What the heck are they and why should I care? Sure everyone in BC knows a little about mule deer hunting and even less about whitetails, but what do you know about the gray ghosts of the coast?
Known officially as Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, the Columbian blacktail's range extends along the pacific coast, from Alaska to California. Blacktailed deer occur along the entire coast of British Columbia, west of the summit of the coast and cascade ranges, and on most coastal islands. The coast range largely separates the ranges of blacktail and mule deer. where these ranges meet these two deer can interbreed and hybridize.
Weighing in at 100-190 lbs. Columbian Blacktailed deer are the smallest of the deer in BC next to the Sitka Blacktail. Although much like a mule deer they do have some of their own traits. As the name implies the blacktail has an all black tail. While the mule deer only has a blackend tip. The rump area of blacktail has a darker smaller patch of white than the mulie.
Much like there cousin the mule deer. Blacktails spend much of there spring and summer in the high alpine reaches of the mountains. The lush green grasses of spring help new antler production, while the cool breezes of summer help keep the deer cooler and drive away the pesky bugs of summer. As summer comes to an end and the temperatures start to chill blacktail start their annual migration down from their summer haunts to the valley floor. This is where hunting the blacktail begins to get difficult.
Whitetails are a wary and formidable prey but with there patterning habit, it makes taking a true trophy quite a bit easier. Mulie deer with there traditional open country habitat also makes it easier to take a good trophy. blacktails on the other hand inhabit the Pacific Coast rain forests. dark, thick and wet habitat, making hunting them difficult, and taking a quality trophy extremely hard.
There are a great many hunting methods for taking a blacktail deer. But only a few are great methods for record book deer. Road hunting can and will allow a person to shoot deer. But this method really should be used as a way of scouting the many back roads in the valley you are hunting. Getting out of the truck really improves your chances of taking a quality heavy racked blacktail buck. Sometimes all it takes is walking a few 100 yds from the road. I have this one spot that is a 10 year clear cut that has been planted, then thinned and limbed. We found it by scouting in the truck and seeing some does. By getting out and simply walking in several hundred yards. I was able to find one of my most productive big buck locations. Using this method allows one to see and learn how the deer are migrating down from there summer locations. By seeing scat, tracks and rubs one will actually increase his or her chances. Seeing sign allows you to pattern where deer are in their annual trek to wintering areas. Other methods that help hunters take whitetail deer can and sometimes work on blackies. Grunting is becoming a tactic that is being used more and more every day, although doe and fawn bleats seem to be more effective. It seems grunting and rattling during the pre-rut period is the most productive time for these whitetail methods. A well placed tree stand can be productive. Try older orchards that deer have been using. This method will produce a quality buck.
Any way you hunt the pacific gray ghost the most important thing to remember is to get out and enjoy the coastal timber. Remember to share your great wealth and take a youngster hunting with you!!!
