Wannabe Blacktail Hunter

[Coues]

I would like to try and get a Blacktail before the good lord calls me home! What are the so-called trophy hunts in Ca? You know, the ones where you apply for years with no hope of drawing a tag until your too friggin old to hunt. Do they have hunts that are during the Rut?

Thanks

[AimHigh]

Coues,

For true black-tailed deer there are really only 2 special hunts and they are both archery tags. ###A25 is at Lake Sonoma and I've seen some of the biggest black-tails in the state at that lake. ###A30 is in the vicinity of the town of Covelo in Mendocino County which is notorious for putting out trophies. ###You have about a 9-1 chance at Lake Sonoma and 2-1 at Covelo. ###Other than that, they're where you find 'em...

Actually, G8 which is at Fort Hunter Liggett has black-tails, odds are about 8-1

[Sgt Scrib]

Try the M11 (Late season muzzle Loader in B1). ###Only 20-25 tags a year.

[wavesfr]

G-8 is a doe hunt though.

[wmidbrook]

I've alway heard that the Covelo area and Yolla Bolly's held the most records...that doesn't mean there aren't other premium areas. ###Saw a real hog over by the Mad River once.

[BigDog]

There are a few big ones in most places except near the coast. The trick is finding them. When they are born they are good at being ghosts. And the older/bigger they get, the better at it they become.
It is kind of funny to me that I started out on blacktails. I hunted them succesfully for years before I ever hunted a mule deer or whitetail. I have taken at least one a year in 12 of the last 15 years. So, when I finally did hunt the others, I realized how cagey the blacktail actually is.
Like hunting any animal, you have to spend the time to learn their habits and then hope for some luck also.
Good Luck.

[Bigolwiggler]

http://community.webshots.com/user/bretthmz

If ya look at my photo album theres a real nice buck ( blacktail ) taken in the Yolla Bollies. ### ###Im might even give you the name of the mountain it was taken from .
They are there.

Brett.............

[Sporty]

By far the two best counties are Mendicino and Trinity, followed by Humboldt and Siskiyou.
Good luck to all,
Sporty

[Qbn Hunter]

This might be too broad but ###I would think that the B zones would be a good place for trophy blacktails.

[shooter44]

In CA any legal buck taken on public land is a trophy. :~)

[Sporty]

I second that shooter!
Good luck to all,
Sporty