Columbian black-tailed deer. (O.h. columbianus)

Hunt Location: California A-zone (North)
Outfitter/guide: Self
Dates: July 9 to 14, 2016
Method: Archery, Spot & Stalk





So ends my five year (attempts) quest to NoCal to arrow my first black-tail and first velvet buck.
As usual the weather was wacky. The days would start socked in with fog and by noon it felt like a sauna.
It was 100 degrees on the afternoon of the 14th when I killed the buck.
There were some trials and tribulations the afternoon of opening day when an oak tree fell on my brothers truck. Ugh...
If I hadn't stopped to snap a few pics of a dead tree that had been worked over by acorn woodpeckers,
my brother and I would have been standing at the truck when the tree fell.
It really makes you think...


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Congrats on the deer, and you take some excellent pictures.

Nice harvest, and great photos. Takes me back to my first Humboldt County blacktail in velvet in 1970 -- but with a rifle, not a bow.

Congratulations on a nice deer well earned. The truck - figure the odds!

Congrats...love the photos

I shot a couple of bucks that size on the Cache Creek WMA when I was stationed in CA. Never could understand why they hold their season so early when it is so damn hot. I shot a buck once when it was nearly 110!

A lot of people are used to seeing big racks on whitetails and don't understand that Columbian black tails are smaller antlered. The deer can be very large but big racks are rare.

Thomas, you have a very nice Columbian there!

Sir that is a fine report with some beautiful pictures, you have my respect for hunting those deer with a bow, congratulations on your hunt and thanks for sharing!

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas "Ty" Beaham:
Thanks fellas.
I bet Humboldt County was especially pretty back in 1970 Bill.
Grenadier, believe you me, the subject of odds came up more than a few times over the next few days.

It's still very pretty.

And congrats on your buck!

Great job!

Growing up hunting blacktail, they are still one of my favorite hunts and fondest memories. The smell of the wet grass as you head out each morning is one of my favorite smells.

Great photo essay. I really enjoyed it. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by ManuelM:
Sir that is a fine report with some beautiful pictures, you have my respect for hunting those deer with a bow, congratulations on your hunt and thanks for sharing!

+1

A Black tail with a Bow!!! Nice

Few people know how difficult the A-zone is, especially with a bow. Congratulations! *Losing a lot of Oak trees to the drought and disease

Sweet hunt. Congrats.

Some really nice pictures. Thanks for the report.

Nice blacktail - congratulations! Great photos also...

Congratulations!
A blacktail with a bow is a real achievement.

Well Done!

Congrats on the first Blackie buck. I have been fortunate to take two with a bow and it was tough due to the weather that time of year and noisy walking but it was well worth it. I blew 8 stalks before I harvested my first. Frustrating but a blast.