through me. As i turned my head I spotted this bigger buck which had come in behind and to my right.
The bigger buck saw me move, but seemed more occupied with what the little buck was doing. He started to circle out in front of me and when he came out from behind a big doug fir at a little over 15 yds I drew and released. The buck took off toward the small buck, then made a U turn and ran back the direction he had come from. After a 50 yd sprint he stopped, staggered a little and tipped over.
I chose to drag him back to the truck instead of retrieving my packboard, a big mistake! The drag out just about kicked my butt! :knothead:
After not filling my elk tag this year I was really happy to get this buck. :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/trophy%20photos/2012buck1.jpg)
Very nice deer sir! Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats, that's one I want to get a chance at some day!
Wow . Beautiful buck.
BUT...that picture should be on a magazine cover. I am sure you know as it is an exceptional shot. I just wanted you to know I appreciated the artwork of the photo effort too.
Well done. And Well done...thanks for sharing...
That is a very nice buck. Thanks for taking us along on your hunt.
Awesome buck, congrats!
Nice deer...
Nice buck! :thumbsup: :clapper:
awesome buck and a great photo!!!
Very nice buck :clapper:
I was thinking of you the other day after a different Blacktail thread here.
Great looking buck and bow. Second the great pic comment. What colors!
Awesome, congrats. They're on my bucket list.
Great buck! :clapper:
Great Buck.......Congrats
That's awesome! Shooting douglas fir arrows with a Blacktail bow and killing a dandy blacktail buck...perfect!
Thanks for posting it here Ron. I'm laid up with a bum leg. Haven't been able to get out...it's killing me. But seeing this helps.
Awsome buck. Congrats!
Congratulations!
Great photo, not a bad looking bow either... ;) :thumbsup:
Great photo! I'm jealous of the light clothes your wearing and leaves on the ground . (Winter conditions here. )Good job on taking the deer. Maxx
Great job!
Nice buck Ron. :thumbsup:
We have gotta hook up one of these days and do some shooting or hunting together. I'm not far from you at all in Mulino.
On Saturday when the late season opened, my daughter and i were up at the snow line above Ripple Brook ranger station when that storm started blowing in... Not much moving up top.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0025.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0008.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0017.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0039.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0031.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0044.jpg)
They dont get much prettier than that. What a buck.
Ron,everything look perfect in your pic:you,the buck and the bow.congrats I am glad to see you again in your woods.
Man, that is a beautiful animal and you displayed that beauty in your picture deserving of the animal. Good job on all counts!
Beauty!
I believe I'd be happy too!
Way to go RON!!! :campfire:
The effort it takes to clean up an animal and get a good pic should never be underestimated, especially a good self-timed pic. Great story and great photo!!!
Nice buck Ron, good to see you out and about.
Thanks everybody!
Thanks to a break in the rain I was able to set up and get some decent photos...I had field dressed and dragged the buck halfway out when it brightened up, so I went to the truck and brought back my Nikon and tri-pod. It was much darker in the timber then it looks in the photo!
Kirk...I wasn't all that far from where those photos were taken yesterday. I know all that country very well. The deer and elk population is sure taking a dive up there...compared to what it once was!
Nice! Congrats!
Beauty of a buck and great photo! Congrats! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Outstanding!!! Wonderful buck and great photo. Thanks for sharing and congrats!
Chris
Coongratulations, that is a very nice blacktail buck and bow.
That would read better as: Congratulations.
Wow !! congrats on a beautiful buck and pic just looking at that picture makes me feel pretty damn lucky to be able to live where we do and do what we do thanks for sharing
great pic congrats X10
Thats a mighty fine buck Ron ... :clapper: :clapper: Congrats
Love those Blacktails. :thumbsup: :archer2:
awesome deer.
He's very nice. Congrats
Nice buck.....nice wool ....just plain nice!
Super Blacktail. :notworthy:
Love the split tines on that guy!
Congrats!
Well done !!!
That must be God's country..
Great hunt and deer!
I love looking at Blacktails. Congrats.
WOW,that is a great deer and story...good for you old man..i beat there is back strap on your plate to night..john
MR. FRENCH! WELL DONE!
And I really like those rattlin' antlers!
Celebrate a Happy Thanksgiving!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Nice story, great buck, and a great accomplishment!
Big congrats to you, sir!
Oh yeah, excellent photography, too!
QuoteKirk...I wasn't all that far from where those photos were taken yesterday. I know all that country very well. The deer and elk population is sure taking a dive up there...compared to what it once was!
Yup... 20 years ago you had to be careful driving at dusk or you were getting a bumper crop...
We cut two different sets of fresh mountain lion tracks up on top on Saturday. That's the first time I've seen big cat signs up in that area. Those big cats will definitely thin the deer and elk population.
