Let's talk about poop.

[BigFoote]

I'm just starting to really learn to hunt, my first experiences were walking around randomly hoping to get lucky. This is my first year hunting in Oregon and for Blacktail deer. Today I scouted a new location and there was poop everywhere in some specific locations.

First was on some active deer trail between bedding and a clear cut, maybe 50yds from where it opened into the clear cut. We're talking real thick cover, can't see more than 15' or less. Droppings were all up and down the trails here.

Second was in a clear cut on a pretty gentle slope, regrowth is about 6-7ft tall right around some oaks they didn't cut.

Third was half way down on a very steep ridge that dropped toward a creek, really thick waist high cover.

What kind of information does that give you when your scouting? Do deer poop while walking or are they hanging out in these areas?

 

[rclouse79]

I was hesitant to open this while eating some grub, but my curiosity got the better of me. It might be worth throwing a camera up to get some more intel.

 

[BigFoote]

I left one on the trail going through the clear cut where there was alot of droppings and the trail split. There was alot of deer droppings but also this, is this deer too?

 

[rclouse79]

I left one on the trail going through the clear cut where there was alot of droppings and the trail split. There was alot of deer droppings but also this, is this deer too?

View attachment 266777

I would say those came from a 198 lb, 4 1/2 year old buck. Give or take five pounds on the weight. Did they have a nutty flavor?

 

[BigFoote]

I would say those came from a 198 lb, 4 1/2 year old buck. Give or take five pounds on the weight. Did they have a nutty flavor?

haha, more on the grassy side, notes of tobacco and dare I say chocolate. It was the biggest deer shit I ever saw.

 

[rclouse79]

haha, more on the grassy side, notes of tobacco and dare I say chocolate. It was the biggest deer shit I ever saw.

Interesting. Probably just a big doe based on that new information.

 

[Jason277]

HA!

 

[packer58]

This is one shi**y thread............

 

[Blacktailaddiction]

I seem to always run into black tails while either sitting on those transition areas or still hunting when they are moving through early in the morning. I definitely focus on areas with lots of fresh poop because that means the deer are there on a regular basis, and it normally means I always end up running into those deer. Things will start to change when they get pressured and they will be a lot more careful then they are in the spring. I see bucks on public every time I check my cameras right now and never see them in the fall. Just my 2 cents, seems like you are on the right track!

 

[roosiebull]

I left one on the trail going through the clear cut where there was alot of droppings and the trail split. There was alot of deer droppings but also this, is this deer too?

View attachment 266777

that looks like elk to me

 

[BigFoote]

that looks like elk to me

I've never hunted elk or seen it's droppings but that was my first thought. It was roughly 2-3x as large as deer droppings i'm used to seeing. It seems to be eating something different than the rest of the deer based on color as well. Thanks for your input.

 

[roosiebull]

You will notice the difference in shape as well as size. Their food sources do have overlap, but deer are more browsers, elk more grazers.

 

[roosiebull]

I don’t put much focus on poop when looking at deer areas, it doesn’t tell me anything more than tracks, and they leave tracks everywhere.
You sound like you have found some good habitat, that is what you are looking for, good habitat with deer sign in it.

in the coming months (especially June/July) they will have a pretty good start on antlers, and that time of year you can get a vantage and glass mornings and evenings, the bucks will be in the open and visible... very visible since they will be red colored and easy to spot... that tells you what bucks are in the area and how many... you will want that knowledge... the confidence of knowing they are there will keep you motivated during slow hunting.

Blacktail don’t travel far (besides cascade bucks in high elevation that migrate lower in the winter) so the bucks you find this summer will be around, even though they can seem like ghosts a lot.

what you are doing now is perfect, find habitat with deer sign, do inventory in the summer, then build a strategy to get one killed during season.

mare you rifle or archery hunting?

 

[BigFoote]

I don’t put much focus on poop when looking at deer areas, it doesn’t tell me anything more than tracks, and they leave tracks everywhere.
You sound like you have found some good habitat, that is what you are looking for, good habitat with deer sign in it.

in the coming months (especially June/July) they will have a pretty good start on antlers, and that time of year you can get a vantage and glass mornings and evenings, the bucks will be in the open and visible... very visible since they will be red colored and easy to spot... that tells you what bucks are in the area and how many... you will want that knowledge... the confidence of knowing they are there will keep you motivated during slow hunting.

Blacktail don’t travel far (besides cascade bucks in high elevation that migrate lower in the winter) so the bucks you find this summer will be around, even though they can seem like ghosts a lot.

what you are doing now is perfect, find habitat with deer sign, do inventory in the summer, then build a strategy to get one killed during season.

mare you rifle or archery hunting?

I will be hunting with a bow in the Eugene Area. I've read Trophy Blacktails By Scott Haugen & currently reading Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon so I've got a base of knowledge to work off of. I'm pretty sure i'm dealing with animal that will stick to a really small area.

