From: joehunter8301. Habitat: Blacktails are a subspecies of mule deer found in western Oregon from the Coast Range east to the Cascade Mountains. These also come from evergreen trees. Miserable weather combined with rutting behavior puts the biggest blacktail bucks of the season in hunters' crosshairs. By Bobb Robb. In contrast to the Sitka deer, habitats for the Columbian subspecies are far more diverse. Black-tailed deer are active at dusk and dawn. The interesting aspect of many of my blacktail kills, comes in the fact that although I am hunting the same animal, depending on the time of year, I approach the hunt as though I am hunting different species. As otherwise they are covered and hard for the Sitka to spot or smell. The males are known as bucks, and the females as does. From what I have heard blacktails do not use food plots as well as a whitetail or muley would. During the day they rest in thickets near streams of water. Your email address will not be published. They shed their antlers between January and March, but these grow back between April and August. Their antlers develop under a special type of skin, referred to as velvet. From April up until August, a fresh pair of antlers begin to grow. Their feeding habits are also not exactly the same. For comparison sake, when perusing the newest edition of the Pope & Young bowhunting record book, you will find most record-class whitetails are taken out of treestands (80 perce… Blacktails do grunt but based on my observations over the years, they don’t grunt loudly or with the tenacity of whitetails. The Columbian black tailed deer (Odocoileus hemiounus columbianus) can be found in the western coast of the North America, anywhere from northwestern California all the way up to southwestern Alaska (Kucera and Mayer 1999).The habitat mainly consists of blossoms, deer brush, oaks and some open areas with perennial grass (Kucera and Mayer 1999). They also inhabit the mountainous areas of North America, unlike the Sitka black tails who favor the low altitude areas. This can be observed first hand from roa… Therefore, black tailed deer group, and the mule deer group are capable of hybridization. Sitka black-tailed deer feed on lots of foliage from shrubs. Such a position also offers them shelter when storms or heavy rainfall passes through the area. The Seeking Phase. The Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) is smaller, stockier, and has a shorter face than other members of the black-tailed group.Sitka black-tailed deer are closely related to the larger Columbia black-tailed deer of the Pacific Northwest, and both are considered subspecies of the (even larger) mule deer of the American West. The tarsal, on the other hand, is located on the inside of the hock, and aids in mutual recognition between other black tailed deer. Three further stomachs then digest the contents before it even enters the intestine of the deer. These ungulates are browsers and can be … Time of Year: Blacktail deer can be hunted in most areas from early fall to mid-winter. The ultimate Columbia blacktail deer hunting book is finally here. For most hunters, pursuing the blacktail deer can feel like searching for the Holy Grail. This northwestern rain forest denizen just might be the toughest trophy in deer hunting. His interest in, admiration for and over 36 years of experience in hunting black-tailed deer stimulated him to write this book. Does seek to mate with bucks that have larger, stockier antlers. These ungulates are browsers and can be seen browsing around forests on the roadside. In late May and early June, the fawns begin to be born, even coming in twins or triplets on rare occasions! Sitka black tails are the slighter of the two subspecies, with bucks weighing approximately 120 pounds, and does just 80 pounds. The gestation period lasts between 6 and 7 months after which the doe usually gives birth to two fawns, although three babies have also been seen. Here they feed on the open grasslands at daybreak and nightfall when temperatures are moderate. This is beneficial for the feeding habits of Sitka, as it allows the adequate provision of sunlight for the growth of further shrubs and foliage that they feed on. Like the Sitka black tail, the Columbian black tail is also a herbivore. By observing their pre season habits, you are more likely to track one down … Their weight ranges between 6 and 9 pounds. As the name suggests, black-tailed deer have a wide, triangular tail with a dark brown or black top and a white underside. In the winter months, however, their diet tends to consist of different components. This is also known as “rutting”, as a huge component of their mating formalities is ritualistic male on male