That's the first time in a long time i haven't run into a herd of elk this time of year too. They are typically bunched up in large numbers and pretty hard to miss.
congrats nice buck :thumbsup:
Congrats that's a big blacktail.
wow great buck and an awesome photo!! congrats!
Holy Cow! Those Blacktails are beautiful animals, and I know the one you just took is a dandy! Way to go!
hiya Ron( tree killer)
awesome buck- cool hunt too.
just one quick question- how do you find the response of the blacktails to rattling and other forms of calling.
we have the smaller Sitka blacktail up here, and we do really well with a fawn bleat- but i have also seen animals totally ignore it too!
just wondering what your experience was with calling these guys!
thanks
wayne
Awesome blacktail buck congrats! I would love to get to chase after them someday!
Nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great buck and a good looking bow to boot!
Great Buck! Congrats!
Beautiful Buck, Congrats
Nice buck and photo, well done!
:thumbsup:
-Jay
Nicely done. Congratulations!
Congrats! That's gotta be one of the best pictures I've seen!
Very nice buck. :thumbsup:
Congratulations once more Ron. Great buck, Great story and Great picture. I still have the pic of the one you killed , I guess two years ago, committed to memory. You take great pics bro.
God bless you and family and have a great Thanksgiving.
Kirk, those are great pics of you and your daughter. Love that country.
Very cool. What a great looking buck. And man it's green there! So jealous!!
Great job
Beautiful par of blacktails...congrats!
He's a bruiser! Congrats!!
Thanks again guys, happy you all appreciate the photo! :)
QuoteOriginally posted by snag:
That's awesome! Shooting douglas fir arrows with a Blacktail bow and killing a dandy blacktail buck...perfect!
Thanks for posting it here Ron. I'm laid up with a bum leg. Haven't been able to get out...it's killing me. But seeing this helps.
Sorry to hear about the gimp David! Yeah, I made up a set of heavy spined arrows last summer for myself...heavier then I've shot in the past...they fly incredible and hit hard!
Ron,Fantastic deer,Story and picture.
My first deer ever with a bow was in 1973,a Blacktail doe.They have to be the toughest of all deer to hunt,I got a few but never did get a real nice buck,your pic brings back so many memories.thanks ever so much.
Great picture Ron. Those are sure pretty deer, glad to see you in your trees where your most at home. RS
Blacktails are *fun* to hunt....
Way to go Tree Killa!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
I live where they live and that is a GREAT Blacktail!!!
Congrats!...
Thanks guys! Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving.
Steve Clandinin...I've killed a couple of whitetails, but for the better part of 45 years the Blacktail deer has been my hunting fix.
Way to go Ron!! Great pic too!
Happy for you Ron, great buck bud! :clapper:
That is a beast of a blacktail! Congrats!
Hey Ron,shot lots of Huge mulies and some real nice Whitetails but it seamed sneaking up to a good blacktail was the toughest.My Dad passed this year and all those great times hunting blackies were with him,it seams to add to the Memories of both My Dad and the deer.
Well done on the deer!
:thumbsup: Very nice!
Congrats!
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
Nice buck Ron. :thumbsup:
We have gotta hook up one of these days and do some shooting or hunting together. I'm not far from you at all in Mulino.
On Saturday when the late season opened, my daughter and i were up at the snow line above Ripple Brook ranger station when that storm started blowing in... Not much moving up top.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0025.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0008.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0017.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0039.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0031.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u301/kirkll/Hunting%20pics/late%20hunt%202012/SANY0044.jpg)
I drove right past that van in the picks LOL the boy and I were up there trying to rattle one in . only saw a doe.
Very nice Blacktail! Both buck and bow! Congrats!
That is a real nice buck, Congrats!
Boy, that is a good one! I love the color of those antlers! Congratulations not only on a fine buck, but for an incredible photo also! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Beautiful deer, great job :readit: :notworthy: :clapper:
My son made a walnut wall mount for my buck skull and we got it all mounted and hung this weekend. I think it turned out great! :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/DSC_4658_zps2e2b9c4e.jpg)
You and your son do excellent work!
very nice :thumbsup:
Ron,
NICE!!
Bob
sweet! That is a nice blacktail. I have never seen anything close to that here in Washington. Nice mount.
Very nice buck!
That buck, your bow and your mount are all very impressive. I have never hunted blacktails but sure hope too one day. Congrats....Shawn
Oh man, love everything about that. Congratulations!
That is a beautiful blacktail. Congrats on the sucess of your hunt.
Also love the mount, looks great on the wall!
Thank you gentlemen!
Thanks for the story, and Congrats on a awesome buck.