That is my plan, find the habitat that supports a good population, setup cameras and glass where possible and figure out a game plan for the best locations. I've noticed population seems to really vary. It seems difficult to pick a good ambush point in most locations. Everything is so thick once you're off the road. I'm thinking of using a blind or tree stand. How do you like hunting them?

 

[roosiebull]

I will be hunting with a bow in the Eugene Area. I've read Trophy Blacktails By Scott Haugen & currently reading Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon so I've got a base of knowledge to work off of. I'm pretty sure i'm dealing with animal that will stick to a really small area.

That is my plan, find the habitat that supports a good population, setup cameras and glass where possible and figure out a game plan for the best locations. I've noticed population seems to really vary. It seems difficult to pick a good ambush point in most locations. Everything is so thick once you're off the road. I'm thinking of using a blind or tree stand. How do you like hunting them?

totally depends on the situation for me how i'm hunting them.... i stay flexible and do what makes the most sense at the time. i think blinds and stands are a great option, especially if you get a good amount of intel pre season. a mobile stand setup makes a lot of sense, i like hunting current sign rather than a certain spot. i would have a hard time picking a spot or 2 and limiting my hunting to that. i like covering ground, finding sign and building a strategy from there.

 

[MasterTimo]

This is one shi**y thread............

HAHA! Good one there.

 

[BigFoote]

totally depends on the situation for me how i'm hunting them.... i stay flexible and do what makes the most sense at the time. i think blinds and stands are a great option, especially if you get a good amount of intel pre season. a mobile stand setup makes a lot of sense, i like hunting current sign rather than a certain spot. i would have a hard time picking a spot or 2 and limiting my hunting to that. i like covering ground, finding sign and building a strategy from there.

Yeah I was thinking a climber or stake blind, I don't want to leave it out there and want the option to move based on their behavior at the time i'm hunting. I now understand where they are will be is dictated by the time of my hunt. How often have you been able to spot and stalk or still hunt while getting into range for archery? It seems tough to be quiet enough in those approaches with the kind of terrain in this area.

In the book Mapping Trophy Bucks, it really focuses on terrain features that will funnel movement. Whenever I find a spot that forces movement, there isn't a place to put a stand or the cover is so thick I would have to be right next to the trail. Thanks for all the answers.

 

[roosiebull]

Yeah I was thinking a climber or stake blind, I don't want to leave it out there and want the option to move based on their behavior at the time i'm hunting. I now understand where they are will be is dictated by the time of my hunt. How often have you been able to spot and stalk or still hunt while getting into range for archery? It seems tough to be quiet enough in those approaches with the kind of terrain in this area.

In the book Mapping Trophy Bucks, it really focuses on terrain features that will funnel movement. Whenever I find a spot that forces movement, there isn't a place to put a stand or the cover is so thick I would have to be right next to the trail. Thanks for all the answers.

i have had good success stalking, and more often if you can spot them, stalk into a spot to cut them off where they are going rather than stalk all the way to bow range... like you mentioned, it's thick and noisy in most good habitat, so if you can see them and get ahead of them without getting close enough to get picked off, then let them come the rest of the way.... works really good for elk too.

since it rains a lot during deer season (late archery season is way better than early for deer) i like getting out when it's raining or just stopped (preferable for many reasons but often not an option) and look for fresh buck tracks... you will be able to age those tracks pretty easy if it's raining or has just stopped, then figure out where that buck is likely going and make a play that way... late season you will see bucks working back and forth often too, and you'll see his tracks going both ways... may want to hang out right there.

late season have had success spotting a buck and rattling to him. the biggest buck i have killed was on an old overgrown powerline road, set up on the trail i had seen that buck cross on more than once, saw him cross 2 days in a row before season, and was on my knees under a hemlock waiting.... it sucked, my feet were asleep and knees hurt, but there wasn't really another more comfortable option, but he came out with his nose up a doe's butt on Dec 3rd, and i shot him just over 20yds. it was pretty open but too thick on both sides, so that was what i had to do..... not my style of hunting, but i wanted to kill that deer and it was the only place i knew i could hunt him without running him out.

still hunting mature timber (think national forest type big 2nd growth) can work too, especially on a nasty day with good directional wind. i like staying mobile unless i find a reason not to be. most consistent blacktail killers hunt stands and blinds, it's a good way to hunt them, but i have killed my share on the ground being mobile, just adapting to the current scenarios. i have killed bucks with my bow about every way you can besides a tree stand or blind, but i do plan on getting a climber and adding it to my arsenal... mostly for calling lions, but i will use it to hunt bucks and bulls too.... there are scenarios i wish i had a tree stand

 

[huntfishtrap]

Take note of all sign you see when scouting. Scat, tracks, rubs, etc.. Keep scouting year round as well. If your looking for a nice buck, cameras are very useful. One thing you will notice is different areas become more or less active with deer sign depending on time of year. Check the scat for age. Were they deposited recently? Are they old? This will help you find the areas that are active during the rut so you can find the hot spots!