Most common range and shooting positions for blacktail

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Dec 27, 2025
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Hello,

I’ve grown up hunting with my dad in Florida but Id still consider myself newer hunter since it was mostly less then 50 yards on private land, and all I’ve taken is hog. So I’m trying to get a feel since I’ve moved out here to western Washington. This might be a redundant post and ideally I’ll eventually practice all of them, but I figured I’d try and narrow it down to what’s most common. What shooting positions have you all taken most of your black tail at and at what range? I appreciate any feedback you have. I plan on trying to go to any NRL one day matches nearby and I when I have a couple more pieces of gear.
 
Around here you can shoot them as far away as you want, or wait for them to come sniff your hand and ask to be friends like a dog would. So... 0-whatever you want?
 
In that area it will depend on the terrain. Still hunting timber, probably be some close shooting like you are used to. Lots of clear cuts or cross a canyon, it can be quite a bit longer. I don’t sight in or prepare to shoot differently in W OR or W WA than I do in the high desert open sage country.
 
w wa, my first was 300yds down in a clear-cut, after that, all in timber from 40 feet to maybe 100 yds.

first was prone off the edge of the road, the rest were off hand or standing supported on the side of a tree.
 
w wa, my first was 300yds down in a clear-cut, after that, all in timber from 40 feet to maybe 100 yds.

first was prone off the edge of the road, the rest were off hand or standing supported on the side of a tree.
Awesome, much appreciated. So basically I can find deer in whatever kind of country and range (within reason) I’d like, it’s basically going to come down to just finding them.
 
Western Washington, and fair enough. I guess I’ll just keep it to distances I think I could shoot well at under pressure. Probably 50 to 300ish for now.
You’ll be fine. Just practice shooting using field type rests. I’d carry a shooting aid of some sort that could be used sitting and kneeling. Often you’ll have a tree or sometimes stump/rock close you can use, sometimes not. Occasionally you may be able to get prone where I’ve hunted in the western parts of OR & WA. Plan on it always being wet, even with no rain, it will be wet. Blacktails love the rain it seems. Good luck.
 
You’ll be fine. Just practice shooting using field type rests. I’d carry a shooting aid of some sort that could be used sitting and kneeling. Often you’ll have a tree or sometimes stump/rock close you can use, sometimes not. Occasionally you may be able to get prone where I’ve hunted in the western parts of OR & WA. Plan on it always being wet, even with no rain, it will be wet. Blacktails love the rain it seems. Good luck.

Thanks, definitely planning on it always being wet. I’ll try finding some forestry land that I can practice more unconventional type shots that I probably couldn’t replicate at the gun range.
 
Ive shot off of packs, rocks, trees and bipods but most have been killed offhand. Killed far more inside 100 yards than past 200.

Really depends on the ground and how you hunt though
 
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