competition. Many inquisitive sportsmen will ask how large a buck’s home range … Adult black-tailed deer bucks weigh 140 to 200 pounds and adult does weigh 90 to … Im from crow oergon and i made a food plot 4 years ago, over those for years my family has killed 9 mature blacktail. However, with sparring and running, bucks suffer weight loss and damaged antlers. This allows them to wander freely between open grasslands, while still having access to the safety and hiding spots of the forest. Their gestation period is 180 to 200 days. It is quite common for a Mule Deer alert to danger to stot in place or for a couple of strides only and then look back. Fawns are born with a weight of around 6-8.8 lb (2.7-4 kg). Required fields are marked *. These are released from several specific glands located in the lower leg region of the animal. Black-tailed deer make phantoms seem positively obvious. Also, bucks can be seen running in pursuit of females. Black-tailed deer are active at dusk and dawn. Sadly, their mortality rate is extortionate! Deer Fence – Planning, DIY Kits – Your Complete Guide, The Best Deer Fencing – Tenax 60100109 Pro Deer Fence Review, Bushnell Wireless Trail Camera HD Aggressor, Crenova 12MP 1080P HD Game & Trail Hunting Camera, Cuddeback Trail Camera: Cuddelink Set of 4 Review (Features, Pros & Cons), My Animal Command’s – Solar Trail Cameras For Security and Surveillance Purposes, Best Deer Blinds: A Portable Hunting Must-Have Review, Sitka Black Tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis), Columbian Black Tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), Raise Your Deer IQ With This Information About Deer, Caribou Deer – History, Habitat, and Feeding Habits. Making it far easier to distinguish between male and female fawns. However, this can be largely increased if bred and reared in captivity, even up to 20 years in some cases. As a species, they have not always lived as far West as they do now. Antler buttons begin to appear at just six to eight months old. Latest. Although this does invite greater predation, due to the highly exposed environment. They are secretive and stealthy, making them difficult to hunt, but a trophy if caught. They favor the outskirts of the forests, rather than the shelter of the canopy which lacks the underbrush. Color: Their pelage ranges from reddish to brown, light or dark ash-gray, to even a dark brownish gray, Size: Large males stand up to 3 ft (1 m) at the shoulder. In fact, they once used to occupy land as far East as Wyoming! Their rather broad tails, that are either black or dark brown on the tip, are the defining feature to have given them their name. Hunter pressure, weather, feed and the breeding season change the way deer behave in November. They migrate from higher altitudes where they spend the summer to lower elevations during the winter. However, the height of their habitat is a major factor affecting their diet and distribution. Both subspecies inhabit Canada and the United States (US) in North America. Your email address will not be published. The black-tailed deer is a popular game animal for hunters. The grass consists of several types, in particular bluegrass, bromegrass, and orchardgrass. For example forbs and bunchberry from evergreen trees. Habitat. Black tailed deer are a common game animal. Open Country. Deers are browsers, and most of their food comes from scouting around the foliage. Bucks weigh far more, up to 200 pounds normally! Both are very important staples in the summer months in particular. Both shrubs and herbs are especially big food staples for Sitka black-tailed deer in the summer months. Blacktails crave tangles of grown-over hemlock and cedar and foggy ridges of old-growth fir. September 18, 2007. They further separate into two distinct types, the first being the Sitka Black Tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis), and the second being the Columbian Black Tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Article was last reviewed on 5th August 2017. But blacktail deer hunting always has been his passion. Sparring is often seen between adult males to win a female’s attention. Females reach sexual maturity at around 16 months old while males attain gusto at 16½ months of age. Actively learn about the deer in your hunting areas all year long to gain a more detailed understanding of their habits. They also include berries in their diet on occasion, as well as cultivated crops such as corn or peas if they are available, much to the dismay of surrounding farmers! ◆ The mating season of the black-tailed deer is from November to December. Female deer prefer bucks with large and heavy antlers. 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