There is some less daunting country a bit east of where you were. Some actually can be sort of semi open in a few places. But I hear you, some of the toughest country I've ever hunted has been the steep stuff in the coastal jungle, no mas thank you very much.
If a feller wanted.......
- Thread starter ThreeTikkas
- Start date
Slugz
Veteran member
Second the whole jungle thing. Amazing density and trail systems that will leave you going nutz! I had issues pinning them down for archery shots in N Cali and was only to find some smaller ones during rifle trips.
Subscribing here so I can also learn something. Definitely get your feet wet in a more open area if possible. The jungle can be overwhelming and depressing at first. I purposely hunt the high wilderness areas in the cascades because of this. You really have to spend time learning where not to go in an area to avoid wasting an entire morning stuck in brush with 10' visibility. The key is to go slow or sit. Find the Gritty Bowmen podcast about Blacktail hunting. It is pretty cool, and I found it very informative.
Timberstalker
Veteran member
If you choose Oregon, hunt the southern units. There are a lot more deer down there and they tend to be much larger in general. If you want a rain forest jungle buck go farther north and hunt near active logging. Stay away from national Forrest in the central cascades, not many deer there these days, the ones I do find are up high and are mostly mule deer.
Last edited:
B&C Blacktails
Active Member
- Mar 1, 2015
- 237
- 0
Get a bzone tag. Pick any wilderness and hike in 2-3 and I guarantee you will see deer. Concentrate in the 5-6000 feet range. September look for acorn brush (looks like ground hugging white oak) in the granite bowls and and glass elderberry patches down low in the granite bowls. October still hunt bedding areas, which for BTs they like to bed down 500 -1000 feet off the top of mtns. Once you get to that 500-1000 off the top keep the sun at your back and hike sidehill.
Don't even bother glassing meadows, sure there is a lot of deer sign all over them but the deer only venture into meadows at night.
Deer seasons are usually hot here in CA and most deer will bed down in dark steep timber close to a drinking source.
My favorite way to still hunt is put on six layers of wool socks and start creeping through the timber. Socks are better than moccasins because the fabric muffles most noise.
If you bowhunt even better. Bzone you can hunt the archery and general seasons.
Don't even bother glassing meadows, sure there is a lot of deer sign all over them but the deer only venture into meadows at night.
Deer seasons are usually hot here in CA and most deer will bed down in dark steep timber close to a drinking source.
My favorite way to still hunt is put on six layers of wool socks and start creeping through the timber. Socks are better than moccasins because the fabric muffles most noise.
If you bowhunt even better. Bzone you can hunt the archery and general seasons.
- Mar 24, 2012
- 141
- 0
B&C Blacktails
Active Member
- Mar 1, 2015
- 237
- 0
Yes. California. I fill my two b tags every year. Hold out for a mature buck. 120 inch buck should be a good goal. Mature BTs are 18-20 inces wide. Anything ear wide is a shooter. And don't let anyone tell you blacktails are small in body. Those high country mature deer push 160lbs. I've shot a few bucks that I'd say were over 200lbs
- Mar 24, 2012
- 141
- 0
Sounds like a challenging hunt. I downloaded the hunt zone map. I need to do a little looking around on Google earth now. Many hybrids in those "b" zones?
B&C Blacktails
Active Member
- Mar 1, 2015
- 237
- 0
There's a small portion of b2+b6 that is outside of the Boone and Crockett zone but most of that area isn't very good. The nearest muley to the bzones is probably 60-70 miles as the crow flies.
It is a very challenging hunt. Just like most any wilderness area, the mtns can be very steep.
Send me a private message and I can steer you in the right direction
It is a very challenging hunt. Just like most any wilderness area, the mtns can be very steep.
Send me a private message and I can steer you in the right direction
ore hunter
Very Active Member
- Jul 25, 2014
- 699
- 114
one word of caution though,whether its northern cal or southern Oregon,,,be cautious of the illegal pot grows,,,there are a lot of them on public and some bad folks that guard them..don't be scared,but be aware.
- Mar 24, 2012
- 141
- 0
Micah S
Active Member
I hunt blacktails in Clackamas County. It's not the type of hunt I would recommend for a out of state hunters. I put in a massive amount of time finding the areas blacktails hide in then I hunt them from a tree stand. I do very well at taking good blacktails but I don't know if anyone could show up flying blind and kill a good blacktail. If I was to do that I would hunt southern Oregon or northern California.
Another example of what makes this a great forum and an offer I'd be all over were I you 3Tikkas, and I am sure you are. Props to B&C Blacktails.
- Mar 24, 2012
- 141
- 0
Agreed. This whole thread is testimony to the helpful and selfless nature of our members. You all are aces!
BOHNTR
Very Active Member
CA B-zones for sure.......I measure quite a few from there every year. A few wilderness options with guaranteed tags. Archery is a great hunt.....my hunting partner has arrowed some giants over the years up there, including a B&C caliber buck just this past season.
- Mar 24, 2012
- 141
- 0
That's pretty cool. I need to try to sort out the licensing in No. Cal. Looking around Google earth it looks pretty wild up there.
LCH
Very Active Member
- Mar 24, 2012
- 141
- 0