2025 Blacktail Bucks

[Tobias]

20” 2x3. Biggest buck to date for me, both body and rack. Found him while still hunting a nice windy afternoon

 

[KGLee357]

A zoner, first buck for my boy. He slipped us opening morning, caught him heading out the next night. Proud Dad moment for sure.

Holy cow, congratulations to him! The rest of his hunting career may prove to be rather disappointing

 

[SloMoPete]

A zone on private land.

I was extremely lucky this year. It never would have happened without great friends and family.

 

[willfrye027]

California A zone south, private land. He was already rutty and messing with a doe sept 7, which got him killed. Should have already been across the fence to the neighbors but made one last stiff legged pass at his doe

 

[chancey]

Nice work guys! Packing into the Sierras on Friday for 5 days of chasing them. Main goal is to help fill my good friends sons first deer tag. Anything more than that is icing on the cake! Hopefully be back here to add some pics to the thread!

 

[AntelopeEater]

My first blacktail buck, a 4x3, used my .375 Ruger, was fun!

Got in California's northern A zone back in August.

 

[AntelopeEater]

Nice work guys! Packing into the Sierras on Friday for 5 days of chasing them. Main goal is to help fill my good friends sons first deer tag. Anything more than that is icing on the cake! Hopefully be back here to add some pics to the thread!

Good luck! Get an OTC bear tag too just in case if you like, the Sierra certainly has black bears.

 

[wildwilderness]

Took my son to Kodiak to get his first Sitka Blacktail. He shot a couple and I took a day to bowhunt. Some good mass on the one I killed!

That was enough meat for the C-206 without upgrading to a Beaver so we didn’t shoot more- Then we got stuck in a tent rain/fog/wind for a couple days trying to get picked up- Par for the course on Kodiak

 

[<cascadehunter>]

You guys are getting me amped up. Only a week out until I can chase them with a smoke pole here in WA!

 

[willfrye027]

Second tag filled in A zone. This buck gave me the slip one morning, he and a smaller buck were harassing a group of does. He disappeared into thin air and in retrospect probably pulled his doe off the group to breed.

Found him bedded the next morning with his doe. He must have been tired from a long night because he kept laying his head down to sleep!

Thinking about getting him aged..classic ancient California forked horn

 

[huntsd]

View attachment 935689
California A zone south, private land. He was already rutty and messing with a doe sept 7, which got him killed. Should have already been across the fence to the neighbors but made one last stiff legged pass at his doe

is that the ocean in the backround? What a cool place to hunt! nice buck to boot!

 

[willfrye027]

is that the ocean in the backround? What a cool place to hunt! nice buck to boot!

Yep that’s the ocean! Super fortunate to have met the landowner..15 min from my house. Not a big ranch or a very adventurous hunt but lucky to have the access. Lots of pigs around too.

 

[My Name]

Opening day ABC Island buck. As stated by OXN, early season in the alpine is absolute magic.

View attachment 921007

Nice buck and what looks to be a beautiful area.

 

[Sevens]

I miss A zone. Fond memories even if I only ever shot one deer in all my years hunting there.

 

[Twodog]

Finally filled my D-3 tag on a dandy. Anyone know what’s up with his hooves?

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Finally filled my D-3 tag on a dandy. Anyone know what’s up with his hooves?
View attachment 944922View attachment 944924View attachment 944925

Jealous of you California guys, nice buck we open tomorrow in Oregon.

No clue on the hooves, I bet someone here knows

 

[blacktail434]

Finally filled my D-3 tag on a dandy. Anyone know what’s up with his hooves?
View attachment 944922View attachment 944924View attachment 944925

Almost looks like early TAHD, but that's just a guess...

Edit: I don't know if deer get TAHD? Only ever talk about it in elk up here

 

[eLightfoot]

BeeZone opener was good too me

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

BeeZone opener was good too me

That’s an awesome buck

 

[eLightfoot]

Yea I probly woulda shot that one too

I imagine there weren't much tracking needed after the shot

No tracking needed lol. Took 3250fps to the back of the neck from about 18 feet away